2001 - A Space Odyssey (Limited Edition Collector's Set)

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely One of the Best Films of All Time!
Review: You cannot match Stanley Kubrick's style in this masterpiece! His complete genius in filmaking that leaves a lasting impression is apparent in every aspect of this film. His artfulness in using classical music for the soundtrack,and then using great composers such as Strauss, and Ligeti made the movie take precedence over all other sci-fi films of it's time. The cinematography is spectacular, and the sets elaborate! Yet they do not overpower the story being portrayed. The film is mysteriuos from the start, and questions are posed from the get go. And they never stop!

Rating:
Summary: This is what and Science Fiction should be on Film.
Review: You could watch 2001; A Space Odyssey in so many different ways and whatever you think of the movie will end up being very diffrent each time you see the movie, it can be interepted so many different ways.
I now say in no uncertain terms that this movie must certainly influced George Lucas and Steven Spielberg in doing the kinds of movies they do, and is still so superior to most other films in the genre that have been done before or since.

Rating:
Summary: the greatest science fiction experience of all time
Review: You have not seen "2001: A Space Odyssey" until you see it on DVD, with the proper sound system. In this setting, the film is nothing short of mindblowing, and comes as close as possible to the big screen effect. Where do I begin in quantifying this film's greatness? It is the work of a man, Stanley Kubrick, so completely sure of his skills (and correct in his assessment) that he is totally unconcerned about the glacial pace of the film, and doesn't do anything to pander to the audience's shorter attention spans. Yes, it is slow, but each...unfolding...moment...allows...the...viewer...to really contemplate what they are seeing, and the effect, combined with the stunning, impeccably selected classical music, is nothing short of mesmerizing. The scenes with the prehistoric apes discovering weaponry are amazingly staged. Yes, it's people in ape suits...but are they? The sequence is completely, incredibly believable. And then the millions-of-years jump cut...wow. This is simply one of the most rewarding, sublime, creative, gorgeous movie-watching experiences in cinematic history, and I really wish I could give it more than 5 stars. The special effects, for a film 32 years old, still look fresher than anything CGI geeks could dream up. See this film on DVD. Please.

Rating:
Summary: This movie was shot before I was born - it looks almost NEW!
Review: You have to get this for your DVD collection. The picture quality is amazing for a movie made in the sixties. Also, a great addition to your interest in spotting Kubrick's tricks and techniques with lighting and the camera.

Rating:
Summary: Great film, poor DVD
Review: You know the film. I'm reviewing this particular DVD release. Don't expect the world. You're essentially getting the film and the soundtrack for slightly more money than it costs to buy both separately. There's a big silver box and some extra stuff, but none of it's worth anything or particularly interesting - the booklet is hardly 'Filming the Future' and the limited-edition serotype is a small piece of card with a 70mm film frame glued into it. There's a trailer but no other extra bits, and I can only assume all the quotes in the reviews below about how the picture and sound quality are excellent are mistaken, because the picture quality is poor at best. The whole film has been squashed into one layer of a single side of a single DVD, and in places the compression is very bad - space is full of dark compression artifacts which hop about, lights and sunlight have chunky halos around them, and there are lots of flaws in the original negative (the intertitles, for example), which aren't corrected. It's worth mentioning the menu, too - it's garish and looks like a children's cartoon. Should you buy this? If you want 2001 on DVD, you don't have much choice. I have no idea if the other version that's out there is any better.