from Houston, TX

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Movies shot on 35mm film or less, like 16mm, reach their ceiling at Blu-Ray 1920x1080, to a max of 2K tops.

Even people who own grand spectacle movies from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to Ghostbusters note the obvious, gritty, film grain in Blu-Ray.

It only gets worse in 4K. The technology for digitally cleaning up the grain and bringing 35mm movies up to 4K quality isn't there yet as of this 2019 writing.

Except for Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

So what made this movie the exception?

Stanley Kubrick's mania. He shot this on the best (read expensive) Eastman Kodak film stock available at the time and on a whopping large 65mm negative format. Before IMAX there was Cinerama and it demanded massive screens projecting 70mm positives that overwhelmed the audience beneath it.

On top of this, Stanley wanted an auditory spectacle that would match his image, and employed a 6 track separation stereo on the film stock.

Few theaters could handle such a tall order but Stanley was a perfectionist and correctly realized that the technology of the theatrical audio and visual of cinema would only get better with time. He wanted to stave off the moment - for as long as possible - when audiences would technically regard his movie as on par with silent black and white cinema.

In fact, Kubrick would have shot it in 3D if he felt the technology of his era was up to it.

The beauty of all of this is that we can own this classic - Kubrick's first Horror movie* - and enjoy it on a large 4K screen with pristine picture and sound.

*Science fiction Horror, he would go on to shoot his first Supernatural Horror, Stephen King's The Shining, over ten years later.

For the next 50 years, fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey, had to endure 35mm at arthouse theaters or worse, TV, VHS, or DVD quality.

No longer. Kubrick's visionary decision ensures that you can finally enjoy this movie in a way you have likely never seen, even in a theater.

Personally speaking, I was not disappointed.

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I would recommend this to a friend!

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This review is from2001: A Space Odyssey [Blu-ray] [1968].

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Customer Rating

An example of why blu-ray will push DVD out...

on September 3, 2010

Posted by: arnieb

from Redlands, CA

I'm not here to give a review about the film... This blu-ray edition of 2001: A Space Odyssey is the one you should own if you are a fan of this film. I have never seen it look this good. I recently bought a blu-ray player, looked on some sites to see what were the "definitive" BD's to get and 2001 was recommended. I love this film as it is and to watch it with such clarity and sharpness makes me all giddy.

I can tell you that you will NOT be disappointed. The picture quality and audio is absolutely stunning. I wasn't around when it was released in theaters, but I'm pretty sure this is how it looked on the big screen. Kubrick would be proud of the treatment his sci-fi masterpiece received.

And PLEASE to those citing the 2.20:1 aspect ratio... LOOK IT UP. That's how Kubrick filmed it! If you knew anything about the original you would know this is how it was intended to be and NOTHING is cut from this version.

What's great about it: Amazing video quality

What's not so great: Nothing

I would recommend this to a friend!

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This review is from2001: A Space Odyssey [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [1968].

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A Showcase of 4K

on April 20, 2019

Posted by: Happycamper

Verified Purchase:Yes

This is one of the best 4K transfers ever produced. Even though the film is 50 years old it looks like it was recently made. The sound and picture are perfect. It has lots of interesting bonus materials on a second Blu-ray disc as well which includes….

2001: The Making of a Myth (480i; 43:08) is an interesting retrospective with lots of people discussing the impact of the film.

Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 (480i; 21:25) features people such as Steven Spielberg and George Lucas discussing what the film has meant to them and the art of cinema.

Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001 (480i; 21:31) looks at some of the things that seemed futuristic in 1968.

2001: A Space Odyssey: A Look Behind the Future (480p; 23:11) is a longer form archival piece that includes production data and interviews.

What Is Out There? (480i; 20:42)

2001: FX and Conceptual Artwork (480i; 9:33) features some interesting comments from Douglas Trumbull.

Look: Stanley Kubrick! (480i; 3:15) is a brief piece focusing on Kubrick's work as a magazine photographer.

