Great Movie, but he is not a God., 4 June 2000
Author:
p-ah
I like Stanley Kubricks movies too, including this one, but I feel sorry for
all of you out there who praise him like a God, and the best director of all
time. Go and see a shrink. Seek help. The funny thing is that if Mr. Kubrick
had put his name on a lousy movie, you would still say that the movie was
great.
I hope that some well known person does that sometime. Would be fun to see
the reaction of all his fans. He he he.
Why is Kubrick a better director than Bergman, Lang and many others. Ranking
people is insane. Read some books about the theme, and you'll know what I
mean. Wake up!
Clockwork Lemon, 31 May 2000
Author:
g2skate from California
This movie brings light to the age old moral:
Never brainwash a troubled youth who enjoys ultra-violence, murder,
classical
music, and rape into becoming a good citizen incapable of defending
himself
because his old enemies will come after him, and he will eventually end up
just the same as he was before.
This movie was truly moving and emotional.
possibly the most powerful, thought-provoking film of all-time, 26 May 2000
Author:
mjs3p from washington, DC
In my opinion, A Clockwork Orange is Kubrick's best film, and may be the
best film of all time. The opening shot that tracks backward from a
close-up of Alex is only rivaled by the opening shot of A Touch of Evil.
Kubrick takes the use of color to new heights, constantly using orange and
blues (a color scheme he returned to in Eyes Wide Shut). Certain images
from the movie are ingrained in my mind--such as the close-up of the
handicapped writer's face while he is going insane.
The movie successfully addresses so many issues that are pertinent to
society, including the nature of the criminal mind, retribution, and
political exploitation. However, I think that the central theme is the
role
of free will and is exemplified by the argument made by the prison
chaplain
after Alex has undergone the treatment--Is he really human if he has no
free
will to make a decision? Kubrick would argue that he is half-human,
half-machine, as the title of the movie indicates (Clockwork referring to
a
machine and orange referring to the organic, living fruit).
Finally, how could you write about this movie and not mention the
music--the
beautiful works of "Ludwig van" often serving as a wonderful contrast to
the
violent images on the screen. The music adds to Alex's character so
much--how many "droogs" would you expect to listen to Beethoven? A
Clockwork Orange succeeds at every level, and it would be impossible to
ever
analyze it completely.
This movie has two out of things that make a perfect movie : violence
sex. Even though it doesn't have drugs in it, just those two things that
it
has make it perfect. It's fun and has good music. PERFECT. I still
can't
figure out what the name of it have anything to do with the movie or if
it's even supposed to. If you know, feel free to e-mail
me.
Why Kubrick is dead?, 24 May 2000
Author:
Dani from Girona, Catalonia
A Clockwork Orange is definitively a film which has something diferent
from
the other films. The Kubrick signature is in it, so this is a certificate
of
a Masterpiece. Many people and critics have criticized it, saying that is
an
eulogy of the violence. I don't think so. It's only a story, incredibly
well
narrated, filmed and acted. A Clockwork Orange isn't more violent than
other
films that we can see on the cinema or the TV. Nobody can watch this film,
see the end, turn off the TV and go to sleep, like nothing had happened.
You
have to think about it... and watch it again, again and again. One of the
greatest films ever made (like any Kubrick's one), and i'll give you the
chance of watching it again, so you can criticize it then.
Old question in new light, 21 May 2000
Author:
neerajr from NJ
Kubrick focuses on an old question about the role of society
in meting out justice. There is a story associated with
Buddha,
the founder of Buddhism. Angulimaal is a robber and a murderer.
He robs travelers and kills them. He then keeps their finger
as
a token count. Buddha reforms him. He converts into a monk.
He
vows never to take up violence again. On one of his visits to
a
village, he is recognized and stoned to death by angry villagers. For
sentimental value, the story ends with him dying
in Buddha's lap telling him that he didn't violate his
vow.
The anti-hero of Clockwork Orange is a violent youth who
is
captured and reformed and rendered incapable of violence. He
is
recognized and almost dies at the hands of those he had brutalized. The
ancient question remains : if the criminal is
reformed, would his victims accept him? Or would there be a
role
reversal with him becoming a victim and the endless cycle
repeats.
The political angle is funny. Kubrick displays sex, violence and rape in
this brilliantly directed movie which would keep cheap audience away from
his future works.
Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven, 18 May 2000
Author:
kev3w8 (kev3w8@aol.com) from usa
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This masterpiece is the greatest transformation from novel to film I have
ever seen and probably ever see. Notorious for its controversy and initial
x
rating it stands as one of the greatest films in cinematic history.
Although
its controversy has worn off it still is shocking and moving and will
change
you for ever. Its about a gang of kids who get there kicks off of stealing
violence and rape. Until the leader Alex is betrayed by his "droogs" and
is
caught for a crime by the police. He then spends his time in jail till a
new
experiment for changing young trouble makers like himself. He then becomes
a
changed man and is sent back into the real world.
SPOILER ALERT. He then finds out his
parents don't want him any more and have gotten a new son to replace him
and
that his friends are now cops and still hate him. He then winds up in one
of
his victims houses and then commits suicide. Although this review blows I
hope you learn one thing that a clock work orange is the greatest movie
ever
and Stanley kubrick is a genius and that I spent no time writing this
review.
Vidi well brother , vidi well ! !, 10 May 2000
Author:
hedgyo from Lisburn, Northern Ireland
It was a cold , dark night.My friends and I had gathered in a shed , we had
decided to sleep out.After working for hours we finally had a computer set
up to run THE DVD.It was three o'clock in the morning and bitterly cold.My
friends snuggled in their sleeping bags.I turned out the light and put THE
DVD into the drive.Silence fell as the screen went red and blue , the music
for the funeral of Queen Mary began as did the greatest film ever made.Two
hours ang seventeen minutes later the masterpiece ended - its imprint in my
mind will never end.I was 14 when I first saw A Clockwork Orange , I am
still 14! After reading the book and seeing countless documentaries on the
film the only thing that remained was to see the film.Alex and his droogs
dance , laugh , fight and have fun.I had the same fun watching the film.In
my eyes this is the greatest film ever made.I think that everyone should
see
it.A Clockwork Orange is an amazing powerful look at morality , youth ,
violence and sex.The music works briliantly to give the film a real push ,
it helps emphysise the "funhouse" element of the film.The last thing I wish
to say brothers (and sisters) is this "watch this film and enjoy
it!!!!!"
A brilliant piece of Kubrick's Work, 10 May 2000
Author:
demagogue5
When Anthony Burgess wrote this story, it was named a great novel. When
Stanley Kubrick directed the film, it was named a great film. But compared
to some recent films these days, this film beats out a good number of them,
hands down. The geniuses of Kubrick and Burgess put together created one
of
the most brilliant pieces of American film ever. The sketchy scenes and
completely odd use of language is what makes this story the most unique I
have ever come across. I'm just glad Kubrick made this story so profound
and memorable (like his other films) before he passed on.
`Alex's adventures are a kind of psychological myth. Our subconscious finds
release in Alex, just as it finds release in dreams. It resents Alex being
stifled and repressed by authority, however much our conscious mind
recognizes the necessity of doing this.' - Stanley Kubrick
1971.
I read the novel when I was only in 3rd grade by my own free will. People
would stare at me as if I was crazy or something whenever I would walk into
stores and I had the book in my hand. I never clearly understood the book,
probably due to the British dialect and the complex plot. But there were two
words that stood out from the book 1. Droogs 2. Korova Milkbar. I remember I
used to call my friends droogs for a while, and the Korova Milkbar
fascinated me because I used to see pictures of it in books and it was
something I've never seen before. The pictures I saw were so bizarre and
psychedelic yet at the same time beautiful.
After seeing the movie I felt in love with it. It's the tale of Alex and his
`droogs' whose motifs are violence and sexual pleasures from rape. Alex is a
rude young man who is respected by his droogs because he is intimidating.
Alex threatens them so much they can't take no more and frame him. Alex is
sent to prison and is sentenced for 13 years. Alex tries to behave so that
he can leave prison on parole. He studies the bible and learns that it is
not entirely holy due to its repelling content. Murder, sex, violence,
betrayal are some themes he finds within the `holy' bible. Alex later hears
of a program the government is trying to conduct with a random inmate. The
experiment will result in an individual never to perform any sort of violent
crime ever again. Alex is chosen for this experiment. The process consists
of strapping the person into a chair while they are shown images on a screen
of extreme violence. For Alex this is heaven for him because that is what he
did before going to prison. He saw beauty in violence. As days with the
experiment pass by, Alex starts to feel the effects of the experiment. He
starts to be disgusted by what he sees onscreen. The experiment is a
success. Alex is then released a free man. He comes across all the people he
made harm too and they claim their revenge on him.
This is without a doubt a very powerful tale of an `eye-popping dystopian
vision' of the ultra violent, with an intelligent mix of classical music
with the blend of violence. A tale that makes us feel sorry for the
horrendous person that is truly Alex behind the government experiment. This
is another film from Kubrick, the cinematic genius who made a masterpiece
every time he picked up the camera.
The most unique film I've seen., 4 May 2000
Author:
egdelarge from Wisconsin
A Clockwork Orange is a bizarre journey into a futuristic, corrupt city,
and
into the mind of Alex, the main character. He leads a gang of thugs in
all-night orgies of rape and ultraviolence. While imprisoned, he undergoes
a new aversion therapy called the Ludivico technique, meant to make him
sick
whenever he tries to act on a violent or sexual urge.
This film is a political and social satire. The government in this film
is foolish, unethical, and oppressive. Many of the violent scenes are
humorous, because Kubrick wants us to laugh at the awful truth about our
society. It sounds terrible, but he wants us to realize how truly "silly"
it is that society can allow itself to sink so low.
A Clockwork Orange is unique because it is disturbing and beautiful
simultaneously. Stanley Kubrick does a great job challenging the viewer to
look beyond the violent, gruesome surface into its deeper
meaning.
A Clockwork Illness, 29 April 2000
Author:
(albechri) from bandung, Indonesia
The movie is so good that makes your brain want to explode.
It's truly a milestone of it's time and undoubtedly inspires many movies in
the future.
I prefer saying it is truly a surrealist movie.
And being a surrealist movie, it is common to disturb our logic and senses.
Like clockwork, Kubrick has our mind set up to ring at his own time sets
like an alarm.
It's depressing to be an alarm...
RRRIIIIIIIIIIIINNNGGGGG.........!
A Clockwork Orange`s welcome return, 22 March 2000
Author:
paul ponsonby from Portsmouth, England
A Clockwork orange has finaly made it to British screens.
Will it stir up the same controversial issues as it did back in
1971?.Probably not,The violence now seems tame to our de-sensitised
generation.But the the film remains a powerfull
masterpiece about crime and punishment,the choice between
being
good or evil and what happens to man`s soul when that choice
is
taken away by underhand government tactics.Our anti-hero
Alex
(Malcolm macdowel)Is captured after a series of brutal
beating`s
and rapes.After serving 2 yrs of his sentence he applys to
be
a guinnea pig for the ludovico technique (a brainwashing
device
to repel him against violence).The technique is a success
and
Alex is sent to face the world.There he runs into his victims
and is beaten.He is then used as a political pawn in a bid
to
upseat the government.But is in turn used by the government
to
win back popular opinion.Alex must be seen to be CURED.
The film has a lot of black humour and is visually stylish.Some
would say dated but in my humble opinion is one of the
films
many endearments.The dialogue is superb(an invention of
author
Anthony burgess).An excellent film adaptation by Stanley
Kubrik
and remains among his greatest work along side 2001:a space
odessy.
FINALLY GET TO VIDDY THIS, 20 March 2000
Author:
kevin c from London, England
And so finally I get to see this film on the big screen. Visually it is
superb, and the first half contains some of the great cinematic images
and/or scenes.
Although McDowall is excellent, you cannot say that for the rest of the
cast. The film also drags in the 2nd half, and doesn't offer the most earth
shattering argument about the state and violence.
In many ways it recreates the Burgess novel faithfully. However the book
portrays Alex as much more intelligent, and the government therapy is more
prolonged and sinister.
This is not Kubrick's finest, but it is one of the key films of the 1970s.
One of the most controversial films of all time...but one of the best., 19 March 2000
Author:
~PL~
Clockwork Orange is a perfect film in many ways. I guess it has the best
overall a movie can have. It is about 4 guys who have three hobbies: beating
up people, raping girls and listening to Betowen's music. This gang has a
leader, played by Malcolm MacDowell, who goes to prison after the rape and
murder of an old millionnaire's wife. But he is used as a ''laboratory
rat''. Scientists make weird experiments on him. The goal of these
experiments is to stop Malcolm MasDowell's addiction to violence, rape,
coarse language and Betowen's music. But when MacDowell realizes that he
gets sick when he sees violence or when he listens to Betowen's music, he
knows he can easily get in deep trouble. And people who saw him on the
newspapers for the rape and murder of the young girl remember him and know
his new handicap. They beat him up, and he has to hide if he doesn't want to
get killed. The closest place to hide is the millionnaire's house, where he
killed the millionnaire's wife. This film is different from other movies
about violence. It shows violence in an almost funny way, and the meaning of
it is that there would be no world if there was no violence, we simply don't
have to abuse...The satire is even bigger in this film than the huge one in
Dr.Strangelove. I don't know if this is Kubrick's best, but it is surely a
movie to remember and to put in my favorites' list. I give it
93%.
I have had to wait 27 years (yes!) for this film to be re-released here in
the UK. It was withdrawn by Kubrick, but premiered here last night.
Ruminations - I saw the film twice in 1972 - have not seen it since, but
still certain scenes stand out and make my spine tingle. The opening scene
and macabre music; the surreal Korova Milk Bar setting - very atmospheric.
It seems to be a film of two distinct halfs. At first it moves quickly then
it slows down considerably. It was much longer and more drawn-out than
expected (137 minutes is long,
even by today's standards).
Overall: pretty good, but admittedly somewhat dated. This adds to its
appeal, I think - the tacky, kitche decor - but the vague post-psychedelic
feel it has is great. My favourite scene was Alex wandering through the
Melodia "discotique" - the LP's in racks, the psychedelic decor, the
wonderful (Ode to Joy) music - excellent.
We waited a long time for it to be re-released in the UK, but it WAS worth
it. It was real horror show.
"Amazing how real violence never seems real-real until you viddy it on the screen", 17 March 2000
Author:
The_Movie_Cat from England
The impact and notoriety of A Clockwork Orange can scarcely be imagined
outside Britain.
Whereas the film has been freely available across the continent, and has
perhaps subsequently lost it's power, it's release in Britain after
twenty-seven years has given a build-up and expectation that I doubt no
film
could truly satiate. While the movie has been screened through myriads of
smoke-hazed student bedrooms on fourth-generation pirate videos for the
last
two decades, I still can't help feeling it's wide re-release will leave
many
feeling disappointed.
Removed from this country by Kubrick himself, allegedly through fears of
"copycat" violence, the director insisted that the film would be released
in
Britain over his dead body. Rather an ill-fitting tribute, then, that the
film should finally be aired after his death. And yet what a great
tribute,
for A Clockwork Orange is also a work that touches genius (though
occasionally scrapes mudanity) and is arguably his finest.
