Star Wars and 2001: A Space Odyssey found, perhaps intentionally, two very different groups of fanbases. One has become a part of popular culture and spawned five sequels, and in itself has become another universal phenomenon; the other, meanwhile, never targeted a financially-driven demographic, and thus has settled as a cult favourite, and arthouse classic.

The two do deal with Sci-fi, but the differing tones with which they do this set them to opposite ends of the movie spectrum. Lucas' is fast, loud and exciting story; Kubrick's is deliberately the opposite: slow, quiet and an intellectual, open-minded piece of art (though at the time, 1968, he wasn't deliberately seeking to "oppose" Star Wars, since that wasn't released until nine years after).

To mislead a filmviewer to going into a film with the high notions of it being the best of its kind, is, by my own experience, disastrous.

Thanks,
Mick