11/27/1966 Interview with Stanley Kubrick (1:16:31) is an audio interview conducted by Jeremy Bernstein that plays to a still image (1080p) of the Starchild gazing on his new toy (Earth).

Theatrical Trailer (480p; 1:51)

Also included is a small booklet with production photos and four 5x7 cards. “2001 A Space Odyssey” is a film that belongs in every collection. It is groundbreaking in every possible way and is the the film that has influenced so many countless other films.

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Customer Rating

Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?

on January 16, 2011

Posted by: SicDigital

from Atlanta, GA

"2001" is one of those movies that you're either going to love or hate. I pity those who hate it, as its simply one of the best sci-fi films ever.

It starts off with "dawn of time," where humans were still primitive apes, who stumble across a mysterious monolith that aids their evolution to being human. Fast forward to 1999, another monolith is found buried on the moon and the origin is determined from Jupiter. The next evolutionary step is what "2001" focuses on: man and computer.

This movie's visuals are nearly poetic in nature. Kubrick's attention to detail is staggering. Keep in mind this was filmed before man landed on the moon in real life. In fact, conspiracy theorists to this day believe unused footage from this movie is what the US gov't used to "fake" the moon landing. Regardless of your own personal beliefs about that, it is a testament to how realistic and believable every aspect of this movie is.

Let me come back to my opening statement, that you'll either love or hate this. Though I clearly love it, I can see why some would not. For example, the first bit of dialogue is at 25:38, and up until then the camera and music tell the story. The last 23 minutes are the same way (there's about 88 min of dialogue-free footage total) and the visuals become the narrator. Those looking for fast camera cuts and laser guns and explosions and things of that nature will likely find this boring. The mood is relaxed, almost tranquil. The pace is slow. Take a deep breath and take everything on the screen in.

Something else that may be [unfortunately] seen as a negative is how open for interpretation the overall story is, especially the ending. Personally, I believe that's what makes it so great, but I do know some people like their plot spoon-fed to them.

"2001" was filmed in 70mm in the 2.2:1 aspect ratio, which means that though it was filmed over 40 years ago, the clarity and crispness of the picture makes it look like something that was filmed recently. For visuals alone, this is a Blu-ray worth owning just to show off your HDTV to friends.

This is one of those rare movies you "experience" more than you "watch."

What's great about it: Visuals, cinematography, soundtrack, HAL9000

What's not so great: Long dialogue-free sequences, slow pacing

I would recommend this to a friend!

Other Best Buy Products I Recommend

Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope [1977 & 1997 Versions] [WS] [DVD] [1977]

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (2pc) (W/Book)

Serenity [WS] [Blu-ray] [2005]

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2001 has never looked better.

on December 27, 2018

Posted by: BOBMAN

from california

Verified Purchase:Yes

After all these years there's no point in reviewing the film--everything's been said a thousand times already, so I'll ficus on the 4K bluray itself. Wow! Warner did a truly masterful job on this 4K bluray of Kubrick's classic space movie which that ushered in the modern era of special effects. They actually wnt back to the 65mm negatives (versus the 35mm version used on the previous bluray release) and scanned the film to video in 8K resolution. After cleaning it up, removing scratches, dirt, etc. and grading the movie for HDR they downconverted it to 4K for the bluray. All that work shows. This is the ULTIMATE home video release of this film! the detail and resolution are a major step up and the improved color and depth afforded by HDR take it up another notch entirely. I cannot imagine a better looking version. Even some of the colors (like the red chairs on Space Station Five) are back to the colors I remember from seeing it at the Cinerama Dome as a child. The disc has both HDR10 and Dolby Vision so whichever your system can play, they've got you covered. For any fan of this movie with a 4K HDR system at home, getting this disc is A MUST!

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This review is from2001 - A Space Odyssey (Special Edition) [DVD].