For nearly thirty years all Britain has had to remember this film is the
very few pop art references that bleed into the mainstream culture. The
odd
Blur video that sees them dressed as "Droogs", or an old creaky episode of
"Doctor Who", based on the movie, which sees the Master trying his own
version of the Ludovico technique (a "Keller Machine") to rid evil from
prisoners. But now we finally get to see what all the fuss is really
about.
To be honest, time and the ban have robbed this film of much of its
potency.
The violence, outrageous at it's inception, is now tame by modern
standards,
and heavily choreographed. While it's vision of a future society is
achieved
on a remarkably small budget, there are times when that most crass of
decades, the seventies, seeps through any sense of credibility. Camp in
places, a whole plethora of "light entertainment" stalwarts make this
distracting viewing in its home country. Dalziel out of comedy-drama
detective show "Dalziel and Pascoe" rubs shoulders with the
parrot-seducing
wacky employment officer from "The Young Ones", and Coronation Street's
"Fred Elliot", while the star of unfunny sitcom "The 10%ers" takes a bow.
Okay, it's perhaps possible to believe the denizens of the future will
indulge in severe retro-kitsch, though Alex playing Beethoven on an old
eight-track machine is a little disconcerting. Elsewhere, a prison guard
resembles and acts like Hitler, all stomping and shouting, reducing the
fabric of the film to farce. The lowest ebb of this dating is Alex and his
droogs joyriding through country lanes. Whereas Pulp Fiction had Bruce
Willis in a taxi cab to a filmed backdrop as a touch of post-modern lo-fi,
here the "racing scenery" played in the background of what is very
obviously
a stage produced sniggers from a more "sophisto" audience of the
90s.
Often, though, it is brilliant. Direction is flawless, and iconography and
design are exceptional. The language uttered by the central characters is
a
bizarre concoction of pidgin, fabricated Russian, almost-Shakespearean
English and common slang. A typical utterance, pre-gang fight is: "How art
thou, thou globby bottle of cheap, stinking chip oil? Come and get one in
the yarbles, if you have any yarbles, you eunuch jelly thou".
In fact, it is the first half an hour or so that is the film's highlight.
While the violence is extremely tame by latter standards, it is the
context
with which it is presented that still gives it its capacity to shock.
Scenes
of rape are juxtaposed with the music of Beethoven or Gene Kelly, while
overlaid is the indifferent, casual, semi-monotone of an outstanding
McDowell. It is this combining of images that lends the film its greatest
highs. A Nazi rally marching to the lightest strings of Beethoven is a
remarkable cinematic achievement, though having a fantasy sequence where
Alex whips Jesus seems to be over-egging the pudding somewhat.
Yet after this startling opening the film starts to drag as Alex is
incarcerated and the comedy is stepped up. Jailed for murder (in one of
the
film's most symbolic moments he fights the owner of a health farm with a
statue of a giant phallus. She, in turn, fights back with a bust of
Beethoven; sexual desire vs. culture), Alex is given the option of
freedom.
The basic idea is that he undergoes a sophisticated Pavlovian treatment,
whereby images are displayed while he is conditioned to act in revulsion.
Cured of violent impulses, or at least the desire to act them out, he is
released back into society. The jail's Priest stands up and makes a speech
on the ethical viewpoints of free will. This is another (minor) flaw in
the
film: the overstatement and unsubtle usage of moral debate. Allegory is
jettisoned as characters take centre stage and siloquoise about the issues
in a literal manner (the tramp particularly) before being silenced or
beaten
into submission.
Alex's reintegration into society mirrors the beginning of the film,
though
lacks its verve through contrivance. No spoilers here, though his choice
of
bathtub song does stretch the boundaries of credulity a little. Then comes
the worst scene in the entire film, where a nurse is seen retreating from
a
curtained bed after intercourse, her chest exposed. It adds nothing to the
film and performs no function other than used as light relief or
titillation. This casts doubt over the whole of the preceding work; has
Kubrick been using nudity in the film to make a serious social satire or
is
the sight of bare breasts and defiled women merely a cause for arousal, or
to laugh at, and to applaud?
The picture is still one of the twenty or thirty greatest films ever made,
and, because it has something to say, one of the ten most important. As
for
science fiction, I would place this amongst the three greatest of the
genre
(alongside Planet of the Apes and, ironically, Kubrick's 2001). But, with
a
film that has been forbidden fruit for so long, there is an inevitable
sense
of disappointment.
A Clockwork Orange is a tricky little film. It's isn't among my top ten
films, but it's still a good film. It isn't as good a satire as Dr.
Strangelove, nor is as full of wonder as 2001, but it probably Kubrick's
most peculiar film.
Whenever I hear someone who says they love this movie, I ask them why. If
they say because of the violence, my heart sinks. I want to tell them
that's not the point, and if that's the reason you like this movie, than
you
have no business watching it.
This movie isn't Kubrick's best, but it isn't a narcissistic piece of
showmanship as some have suggested. It is a puzzling and interesting
piece
of work.
I can understand why some people dislike this movie, but that is the point.
You aren't supposed to like what Alex is doing you are supposed to hate
him.
Kubrick does a great job of taking a character the audience is supposed to
hate and turning him into someone they feel sorry for in the
end.
My favorite movie!, 24 February 2000
Author:
shaun98 from Milwaukee WI
I will never forget the first time I watched this one. I felt quite numb
afterwards. This is, after all, Kubrick's most controversial film,
originally rated X for its candid, uncompromising scenes of rape and
violence.
The part that stands out the most is the infamous "Singin' in the Rain" bit.
Yes, THAT scene. I had to rewind the tape to make sure I actually saw
THAT!!! I also love the scene with the "cat lady". An extremely powerful,
nightmarish setpiece, it lingers in your mind forever afterward. The opening
shot is one of the best in cinematic history, effectively establishing an
eerie, menacing tone for what follows.
Malcolm McDowell is great here. This is the one he'll be remembered for
decades from now. He deserved an Oscar, but the people who give these awards
are just too timid. If I were in charge, I'd give it Best Picture, Director,
etc. Come to think of it, it's surprising it was nominated for anything at
all. (On the other hand, those New York critics were remarkably
forward-thinking!)
Even after nearly thirty years, its power has not diminished. Believe me, I
know. Judging from the comments posted, even some 21st-century viewers will
still condemn the film the same way conservatives did in the 1970's. To be
honest, it took me a while to decide this is my favorite, and it's not a
decision I came to lightly.
This is surely one of the best movies ever! Some might disagree and call me
a pervert (I'm 14!), but this is one of my favorite movies of all time.
Beautifully put together and brilliantly written, acted, and most of all
directed. The screenplay is disturbing and funny at the same time. During
the raping at the beginning, it is disturbing to watch, however, the
singing of "Singing In The Rain" adds a little comedy to this upsetting
scene. Also funny is some of the dialogue. My favorite quotes: "No time
for the old in-out love, just came to read the meter" and "Eggiwegs, I'd
like...to smash them." Simply put, brilliant.
Not a clockwork movie, 17 January 2000
Author:
Angeneer from Athens, Greece
The effort of Kubrick to embed symbolism in every detail is obvious from the
beginning. About the brutality and sex, while in 1971 this might have been a
shocking movie, nowadays it is nothing special. What is interesting though
is the way these scenes are presented, with the environment (sound, face
expressions, scenery) contradicting with what is actually happening, trying
to disorient the viewer and make him think if in his actual life he pays
attention to the bare event or to the package that goes with it. What a
contradiction is Beethoven's 9th with murder and rape, as even the
protagonist admits in the film. In general this is a movie worked out in
detail, but I think so much importance is given in the depth of particular
scenes that the flow of the film is affected and it loses its coherency,
making it difficult for a not determined viewer to sit and watch. This of
course doesn't remove from The Clockwork Orange the masterpiece status, but
suggests that the unprepared pay attention to the inner meaning of this
film.
It's almost virtual reality! I mean, when the emotions caused by a movie
are
that strong then I'm positive the film is more than just "perfect". Don't
like to say more; if you've not seen it yet, it's your fault!!!
CONGRATULATIONS once again Mr Kubrick.
Vs. 2001: Free Will, 11 January 2000
Author:
markrbehnke from Austin
A Clockwork Orange is all about free will. In a way I think it is an
answer
to or companion to 2001.
All the characters, human and machine, in 2001 followed the most logical
course of action never letting emotion or personal interests get involved.
The humans were not noticeably different from HAL. They all saw something
happen, analysed it, decided what to do, then followed through without any
noticeable emotion or interest. The actors were very boring and
mechanical
for a reason.
A Clockwork Orange is the exact opposite in that no one acted out of any
logical necessity. Characters were alive. They had wants, needs, and
desires. When the state tried to treat Alex's violence by conditioning
him
to resist his own free will it back fired. They learned, or more
precisely
they should have learned, that not being able to do bad is not the same as
being good.
The Prison Chaplin made two short speeches on the necessity of free will,
and how the treatment would not help to make Alex a better person. In the
end I though he was the one major character who cared about Alex as a
person.
PS Notice also that Kubrick planted a copy of the 2001 soundtrack on
prominent display at the record store!
A Parable for the Sinister Reason of Man, 10 January 2000
Author:
Shannon Box (sbox@gvtc.com) from Canyon Lake, Texas
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
[WARNING: This May Contain Spoilers.]
This film looks to the future in all of its '70's splendor. Of course the
future in the eyes of the artists of the '70's was sufficiently bleaker than
actual events would allow. This is kind of a common ground from forward
looking films of the time. It doesn't take away from the moral of the
story.
The narrator is indeed a very bad boy. It is hard to have any positive
feelings for him. However, Kubrick does an interesting thing halfway
through the film. By illustrating the regimen of the supposed benevolence
of society, Kubrick rehabilitates the main character just enough to
challenge society itself.
The evil of the individual is replaced by the blind evil of misguided social
experimentation on the perpetrator. The viewer is left disgusted with both
entities. This is a clever film and a controversial one at the same time.
I find it slightly overrated and give it an 8 out of 10 for its
brashness.
Kubrick Manipulates the Audience, 10 January 2000
Author:
gambitj from Dubuque, Iowa
This film should be noted as one of Kubrick's masterpieces not only because
of its great performances, fantastic script, and intriguing camera angles,
but also because Kubrick is able to manipulate the minds of the audience
who
view the film. Stanley Kubrick shows us a young criminal committing
various
acts of horrendous crime. However, rather than show the young lad as a
monster, Kubrick goes to great lengths to let us inside the character's
head, and feel sympathetic towards him. Kubrick has a great power of being
able to present a murderer as a character we feel sorry for. This is a
great film.
A well made film that follows the original story almost to the letter., 6 January 2000
Author:
Gerald S. Hybarger (Gerry-11) from San Jose, United States
Kubrick's adaptation of Anthony Burgess' novel to the big screen was one of
the best in the business. It followed the story almost to the letter, with
very little change from the original writen story. The actor who played Alex
the central figure of the story (Malcome Mcdowell) portrayed him with a very
accurate vengence. This movie will go down in history as one of the all
time best and will remain in my top ten best list forever.
Stanley Kubrick's last great film!, 31 December 1999
Author:
andy-227 from Sterling Heights, Michigan
One of the things that has always amazed me about Stanley Kubrick is his
ability to show something amazing, beautiful, or sick, without the aid of
special effects or visual pyrotechnics. He sees the world through the
camera lens for what it really is. One of the greatest examples of which is
his scathing satire, "A Clockwork Orange". Here, we see a world not too
other worldly from our own. It's riddled with derilict buildings, wicked
gangs, and a government that can do nothing to change it all. The most
frightening aspect of the film is the examination and study of the main
character, Alex. He is a vicious, violent criminal who kills, robs, and
rapes. In the rape scene while singing 'Singin' in the Rain', he wears a
long, protruding 'Pinnochio' nose, as an example of a man with no
conscience. His parents do nothing to raise him, and he doesn't go to
school. Later, he attacks his own gang members, gleefully slashing the hand
of one of them. Here, all the details of a criminal have been laid out.
Now comes the second half of the film. Instead of keeping him in prison, he
is given a treatment making him sick every time he sees or is exposed to
violence, sex, and his true love, Beethoven. He is cured, or so it is said.
After being released back into the world, those he did harm to now have a
chance of retaliation. After it's all over, the drugs wear off, and he
becomes his old self again, revealing he never was cured to begin with.
What makes this film so stunning and so powerful is that it doesn't go over
the top or exaggerate. It merely looks on at the real world, and
foreshadows things to come. It's actually really creepy. But Kubrick tells
the story through the eyes of the criminal, making it somewhat easier to
watch, even though we should be terrified and disgusted. Kubrick's choice
of music is superb, so good that I bought the soundtrack and frequently
listen to it. Ultimately, "A Clockwork Orange" satirizes the world we live
in today, and leaves us not only with an anti-violence message, but pops a
difficult question upon the audience, which would you rather? A criminal,
or a 'clockwork orange', a criminal crippled within reflex mechanisms?
despite the ultraviolence, one of the most thought provoking films ever made., 24 December 1999
Author:
richie-29 from New York, NY
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Warning, spoilers ahead:
If Kubrick's previous film, 2001, is meant to show humanity reaching for
new
heights in space, then A Clockwork Orange reveals that we still have a long
way to go on Earth. The homeless man's monologue delivered before Alex and
his droogs
mercilessly beat him seems to indicate this.
Despite the all the rape and ultraviolence depicted in the
film,
A Clockwork Orange has a decidedly anti-violence message, despite all the
acts depicted onscreen. It shows how violence permiates our society, as it
seen in the torture treatment of Alex, which allows society to assault and
abuse him without any means of defending himself. Another good example of
this is the writer, Mr. Alexander. He speaks out against the totalitarian
government in power and now has a good chance of overthrowing it when Alex,
a victim of the government's policies, shows up at his doorstep. However,
when he discovers that Alex is the one who raped and murdered his wife and
left him crippled, he plots to force him to commit suicide, As a result,
Mr.
Alexander is in jail, and the government is still in power, and more
popular
than ever, all because he succumbed to the urges of hatred and revenge.
Kubrick's second best, 23 December 1999
Author:
danielldb from Belo Horizonte, Brazil
You know, I've never made a top 10 list of my favorite movies ever. Maybe
because I'm just 15 and I haven't seen so many classics and masterpieces
yet. But I really liked the ones I saw, such as "Psycho", "Casablanca",
"Rear Window", "Gone With the Wind", among others, but in special Stanley
Kubrick's films. I think he is a genius since I saw "Eyes Wide Shut" this
year, so I decided to rent some other celebrated films of him. First, it
was
"The Shining". I thought it was a very scary and impressing horror movie,
one of the best things ever made on the genre. After that I saw "2001: A
Space Odyssey". This one just fascinated me. If I make a top 10 list, I
think "2001" will be on the top. It is the best sci-fi ever and one of the
most beautiful studies about the human beings. But I can't forget "A
Clockwork Orange", that is for sure one of the most disturbing and
impressing films ever made.
"A Clockwork Orange" is not for everyone, first of all- as many other
Kubrick's movies. It is really strong- violent, with some strong sexuality,
rapes, etc. But the main reason for what I call it 'strong' is the theme.
