Read Negative User Reviews for 2001: A Space Odyssey

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alex_gkoumas7Oct 21, 2018

Probably the worst movie I ever seen. There is absolutely no story to tell just some random dialogue between the tragical performances of the cast. Each scene is 5min just spinning arround.. And some people dare compare this movie withProbably the worst movie I ever seen. There is absolutely no story to tell just some random dialogue between the tragical performances of the cast. Each scene is 5min just spinning arround.. And some people dare compare this movie with Nolan's masterpiece Interstellar. Pathetic!… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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AKMindsAug 18, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I just wasted over 2 hours watching this guff.

The first 5 minutes was LITERALLY nothing. A black screen with some noises. We're already off to a great start if I'm having to fast forward through the intro.

The movie begins with some apes having a fight, finding a big Tetris piece and then freaking out. This part went on for far too long! 20 minutes into the film and we finally get to the space part. VERY slow shots of ships passing and spinning, once again nothing at all happening. And then some characters have a meeting, it's all very boring... Then they go to the moon 45 minutes in and see the Tetris piece from the ape bit before with slightly different context... I say slightly different as there's NO CONTEXT FOR EITHER! It's just Tetris block as ape or Tetris block as human. The humans try to take a photo of it and then it makes an awful racket and suddenly everything that had happened for the last hour did not matter in the slightest!

We're at the part even people who know nothing about the movie know. HAL, this part had so much potential but it wasn't related to anything that came before it and it ended before it had the chance to explore it's full potential and make the plot work. Instead of being a big villain, HAL is beaten is about 4 minutes with no real fight or struggle, the entire time the movie is driving me insane with it's poor use of sound effects and strobe lighting. The movie gave me a migraine and that's no exaggeration. The lights on screen flashing, the repetitive noises were over the top and made this movie a nightmare for me.

Oh by the way, when we're introduced to HAL and Dave and the other bloke we're completely taken away from the other cast. No one sticks around, it's like having a James Bond film where 45 minutes in James Bond is just not heard from again and we have to follow a bunch of other people instead and they're not having a Martini shaken not stirred and finding the bad guy, they're instead playing table tennis and we're expected to continue watching like everything is fine.

Anyway, after this part the film flashed up an INTERMISSION screen for a very long time, I was debating whether or not to get myself a choc-ice at this point... And then we resume and after the HAL stuff happened the main guy gets attacked by more RGB lights than every Instagram post combined and then the film goes so far up it's own arse it becomes pretentious. The film explains nothing, says screw you and just ends with the main guy getting old and dying but becoming some reborn alien baby. WHAT!? I don't even have words for this, it's utter nonsense.

The film has some incredible visuals for 1968 but the extremely slow pace, shots that just don't end, interesting plot points that don't get explored enough and pacing I could only describe as Grandma who's memory is degrading explaining something she once experienced, focusing in on every little detail for the points that don't matter and aren't interesting but anything with potential and excitement squandered away.

This movie is a disaster, it's not a case of me not getting it and anyone who comes at me saying this cannot accept criticism. This is not a masterpiece, this is just a pretentious wankfest for pompous media students who think they're above everyone else for watching a film that was trying to have "meaning."

0/10 - If you've heard about this film being iconic and want to give it a try, DON'T!… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

Everybody-Jun 9, 2020

Probably out of all the well known mainstream films this is the slowest, it's also very cryptic and the final "star child" sequence is excruciatingly boring, torture to sit through. It has one redeeming factor HAL 9000, who is a great villainProbably out of all the well known mainstream films this is the slowest, it's also very cryptic and the final "star child" sequence is excruciatingly boring, torture to sit through. It has one redeeming factor HAL 9000, who is a great villain and if this movie had of had an easier to follow plot (or any plot at all) then maybe it could have utilised him to his full potential, the voice of HAL is just perfect, it has a real smug condescending sense of superiority to it and he has a great look, that red eye.

This movie seems to be more appreciated for it's effects than it's plot (if it even has a plot) which is fine if people enjoy it good for them but personally I am after something different, I want a great story in my films not a great sleeping pill. 3 out of 10 for HAL and one scene involving him in particular.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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2

Krond2010Nov 8, 2012

This movie is very slow, and two hours of ships docking, apes and about 4 minutes of the monoliths that the movie is about. If I hadn't read the book first, I wouldn't know what the hell was happening. Read the book, not the movie.

