There's been a digitally remastered version, I don't know which version you are watching. But the visual effects are amazing in any version!
And yeah, 2001 was probably the biggest influence on the first Star Wars film. But like Citizen Kane, it was also hugely influential on movies period.
The Phantom Menace pays homage to 2001 by having one of the 2001 capsules in Watto's junkyard.