It
is about a futuristic society, where the violence is everywhere and it
seems
to have no order. A young man, named Alex, leads a group of disorders- his
'droogs'- whose main interest is the 'ultra violence'. They drug
themselves,
break in houses, rape women, violent men. In addition, Alex loves
Beethoven.
Some day, in the middle of a house break-in, his 'droogs' betray him and he
is caught by the police. He is taken to prison, but there he hears about a
treatment which can cure disorders. He persuades and is persuaded to be
part
of the treatment. It is all very strange and shocking, but the doctors
claim
to have cured him. He tries to start a normal life again, but... was he
really cured?
Only Stanley Kubrick could have done a masterpiece like this one.
Everything
is perfect, from the soundtrack to the acting. It is used symbolic elements
and some words that can seem very strange, but there is a vocabulary for
them in the credits. They are very interesting in fact- pay attention.
Kubrick cares for each detail and uses a dark humor to tell the story, that
is somehow tragic in some moments- the victims' payback. Funny (darkly
funny) in others- the ending. Shocking in others- see, for example, the
scene where Alex sings 'Singing in the Rain' while he rapes a woman. The
movie was even banned in some countries, but this is just
stupid.
Overall, "A Clockwork Orange" will certainly be on my top 10 list when I
make it. It is weird. It is scary. It is impressing. It is disturbing. It
is
unforgettable!
Not one other film in the 70's demanded so much from its
audience. Often thought to be a violent exploitation film, A
CLOCKWORK ORANGE is perfection in film-making. It contains not
only an important message, but warned our nation and other
nations of the future it would be facing, a future of violence
and mayhem, and it did not cause many of the violent events, it
predicted
Remember this is just one persons opinion! I feel that this is one of the
best movies ever made by the best director ever. Anyone who is shocked by
this movie only proves the greatness of what Kubrick was able to do with a
camera, not always the best actors around, and an original storyline. I
would like to point out that Burgess, ( the author ) basically wrote a
story
about one theory of one possible future for our society. Kubrick took this
and built layer upon layer of depth to the main character, and has the
viewer making a decision; Is this man a hero or a victim? He is capable of
both good and bad. Also ask yourself these questions: Do you really SEE
anyone get murdered or raped ? It's only implied. It's all about choice.
Kubrick, the Master, leaves it up to you.
Lucid, violent and exquisite, 30 November 1999
Author:
Afracious from England
This controversial film from the early seventies is still profound and
effective today. Malcolm McDowell gives a good performance as Alex De
Large, a sadistic and violent ruffian who leads his gang of Droogs from
one violent episode to the other until he is caught. He is then sent to
an institution for a radical treatment to cure him. This is a very
stylish and quintessentially English film. The sets are lucid and
impressive, the electro music and the classical Beethoven is good, and
if you are English you will recognise most of the actors. It is a
who's-who of English actors on show. It is a provoking, violent,
well-made and memorable film. Essential viewing.
Cult classic., 24 November 1999
Author:
Brian A. Cagayat from San Diego, California
"A Clockwork Orange" can be the scariest film you've ever seen, because
one
day our society may end up like the one seen in the film--a place where
ordinary people are afraid to walk outside even in the daytime, where
innocent young women can be taken from the streets and raped, where the
government itself doesn't seem the perfect solution. Sound familiar?
Perhaps
in twenty years, you'll be staring into the blue eyes of Alex while he
asks
you in his Nadsat slang if you value your life.
Possibly Stanley Kubrick's best film after "2001"--but who can put
Kubrick's
films into any particular ranking when they're all so excellent? "A
Clockwork Orange" is not a "cool" film in any sense. It's not sick or
offensive or bad. It's a social commentary on life, and the book on which
the film is based is even better--though the film is perfect because of
its
visual look of the near future. "A Clockwork Orange" is already a cult
classic--and future generations will watch it and hopefully learn from
it.
Brilliant, Macabre Masterpiece, 10 November 1999
Author:
Greek521 from Savannah, GA
Stanley Kubrick is at the top of a very short list of candidates for the
greatest director of all time, followed by Scorsese, Hitchcock and Coppola,
and A Clockwork Orange is his best film. It is a bizarre and brilliant
film
that makes a statement on many subjects ranging from teen violence to
police
brutality to government corruption. One of the highlights is the adapted
score assembled by Kubrick and matching the film's often disturbing images
perfectly and with great irony. McDowell's performance is a gem and this
film packs a major punch. It ranks #3 on my all time list behind The
Godfather and Apocalypse Now. It is most probably a greater film than
those
but not as personal to this writer.
great film...Kubrick's best, 9 November 1999
Author:
hoov-2 from Boston, MA
A great film, one of the best satires on modern violence that has ever been
filmed. This is the best film that Kubrick has ever made. When I first
saw
this film I was blown away by the cinematography. It is a visually
stunning
film with surreal elements. I see this movie at least once or twice a
year,
and I am always amazed at some of the visual elements and devices that
Kubrick uses. Stanley Kubrick did most of the camera work for this film
himself, mostly using a small hand held camera that allowed him to follow
along almost as another character in the movie. You are drawn into the
film
and come to identify with the bad guys. In the end of the film, you forget
who the real bad guys are.
Posta B D-sturbing, 8 November 1999
Author:
batzi8m1 from Watsonville, California
Art and Language shape the people. Or that at least seems to be the theme
of the Burgess book, as far as I was able to read it. And in the
background
of the Moloko Milk Bar we have the language of the 70's in psychedelic
script listing the plusses in Moloko+ (psylocybin, mescaline, LSD...) It's
no surprise then that Alec's antagonists are the drunken wino and the wine
sipping liberal. Well well well me droogie. The 'orrorshow seems to
somehow
feel 'orrible. What a concept. And here I thought rape and murder were
supposed to be titillating and amusing. Nothing is real....
To put it in historical perspective, the same year saw a film by Sam
Peckinpah - Straw Dogs. Both show a society grown used to horror, and the
effect on the populace. And what do we do about it? Brainwashing? Fight
horror with horror? Kill them all and let god sort out the
guilty?
Possibly my favorite movie, 3 November 1999
Author:
(bopdd@aol.com)
If anybody ever tells you that they don't like A Clockwork Orange, they
probably suck. Not only is the acting so superb that you practically forget
they are actors, but Kubrick's camera use is utterly brilliant. I have
never
witnessed such genius filmaking, with the camera shots, the mesmerizing and
absorbing music, and the creepy flow of the film. Anybody who says that
there is no point is completely missing the point. Is it right to take away
free will, even if that free will is rape and violence? And when everybody
gets their revenge on Alex, he is helpless. But what makes the people
getting revenge any better than Alex, when they have violent impulses
inside
them as well. And lets of course not forget the whole political aspect to
the movie, as well as the "what goes around comes around" theme that is
very
true to life. Kubrick is a master of the camera, and this film is art in
its
most obscure form.
Rarely have I seen a film, especially one that was deemed controversial
since its release, that would just overtake all five senses and make me
eradicate its shortcomings; instead, it would allow me to carp it as a
really formidable piece of work that it ought to be, especially after
seeing
the picture for the very first time. Such is the case with 1971's "A
Clockwork Orange", a sometimes darkly funny and sinister view of a nearly
futuristic society gone to the deep end, as told by the cheeky and calm
narrator/main character, Alex(portrayed masterfully by Malcolm McDowell).
Its director, Stanley Kubrick ,had done a grand job at creating this
netherworld with the appropriate lighting and space effects, not to
mention,
the brutal moodiness around it. Mind you, one must be warned not to view
it
as a run of the mill weekend fare rented from the local video place, to
capture the whole essence of what is being said(as often Kubrick's films
usually are required to be seen more than once)- I may have be one of few
to
understand its nature from the start(and that's only because I read the
Anthony Burgess novella beforehand)but again, one doesn't have to know,
say,
aversion therapy to see it. If you have an open mind to movies that are
merely produced as "screen paintings"
with something to tell as an added plus, in lieu of the "quickie quotas"
made that are filled with the usual scatological humor or mindless blood
and
gore, then you need not look any further. "A Clockwork Orange" truly
represents to be a compelling example from the former
category.
Brings a smile to the face and a scream to the mouth, 25 October 1999
Author:
Plan 114 from St. Louis, Missouri
Besides being one of the most looked upon movies, infamous or not, the plot
spins so gracefully because your not hurtled in something that you have to
think about. Oh my brothers Stanley has done it. He has brought marvoulous
acting from Malcom Mcdowell and a list of b-movies actors all give 100%
balls to the walls action. Even if you aren't intrested see it for the
opening credits, the soundtrack is absoulutly marvoulous.
I just watched this film last night, and when I had finished, I thought I
had figured out the meaning of this film. I.e., the messages that Burgess
was trying to get across. But then I started reading reviews of the film
on
the IMDB and was shocked to see what other readers thought of the film's
message! I was shocked to see how differently I view the world compared to
my fellow citizens.
But anyhow, here is my take:
The first thing I realized after viewing the film was how there was no
point
during the entire movie that I actually sympathized with the "protagonist".
This was an unusual experience for me, and the only other movie I can think
of which triggered the same reaction from me was "kids". Sure, there were
a
couple of times I sympathized with Malcolm McDowell, the actor. For
instance, when he had his eyelids forced open or when he was forced
underwater for an unbelievable length of time while being beaten. But I
never sympathized for the character, Alex. In fact, I rather enjoyed this
trough scene, and as a viewer I couldn't wait until he received his just
deserts. I was eager to see him finally repay his debt to society, and was
ultimately dismayed that he never got the opportunity to do so
properly.
While reading reviews, some reviewers likened Alex's "treatment" with
getting "brainwashed", and being "dehumanized". But I saw neither of these
to be the case. Reviewers also claimed that Alex's treatment caused a loss
of his "free will", which I also argue against. Let's examine these
accusations:
First of all, Alex was clearly not brainwashed, and I thought Burgess went
out of his way to demonstrate this. Brainwashing is when the person's own
thoughts are intentionally muddled and replaced by new thoughts. George
Orwell's 1984 demonstrates brainwashing through propaganda really well.
But
in Alex's case, it was very clear that his desires did not change after the
treatment. He was the same old Alex -- just that he had a permanent
"restraining bolt" in place. Kind of like mental handcuffs. (Remember when
the naked woman came out on stage? Alex wanted to rape her senseless. His
handcuffs prevented it).
Many reviewers claim he was "dehumanized". I must ask these people: was
Alex "human" when he was terrorizing society every night? Or was he
animalistic? Before the treatment, we was unable to sit still long enough
to experience real human emotion, such as parental detachment and loss of
friendships. Afterwards, he was free to explore these emotions -- he was
free to explore sides of his own personality that were previously unknown
to
him. People who question my use of the word "free" should understand that
he is no more "free" that you and I are.
Did Alex loose his free will? No, of course not. He could choose to
experience all the same things he could before. Just that this time he
feels the consequences of his actions -- immediately. The idea is that
Alex
would eventually not want to be evil anymore. But he never reached this
stage of the movie, as his narration proved. Most people's "free will" is
similarly limited also. But my free will is limited by conscience --
Alex's
was not. The question this raises is -- would this have always been the
case for Alex? Who knows?
In conclusion, Alex's treatment was in fact, a complete success. He was
just beginning to learn that his actions have consequences. He was
learning
"tough love". What he really needed at that point in is life was a true
friend, not a droog, who could help him learn his true humanity for the
first time in is life. Someone who could teach him that in order to be
loved, he must treat others with kindness and compassion. This last
paragraph looks like I'm sympathizing with Alex, which is contrary to what
I
stated above. But this is not true. I'm
sympathizing with Alex's potential - a potential which was never
fulfilled.
And the reason it was never fulfilled was because politicians, in their
infinite wisdom, caved into public opinion (fueled by the media), and
removed his handcuffs. The implication is that all was lost, and he's back
to square one, and now less human than ever.
terrifying yet entertaining, 10 October 1999
Author:
RuffRydr from Langley
When I first saw A Clockwork Orange, I thought this movie was really
horrible until I saw it again and I saw how well Kubrick had adapted the
film from Burgess's book. Malcolm McDowell's madeup accent helps to
accentuate the dialogue and makes the movie funny. The scene where he
breaks
into the woman's house with the sculpture was hilarious. Overall, this is
arguably Kubrick's best film.
Malcolm McDowell (Mr. Magoo) "Alex DeLarge" the young man, supposed to be
fifteen years old, according to the book, speaking Nadsat as slang
(Russified English) is the key character in the movie. He is the leader of
a gang of four juvenile delinquents. It appears that they are extremely
bored. They committed heinous crimes. He went to prison and decided to go
though "aversion therapy," in order to get released earlier, and after the
therapy he becomes excessively passive. After being used by an
anti-government group which caused him to try to commit suicide, and much
criticism in the press he is restored back to what he was. Watching both
processes is very interesting.
The first time I watched this movie, is somewhat historical in our
household. My husband and I were vacationing abroad and we found ourselves
with nothing to do on Saturday night than to go to a movie. My husband had
already watched A Clockwork Orange. Well, the censors in the country that
will remain nameless decided to add little black balls to covering the
genitals and breasts of the naked women in the movie. Those little black
balls kept jumping up and down during the "Billy Boy" scene. The entire
theater was laughing and we all got severely distracted. We have a good
laugh every time we remember those scenes and the jumping black balls!
My favorite scenes: Alex and his sexy eye lashes in one eye only. Alex
singing "Singing in the Rain." As I understand McDowell improvised that
scene, Mr. Kubrick liked it so much that he had to go all over to get the
license for the "Singing in the Rain" to be part of the movie. The Minister
of the Interior hand feeding Alex after he has been cured (back to normal)
with Alex milking the act for all the fun he can get out of
it.
My favorite quotes: Alex: " Oh bliss! Bliss and heaven! Oh, it was
gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh."
Minister: "Goodness comes from within, goodness is choosing. When a man can
not chose he ceases to be a man."
I love the music because it has two of my favorite composers: Ludwig van
Beethoven and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This is a very interesting movie.
I always liked this film, but everything I liked about it really comes from
the book...and MUCH more besides. As a noted critic pointed out many years
ago, how pretentious is it to make a film called "A Clockwork Orange"
without ever revealing just what the title refers to? What IS a clockwork
orange? Well, as it turns out, it's the central metaphor of the work,
though evidently Kubrick didn't consider it important. That, and the fact
that the film was based on the truncated first American edition of the
novel
(the omission of the final chapter changes the tone of the book completely)
render it seriously flawed when considered alongside its
source.
THIS IS THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE!!!!!, 4 October 1999
Author:
fullmoon-3 from michigan, USA
Welly Welly Welly Well...Stanley Kubrick was an astonishing film maker and
I
have been ever since I saw this movie about 5 years ago. This movie is THE
greatest film ever made.
The story starts we see Alex DeLarge(Malcolm McDowell)and his three droogs
sitting in a milk bar(the Korova),and that evil eye they zoom in on gave
me
the chills the first 5 or 6 time I saw the movie and then it wore off each
time I saw it after that. The story never lets up in the whole movie Alex
is
a legendary character. This will always be my favorite
movie.
