This movie isn't that well, at least for me. The main problems are that the characters and story aren't that good. It actually is a fairly nice looking film and it actually holds up. This was made at the same time the original "Star Wars" trilogy was being made and it's easy to see it influenced this. I guess it's weird now that Disney owns "Star Wars". I actually do like the robot characters.The action scenes are pretty good, but it does get boring in a lot of parts. I actually do like these red robots they have. The story is that a bunch of people in space find another spaceship near a black hole. There are some fairly good actors in this and they're not too bad. It's just nothing really interesting going on. It's such an okay movie. **1/2

This is a great science fiction adventure, which came out in 1979. I saw this film for the first time at the age of 12, and I loved it then, I still enjoy it. I can see that there are very different opinions of it here. But if you love adventure and sci fi, you won't be disappointed.10 reasons to watch this film: 1) A great story, dark and entertaining all along 2) Great special effects, they still work today 3) One of the biggest and most scary star ships ever shown on film! 4) Good performances from well known actors like Anthony Perkins. 5) The film score from Barry is outstanding - chilling and powerful 6) A very very alternative ending... 7) It's a film ahead of the times, the story, the creepy truth, truly an inspiration of todays filmmakers. 8) It's spectacular 9) Prove those who turn it down wrong! 10) A perfect popcorn movie!

With The Black Hole, I'd say you either love it or you hate it. And of course, many sci-fi fans despise this movie. I'll say this - The Black Hole is extremely unique, and severely overlooked. It has an excellent score, beautiful backgrounds, and an intriguing story with a cheesy (but lovable) cast. It is dark at times, but exciting and action-packed as a science fiction movie should be. The ambiguous ending is the only thing I do not like about this movie, given its abruptness and out-of-place feel. I'll say it again, though - the ending does not define the movie, and it remains a very entertaining, well-done, truly Disney classic.

Having seen this movie in the theater when I was 8, I and everyone in my school was spellbound by it. Many parts of it haven't held up well 30 years later: the acting is similar to any 70's made for TV show. It was made at a time when every show had a wisecracking character (think SNL) and had a symphonic theme (just listen to any TV theme show from the time). While the movie gets often nailed for the stoically wooden acting, 90% of the characters are scientists, robots or following the contemporary stereotype of astronauts as strong and taciturn. The plot is essentially 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea set in space. Culturally, the movie felt topical at the time. It was a perfect amalgamation of popular culture in the late 1970's: science fiction (Star Wars, et al.), video games (Space Invaders), space exploration (the Voyager probes), laser guns and robots (everything from Battlestar Galactica to Buck Rogers), as well as ESP, parapsychology and heaven vs. hell (c.f. see the number of books on psychic phenomena and mysteries from the late 70's as well as the popularity of things like Heaven Can Wait and the George Burns' "Oh God!" movies). Disney took a huge gamble on a movie that was so overtly dark, both in tone and set lighting. The movie was not a runaway financial success but was not a loss either, a major achievement considering its extremely high price tag. Even if its ethos and pacing don't fit well with today's audiences, its design sense holds up today. The sets create a feeling of both scale, claustrophobia, and tension. The robot V.I.N.CENT actually steals the show, both in his insight and action. His action figure was more popular on the playground than any of the Star Wars figures, yet most of his constant clever yet arrogant wisdom comes from literary quotes far beyond any child's entertainment - from Shakespeare to Cicero to the Bible. Like the best Disney movies, this one was made to be simultaneously enjoyed on different levels by both the kids and adults in the audience.All in all, taken in terms of its time, it's a remarkable achievement in special effects and seeing Disney push its limits. The pacing, acting, musical themes, juxtaposition of long exposition with laser fights, scientific theories and portrayal of robots as rigid goose-steppers all seem dated today. The rest is a good allegory of balancing scientific genius with ethics. The practical effects still hold up. V.I.N.CENT is more human than any CGI creation and - with his constant humanities references, arrogance, and compassion for his crewmates - the most human component of the film. For anyone expecting a Disney movie circa the late 80's and afterwards, you may not be entertained. For classic science fiction fans as well as those who have nostalgia for or are interested in American culture in the late 70's, don't miss this. SPOILER BELOW:The ending is very 2001-esque and gets attacked for its obscurity, but the symbolism was clear to anyone who went to Sunday School (which at the time was nearly everyone): the bad guys went to hell and the good guys went to heaven. What's behind a black hole? According to the movie, the world all souls go to when they die.