12 of 21 users found this helpful129

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FranKenweenieApr 22, 2018

the most boring meaningless movie i have ever seen just an overrated director where is the freaking story charcters are just ****

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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3

MacsMusicDec 30, 2017

This is one of the weirdest, and slowest movies that I've ever seen. Every scene was 5 minutes longer than it had to be, and watching this movie was a painful experience as a result. The plot is complete nonsense, with no real direction orThis is one of the weirdest, and slowest movies that I've ever seen. Every scene was 5 minutes longer than it had to be, and watching this movie was a painful experience as a result. The plot is complete nonsense, with no real direction or anything. The only redeeming factors are Hal, and the music.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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MircojujubeApr 27, 2020

this is the most overrated movie in all cinema history and anydody who says they understood it is lying, it's just a gigantic show off of visual and special effects, if it were done today it would be destryed by critics but it's 50 years oldthis is the most overrated movie in all cinema history and anydody who says they understood it is lying, it's just a gigantic show off of visual and special effects, if it were done today it would be destryed by critics but it's 50 years old and made by kubrick so it has to be a masterpice... **** if you'd like to see a good kubrick movie watch shining or clockwork orange, if you want to watch a good space movie check out interstellar or the martian.

disappointed… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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Longo12Feb 7, 2014

I must say I don't get the hype of this movie. I could not even see the whole thing in one sitting because i was having trouble staying awake. I will say though that it looks fantastic the special effects definetly still hold up today and theI must say I don't get the hype of this movie. I could not even see the whole thing in one sitting because i was having trouble staying awake. I will say though that it looks fantastic the special effects definetly still hold up today and the directing was good. I would say see it for yourself because obviously a lot of people do not agree with me but I'm not sure I could sit through it again. I honestly think now that people just say it's great because they don't want to be the one that says they don't get it.… Expand

6 of 13 users found this helpful67

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SolipsistNov 18, 2013

I have no idea which movie you seen, but obviously I did not watch one. What I did watch, however, was a 2 hour long visual escapade of the void.

Character motivation; never established (or horribly rushed), Character development;I have no idea which movie you seen, but obviously I did not watch one. What I did watch, however, was a 2 hour long visual escapade of the void.

Character motivation; never established (or horribly rushed),
Character development; non-existent,
Character depth; non-existent (2D personality; not even a shred of emotion, and with some astonishingly stupid characters. And yes, even Hal),
The plot; never fully established,
Scene transition (like from ancient times to post-modern times); non-existent, it is being cut so quickly it makes it seem like every single scene shouts "Retcon!"
Visual effects: The entire focus, this movie is just a mish-mash of visual effects. Just call it a demo-reel and be done with it. This is no movie. The way the effects blend in don't even make any sense.
The music score: The entire focus as well, but just like the visuals; no effort to connect the music to the scenes was taken. Apparently they just hoped it will work itself out, and they were so proud of the music they even allowed the final track to keep on playing for an extra 3 minutes after the credits had already disappeared just to fully use every single shred of dime they wasted on this film.

When you have to put all of your energies in order to save a movie, instead of being showered with content by the movie; you obviously put way too much into the medium. Just read a book, people.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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Trev29Nov 17, 2014

This movie did not impress me in the slightest. It is not as if the music is original. This "odyssey" is horribly incoherent and boring. I guess I just don't get it, nor do I want to.

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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MovieEnthusiastNov 12, 2014

I personally think Kubrick use obfuscation style so people get more curious to see the movie, the visual effect are awesome but definitely not his best work,

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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3

imthenoobJun 2, 2019

Visually stunning but that is about it. There is very little dialogue and you could honestly skip more than half the movie and not miss a beat. 2001 would have been much better as a short film than a feature.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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LachlanSNov 10, 2009

If you fast forward through all non-dialogue portions of this 130 minute movie, it distills down to a mediocre 20 minute sci-fi story. If you don't fast forward, you're guaranteed to fall asleep.

3 of 10 users found this helpful

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History-DudeNov 27, 2010

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A random, slow movie with no definite plot, the twenty minute screensaver at the end was, and is, not a necessary part of any movie. I don't want to insult anyone's love for sci-fi movies, but it was a terrible movie. The only positive thing was the science behind spinning to create gravity with several other scientific ideas and the digital animation for it's period.… Expand

11 of 38 users found this helpful1127

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JamesB.Aug 21, 2007

I must have seen a different 2001: A Space Odyssey than everyone else. Mine was a two hours long screen saver. I watched it a week ago and I'm still furious about how mind-numbingly boring it was. Critics, if this was an elaborate I must have seen a different 2001: A Space Odyssey than everyone else. Mine was a two hours long screen saver. I watched it a week ago and I'm still furious about how mind-numbingly boring it was. Critics, if this was an elaborate practical joke, you win.… Expand