This movie is a must see there is nothing in Hollywood like A Clockwork
Orange. This is my favorite movie by the legendary filmmaker Stanley
Kubrick. This film is a brilliant commentary on youth crime and government
attempts to stop it. Alex is a young man whose principal interests are rape,
ultra-violence and Beethoven. Him and his Droogies go around creating a real
horror show. Alex arrested for murder and his Droogies abandoned him. There
is a scene where Alex's is reading the Bible and picturing himself doing all
bad things that people did in the Bible stories. This would mean the
character of Alex is very drawn to violence he enjoys committing it. Would
it possibly for someone to become cured so that individual would not commit
another act of violence ever again? The rest of the movie will show you if
it is possibly. Malcolm McDowell performance as the infamous young
troublemaker is fantastic and brilliant. The remix's of Beethoven's ninth
symphony are great and work well with the action on the screen. The slang
and dialogue is excellent I would compare it to Shakespeare. A powerful and
compelling story that is entertaining no matter how many times you see it.
10/10 A dark, ironic tale of an ultraviolent future.
If you haven't seen this movie, your are missing out on a work of art.
Not
just the story, nor how it was way ahead of its time, but beneath
everything
on the surface. Such as, Alex and his droogs going around for
ultra-violence and society taking it's revenge out on him, there was not a
single gun in the whole movie. And the youth's interest in music, instead
progressing to the levels of harder rock, it instead was classical music.
There are many other things that made it great like the near-future
foreshadowing, the contrast from a life of total anarchy to total
tyranny.
This film made the AFI's 100 years 100 movies list at #46, and was
nominated
for best picture, but lost to "The French Connection."
If you like Kubrick, this is a must see. But, in order to get the full
essence of "A Clockwork Orange", you have to see it for
yourself.
The creepiest, most violent black-comedy ever., 9 September 1999
Author:
Charles Saint-Pierre from Montreal, Canada
Stanley Kubrick is without a doubt one of the best directors of all-time.
His classic movies span from 1957 with "Paths of glory" up until today and
his movies are still greatly appreciated. Among his classics are "Paths of
glory", "2001: a space odyssey", "Full metal jacket", and my personal
favorite, "Dr. Strangelove". In all of these movies, you can see the desire
that Kubrick has to depict violence as it really is. Well in "A clockwork
orange", he depicted it better than any director did in any other movie. In
this true classic, you can see what Kubrick was all about: Showing events as
violent as they really are.
The story revolves around a teenage boy named Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and
his three "droogs" whose night-time pleasures are murder and rape. The
movie begins with the four "droogs" drinking a drugged milk in some kind of
a bar for milk. They then leave the bar and just for the fun of it, decide
to kill an old beggar. They then rob a car, pull up to someone's house, and
after having been able to enter, they rape and kill the woman and cripple
her husband. After a second attempt at rape and murder, Alex's friends
backstab him and turn him over to the cops. It is then that he is sent to
prison where he will volunteer for a special treatment which consists in
taking out all the taste of violence out of a person.
After having successfully passed the treatment, he is set free. But when
he gets back into the world, everything has changed and Alex suddenly begins
having great problems. Ultraviolent and a little sick, this futuristic
black-comedy is probably the first movie people think of when they think of
Kubrick. It may not be for all tastes, but it's still a classic and any
movie-buff should imperatively watch it.
We live in this sick world of opposites, where people have accepted THIS WAY
of life, and there is a young man, Alex Delarge ( portrayed by Malcom
McDowell, who was very good in his job), who is driven by the ideas of
anarchy and libertinage. Poor guy, he doesn´t know that here or there nobody
is your friend, and he sees himself alone in this world. Violence, rape,
murder, all of those are common things to his brain, his world and his soul
are entirelly clean, his is what he is and nothing else.
And when people look at you, and you happen to be purple with yellow dots,
you are deffinetely different. He is different and the people who surround
him notice that. Now, he has to be normal. To whom´s eyes? Everybody
else´s eyes.
Classic ultra-violence combined with classic pieces creates a perfect movie-going experience., 6 September 1999
Author:
Benny (zerocool_122@hotmail.com) from Walnut, California
The story begins with the perfect ensemble of characters engaging in
various ultra-violent activities intoned with the classical pieces of
Rossini and Beethoven. Alexander de Large (McDowell) is the paradigm of
the
abnormal teen in society. Scorning the ills of society and also scorning
the
advancements and successes of society by traveling the cityscape to ravage
unsuspecting victims with the aid of his three "droogs". Their adventures
begin the Korova milkbar where they are constantly drinking the old"moloko
plus". This is just merely milk laced with drugs that they find pleasing
and
advantageous when performing the old ultra-violent acts.
Subsequently, Alex is betrayed by his treacherous droogs and shipped
off to prison to reform. He does not wish to remain in such a decadent
facility as that to be constantlyl "tolchoked" by brutal guards. He then
partakes in an experiment that will allow him to leave the custody of the
state in a fortnight.
The rest of the movie deals with Alex's ascension back into society
and
his later trials and tribulations as a result of the "treatment"
An arcane look through a sick man's eyes, 6 September 1999
Author:
1984-2 from Toronto, Canada
when I think of a movie that impacted my life I think of A Clockwork
Orange,
not only did it introduce me to the brilliant films of Stanley Kubrick
such
as 2001:Space Odyssey but it opened my mind to the world of brilliantly
disturbed movies created by the creative minds of today and from the past
such as Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho or vertigo. Though the movie contains
scenes containing rape and ultra violence, the genius of the film is about
the story, I highly recommend this movie and award the film a
9.5/10.
A masterpiece, 2 September 1999
Author:
GOB-2 from Salem, Va
I've always been a fan of thought provoking movies. Needless to say I am a
big fan of Kubrick's Clockwork Orange. It is a terrifying piece that seems
all too real. I would not recommend it for the kids, but if you're looking
for deep, thought provoking drama, this is it.
This is an amazing film. Though much is cut from the film itself (as
opposed to what is written in the book), Kubrick is able to bring the
story
to life and it loses very little of the intensity and moralism of the
novel
by Anthony Burgess. Malcolm McDowell gives a stellar performance as Alex,
taking the audience on the journey through the mind of a young man who's
done "all the wrong things". The scenery perfectly complements the film,
and the music is some of the most amazing I've ever heard, actually
properly
fitting the action taking place on screen. The first chord of the theme
is
struck and you're immediately catapulted into another world. All in all,
this is one of the greatest movies of all time. I give it a full
10.
Visually exciting, thematically reprehensible, 29 August 1999
Author:
shez-2 from Cambridge, England
It entailed a great amount of effort on my part to finally see this film. It
remains unobtainable here in Britain though I've heard strong rumours that a
re-release is imminent. I ordered the video from Amazon.com after having
traded in my VCR for a model compatible with NTSC format tapes as well as
PAL (the standard format here in the UK.) Was it worth it? Sadly
no.
I'm afraid I have to agree with Roger Ebert (for probably the first time
ever) when he describes ACO as "...an ideological mess...a paranoid
right-wing fantasy masquerading as an Orwellian warning..."
Kubrick kicks Burgess's intentions into touch early on and turns the entire
film into a vindication of Alex. All authority figures are portrayed as
obnoxious, faceless caricatures. Without exception, each of Alex's 'victims'
are more 'unpleasant' than they are in the book, presumably in an attempt to
justify their treatment: the cat-lady is changed from a frail old lady into
a rich-bitch yoga freak; Alex's brutal rape of two 10-year girls is turned
into a high-speed orgy with two willing teenage participants. The misogyny
rampant throughout the film is especially shocking; Kubrick's obsession with
displaying nubile, large-bosomed girls in various forms of undress would
appear to suggest that his key influences were not, as previously thought,
Max Ophuls and Sergei Eisenstein, but rather Russ Meyer and Benny Hill.
Leaving aside its dubious morality, I would agree that there is much to
admire in the film. Malcolm McDowell gives a dynamic performance (despite
being 10 years too old for the role) and should have got the Oscar. The
camera-work and use of music is as good as anything that Kubrick has ever
done. However, I have tried and, so far, failed to fathom why this film is
as highly regarded as it is. Most of its most ardent admirers do however
appear to be young males. Why should this be? Perhaps, rather like the men
who claim to buy Playboy magazine for the John Updike short story, it allows
them an opportunity to revel in sex and violence with the comforting
pretence that they're viewing 'a social satire by a major
film-maker.'
Dr. Strangelove is one of my favorite pictures ever made. It taught me to
love Stanley Kubrick, which is why I rented A Clockwork Orange. It is one
of the most disturbing, frightening, intelligent, and incredible movies I
have ever seen. It was absolutely chilling. I give it an A. It's one of
Kubrick's best.
Try it: if you don't like it, you don't. If you like it, you'll love it, 25 August 1999
Author:
Sally (aksally3@aol.com) from Richmond, Virginia
A couple months ago, a Stanley Kubrick film festival was on TCM, so I
decided to tape his movies-me being a great fan of him. The first one I
watched happened to be A Clockwork Orange, and I immediately became a fan.
Granted, this movie is certainly not for everyone (especially the faint of
heart), but everything in the movie is highly notable, including the
direction, performances, camera views, music, script, and the novel it was
based on.
The movie begins with the adventures and times of Alex DeLarge, a vicious
teenage monster, and his three droogs: Pete, Georgie, and Dim. His main
interests are Beethoven, rape, and ultraviolence (especially the old
surprise visit). On one unfortunate outing, the millicents (police) catch
him as the rest of his gang flees. He's thrown in staja (State Jail), but
soon sees an opportunity for early release if he consents to be a test
subject for a new technique for treating criminals. He does, and is
virtually reduced to a machine, or 'clockwork orange'. He is robbed of
his
ability to choose, and in turn ceases to be a man. There's quite a bit
more
of a twist near the end of the movie, so I won't spoil it for you.
I would recommend this movie to anyone over 18, any movie buffs, aspiring
filmmakers, or Kubrick fans. Along with Full Metal Jacket, I think this
is
his best work.
One of the best., 24 August 1999
Author:
B.Pico from MA
A clockwork orange is a great film.It is one of the best movies ever
made.It
is a great movie in all standards:Plot,everything.And even though it was
released over 25 years ago it is still controversial.But in a way it is
still one of the best movies ever.
THE GREATEST FILM ART HAS EVER SEEN, 21 August 1999
Author:
movEbuf from Vermont, USA
Yes you may say I am over-rating this movie but I'm not at all. I know
most
of you think lowly of it because of the violence and sex, but one should
not
hold that against it. It is pure Genious and that's the truth... I love
the music Walter (now Wendy hehe) Carlose is just pure genious too. I own
the soundtrack and listen to it all the time, IT NEVER GETS OLD just like
the movie... Do yourself a favor and see it today.
carmine
(13 year old male)
My favourite Kubrick, 18 August 1999
Author:
Cygnus X from Budapest, Hungary
Based on Anthony Burgess' excellent novel, A Clockwork Orange is a
masterpiece. A dark vision of the future, with ultra-violent youth ruling
the streets and people being afraid to leave their houses after dark. Alex,
a leader of such a gang gets caught after committing an "accidental" murder,
and after two years of prison sentence, he is chosen to be reformed by a new
method called Ludovico's technique, which is claimed to turn bad people into
good people.
I think every director runs a risk when adapting a great novel, but the way
Stanley Kubrick did it seems to be THE way. He kept the best scenes of the
story, created a semi-dreamlike visual environment, added an terrific
soundtrack, chose the suitable actors (nearly everybody who had more than
two lines was memorable), and ran the whole thing with his usual
precision.
The only weaker point was the sex scene between Alex and the two devotchkas
from the record store (but it would be a bit difficult to adopt the violent
scene from the book with Alex of 15 and the girls like
10).
I don't know which movie should I consider as Kubrick's best, but this one
is definitely my favourite. The first time I saw it, I just couldn't believe
the soundtrack.
Though it owes much to the novel, it transcends to an audio/visual
experience only a movie can give you. I think Kubrick made the right
decision which scenes to include. I'm glad he completely omitted the last
chapter of the book.
Also, this films features probably the most menacing last line in movie
history.
Finally, there seems to be a common misunderstanding: many people seem to
think that Ludovico's technique turned Alex into a good person, as promised.
Wrong. Alex' body was conditioned to react to violence with sickness, but
our humble narrator's personality hardly changed at all.
A great film, not one for the kiddies though!, 17 August 1999
Author:
tilly-7 from Manchester, England
A clockwork orange was a deep psychological insight into the world of
Alex. Beneath all the violence and rape it was a great storyline and had
some fine acting. a great scene is the house scene where alex sings
"singing
in the rain" whilst beating up and raping a woman and her old husband. A
great film but like i say, not one for the kids - mind you i'm only 14 and
i
didn't think it was that bad.
A Clockwork Orange has got to be one of the most disturbing films ever
produced. The story is simple enough, but it's presentation is clever. We
are manipulated to understand Alex's (Malcom McDowall, in the year's best
performance) point of view (and indeed Kubrick's). It is stylized to a very
high degree, with the William Tell overture to the sex scene a very nice
touch.
The violence is harsh, but it is also stylized, like a choreographed
dance. The "Singin in the Rain" rape scene was one of the most memorable
images in film history. The juxtaposition of joy and brutality remains
absolutely unforgettable.
I don't think this is Kubrick's best, and it ranks fourth for me, but it
is an amazing movie of surprising depth.
There are millions of comments to make on this movie. Thus quite some
people
already commented. I will subsequently just emphasize the big-brother
warning it seeks to give.
Pure democracy without any saveguard of the individual (fundamental human)
rights, is nothing more than plain tyranny of the majority, which in the
end
always leads to situations as in Hitlers Dritte Reich, or the current
situation in e.g. Kosovo. All because the vox populi really is all but the
best considered opinion.
crazy and unforgettable, 12 August 1999
Author:
jean-42 from Japan
I think this is a quite unique and very interesting film.Some ugly qualities
of human are displayed and they all can be true.Violent scenes are horrible
and terrifying but I can't forget that eye of Alex and the song "Singin'in
the Rain".How can man sing that song kicking and beating
someone?
My parents forbade me from seeing this movie at a very early age (it is
the
only movie I'm not allowed to see), so I was always under the impression
that it was a gratuitous orgy of sex and violence. It wasn't until one of
my friends loaned me his copy that I realized neither of them could have
actually seen it. To deny me a film like this, but to recommend such
trash
as "I Spit on Your Grave" and "From Dusk Till Dawn" is a sin. This is the
most brilliant film I have ever seen. I had always enjoyed Kubrick's
work,
but it wasn't until the infamous "Singin' in the Rain" scene that I
realized
just how incredibly deep and meticulous Kubrick's direction is. Certainly
not for every taste, this film balances carefully choreographed violence
with deep philosophical, theological and satirical commentary that left me
speechless and opened my still young eyes to the wonderful world of cinema
as an art form.
FREEDOM!!, 10 August 1999
Author:
Lemon-8 from BARCELONA, SPAIN
I've heard a lot of people talking about this fantastic film, and they
think
it's an apology to violence, but it's not, they only get the superficial
part of the film. Kubrick was talking about freedom of a person to choose
between good and bad. Like Mickey and Mallory from "Natural Born Killers",
Alex knows what is good and bad, but he doesn't care, he does what he
wants,
and in fact, he is the most human character in all the film, because he
can
choose.
A very good movie, 9 August 1999
Author:
Febos from Vancouver, Canada
Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece A Clockwork Orange is a truly great movie.
