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[Mikademus]

Everything's explained in the novelization (which was written concurrently with the screenplay). It's really not as trippy as you might think.

I've read the books, nothing special there. But there is lots of stuff going on in the 2001 film version.

I thought the novel was quite splendid, actually. Both the movie and the book stands by themselves but the novel manages to be mysterious, deep and provocative while at the same time honestly explaining things that was occluded in the film. While the film is a masterpiece, it creates its mystery by omission and obtuseness, and all the speculation about the meaning of the ending comes from that. Nothing wrong with that, though, David Lynch did it all the time to great effect.

[Christian Knudsen]

^ What he said.

[1982]

I feel that the 2010 sequel movie was more about the original novels, and 2001 was just something Kubrick made. Thou I like 2010 as well even it is completely different.

[Christian Knudsen]

That would make sense since Kubrick co-wrote the screenplay for 2001 with Arthur C. Clarke as Clarke was writing the novel, whereas the movie 2010 was based on a preexisting novel.

[allen]

as a die-hard 2001 fan I would still recommend people watch 2010. it's bad, but I could think of ten thousand other worse choices to watch so...meh. I'm at least grateful the director took his own approach to the movie instead of trying to be a Kubrick clone. otherwise it would have been quite awful.

[Christian Knudsen]

I think it's an okay sci-fi movie -- it's just nowhere near 2001. I also hate how dated it is with all the Russian/US stuff. Have you read the novel? It's really good. As good as the 2001 novel, I'd say. There are some almost poetic passages of the Starchild/Bowman gliding through the layers of the Jovian atmosphere and witnessing the strange gaseous entities "living" there.

[allen]

No but I really need to pick up the novel one day. Since 2001 is my favorite movie of all time, you would have thought I would have read it by now.

[Gizmonicgamer]

Concerning Stargate Universe, I know, opinions and stuff. But I really, really hated that show and couldn't bear it for long. A rather disgusting amount of plot holes along with an overabudance of people bloody fricking crying all the time. Seriously, if they ain't showing the Starship, you'll see someone crying their eyes out. All the bloody time. Made it entirely an unbearable experience to me, since it pissed me off so much.

And these plot holes are? Keep in mind, i've also seen every episode of SG-1 and Atlantis.
As far as the crying goes, that aspect is seriously exaggerated; there are substantially less scenes with crying than reading a post like yours would imply, and very rarely are the scenes any longer than a few seconds. Assuming my memory is reliable in this particular case, you can count with your fingers the amount of scenes with crying in all forty episodes.

[Mikademus]

We're seriously malnourished when it comes to laser-and-spaceship sci-fi series so I will definitely look into Stargate Universe.

I only vaguely remember 2010--the movie, I haven't read the novel--but this is as good a time as any to grab both.

@Singlair, about halfway into Fringe S1 now. Yeah, it bobs up and down like a duck and it rips off X-Files like an autistic copycat killer, but it is generally well done and enjoyable, so I look forward to the good seasons!

[Gizmonicgamer]

I do have to note, dont approach Stargate Universe as a laser and spaceship series - the first space battle doesn't happen until the 10th episode, and battles later on are relatively infrequent. It has them, and they're usually Pretty Neat, but its not a gung-ho space-action scifi show.

[Smithy]

I was of the opinion that "A Scanner Darkly" was a good, though it kind of divided audiences. Dunno if it's been mentioned. Probably better to go into after reading the book--easily PKD's best work.

Gattaca is okay, but it's one of those "BE AFRAID OF SCIENCE!" flicks that came out around the time that sheep was cloned and fear of genetic science was in vogue.

I'll second Primer.