BTW, since I'm sure that someone will mention 1968's "2001: A Space Odyssey" I have to say that I prefer the 80's sequel "2010: The Year We Make Contact."
Mainly because Peter Hyams did a great job of wrapping the effects around a very tightly-written script. As much as I like the visuals of "2001," the whole film seemed to be about the special effects, and it pulled me too far out of the story itself.
Besides, "2010" had a couple of my favorite actors in it, including Roy Scheider and Helen Mirren, in one of her few nudity-free roles. I liked it anyway.
