I first experienced this movie during my middle school years and initially considered it the absolute worst. However, upon revisiting it as an adult, I found myself incredibly impressed by its quality. It struck me as remarkably beautiful and impressive, so much so that I struggled to believe it was created in 1968. I now regard it as a significant historical piece, comparable to Goethe's "Faust" within literature—a truly exceptional achievement in cinema. The film’s dialogue is kept to an absolute minimum, and even if presented in black and white, I feel I could watch it repeatedly without growing weary of the quietness. It's Kubrick’s skill that allows you to experience this movie accompanied by classical music rather than distracting sound effects like those found in "Jaws," creating a controlled emotional rhythm similar to Charlie Chaplin’s silent films. I am unsure how well-received this film was originally in the United States, but here in Japan, many people find it challenging and avoid it because of its complexity.

Source on TMDB