Poll: Face-Off: 'Solaris' vs. '2001 A Space Odyssey'

Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris (1972) was initially billed in America (and has been continuously referred to since) as the Soviet Union’s answer to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). On first look, this comparison and the cultural-historical context informing it makes perfect sense. The films were released a short time apart from each other, one before and the other after the peak of the USA-USSR space race during the Cold War. So the films have been seen in some respects as the definitive cinematic reflection of the space race from two competing world superpowers, and thus each film is posited to say what each country supposedly has to say about mankind’s future role as privileged explorer of the cosmos from each of their specific national perspectives.

Between these two of the greatest space movies, which one do you think is better? After voting, discuss here.