2001: A Space Odyssey

I just finished watching it and I have to say I have no idea what the heck I just watched.

I understood everything up until Bowman starts having hallucinations (or does he?) and seeing himself in some retro-style house with the large extraterrestrial object.

I had to go look it up and I realized that no one truly knows what it means because the director just never gave it a meaning. Theories range from purely philosophical ideas such as Nietzche's "Superman" to religious concepts to some conspiracy-type theories that involve other extraterrestrials essentially being the guides and teachers of mankind, allowing him to go from ape to man and finally to "star child." There were also other theories as to why the movie is named what it is and how it is related to older historical stories (Homer's "Odyssey" ).

Honestly, if the director did really intend to mess with minds like this, then hats off to him.

Have you ever watched it and what did you think of it the first time you did?

Eraser Head f£"ked with my mind

This is one of my favorite movies of all time, especially because of the ending montage. In my opinion, it is poetic, and doesn't necessarily need a literal explanation. And very beautiful at that.

After seeing that movie for the first time I also had no idea what I had been watching. Very confusing indeed. But I was intrigued enough to read the novel by Arthur C. Clarke a few months later. It was worth it. All I can say is, if you want to understand the movie better, read the novel.

i was 8 years old, when i saw the first time in 60's. i thought it was a cool movie, with the ape scene, the apes playing with bones. i really like hal take over the ship and david try get to control back, and then hal sent out to space. david get launched into avoid that turn into a baby, that really strange. i seen it dozen more times over the years, i think it is a clssic masterpiece, but i never really care for the symbolism in the movie.