Rewatching this because what else are you going to do on your day off?

For me although Stanley Kubrick did some outstanding work in his incredible career 2001: A Space Odyssey is his ultimate masterpiece. Because although 2001 is a magnificent visual feast it’s also a stunning intellectual thought piece where Kubrick’s own philosophical ideas and questions are examined in great detail which is what makes it so rewatchable. Every time you see it you catch something you may have missed before. In terms of narrative Kubrick and co-writer Arthur C. Clarke ingeniously through their writing make us wonder that despite the massive technological advances we see Man make has human nature developed at all and its this juxtaposition that truly makes us feel incredibly uneasy as an audience.

As Director I think this is definitely Kubrick’s most accomplished and breathtaking work. The manner in which he creates something so pure and unencumbered by production demands is amazing. The set design, editing, deliberately slow pacing and wonderful use of classical music are all brilliant and brought together in tremendous style by Kubrick to create something that I’m convinced no other Director in history could ever make. In fact one simply has to admire the audaciousness of Kubrick to take such risks in making this passion project but his mastery of his craft and perfect visual work make this a risk well worth taking.

Special mention must also go to Douglas Rain for his emotionless and downright frightening voice work as super-computer HAL which is possibly the greatest voice work ever committed to film.

Overall IMO 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the finest films ever made and provides proof if any were needed that Stanley Kubrick was a true one of a kind artist capable of things no-one else in cinema could ever dream of doing. A stone cold classic!