Kubrick's use of constant nudity is a little "over done" but the plot and
meaning of the movie is magnificent He tells the strange story of a young
mans journey from a street gang raper to a brainwashed law binding
citizen.
Or is he? This movie grabs your attention and want let you go. I great
movie
but not for the light hearted.
The greatest, 8 August 1999
Author:
gemmabean from New York, NY
I wake up thanking Kubrick for this film. It says so much about honesty
and
cultural values and it does it with the voice of the "deviant" ...the
voice
that we are never supposed to hear, much less sympathize with or
appreciate.
McDowell did an excellent job as Alex. The music and cinematography make
it
a masterpiece. Viddy well me brothers.
A great film, 7 August 1999
Author:
bates-5 from florida
This indeed was a great film, and I did not find it sick like everyone
else
was saying. I saw this movie on the dvd, but before i was like cautious
about it because i thought it was going to be very graphic,like blood,
graphic rape,etc. There was basically no violence, there was more sex. I
thought it was well handled, it wand't a porn flick. This movie was very
interesting, and i recommend it. The ending i didn't quite get, because
his
smile made it seem like he was crazy again, but then he says, "I was cured
alright" but very good.
Shock value galore., 6 August 1999
Author:
Michael Bregman from Eeek! This is weird, but ok.
The movie is very shocking, but when you take away the shock value stuff,
it's still good.
But the thing is YOU DON'T take away the shock value and it's a very nice
movie that will change your life forever (well, maybe not).
Very stylish in it's own sick way, this movie will grip you from beginning
to end.
The movie also has a message, but it almost gets lost in all the mayhem,
much like what happened to "Natural Born Killers". But who
cares?..
A disturbing yet brilliant look at violence in our society., 6 August 1999
Author:
Verbal-39 from Galway, Ireland
Kubrick has pulled off one of his finest achievements. He has provided us
with a reason to give up violence and live peacefully. And that reason is
Alexander DeLarge. He is everything you would fear as you walk down a dark
street at night yet you really feel for him when he is tortured with all
that terapy. Kubrick's art direction and use of shadows shows the boys as
scary, dark demons. Never before has a film had such a portrayal of the
dark
side of life. Unfortunetaly because of the two copycat murders, the
brilliant movie was banned in England and Ireland. Banned by Kubrick
himself
because it had failed its purpose. Instead of pushing us away from
violence
it inspired it. A masterpiece
It is one of the most brilliant masterpieces in todays world, 4 August 1999
Author:
Matthew (cidfinalf8@aol.com) from USA
A Clockwork Orange to me is one of the greatest masterpeices in our time.
At some times this movie can be disturbing and sickish to watch. But you
have to see beyond the sickness of it and see the true story of a criminal
turn good. It was excellently shot by Stanley Kubrick, especially the
scenes where Alex{the protagonist} is going through his transformation
from
bad to good. Malcolm McDowell does a frighteningly good job in this movie
too.
If you have never seen this movie before then I would definenty rent it
and
watch it. Its well worth the money to watch.
the problem people have with this movie is their either looking for a
glorification of violence, or an apology for one. this film delivers
neither.
some of the scenes in this movie are far more violent than any
action-packed
rambo movie, but only two people die throughout the film...it's the
intensity of the violence that makes people say "ick."
the intensity and the awkward ambiguity...alex is the definitive
anti-hero -
should we root for him or not? this dialectic confusion is common in
kubrick's works: killer's kiss, eyes wide shut, fear and desire...and a
clockwork orange.
i for one am very glad kubrick left out the 21st chapter, which was a
cop-out and distorts the meaning of the book...this is it's pure
form.
An astonishing look at society as a machine., 28 July 1999
Author:
MadCat-5 from US
I was shocked the first time I saw this movie, but I'm quite certain thats
intended. The entire movie intends to show how involuntary our actions in
life really are, from the clicking heels of the prison guards, to the
predictable family "interaction" to the cold, politically motivated people
who take him in. In my opinion, as well as many others, it tries to
portray
that what society often describes as "evil" is simply breaking the
pre-defined mold. The ultra-violence and sex can be repulsive to some,
but
they are a necessity to really instill the idea that these are the only
people in the movie who are actually ALIVE. Plus, the reversal of attacks
later in the movie show the ability to live, the capacity for evil, is in
everyone, only suppressed by brainwashing forced upon them by society.
Everyone is brainwashed; quite an astounding realization for a movie, and
excellently executed.
brilliant, 28 July 1999
Author:
kiyotei from San Diego
Gotta love it. The violence was a little much at times - but it was
important to show how twisted the people in this film are supposed to be.
I
found myself actually feeling sorry for Malcom McDowell at the end of this
film (even though he gets what he deserves). The choice of music and
slow/fast motion photography is excellent. Can't wait to visit a milk-bar
with my droogs!
A stroke of sheer genius., 25 July 1999
Author:
TomServo-17 from Connecticut
Most films today are not particularly good. Every once in a while a film
comes along that can be called satisfactory and on a very, very rare
occasion pretty good. How I long for the days when a film such as A
Clockwork Orange could come along and shock a viewer into agreeing with the
characters on screen. The most recent example of this that I can think of is
the South Park movie. Perhaps I've seen this film too many times to comment
very well on it, but I'll try anyway.
Stanley Kubrick can do things no other director can. He can trick you into
thinking. The first time I saw this movie I was thinking and didn't even
know it! Truly, this is the first film that ever really made me think. Some
people think that this movie is just rape, assault, and murder. Nothing
could be further from the truth. This movie has an anti-government theme,
and there are few things I respect more than anti-government themes. Well,
what else can I say about this movie that hasn't been said a thousand times
before? I really liked it, and I think it's a shame that Eyes Wide Shut will
be Stanley Kubrick's last movie. But, that's just me.
a cinematic masterpiece, 19 July 1999
Author:
Lil' Mac
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most disturbing experiences that i have
ever witnessed ,the scenes of rape , murder, beatings are very realistic
and
i give a standing ovation to the late Stanley Kubrick . I recommend this
film to anyone that does not have a weak stomach , this movie may start
off
slow but when it gets going you are in for one hell of a ride the
performance of Malcolm Macdowell is very believable and well portrayed as
well as the whole cast the direction is wonderful
A Clockwork Orange is a cinematic masterpiece!
An intelligent political satire that's still relevant today., 19 July 1999
Author:
Steve MacDougall from Canada
The story of a menace to society who is rightly jailed. While in jail his
human rights are violated when they brainwash him against violence. In an
attempt to make amends for violating the criminal's rights he's eventually
treated like a king, while the rights of his victims are ignored (the
victim
poses a threat to the criminal and is put away where he can do no harm to
the criminal who's now free because his rights were violated).
I suspect the original tale was meant to take place in a future somewhat
distant from our own, but it sounds suspiciously like the way criminals
are
treated now.
The brilliance of the move is the contrast between graphic violence and
absurd outrageous humour, along with a superb soundtrack that almost gives
the film a farcical Monty Python quality. Only Stanley Kubrick could find
humour in such disturbing events.
Be prepared for what you're going to get., 18 July 1999
Author:
Susie-7 from Surrey, British Columbia
It may seem strange that I'm writing a comment here, as I never watched
the
entire film. I started watching the film and ended up feeling quite ill
after a half hour. I do intend one day to sit down and try watching this
film again, because I am sure that, characteristic of Kubrick's work (as
well as consistent with the other reviews contained on this site), there
is
an important message to be had. My problem was that a friend grabbed the
video out of her parents' collection; we had no clue whatsoever as to what
this movie was about, and I was caught off guard. If I'm going to handle
being deeply disturbed for an entire film, I need to be prepared for it.
That is my point: if you are going to watch this film for the first time,
please realise what you're going to get. This is not like "2001" or "The
Shining", where I don't think it matters if a person knows what to expect
or
not. I do understand that part of the impact of a film comes from being
caught off guard; if a person is too prepared for what is to come, the
punch
may lose all its force. However, the point has no impact at all if a
person
can't stomach watching the movie long enough to get it. So don't let your
movie experience be ruined like mine: know what you're in
for.
For those people who think that people who enjoy movies like this are sick
and deranged, I think it's important to consider how the word "enjoy" is
being used. I don't use it myself when it comes to disturbing movies; I
think Schindler's List is the best movie ever made, but I would not say I
enjoyed it, in the sense of deriving pleasure from viewing it. But others
will use the word "enjoy" to describe their experiences of such films, and
that shouldn't be taken as them "enjoying" murder, rape, genocide, or
whatever other despicable act may be occurring on the screen. I enjoy
psychology, but that's not to say I enjoy others experiencing depression,
schizophrenia, psychopathy, or anything else; it is a matter of enjoying
the
intellectual stimulation as well as the hope that out of studying such
things something good will come, and I think this applies to movies. To
watch Schindler's List may give some empathy for victims of the Holocaust
that they never had before, and I'm sure in watching this film there's
some
profound understanding of what humans are capable of given certain
circumstances. There is nothing sick about discovering such things, as
long
as one doesn't emulate them. Too often people seem to confuse what
happens
on the screen with real life, and assume that anyone who watches violent
films is bound for violence themselves. I don't know how much violence on
the screen motivates others' violence, but a movie like A Clockwork Orange
does not glorify it. As long as violence is depicted in a responsible
way,
I think it may even be beneficial for it to be viewed, lest we forget how
rotten people can be. Anyone who maintains that it is movies like this
that
lead to so much of the violence in our society needs to take a little look
at history and stop pointing the fingers at people who've never committed
a
truly violent act in their lives but who happen to enjoy films that are
violent.
Okay, that got rather political. But this movie does have political and
sociological implications- that much was clear from my brief viewing of
it.
It is important to note that this movie was not meant as a blueprint of
how
to behave, and anyone who thinks it is has problems that are going to
arise
without the movie. So for all those people who call fans of this movie
depraved: why not focus your energy on something that really matters, like
getting guns off the street or children out of abusive homes or abusive
parents and spouses into counseling, and leave movie fans
alone.
Good film, better novel, 15 July 1999
Author:
emgasu from Buenos Aires, Argentina
A pity Anthony Burgess released the novel -if it wasn't for that,
Kubrick's
film could have looked better. The bitter politic view of the author is
somehow shadowed by the excess of violence, which is by no means the heart
of the novel. It seems that Kubrick had his own view and he imposed it
over
the original.
A stunning masterpiece, 12 July 1999
Author:
KennyF from New York
Kubrick's stunning masterpiece of irony, satire, language, prophecy,
imagery, and music. The title says it all: we are creatures of flesh
(like
the pulpy orange), but we are little more than clocklike machines able to
be
programmed into unison. This is a movie of unforgettable language and
visual images. The way Kubrick was able to define the space on screen
with
his sets and the way he lit them were the key aspects of his cinematic
genius. The sex and violence (sometimes in combination) are shocking
and
may strike some as excessive (especially in the depiction of women), but
they are used to make a point about society.
MY ALLTIME FAVORITE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 10 July 1999
Author:
Sushiman from GA
This is my all-time favorite movie, folks, and why?
Because it is just mesmerising to watch. Very hypnotic, and equally
entertaining. It is one of few films that are actually perfect.
But the main reason is is that it made me want to be a filmmaker. I first
saw it when I was 15 years old and it was like nothing I had ever seen.
Well
at least it helped me make a career desicion!
Exciting! Cult classic!, 10 July 1999
Author:
snlash from USA
I loved this movie! Malcolm McDowall did a terrific job of acting, that
leaves an impressions on you for years!! Contrary to other reviews I have
seen, The rape and violence scenes seemed very erotic to me, and very
central to the storyline. I highly recommend this movie to all people who
are not faint at heart and definitely 18 or older.
good sick twisted fun, 8 July 1999
Author:
crazyj from frederick, Maryland
This movie is excellent, other than 2001 and Full Metal Jacket definitely
Kubrick's finest. Malcom McDowell is brilliant as Alex, the main
character.
I highly recommend this film to anyone.
It's all right, It's only human....everyones perverted, 8 July 1999
Author:
The Jeff
That's gross!!! Too much violence!!!! Anyone who could possibly enjoy this
is sick!!! These are some of the most common things heard when you bring
up
this film. Why? What is it about reality that scares so many people?
This
movie is by far one of the most intense and truthful movies ever created.
It seems that some are often blinded by the mutiple showings of violence
and
sex...so as to say the movie is sick. Never has there been a movie that
is
more truthful and insightful into the human mind. too many people deny
the
basic human instincts and feelings that are necessary to living. This
isn't
just a made up kind of thing...burgess was showing a great knowledge of
real
life when he wrote this. Who out there hasn't thought about just busting
out and doing whatever they want to do before...or just saying ph**k it,
i'm
gonna live for myself, no rules. If you say yeah, i've never thought that
then your lying to yourself. This film is one of the best beacuse it
deals
with the most intense REAL emotions...If ever there was a movie that
everyone must see it's this...it'll make you see things a bit different,
maybe for the best.
There can be NO true genius without a touch of Insanity.
Probably the most twisted film ever made.., 8 July 1999
Author:
Steven J. Juon (OHHLA) from Omaha, NE
Sick? Insane? Twisted? Genius. All of the following words describe the
Stanley Kubrick directed film "Clockwork Orange," the same film which
introduced Malcolm McDowell to the world - for that +alone+ the film
viewing
public can be grateful. His portrayal of the hoodlum Alexander DeLarge (a
young man whose principle interests are rap, ultraviolence, and Beethoven)
is both powerful and disturbing. Simple minded Congresspersons and civil
servants would like to no doubt blame the sick sad world we live in on
films
such as these; when in fact films like this are the magnifying glass
through
which society's ills are exposed to harsh light. Alex's own corrections
officer is confounded - he has a good home, two parents, something of a
brain on his head - why is he such a terror? There's no easy answer; and
that rings just as true when you ask why Columbine High or why Oklahoma
City. There's no one source, no one reason, and sometimes bad actions
really can't be quantified. The film's solution to the Alex "problem" is
both horrific and draconian: cure the ill by making the patient ill from
the
cure.
This film is great on many levels - social commentary, cinematogrophy,
even
the choice of soundtrack will strike a chord that will raise the hairs on
the back of your neck. To not see this film once in your life, even as
disturbing as it may be, is to do yourself a grave injustice.
The violence is a mechanism to get the deeper meanings across, 7 July 1999
Author:
John A. from Urbana, Il
This is not some flick with random violence and a simple message. Make no
mistake, the violence is horrifying. It's meant that way. It's meant to
be
a reflection on how society was progressing in the future, where for some
ultraviolence is a way of life.
This movie can be divided into thirds. The first third delves into the
madness of violence, and the horror a few ultraviolent individuals can
produce in a society. The second third is about reformation and the price
of reformation - can a society take away an individual's right to free
will
to protect itself? The final third is again a commentary on violence -
this
time that the violence is inherent in our society, that we are ALL
products,
and instigators, of violence. We're not supposed to feel sorry for Alex!
We're supposed to feel happy that he's getting what he deserves!! But
that's the mastery of the film - in the end our lust for revenge is no
different that Alex's ultraviolence, and the "treatment" eventually blows
up
in the government's and societies' and in our (the audience's) face. Alex
ends up the same as always, just much richer and with immunity from the
consequences of his actions.