4 of 14 users found this helpful

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EthanRMay 28, 2009

Recently, I stayed at a hotel that had a very interesting art style. They had flatscreen TV's running nonstop with strange, enigmatic videos, as a sort of "moving art." This movie would fit perfectly on to one of those screens. Where it Recently, I stayed at a hotel that had a very interesting art style. They had flatscreen TV's running nonstop with strange, enigmatic videos, as a sort of "moving art." This movie would fit perfectly on to one of those screens. Where it does not fit is in a movie theater. As a movie, it is horrible. Immensely boring and repetitive, it lacks character development, relevance between scenes, and any respectable acting. It gives no explanation for any of its many random plot changes, leaving the interpretation up to the viewer, a cop-out way of passing off what was not even artistic as deep and meaningful. I give it a 1 because, for its time, the special effects are wholly impressive. But other than that, this movie is excruciating.… Expand

3 of 11 users found this helpful

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DemiourgosAug 17, 2010

This movie is so bad I can't even explain it, I was shocked when I saw it, people told me it was a masterpiece but it's one of the most overrated movies ever because it's just terrible, there is nothing in this movie that actually makes it aThis movie is so bad I can't even explain it, I was shocked when I saw it, people told me it was a masterpiece but it's one of the most overrated movies ever because it's just terrible, there is nothing in this movie that actually makes it a movie. The monkeys scene is the most epic fail scene in the history of cinematography.… Expand

5 of 19 users found this helpful514

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2

StanleyK.Mar 9, 2009

Slowest movie ever made and of course its outdated, hence the title.

3 of 12 users found this helpful

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KGBisCrazyApr 29, 2015

Do you want a resume of this film without spoilers ?
3 Hours of shots in space
so f*cking boring seriously, I like the Shining, I like A Orange Clockwork, So i can only think that Kubrick was very very very VERY drunk while making thisDo you want a resume of this film without spoilers ?
3 Hours of shots in space
so f*cking boring
seriously, I like the Shining, I like A Orange Clockwork, So i can only think that Kubrick was very very very VERY drunk while making this Movie, And several critics and movie goers thought "It can't be this bad, So It must mean something !!"… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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ParithMay 23, 2015

Overrated and boring. An impersonation of greatness that people can't tell from the real thing. Dramatic music and scenes from different times convince the impressionable that the film is epic. Two completely unrelated things struggle to beOverrated and boring. An impersonation of greatness that people can't tell from the real thing. Dramatic music and scenes from different times convince the impressionable that the film is epic. Two completely unrelated things struggle to be the stars of this movie - the AI and the monolith. Why? Because the movie has no worthy story, just a heaping of mysterious omissions and dramatic slowness. But with two mysterious things you double the illusion that you are seeing something interesting. Legitimate mystery can be interesting, but this is story telling by omission. Where the author fills in a lack of vision and creativity with omissions that they try to sell as mysterious. This is a great fraud. And I've watched it a few times in search of it's alleged genius. I wonder how much of the praise of this film is people following the herd saying it's smart to seem smart since they think other people think it's smart (like you see in so many things - wine, food, art, literature).… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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WerothegreatMay 21, 2011

This movie is simply an excuse to play Blue Danube in full, twice. The beginning and ending are utter tripe - just because something is confusing, that doesn't mean it's a masterpiece. It more likely is nonsense. Kubrick has done much better.

3 of 13 users found this helpful310

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csw12Nov 16, 2014

From one of the dumbest opening scenes to an ending that can be describe as one of the worst in history, a 2001: A Space Odyssey is nothing but a dull pretentious film that for almost it's 3 hour length, had less to offer than a blank whiteFrom one of the dumbest opening scenes to an ending that can be describe as one of the worst in history, a 2001: A Space Odyssey is nothing but a dull pretentious film that for almost it's 3 hour length, had less to offer than a blank white wall. This is the worst science fiction movie I've ever seen.… Expand

3 of 13 users found this helpful310

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SelnAdamsApr 30, 2013

When a film "requires" you to always wonder, it has failed.

A good movie should be able to stand on its own and not require one to interpret more than the bear meaning of it's content. The more a movie needs to be analyzed apart fromWhen a film "requires" you to always wonder, it has failed.

A good movie should be able to stand on its own and not require one to interpret more than the bear meaning of it's content.

The more a movie needs to be analyzed apart from its self, the more it becomes a subjective object in the mind of the viewer.

Why would I need to watch 2001 and ponder about life and the universe when I can ponder about the subject at anytime, anywhere?

