Stanley Kubrick classic 2001: A Space Odyssey is a glorious technical and creative achievement — but it’s so long

TO celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Stanley Kubrick classic is being re-released in 70mm, unrestored format, which is as close to the original as you’re ever going to get.

This means we get a chance to reevaluate what can be regarded as the most important sci-fi film ever.

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Without it, we would arguably have had a very different Star Wars experience, Christopher Nolan would be a fair few films light and “sinister robots” would only be a local pub band rather than an entire sub-genre.

There aren’t many films that haven’t been affected in some way by Kubrik and Arthur C. Clarke’s presentation of evolution, humanity and spiritual awareness.

But this doesn’t mean it’s perfect. I found it incredibly hard to watch and it feels, to these 2018 eyes, like a bit of an indulgent chore.

I appreciated the craft without a doubt, but by God I just wanted it to get the hell on with things. It’s over 2 1/2 hours long!

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As astronaut David watches his life flash by in an instant as the film climaxes, I knew how he felt.

It’s a glorious technical and creative achievement, and its impact on the arts is incalculable – but I found myself fidgeting. Yes, I’m a heathen, bite me.

2001: A Space Odyssey

(U) 134 mins

★★★★☆