This film is violent. It is disturbing. It questions the lines between
justice and revenge, beauty and horror, societies' greater need and an
individual's basic human rights. It does so against a backdrop that is at
once soothing (Beethoven's ninth) and horrifying (the ultraviolence). A
Clockwork Orange is brilliant, but to appreciate its full impact, one has
to
get over the brutality of the film. The deeper meanings will be lost to
anyone who can't.
Stellar, 6 July 1999
Author:
TegSkywalker from Illinois, USA
I think this movie is genuine. The events are truly stunning and on top of
all, the theme music is stellar. It adds a mood that is unmatched and
gives
feeling. Great movie overall
Anthony Burgess at his best, 4 July 1999
Author:
JerryP-2 from Papillion NE
Sure, Stanley Kubrick directed it, but Anthony Burgess wrote the original.
Once you get past the violence and some of the improbable "science," this
is
an exquisite rendition of Burgess' commentary on the social tinkering and
resultant disintegration of British culture and its likely outcome.
Probably the best scene is the demonstration of the "socially acceptable"
version of Alex DeLarge and the (presumably) C of E cleric's objection
that
"we've taken away his free will." The alternatives of dealing with the
sociopathic Alex are left unsaid.
This film has meaning and content far beyond mere entertainment.
Multi-faceted and brilliant., 29 June 1999
Author:
Teotihuacan from Melbourne, Australia
A Clockwork Orange is an incredibly structured and complex film, a fact
which is overlooked by many blinded by the sex and violence. Burgess and
Kubrick set out to provide a commentary not only on the nature of violence
and crime, but on the very nature of free will. It's an ambitious plan,
yet
one that this film covers completely. It's a shame that, given Kubrick's
penchant for thought provoking and at times esoteric films, this is
possibly
the most instantly accessible to the majority, simply due to the violent
element. To view the film on this level is to be blinded to the inner
complexities of this stunning film, and is selling it and it's creators
short. As Kubrick himself said, the viewer both fears and sympathises with
Alex, because he is all too frighteningly easy to identify with. Like all
Burgess' work, brilliant and compelling. Like all Kubrick's, classic,
cinematically flawless, thought provoking and almost all other
complimentary
terms you could use to label a film. 10/10.
Beethoven Would Be Proud, 25 June 1999
Author:
KaRoVa from Philly
I remember being 3 years old & picking up the box - being drawn to it by
the
artwork on the box. 12 years later,in May of this year...I was looking 4 a
movie to stimulate my mind as well as be wowed. The movie had been
mentioned
to me many times. I remember how I was full of wonder when I saw the box -
so I bought it - it was the best move I ever made. As soon as I saw the
1st
scene of Alex...I was blown away. The music perfectly fitted into each
scene. Also because of this movie, I've became obsessed with Beethoven.
Classical music showed its true purpose in this film. Insanity was
perfectly
displayed in motion.
The sickness of the human mind and the manipulation of it by the government......ah ha ha ha ha, 24 June 1999
Author:
Kittycoo from Philadelphia, Pa - USA
The film has some rather disturbing scenes of rape and violence but here
it
is rather potential to truly illustrate the sick mind of the character
"Alex".
Ah, hence crime and punishment our shown for our viewing pleasure with a
twist of government manipulation. Ah the plot thickens along with another
twist of excellent musical scores.
I think Alex should have been raped by the big muscular weight lifter to
really drive a point;therefore, having him suffer all the aspects of his
evil doings in return.
The movie is a gem, and it has real genuine terror. The
movie's
protagonist Alex isn't supernatural, he's a human monster.
From
attacking people to rape to home invasion to prison, Alex
does
what he wants, when he wants. When released in 1971 most
people
considered it too strong for most stomachs, too ahead for
it's
time. The background pieces are wonderful and the cinematography
is lovely. Every year on Halloween I dress up as Alex even
with
the eye lash. Definitely Stanley Kubrick's best movie.
R.I.P. Mr. Kubrick.
Interesting Idea -- Average Movie, 15 June 1999
Author:
PlateOShrimp from Harrisburg, Pa
"A Clockwork Orange" isn't an easy movie to digest. The term
"ultraviolence" is used a lot by the characters, and it says A LOT about
this movie. It's disturbing almost the whole way through.
Anybody with a clue of cinema knows the set-up: Four hooligans with a
love
of raping and killing goon their way through the nights, only to have one
get caught during an attempted robbery. Once caught, he opts for a
quicker
(yet experimental) rehabilitation that make him sick to his stomach at the
mere thought of violence. I'll say no more about this process for the few
out there who aren't sure what it is.
Violent movies have never bothered me, but violent movies about characters
with no motive for what they do DOES bother me, and this one is right up
there. The violent scenes disgusted me, but I continued to watch in an
effort to be an objective viewer and be able to give a complete
review.
Surprisingly, this movie gets more recognition for its characters and the
supposed "coolness" of them (unnecessary violence constitutes stupidity in
my book).
Underneath, however, is an interesting premise that could have kept this
movie together if some of the more graphic scenes were tamed. The rehab
method described earlier is a brainwashing of sorts; It doesn't give him
a
choice to decide between right and wrong -- Instead, he can't engage in
violence, as if a switch has been thrown.
The obvious question raised is that of a person who is unable to commit
heinous crimes, and how he can function as a human being if he can't make
decisions and pay the consequences, good or bad. Live and learn, as they
say.
When the treatment is done, it's sort of a hollow ending. One less
criminal
off the street, for sure, but less of a human being. A person who is
unable
to learn from his mistakes, because he's not free to make
them.
A better movie would have concentrated on the obvious moral question and
taken it a little further. Instead, the man is free, his friends are
thuggish cops and his lesson MAY or MAY NOT have been learned. The viewer
really isn't sure what to make of it.
With some fine-tuning and a little more class, this could have been a
great
movie. But, most of the time, I was too busy feeling sick to my stomach
to
care. And when I did care, the movie only scratches the surface of what
it
could been.
A Clockwork Orange was Stanley Kubricks second greatest film, and is in my
personal opinion the 7th greatest film ever made, one-upped by Citizen
Kane,
The Godfather, 2001, 8 1/2, Fargo, and La Dolce Vita. Its one of the few i
have a copy of in my personal collection. It mixes images, sound, and
emotion in a masterfull way that when combined with fanastic
cinematography,
editing, and direction, reveals a spectacular work. Worth seeing by any
cinema lover.
This movie I will admit, I watched out of rumors about it. I heard it's
supposed to make you see wierd stuff when you are stoned, and it's
supposed
to be one of the most bizarre movies ever. I watched it out of curiosity.
The movie does seem to point out an important point that no one realizes.
Alex went to prison, with somewhat of a mental illness, and he was getting
an ego trip on power and control with his little gang. When he went to
prison, he acted as if he really did want to better himself, he did with
the
treatment program. He then went back into society, treating him as if he's
still the old Alex. It shows how criminals are treated today, they go into
society with their rehabbed story, and no one believes them, and chews
them
up, and spits them out. It's a great way of showing that. It also shows
how
insane one person can be. It's brilliant, but yet bizzare. Plus the
Beethoven and that other crap got on my nerves after awhile, how much can
a
movie have ?
If I had to rank top 5 movies, it would be: #5 Sunset Blvd, #4 The Cook,
The
Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, #3 Gone with the Wind, #2 The Empire
Strikes
Back, and #1 EASILY is A Clockwork Orange. This movie is a social
commentary on one level, a hilarious comedy on another (and there are
times
I do laugh), a horror film in the classic sense, and a coming of age film.
The book is awesome, both the English and the American versions. The
movie
does something rare; it surpasses the written word in painting a picture
of
Alex's life. It also has one of the best dance numbers ever filmed; I
can't
watch Singing in the Rain without thinking of Alex
The Masterpiece, 8 June 1999
Author:
great_sphinx_42 from The Poppy Field, OZ 69666
I have seen a lot of movies in my day, but few have changed my life. This
movie-called "THE movie" by those who know me-is quite simply the
masterpiece. Just like one of my fellow reviewers said, my life, or at
least
as it pertains to movies, was changed when I saw this film. It is among
the
top 3 most profound movies I've ever seen. I watched it five times in the
first two days I had the video in my possession. I own the video now, and
the book, and the score, and a poster. I wrote a paper about Kubrick, with
the focus heavily on "A Clockwork Orange." I can't even begin to state the
cinematic importance of this movie. You must see it for yourself. Stanley
Kubrick was a man before his time, a film-maker with the sort of vision
and
technique and talent that all artists hope and pray for in their
endeavors,
no matter the forum. "A Clockwork Orange" is just one of his masterworks.
With only 13 films, he changed the practice of film-making forever. May
all
be well with your eternity, Stanley, and thanks forever for sharing with
us
your beautiful, bitter soul.
A Few Things I Forgot To Mention, 8 June 1999
Author:
great_sphinx_42 from The Poppy Field, OZ 69666
I want to add a few things to what I said in my first post. First of all,
as
I understand it Stanley Kubrick didn't even know that there was 21
chapters
in Anthony Burgess' book. For various reasons (some of them conflicting)
the
American version had only 20 chapters, leaving out Alex's self-determined
change for the better. Only in the latest American printing is the 21st
chapter included. Anthony Burgess himself said at one point that Kubrick
didn't know about it. And the book is excellent as well, by the way, and
Burgess does deserve recognition for the book that is his own personal
masterpiece, even if he didn't think so. May Kubrick and Burgess *both* be
remembered for the definitive thesis on freedom and human nature that is
"A
Clockwork Orange."
At first glance, this film may seem like a sick deranged piece of trash
shamelessly designed to appeal to our most prurient tastes. Indeed, one
of
the most disturbing things about this film is that since the viewer is
looking through Alex's eyes, there is sometimes a tendency for the viewer
to
relish the violence as much as Alex does - to laugh along with him as he
commits his mayhem. (Yikes!)
Two questions come out of this: Why is Alex made as repulsive as he is?
And
why is the violence portrayed in such a shockingly graphic manner? (In
the
book, Alex is loathsome enough, but the brutality is cloaked somewhat in
the
"nadsat" or teen language, based largely on Slavic roots, that Alex uses
to
tell his story.) The answer to both of these questions is, I think, that
Kubrick (and Burgess) wanted to make the point that no one deserves the
inhuman conditioning that Alex went through - not even the cruelest most
bestial slime (like Alex). Thus, despite the shocking sensationalistic
sex
and violence, it can honestly be said that this film is... a philosophical
work.
Very Good Movie., 5 June 1999
Author:
Amelia-6 from USA
This movie was Awesome. I could have done without some of the nudity but
it
was needed to get the whole effect. This movie is not for the weak
minded.
The ones who watch something and suddenly they have to go out and do it or
think its cool. Because what happens is not cool but it makes for a good
story line. Certainly one you have to see.
If it was suggested to me that this was the greatest film of all time, I'd
be hard pressed to argue. In addition, it seems to predict the violence
occurring with today's youth and yet most of them have probably never
heard,
much less seen A Clockwork Orange. I wonder what effect it would have on
them?
A movie that does justice to the book., 30 May 1999
Author:
JerBear-2 from Ouachita National Forest
Another masterpiece by a bona fide genius. Kubrick leads us down the
garden
path (a dark and foreboding futuristic one)with our feelings and emotions
about the main character. Is he funny? Is he cute? Is he sad? Or is he a
sadistic sociopath that deserves far worse than what happens to him? And
more importantly, is that the point of the movie? If you don't find this
film disturbing, you've been watching too many "Itchy and Scratchy"
cartoons.
As far as the film making, one of the things that has always amazed me is
that the film creates a world of it's own with very few outrageous set
designs or special effects. We never even see the car they drive.
This movie is like "Brazil", you have to watch it more than once to truly
appreciate it.
One of Kubrick's many masterpieces, 24 May 1999
Author:
Mr.White-10 from Conn.
A Clockwork Orange is definitely one of Kubrick's best films. Like 2001,
the classical music works perfectly with the film itself. ACO is
insightful, eerie, disturbing, and original. All in all, a perfect film
made the great genius Stanley Kubrick (R.I.P).
If you felt bored or comfortable you didn't get it., 12 May 1999
Author:
lucia-8
This film is meant to make the viewer uncomfortable, to think, to be
repulsed by Alex, to feel sympathy for him, to feel tricked and betrayed
by
Kubrick - by the film itself, for allowing it to manipulate your feelings
about violence, about retribution, about Alex and his kind. Just as the
social workers toy with Alex, Kubrick toys with the viewer, first throwing
violent scenes all involving helpless victims at the unsuspecting
moviegoer,
then later turning Alex himself into the helpless victim. As the film
progresses, Kubrick continues to challenge any conclusions one may come
to:
viewers appalled at the behavior modification techniques used to "cure"
Alex
can conclude the solution is as awful as the crime. If you agree Alex
should
be reformed at any cost, then at the film's end, one of its many jokes is
played on you.
I heard rave reviews of the film after it came out in the early 70's, but
didn't see it until 15 years later. After having wanted to see it for so
long, I was disturbed at first by the repulsive violence and let down at
my
own dismay about the film. It wasn't until I taped it, and viewed it over
and over, that I understood and experienced what Kubrick was
intending.
Repeated viewings also gave me a chance to appreciate each element of
Kubrick's impeccable and always entertaining filmmaking.
Anyone who is reacting mostly to the film's violence, either disgusted by
it or unimpressed because it doesn't match the realism or intensity of
violence on film today, hasn't really gotten it yet. Try watching
again.
From the Master!, 13 April 1999
Author:
Tom-275 from Norfolk, VA
Only Kubrick could have pulled this movie off. Others have tried similar
films; "Natural Born Killers" leaps to mind, and it wasn't all bad, but
Stone is the apprentice compared to Kubrick. I realize that some people will
automatically turn away from this film due to its violent content. I've
never understood why people are so squeamish about seeing play-pretend
violence being acted out (excuse me, its not real!) but to each his own. If
you're one of those people, well, you've missed out on one of the best films
ever made. Kubrick's ability to etch both images and sounds into the viewers
mind is probably without comparison. While some fans of the Burgess novel
may have been upset at some of the liberties taken, (just like Stephen King
fans were with "The Shining"), you can't dispute the product is outstanding.
Reading some of the comments made by other users of the film, it is clear
that very few have read Anthony Burgess's original novel, on which the
film
was based. I would advise anyone who enjoyed the film to read the book as
it
is brilliantly executed. Anyway, although I'm not one of those "books are
better than films" brigade, I feel there are some points which need to be
stressed. Many people give all the credit for this film to the late
Stanley
Kubrick. However, at least 70% of the film is Burgesses creation.
Kubrick's
visual genius was an integral part of this movie, for example, the Droogs
costumes are of his specification, not Burgess's, as was his modification
of
the storyline, the hilarious scene where Alex describes what he sees on
the
cards to the immensely patronising woman was completely different in the
book. Despite this, Burgess devised the entire plot, and the Russian based
teen language "Nadsat". All I'm saying is that perhaps Kubrick has been
given too much credit for Burgess's masterpiece.
Kubrick didn't ask to be overrated did he?, 6 April 1999
Author:
martelli from hemel, england
Oh dear, oh deary,deary me....
