2001: A Space Odyssey (NR)

Kubrick's sci-fi masterpiece is still relevant.

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Common Sense rates it
5
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Movie details
  • Studio: Warner Bros.
  • Directed By: Stanley Kubrick
  • Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester
  • Running Time: 141 minutes
  • Release Date: 04/06/1968
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 05/06/1991
  • Genre: Science Fiction
  • MPAA Rating: NR

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is an eye-opening experience for older children, with much to ponder and push teens to a greater appreciation of the mystery of life and the universe. They should also be aware that this classic is slow-moving and it could lose audiences expecting a fast-paced sci-fi movie in a spaceship. Patience and a willingness to fall into the suspense of the film are necessary.

Families can talk about more subtle aspects of the film they might have missed: Why is the moment the apes use tools a turning point? What does the monolith represent?

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Characters in peril and some are killed.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

In this science fiction masterpiece, Stanley Kubrick tracks the odyssey of mankind, from the dawn of man 4 million years ago to the exploration of deep space. The film begins with a desolate time when our ape-like predecessors led frightened and brutal lives, scrounging for food and huddling against the cold night while wild animals howled in the distance. In a few short minutes, Kubrick has spanned the epochs, depicting the origins of tribes and the miraculous morning when apes awoke and learned how to use tools. With this ability, mankind was launched on its journey to the stars. On Kubrick's timeline, it is just a small next step to the exploration of the moon. And from the moon, mankind heads off to Jupiter. But what is triggering these immense changes? Why are humans evolving and what is their destiny? At transforming moments along this odyssey, a mysterious black monolith appears, drawing humans ever forward. But toward what?

Is it any good?

5
For children 12 or older, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY can be a mind-boggling experience. In a series of dramatic vignettes, it introduces children to cosmic mysteries and gives them an opportunity and an incentive to grapple with issues that span the millennia. Younger children may be impressed by the drama, the special effects and the beautiful music, but may have a hard time following the plot. In addition, they will lose patience with some of the longer segments dealing with space exploration. (The special effects used by Kubrick were revolutionary in their day, but will seem commonplace to children raised on Star Wars and Star Trek: The Next Generation).

Even 12-year olds may not appreciate the subtle references to political rivalries and intrigue on earth, the cover-up of mysterious developments on the moon, or the more ironic aspects of the clash between man and machine (HAL the computer plaintively crying that he is afraid and that he can feel his mind going is a poignant example). But most teenagers cannot help but be swept up in this film, which stretches their minds and gives them mysteries and uncertainty instead of endings where everything is neatly tied up with a bow. As kids strive to deal with the uncertainty of the ending, and fill in its gaps and illuminate its gray areas by drawing upon their own personality and sense of the world, they are on their way to appreciating greater and more mature forms of art.

Other choices

2010
Childhood's End
Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/03/08 by Patsman Kid contributor, age 10

5


Posted on 11/10/07 by MovieBuffMan123 Kid contributor, age 15

Simple put: Best Movie of its generation

There was nothing like it then and it is still true today,I have never seen such a great and compelling sci-fi film this is Kubrick at the top of his form, but i see nothing wrong with it as in for your kids other than they will not get it
5


Posted on 07/19/07 by Eragon394 Kid contributor, age 13

This movie stimulates vary intellegent conversation.

This movie is definitly not for those people who are watching it hoping to see an action pacted sifi movie. This movie shows mans progretion through time. Progretion is sybolized by a tall black monilith. Many people think this movie is centered around the HAL 9000 but it is not!! It is centered aroun the mystery of the Tall Balck Monolith!!This movie would be a lot easier to understand if you read the book first! I made the mistake of not reading the book first and my dad had to explain something to me every few scenes(hes read book).It is a great movie but is definitly not for those who like fast paced movies with lots of action!!Be prepared to use ure brain at the end because it is vary confusing!
5

Posted on 07/04/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Overall - Mild content

Violence: Mild - Only one scene of forceful violence (an ape killing another ape with a tool) and two other death scenes (one of a human, not shown onscreen and the shutting down of a human-like computer). Sex/Nudity: None Horror: Mild - Psychological horror, handled with a mild intensity, which includes themes of separation, paranoia and death. There are also some suspenseful moments in the film. Language: None. Drugs/Alcohol: None. Overall: Some moderate and thought-provoking themes handled with a mild intensity.
2


Posted on 02/09/07 by bubbo Kid contributor, age 14

Calling this film 'slow paced' is an understatement...