Write something, or find a new profession.… Expand

3 of 14 users found this helpful311

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2

Delta_AssaultSep 28, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I recently rewatched 2001 to reassess it. Give it another fair shake. It's still just... not good. The pace is still excruciatingly slow, and that 15-20 minute MP3 visualizer sequence still looks dumb. You can tell that by the end, they aren't even trying anymore, and just started showing footage of the Grand Canyon with loopy colors. The monkey sequence at the beginning's probably the best part of the film, it's not quite as bad. It's not quite as slow and dull. The makeup work they did on those apesuits was great, you can stand back a bit from the television and if you didn't know it was a film, you might actually think it was documentary footage. I've read all four 2001 novels by Arthur C. Clarke. The 2001 novel's great. The story's very well told in that book. But Kubrick's storytelling just kills this story. Just kills it. It's an epic journey, a literal Space Odyssey. I just don't think Kubrick's storytelling conveys that in a satisfying manner. And again, nobody needs to sit in a theater and stare at a visualizer sequence for 15 minutes. That's just torture. It was just aimless, tedious and boring. Whereas I think a human being traveling through a stargate and observing the wonders of the universe, stars being birthed, supernovas exploding, interstellar exchange systems, etc, would be awed and amazed. I was not awed and amazed by what they showed me. It did not look like the wonders of the universe while traveling at a high speed. It looked like colorful garbage. Followed by some footage of the Grand Canyon and an ocean with color substitution. That's not the majesty of the universe. Wearing the audience down with tedious rubbish is not the same as wearing Bowman down with amazing galactic sights. The latter is what's supposed to be going on in the story. Some might argue that the rubbish is supposed to be rubbish because what Bowman is going through can't actually be processed, his mind won't accept it, and so it has to be shown as a jumble of rubbish. Well, that's just not good film-making. You can't just throw up your arms and declare it unfilmable, and show us a lot of **** onscreen. Film is a visual medium, we need to see stuff. That stuff should generally be interesting to watch. Showing us really awful visuals and declaring it to be the point and that it's supposed to be really awful visuals, well... that might be the intent, but it doesn't change the fact that the viewer has just seen really awful visuals. That's not fair to the audience. If your whole concept is to have something that's unimaginable and incomprehensible and unknowable, just stop right there. Don't make the **** film, at all. There's nothing to be done with that, just don't go on the endeavor.… Expand

2 of 10 users found this helpful28

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AnthonyP.Jul 1, 2008

After hearing all this acclaim for this movie I thought it was going to be a spectacular movie. Instead I was submitted to 25 minutes of monkeys screaming at eachother, over an hour total of scenes of space with just music or breathing, and After hearing all this acclaim for this movie I thought it was going to be a spectacular movie. Instead I was submitted to 25 minutes of monkeys screaming at eachother, over an hour total of scenes of space with just music or breathing, and and a sparse half hour total of actual dialogue. The concept is great, the execution is painfully slow and boring.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful

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davidbApr 19, 2009

This movie made me so mad I went on the internet and searched for worst movie ever so I could vote for it.

0 of 9 users found this helpful

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AdamN.Aug 19, 2009

If I were a US soldier who held a terrorist captive and wanted to receive valuable or any source of information from him, but the sergent refuses to give me any, make him watch this horrible film in a dark chamber. He'll be pleading for If I were a US soldier who held a terrorist captive and wanted to receive valuable or any source of information from him, but the sergent refuses to give me any, make him watch this horrible film in a dark chamber. He'll be pleading for mercy to get him out of there.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful

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ThomasB.Dec 28, 2008

The worst film I've ever seen. What does the film want to be? This is no art it's only crap. Please dont see this film, every euro you would spend on it is lost, lost, lost.

0 of 18 users found this helpful

2

mckaing10277Jun 8, 2022

the audio is horrible to go along with the dated 60s style. I couldn't make it through this dated classic

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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3

cirkomiknaApr 21, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie feels highly overrated to me. It hasn't aged well, too. This movie doesn't make sense at all. There are three independent story arcs that don't have anything to do with each other. The first arc is that people found signs of alien life, and people are sent to investigate that. But that story point is completely dropped. Why is it in the movie?
The second arc is how the crew struggles with HAL. That was maybe revolutionary 40 years ago, but it does not hold up. There are so many good films with robots turning on their masters that you don't need to sit through this. Like the whole film, this conflict is way to stretched out, slow paced and boring. At the same time, considering that nothing happens, the conflict escalates and is resolved way to fast. There's not even a hint of the tension that other films managed to achieve with the same theme. And then there's the ending, which does not make sense at all. People like to act all pretentious and call it artistic and transcending, but it's just a bunch of noise and colors bundled together with scenes that don't make any sense. The entire movie has just been obliterated by the passage of time.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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1

johnnyboy53Jan 21, 2023

2001: A Space Odyssey is an interminable snooze-fest that will have you counting the minutes until the end. Sure, the special effects may have been groundbreaking in 1968, but let's be real, they look pretty cheesy now. And what's with the2001: A Space Odyssey is an interminable snooze-fest that will have you counting the minutes until the end. Sure, the special effects may have been groundbreaking in 1968, but let's be real, they look pretty cheesy now. And what's with the ending? I have no idea what I just watched. Was it a psychedelic trip or a sci-fi flick? I'm still trying to figure out what the monoliths represent. All I know is that I wasted two hours of my life on this pretentious mess. Save yourself the trouble and go watch The Martian instead. At least that movie knows what it wants to be.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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