Ageing like a vintage Lambrusco Bianco, this turgid offering doesn't even
have the decency to come in after 90 minutes.
1970's future-world-views can often be embarrassing (Rollerball anybody?)
and this beauty truly flies the flag of naff.
A stab at getting political in the later stages is as sad as seeing the
Mighty Darth sitting in his y-fronts (yes, it really happens).
Over-rated doesn't even touch it.
That reminds me, I must see Thin Red Line again.....
Enter Stanley Kubrick's world, and never return!, 31 March 1999
Author:
Baphomet-3 from Dublin, Ireland
Only Stanley Kubrick could translate the brilliant and highly relevant "A
clockwork orange" to film, and of all his films, I will remember him most
from this. Violent, controversial and problematic, "A clockwork orange"
concerns the issue of moral choice. The film centers around Alex, the
narrator and main character, who lives as a full time thug in a bleak future
world, spoiled by political corruption and decadence. He and his "droogs"
(he and his companions speak in a form of slang) while away each evening
thrill-seeking, raping, stealing and assaulting, until... Well,
unfortunately for the benefit of those who have not seen "A clockwork
orange", I can't reveal any more...
Well, Malcolm McDowell is Excellent, Walter Carlos' music direction is
excellent, and Stanley Kubrick... Well, let's just say: Why are people
cloning sheep? Clone Stanley Kubrick! Cinema needs him now more than ever!
Rest in peace, brother.
Look at this movie my fellow droogs!, 30 March 1999
Author:
Haplo-4 from Västerås, Sweden
This is a piece of art, and it will be one of the all time classics that
folk will remember long in the future. McDowell is perfect as the
"gentleman" murderer, robber and drug-user. When this movie came it was
really controversial, perhaps not for the nudity displayed, but for the
well
directed violence - but all that just adds to it's glory. The one sad
thing
about it was that gangs in England and USA started using the language used
and by that put coal under the movie-violence question. I think that this
is
the second best movie made by Kubrik - "Full Metal Jacket" being number
one.
There is an other thing about this movie I'd like to point out and that is
the music that is used. For the most part it is classics like Beethoven
and
Mozart which really added to the sensation and without it the movie would
be
just half as good.
A Gen-X Fairytale, several decades early, 28 March 1999
Author:
JonB-2 from Los Angeles, CA
Oh, my droogies, a horrorshow peek at the old ultraviolence to which our
humble near future is heir...
Once again, Kubrick took a novel and adapted it with utter faith to the
screen, while simultaneously creating a visual style that was utterly
unique. On top of it all, he gives us the character of Alex -- thug,
rapist, delinquent, unrepentent little s**t -- and makes us like him, even
as he attacks, injures, rapes and kills...
This film (and the novel), you see, really isn't about Alex and his
Droogies. It's about us -- our attitudes toward crime and punishment, and
our weird ambivalence and denial. We love to claim to want to see justice
done, but never make us admit that all we really want is revenge. We
can't
admit that -- it would just make us the same as the criminals. However,
the
"Ludovicko technique" seen in the film, the Pavlovian reprogramming of
criminals, really would be the ultimate solution to crime. Turning the
violent into little clockwork oranges -- objects that look organic on the
outside but are mechanical on the inside -- would solve a lot of problems.
However, it's a concept that'll never fly. Not because it's cruel to the
criminals, altough lipservice is paid to that idea. No -- it's because it
denies society the opportunity to smack the doo-doo out of the nasty
little
thugs. But, see the comments on hypocrisy, above...
And all of this is in the movie implicitly, never explicit. (The high
point: when Alex encounters his former gang mates, now "reformed," working
as policemen -- and behaving exactly the same as before.)
The formula of crime and punishment is really a perpetuating loop, not a
one-way track, but the punishers can never admit to their own criminal
behavior. This equation is hiding in the structure of the film, which is
a
classic fairy tale -- hero journeys outward and passes three obstacles (or
gate keepers or trolls or whatever), then journeys back in a diminished
state, and encounters the same three whatevers for some instant karma.
The
concept was the genius of Anthony Burgess, but the faithful execution
(pardon the expression) was pure Kubrick...
Final notes: the film is funny, stuffed with little in-jokes (keep your
eyes
open in the record store for some self-references, as well as a collection
of names that actually became bands later) and the use of music and
wide-angle lenses has no equal in cinema. The opening shot is one of the
more memorable images in film, the closing shot is a subtle "up yours" to
Ken Russell, and everything in between will stick with you forever...
I originally saw A Clockwork Orange, being a fan of Stanley Kubrick. After
seeing it, I read the book, which makes the film disappointing. The film
making of the movie was great, as all Kubrick films are and Malcolm McDowell
was good as Alex, but the movie lacks a lot that the book had. I doubt even
if it had all of the things the book did, it would still have been as great
as the book was. I would say A Clockwork Orange is a book that was not meant
for film and should be recognized as a great book, if anything.
A missunderstood movie and an equally misunderstood man, 27 March 1999
Author:
Matt Meehan (meehan1@home.com) from Baltimore, Maryland
This movie is not intended to congratulate criminals, or encourage
violent crimes in anyway. It's intent was to show that we have to make our
decisions ourself, no other human-being can. The main reason why it is
misunderstood is because it excludes the 21st chapter that is in the book.
This chapter tells of Alex's redemption, and his need to settle down. Alex
wrong. Plain and simple, Anthony Burgess would never condone rape, for his
wife was raped. But Alex realizes this at the end when he can think for
himself and a "treatment", as it were, was not thinking for him. In other
words, if you had a disability would you want someone taking care of you
constantly, always making a fuss. No it's disconcerting, as humans we want
to learn for ourself and be self-sufficient. That's what this is about.
Alex
got his punishment in jail, and out of jail, but in the end the human
brain
prevailed and he recognized the err of his ways. I strongly suggest to
anyone confused after the movie to go read the book. This will help you to
understand the reasoning of it being taken from Alex's perspective. In
closing I would like give my condolences to Christiane Kubrick on the loss
of her husband. He was a genius and his legacy is left in films like this
one. And to Stanley, wherever you are, Good luck, God-speed, and Good bye.
You will be missed.
As close to perfection as possible, 20 March 1999
Author:
gamer from Berkeley, CA, USA
I first saw this masterpiece when I was 13, just 2 years ago. I had heard
from numerous sources that it was one of the greatest films of all time, and
decided to see for myself.
Right from the opening screen, with the genius music and bold use of color,
I knew I'd found a great film. I have seen it dozens of times now, it
remaining one of my all-time favorites. The people who say that it is too
violent, too graphic, and too disturbing need to look past that, to see a
truly elegant piece on human nature.
Above all, the soundtrack is what really makes this film shine. I am a big
fan of classical music, and Kubrick really knew how to make mood music a
powerful force in a film. From the slow-motion, no-sound scene with Rossini
in the background to the frantic one-shot sex scenes with the William Tell
Overture to the gang fight to Beethoven throughout the whole wondrous thing,
the music is the true outlet of feeling.
This film will never get old. And I'll never get tired of
it.
A Clockwork Orange has achieved something of a reputation since it was first
released 27 years ago. It was withdrawn shortly after its first screening in
the UK amid reports that gangs were copying the violence featured in the
film, and to this day it is still unofficially banned in this country.
Possessing a copy alone is a criminal offence. This is a great shame,
because it really is superb film.
It tells the story of Alex, the leader of vicious street gang the Droogs.
His idea of a good time is a bit of `the old ultra-violence' accompanied by
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. When he kills a woman whilst attempting to rape
her, his gang deserts him and he is prosecuted for murder. Faced with the
prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison, he jumps at the chance
to be a test subject for a new method of rehabilitation which could see him
a free man in days. But at what cost?
Although it was very violent for its day (1971), A Clockwork Orange is not
nearly as disturbing or explicit as Crash or Natural Born Killers, often
because here the music is incongruous enough to make the scene more surreal.
For example, a man is kicked to within an inch of his life as Alex sings
`Singin' In The Rain'. The point of the film is highly subversive, that the
government is even more brutal than Alex himself, but this was lost on many
people who could not see past the adult content of the film in the first
place. It is a brilliantly produced piece of work, with the design
particularly outstanding: the fact that the concrete and rural locations are
not dressed at all to match the sterile futurism of the sets e.g. the Korova
milk-bar, with its total lack of colour.
This is, in short, an outstanding film, far outstripping Kubrick's other
alleged `masterpieces', like the totally unfunny Dr. Strangelove or the
exercise in utter tediousness that is The Shining. Now that this genius of
the silver screen has passed on leaving Eyes Wide Shut as his legacy to
critics and fans alike, it seems that his incandescent brilliance in this
film will never be contested. Let us hope that Warner Bros. do the decent
thing and ignore those narrow-minded idiots who cannot understand it by
fulfilling Kubrick's wishes, and finally giving the film the British release
it so richly deserves.
Oddly Cool, 15 March 1999
Author:
HtThHtr from Alma, Arkansas
This movie is, by far, one of the best I've ever seen. You never REALLY know
what's going to happen because if has no REAL plot, they just take you
places and somehow make a great movie out of it. The scene where he's in the
hospital and talking to the therapist is CLASSIC! And the part where the
minister is feeding Alex is equally as funny.
Kubrick's Vision of the Future, 8 March 1999
Author:
2nd City from Chester, VA
Kubrick's vision of the future of society was as stunning in i's accuracy
as it was in its irony. He was able to foresee the time when the criminals
were excused for their crime since they were products of poverty or
disfunctional families or an uncaring society or any other excuse that would
gain sympathy. The populace would try to protect itself, in this case with a
bodyguard, instead of try to discover and eliminate the root causes of
crime.
Then, just as we are becoming comfortable with the punishment of one of
society's worst components, the roles are reversed and the criminal becomes
the victim set upon by a vicious, malevolent law enforcement and
correctional system. (Anyone remember a recent murder trial?)
This film is one which needs to be viewed over and over to peal off layers
like an onion. After the shock value is relieved, from an initial or second
viewing, additional understanding of Kubrick's precis can be obtained.
The news of Stanley Kubricks death was just announced yesterday and Eyes
Wide Shut will be his last film, most likely one of the main films he'll be
remembered by. But films such as Spartacus, 2001, and The Shining are the
ones people should remember him for. And A Clockwork Orange should be the
film that always remains his masterpiece. The film is still disturbing for
today's society, over 25 years after it was released it still has the impact
most films can't let out as well as Kubrick did here. The direction is
incredible, the acting is great, and the screenplay is wonderful. This is
one of my favorite films of all time and I hope most people remember him for
his older works, even though I'm sure Eyes Wide Shut will be very good,
nothing can come close to this. One of the only films that you can label as
being perfect.
I had more courage seeing this movie when I was 16 than now at 43., 7 March 1999
Author:
Beryl D. Robinson from New York, New York
I remember in 1971, when I was 16, my boyfriend took me to see this movie.
I laughed through most of it, not seeing the violence, just dealing with the
obnoxiousness of Alex. It was so weird and cleverly masked with beautiful
classical music, I ignored the violence. I sort of cheered when Alex's
friend's gave him is "just desserts" by kicking his ass after he had done
the same to them in the past. The end of the movie showed what I've always
believed: "No one gets away with anything, if they do something with
malicious intent".
Now at 43, I have to see it again, come back to IMDB and do another review.
I will tell you right now: I will not see this movie at night. I don't
think my nerves can deal with violence so frivolously as I did back in time.
Remember, gang violence, teenage violence was a great minimum in the 70's.
The Love Generation was still around and we did not think of anything but
"loving our brother and sister". So Clockwork Orange was an unbelievable
story for the 70's. Now look where we are at in the 90's: A Clockwork
Orange.
See you later with Part II of my adult review of "A Clockwork
Orange".
This is one of the most original movies ever...
A complete example of Kubrick's genius, an inspirated
moment
of the greatest genius of movie history.
A reflection and a satyr of a futuristic society, showing the adventures of
Alex, a Ultra-Violent young man, that feels
the bitter taste of vengeance.
If you already watched it, do it again... O, My Brother and only
Friend.
If you haven't... waste no time !
A masterpiece, 21 February 1999
Author:
vladvosb from England
Stunning filmography and brilliant acting (especially from Malcolm McDowell)
make this movie an all time classic.
I would definitely recommend you watch this film - unfortunately the
director won't release it in the UK...
One of my favorite films, 17 February 1999
Author:
Melly-2 from Kassel, Germany
I've read only two novels which scared me a lot. The first was "1984" and
the second "A Clockwork Orange". But while the two movie versions of "1984"
lack a little, "A Clockwork Orange" is a true masterpiece. How can I compare
these two movies? Both films deals with controlling human beings and both
heroes were victims of a higher power. I would even say "A Clockwork Orange"
scares me more than "1984".
masterpiece, 14 February 1999
Author:
nineinch from Canada
all people who find this movie disturbing are just squeamish.it's a true
masterpiece by the best Stanley's Kubrick. The movie runs about 2h30 so don't
tell it's disturbing! the only scene could be disturbing it's the rape
scene but this took 5 minutes? the movie it's about 2h30 so ..if you like
drama and psychologic movies rent this one! it is definitely very
interesting.you must like Alex!
Unquestionable, 5 February 1999
Author:
TLHarlot from Ventura
The best. Malcolm MacDowell is the best. Stanley Kubrick is the best. The
score, the effects, the layout, all the best. Anyone bearing bad will for
this acknowledgedly stellar film should watch it with their eyelids taped
back until they see the truth in the film. It's beautiful, and Kubrick is a
perennial creator of beauty. Comparable only to other Kubrick
works.
A modern day masterpiece which leaves you with disturbing after-thoughts. Kubrick is the master !, 5 February 1999
Author:
Andy Hillberg (sideshowpunk@hotmail.com) from Bristol, England
Well first of all, I felt that it was completely blown out of all proportion
in regard to how violent it was. For many years all I have ever heard about
this film was how bad it was and how much it could warp your soul, this
opinion was given to me from both people in general and from the media.
Some people just don't have a clue, I wish they could look at a film for its
quality not simply the images put forward onto the screen. I have seen a
hell of a lot worse, and why it is still banned over here in England I don't
know.
I agree that it was a little disturbing, well what Kubrick films aren't.
But in its day it was a landmark film that broke all of the rules, and quite
honestly I like to see films like that, at least you can guarantee
originality.
Like very few films it leaves you thinking about the film for up to a couple
of days afterwards, not many films can pull that off.
As a very big fan of Kubrick, British films and the controversial cinema,
you can only imagine how much I was hooked to it from start to finish. And
after finishing watching it, A Clockwork Orange automatically became one of
my most favourite films of all time, and I have seen one hell of a lot of
films.
If you haven't yet seen this film I strongly urge you to see it and to come
up with you own conclusion, like I did and how the director wants you
to.
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most disturbing, yet interesting pieces of
film ever to come out of the mind of Stanley Kubrick. Here he shows us a
society that is overrun with street punks, and they pretty much rule the
night. As we go along with Alex and his Droogs on their nightly missions
that include rape, gang fights, home invasion and car stealing we are
repelled by the violence and horror that these men cause, but at the same
time we are pulled in by the charm that Alex seems to generate. When he is
caught and sent to prison, we sympathize with him. Then when his free will
is taken away, we sympathize with him even more. Very strange considering
this was a man who liked rape and violence. Kubrick's main theme in the
movie is free will. Once free will is taken away, you are no longer a man.