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Life Changing

on April 20, 2008

Posted by: ActionsSpeakLouder

Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is the second greatest movie of all time and is definitley one that changed my life. 2001: ASO is more than a "movie" it is an experience. Visually it has no equal, 2001 is all about what you see and what you think while seeing it. There is maybe 40 minutes of actual dialogue and not much is learned from that dialogue with the exception of what is said by the super computer HAL-9000. Stanley Kubrick created something that even now 40 years later is still trying to be understood, but the beauty of it is, is that it's all about what you think and feel about what you see. There is no definite answer of what happens. Music has never been more important to a movie then it is with 2001. The classical music carries the scenes and offers a haunting feel to the vastness of space, the unknown of space. I recommend this to anyone I feel can sit through a movie for over 2 and a half hours with only 40 minutes of dialogue, and has the capability to think. To really think about everything, because that's what it comes down to, thinking and questioning every thing. I know this may not be specific and just my opinion but with this amazing experience it's hard to explain what happens without giving things away. To put it sweet and simple; just go see it, thats the best review I can give.

I would recommend this to a friend!

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Customer Rating

The BEST Movie of a GENERATION! SPECTACULAR!

on July 17, 2009

Posted by: sixone

from Tulsa,OK

A FIRST of its KIND. BRILLIANT PLOT and CINEMATOGRAPHY!! I have had a copy of this ONE OF A KIND MOVIE for years.But you have to see it on DVD with home theater with your new 1080 P TV. This film has the most meticulousy shot space sceens. Way better than anything that Star Trek was doing filming the weekly TV show at the same time.
The plot pits MAN on an interstellar journey to a Monolith, with a computer,HAL ,in charge of running the life support and the ship, when HAL's Artificial Intelligence trys to take over. Was it the Monolith affecting HAL, or is its AI just acting bad? You have to get this movie in DVD or Blu-ray and sit in AWE at how really good this movie still is!

What's great about it: A FIRST of its KIND. BRILLIANT PLOT and CINEMATOGRAPHY!!

What's not so great: Nothing!

I would recommend this to a friend!

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Before Star Wars, there was 2001

on August 1, 2010

Posted by: XAvenger

2001 is one of the greatest motion pictures ever made and was the first to show just how great sci-fi can really be.

It starts millions of years ago at the dawn of Man when an alien obelisk comes to Earth and jumpstarts Man's evolution. An similar obelisk is discovered on the Moon in 2001 and this leads to an ill-fated mission to Jupiter where a similar object is located. What follows is a mind bending and hypnotic journey through space and time to the very edge of infinity.

The visual effects look great, not dated at all. Which is remarkable when you consider this movie was made in 1964. The visual effects really shine in Hi-Def! The clarity and sharpness of the picture makes the great visuals look even better. The Blu-Ray brings out details of the Moon that you just don't see on any other format.

The score is composed of selections from some of the best classical music ever composed. The opening with 'Also sprauch Zarathustra' is stunning and the use of 'Blue Danube' in the space scenes makes it look like the spaceships and space stations are dancing. This classical score also gives 2001 an air of timelessness.

The extras give some insights on the making and legacy of 2001. There's a nice piece on how some of the visual effects were made that includes some cool concept art. The only problem is this one art critic was trying to talk about the movie in the most pretentious way possible, fortunatly she isn't in extra segment a whole lot.

All of the movie, the music and visuals, look brilliant on Blu-Ray. The picture and sound quality of the format gives you 2001 as it was meant to be seen. The clarity and detail is tremendous.

See for yourself why 2001 is on every sci-fi fan's '10 best movies ever made list'. 2001 is a true masterpiece that has stood the test of time. We may have passed the year 2001, but this film is still one of the finest ever made. This is as close to perfection as movies come. A must have for any Blu-Ray collection!

What's great about it: There's so much that's great about this movie

What's not so great: Can't think of anything

I would recommend this to a friend!

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