Considered by many to be the best science fiction film ever. Considered
by others to be pretentious, clinical, languid twaddle. Which side of
the fence you fall on depends on your reaction to Kubrick's po-faced
direction: the existential conundrum he and Arthur C Clarke pose is as
fascinating as it is unanswerable. Nevertheless, HAL 9000 makes for a
terrifyingly calm psychotic computer and the opening is a wonder of
modern cinema, moving from atmospheric ape opus to space ballet in one
majestic match cut. If you find the ending a let down, take a leaf out of
the hippy bible, drop acid and enjoy the ride.
