2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)

Sequel to the seminal 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) that occasionally mimics Kubrick’s style but mostly plays it safe. Like 2001, bugger all happens most of the time; the difference being that when something does happen the danger level is almost non-existent. It seems to exist simply to offer answers to the difficult questions left by its predecessor, robbing it of its enigmatic nature.
Roy Scheider keeps it interesting; without him the two hour running time would feel closer to four.
It’s very close to the novel, with only minor changes, most of which I imagine were for budgetary reasons.

3 fake Russian accents out of 5

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

I revisit 2001 at least twice a year to remind myself why I love cinema.
I see men in monkey suits, a black motionless monolith, long periods of nothing happening and exercise. I hear heavy breathing and an apologetic computer and I'm utterly enthralled. It demands a lot from the viewer and if you partake it gives back even more, or it bores you rigid and makes you cry for momma. If philosophy, religion, science, pathos, terror and flashy lights in place of a conventional narrative scare you, then stay far away.

5 eye-openers out of 5