I enjoy slow-paced films more than most kids my age, I also tend to like weird movies. But this film was beyond slow-paced! Some scenes were pointless and stretched out to incredible lengths! I was really irritated by this movie, and eventually fell asleep while watching it. The only interesting thing about it were some nice visuals and HAL 9000, who I found to be a very fascinating 'character.'
5


Posted on 06/19/06 by moviemogul 2.0; also fomerly moviemogul Kid contributor, age 15

A Classic As Soon as it Came Out

Keeping it short: This movie is excellent in almost every sense of the word, and desrves to be watched by everone. The imagination in bringing Clarke's novel to life was brilliant and achieve's its goal of inspiring the viewer. One on note, however: the novel and its followers were superior to the movie, and the novel will probably take less time to read than to watch the movie.
Age 11+
4


Posted on 05/23/06 by HaloFreak123 Adult contributor

A classic

This is a great movie, its just that the ending is wierd. :)

See all 7 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

Age 11+
4


Posted on 05/23/06 by HaloFreak123 Adult contributor

A classic

This is a great movie, its just that the ending is wierd. :)

Kids Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/03/08 by Patsman Kid contributor, age 10

5


Posted on 11/10/07 by MovieBuffMan123 Kid contributor, age 15

Simple put: Best Movie of its generation

There was nothing like it then and it is still true today,I have never seen such a great and compelling sci-fi film this is Kubrick at the top of his form, but i see nothing wrong with it as in for your kids other than they will not get it
5


Posted on 07/19/07 by Eragon394 Kid contributor, age 13

This movie stimulates vary intellegent conversation.

This movie is definitly not for those people who are watching it hoping to see an action pacted sifi movie. This movie shows mans progretion through time. Progretion is sybolized by a tall black monilith. Many people think this movie is centered around the HAL 9000 but it is not!! It is centered aroun the mystery of the Tall Balck Monolith!!This movie would be a lot easier to understand if you read the book first! I made the mistake of not reading the book first and my dad had to explain something to me every few scenes(hes read book).It is a great movie but is definitly not for those who like fast paced movies with lots of action!!Be prepared to use ure brain at the end because it is vary confusing!
5

Posted on 07/04/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Overall - Mild content

Violence: Mild - Only one scene of forceful violence (an ape killing another ape with a tool) and two other death scenes (one of a human, not shown onscreen and the shutting down of a human-like computer). Sex/Nudity: None Horror: Mild - Psychological horror, handled with a mild intensity, which includes themes of separation, paranoia and death. There are also some suspenseful moments in the film. Language: None. Drugs/Alcohol: None. Overall: Some moderate and thought-provoking themes handled with a mild intensity.
2


Posted on 02/09/07 by bubbo Kid contributor, age 14

Calling this film 'slow paced' is an understatement...

I enjoy slow-paced films more than most kids my age, I also tend to like weird movies. But this film was beyond slow-paced! Some scenes were pointless and stretched out to incredible lengths! I was really irritated by this movie, and eventually fell asleep while watching it. The only interesting thing about it were some nice visuals and HAL 9000, who I found to be a very fascinating 'character.'
5


Posted on 06/19/06 by moviemogul 2.0; also fomerly moviemogul Kid contributor, age 15

A Classic As Soon as it Came Out

Keeping it short: This movie is excellent in almost every sense of the word, and desrves to be watched by everone. The imagination in bringing Clarke's novel to life was brilliant and achieve's its goal of inspiring the viewer. One on note, however: the novel and its followers were superior to the movie, and the novel will probably take less time to read than to watch the movie.
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52 votes