When Alex regains his free will at the end, we revel in his victory. What
an image to show the return of Alex's free will. Him and a naked woman
writhing around in a tub while people dressed in early 19th century clap and
the end of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony plays. If nothing else, Kubrick sure
knows how to pick images.
Am I sick for liking this film?, 3 February 1999
Author:
Kris Earle from Boston, MA
A number of people hail 2001 as the best Kubrick movie, but this one is my
favorite. It's sick, twisted, bizarre but also highly original, entertaining
and brilliant. The whole deal is you hate Alex, then you like him (or
sympathize with him if "like" is too risky a term), then you should hate him
again, but you really can't. All the characters are quirky and unique. There
are some harsh scenes that are incredibly violent, but as the doctor states
"violence is a horrible thing.... & for it to make you sick means you're
getting better;" Keep an open mind and check it out - there are a hell
of a lot of funny scenes --- and don't feel awful for liking this flick -
it's really rather good.
10 for 10.
"Eggiweggs - I'd like to SMASH-EM!"
Good book, good movie, 1 February 1999
Author:
JudyBlue
Stanley Kubrick has made a career out of doing novel-based movies that are
later disavowed by their authors. His repertoire includes 'Lolita', 'The
Shining', and Anthony Burgess' 'A clockwork orange'. As a catholic, Burgess
could not accept the fact that this film is the clean adaption of what he
himself wrote. That between his sugarcoated words he had hidden images of
very brutal violence and terror. Still, for those of us who aren't inhibited
by religion, this film sports the same weighty blow as the novel. It
seamlessly transfers Burgess' experimental use of language to the big
screen, and actor Malcolm McDowell is incredible as Alex, combining his
hideously evil grin with the adolescent need for fun. Lovers of the novel
will not be disappointed by Kubrick's adaption, as it goes just as far in
the search for free will as Burgess did, and as it keeps the nuances that
made the book so fantastic in the first place.
Liberal pap, 28 January 1999
Author:
Daniel L. Newhouse from Urbana, Illinois
Liberal pap obviously written by someone more concerned with the rights of
criminals than their victims. The extreme violence would be fine if this
movie accomplished something with it - but this movie is simply obscene and
uninteresting.
The Scariest Movie I Have Ever Seen, 27 January 1999
Author:
Mia Wall from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
A Clockwork Orange is one of the strangest movies I have seen in my entire
life. I was shocked, freaked-out, scared and excited all at the same time.
It traumatized me! To this day I still don't know what to make of it, but I
know that it is one of the best movies ever made. It's amazing! Malcolm
MacDowell's performance is a gift and Stanley Kubrick's directing is pure
genius. The cast, the setting, the dialogue, they're all perfect. You HAVE
to see this film!
Perhaps the most famous set of false eyelashes in film history. Stanley
Kubrick's blackest of comedies, he had the good sense to omit the last
chapter of Anthony Burgess' book, leaving the edge on Burgess' savage attack
on modern society.
Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is the leader of a small gang of hoodlums who
repeatedly rob, rape, and steal their way across an unnamed and futuristic
state. When a robbery culminates in murder, Alex's gang betray him to the
police. He is found guilty, and sent to prison. There he volunteers for a
mind-washing program in order to be released. Once released he is set upon
by his former mates and victims. But the mind-washing has rendered him not
just pliable, but helpless.
Filled with beautiful set-piece scenes, the violence of the film, while not
terribly explicit by today's standards, is still shocking. The soundtrack by
Walter (later Wendy) Carlos is especially effective at making the violence
especially repugnant. Part what drives this reaction is that Alex, while a
thoroughly corrupt person, becomes even more repugnant once deprived of his
own will. His love of Beethoven is crushed and the one redeeming facet of
this thoroughly unlikable person is removed.
But the film also succeeds in getting us to root for Alex. Better a willful
evil than a slavish good. In the end we cheer his minor triumph. Free will
exposes us to evil, but lack of it is not worth the price.
Most original and well put-together films I've seen., 26 January 1999
Author:
Carnegie from Phoenix, Arizona
The reason I am such a fan of this film is simply that it has everything I
and many other people enjoy in a film. It contains a more than satisfying
amount of violence (The fight scene in the old theatre rocked), the story
line was more than engaging, the acting was superb (How about McDowell's
improv skills with the "Singin' in the Rain" rape scene), and the dialogue
added a lot to the movie as well. It may be a bit hard to follow for
first-timers, but I feel it simply forces you to focus on the characters and
there dilemmas (one of the best parts of the finished product). I agree
that this film may not be for everyone, but those who like it will have no
choice but to love it.
By Far, 25 January 1999
Author:
George H from New York
This movie is by far one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces. Every
viewing reveals layers that were not present with first viewing. Whether it
is the choreography or the camera movement, it all blends into
magnificence.
Prophetic, challenging and a pleasure to the eye, 24 January 1999
Author:
robert from Stonet Creek, Ontario, Canada
Clockwork Orange is a prime example of why Kubrick is considered one of the
best directors ever (my own personal favourite). Having said this, it's
definitely not for everyone. Although not terribly graphic by today's
standards, it has a psychological potency matched by few films since. There
is also a rather prophetic feel to it in its view of future (now present)
gang violence that some may find a little too close to the mark to be
comfortable with.
Like most Kubrick films, CWO is an intellectually challenging film that
leaves the audience feeling a sense of puzzlement as to the meaning of many
of its elements. If you only enjoy movies that play down to your level, you
will not enjoy it. However, if you like to be challenged to reach upward a
little and struggle a bit, even long after the closing credits, you will
find it a treat.
Artistically, it has a great deal of that Kubrick style that leaves the
viewer with the same feeling that you get after listening to a great piece
of music or studying a fine painting. No one does it like
Stanley.
This was a great movie even if it was hard to watch sometimes, 19 January 1999
Author:
anonymous
THis is a story of a boy named Alex who is a "droog" in a gang. Every night
they go out for "a bit of the old ultra-violence" and rape. One night Alex
kills a cat woman with a sculpure and when he is escaping from the police
his droogs attack him with a bottle of milk and he is left lying on the ground
bleeding for the police to arrest him. When he is sent to jail he signs up
for the experiment to shorten his jail sentence. This will make him sick at
the feeling of rape or violence. They show him videos of rape and violence
and hold his eyes open. They play Beethoven's 9th symphony which also makes
him sick when he hears that. He is released from jail but that's when the
real trouble starts!!!
one of my all time favorites, 17 January 1999
Author:
Jay Lewis from Memphis, TN
This is a movie that makes you really stop and think. It is true that it is
a good movie in itself, but there is also a philosophical element in this
movie. It's about choices and free will and existentialism. Does man have
the right to take away another man's free will? If man ceases to have free
will, does he cease to be a man? Then he is merely a clockwork orange,
pleasing to the eye (orange), and yet perfect, a puppet of god or the devil
that is as predictable as clockwork. This movie has the potential to change
your way of thinking. "A Clockwork Orange" and perhaps "The Truman Show"
are the greatest movies ever made if one judges on the basis of how deep the
movie is. This is one of only two or three movies that I would give a ten
out of ten.
This one is so good. I really love it. The opening scene got me immediately,
then I thought this one is gonna be good. The music in the movie is so
brilliant. The ninth symphony, second movement will never be the same again.
It always reminds me offthe wonderful bedroom of Alex. The statue of Jesus
Christ, the views on the bed, the mirrors, everything. Those mirrors were
the reason why I now got mirrors on my closet myself. I read one comment
about the language, that is Russian, and I think that is a public secret.
The message of the movie is very appealing to me, being a future psych. But
the terrific dialogues, the terrific story, the scenario Kubrick made out of
the book, (thereby leaving the last chapter away, think that is good), really
really make this movie more than worth seeing.
One of the greatest films of all time. Malcolm McDowell is THE MAN in this
film. He's portrayed in this film as a psychotic degenerate, and yet we all
wind up feeling sorry for him midway through the film.Why? Because he gives
one of the greatest performances by any actor ever in this film, that's why.
We all fall in love with the charismatic, cunning, Beethoven-obsessed sex
fiend. A young man we'd all love to bring home to mother.
Una patada en los yarboclos!, 7 January 1999
Author:
Raul Fuentes from Guadalajara
A Clockwork Orange, another Kubrick Masterpiece, is the history of Alex, the
young ultra-violent guy who is going to learn that life is not that simple
and pretty as he thinks. Every move he makes, every thing he does,
everything is going to rerurn for Alex in the wrong way.
This may be an educational, sci-fi, dramatic, comic, powerful film. The
film has all we can expect for an excellent picture. Great direction, great
actors, great photography, great storyline.
It was filmed 28 years ago, but, hey! this film is one of those that time
doesn't make the difference.
Vidy this and vidy well.....
Real horror-show!, 27 December 1998
Author:
TeaBunny from NYC, USA
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES EVER. Mesmerizing, poetic, brilliant. A
classic.
I watched "A Clockwork Orange" for the first time an all I can say is
"brilliant"! I had some friends that told me this movie was stupid and
pointless, so I had to see it for myself.
To me, the movie was a commentary on retribution. Alex angered his gang
with his condescending, arrogant attitude. They in turn, got him sent to
prison to suffer (retribution for being a jerk). The people in prison wanted
him to suffer through the "experiment" (retribution for his crimes). When he
got out, all of the people he had wronged wanted their
revenge.
All in all, I thought it to be an excellent film and one worth watching
(If you can handle the violence and nudity).
I think it was an amazing movie into the minds of adolescents, 21 December 1998
Author:
core Hersc from Thornhill Ontario
I think it was a great movie , It showed an understanding about what goes
through the minds of some adolescents,
Stanley Kubrick , and Malcolm Macdowal did an excellent
job displaying it.
Read the book, oh my brothers!, 5 December 1998
Author:
anonymous from Mexico
Amazing movie, great screenplay, so real ultra-violence you will be inside
the screen. Kubrick captured the essence of Anthony's novel but missed the
last chapter. Alex was cured all right and got new droogs to hang out with,
but soon he matures and becomes sucked by society just as his old droogie
Georgie boy.
So read the book you movie lovers and find an even greater satisfaction than
that left by Kubrick's masterpiece.
Oscar snubbed!!!, 3 December 1998
Author:
Dave Martin from Kansas
The French Connection was certainly a great movie, a cinemtaic experience
and certainly worthy of an Academy Award for Best Picture. However, how the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can leave this movie off the
list of nominees is an insult to filmmaking. The reason I can fathom is that
most of Hollywood was too shocked by the movie's graphic scenes to be
entertained. All the same, it is utterly wrong and a pathetic snub. This
movie is, in my opinion, the greatest movie that did not win Best
Picture.
Crash course, 29 November 1998
Author:
Varlaam from Toronto, Canada
Hey, droogs, when you're trying to wrap your yahzick around bolshy great
words like "malenky" and "malchick" without spilling too much red, red
kroovy from a burst blood vessel, guess what, that's Russian you're
speaking. Just when you were enjoying all that ultraviolence, real
horrorshow, and the old in-out, you were really hitting the books.
Subversive, isn't it?
The current Penguin edition of Anthony Burgess's novel now makes it clear
that your humble narrator's arresting way of speaking is actually Russian
(right down to "horrorshow"), but in olden times you had to figure that out
for yourself, assuming that you ever did.
"Clockwork" may well be a director's Meisterwerk, a stylistic pièce de
résistance, but it is at least partially a succès de scandale. I still feel
that Kubrick was irresponsible not to include the final chapter of Burgess's
novel. Perhaps the film would not still be banned in the Mother Country if
he had. It may well have required someone of Kubrick's ingenuity to handle
the abrupt change in mood at that point -- assuming that he had shot the
ending straight without putting his own ironic twist on it, which is
doubtful. And of course this paragraph is predicated on a fairly literal
reading of Burgess, but Burgess edited Joyce, so perhaps Burgess should
never be taken at face value either.
For all its brilliance, the film needs to be taken cum grano salis.
Investigate the book, and draw your own conclusions. (You will even find the
explanation for the film's title there.)
Afterthought, since reviewing the other comments:
When I first saw this film 20 years or so ago, it was unspeakably violent
and physically repellent to watch. This was before the modern wave of crime
and horror films. "Bonnie and Clyde" and "The Wild Bunch" may have opened
the floodgates for cinematic violence, but "A Clockwork Orange" was in an
entire other class. It disturbs me that I can now watch this film without
revulsion, and that's not due to overexposure to the film itself which I've
only seen a couple of times, but rather to mass culture as a
whole.
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most ingenious movies I have ever seen.
All the violence and nudity and rape isn't senseless, it is there to
emphasise the point of the movie. I would have to say that A Clockwork
Orange is one of the few movies that lives up to the book. Stanley Kubrick
really captured the essence of Alex, the main character, with his choice of
cheerful, happy music. In using the music he captured the joy that Alex was
getting from his ultraviolence. To quote the book, "I lay on the bed and
cried'ahaahh' with the bliss of it. To enjoy this movie you must look past
the debauchery and see the message of the story.
A film before its time..., 16 November 1998
Author:
kris11 from West Lafayette, IN
This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Not only does it have an
ingenious plot, outrageous props, and some of the best acting by unknown
actors, it is very tastefully done. Stanley Kubrick is a master of
direction and he does wonders with this film. The costumes and music add
much to this twisted story of the brainwashing of a monster. Everything
about this movie is ingenious and unforgettable. I own a copy of it and
continuously watch it. It is just that entertaining!
This movie does contain some graphic and highly disturbing scenes, so watch
with caution...
... a hugely original and stylish film that is compelling and very shocking., 5 November 1998
Author:
anonymous from Nottingham
A Clockwork Orange is a powerful and disturbing film that never seems to
even attempt to condemn the violence it shows. It is extremely stylish in
its look and sound with outrageous costumes and sets and a sinister
electronic soundtrack often based on works of Beethoven.
Malcolm MacDowell gives an extraordinary performance as Alex, the film's
protagonist. For the first half of the film Alex is cold and unfeeling but
once he has been imprisoned and given a shocking new conditioning therapy,
he becomes a sympathetic character, someone whose life has been destroyed by
a cruel justice system. The scene in which Alex goes back to his home after
his release and is thrown out by his parents is actually quite moving as you
really feel for the character however cruel and heartless he has been
earlier in the film.
The scene in which Alex is actually given the conditioning therapy and
forced to watch scenes of extreme violence is one of the most terrifying and
disturbing scenes ever made.
Kubrick injects A Clockwork Orange with moments of very dark humour
throughout. This adds to the shocking nature of the violence as most scenes
of violence are actually played for laughs, however sick they
are.
The only bad thing about Kubrick's film is that he changes the ending from
the original one in Anthony Burgess' novel. The original gives the message
that the only thing that will reform a criminal is if he wants to change
himself. Kubrick seems to be saying that someone like Alex cannot change at
all and the evil inside him is always there.
Overall,a hugely original and stylish film that is compelling and very
shocking. A Clockwork Orange will not be to everyone's taste but watch it
with an open mind and you will see what is possibly one of the best films of
the last 30 years.
Can you guess where I got my name?, 28 October 1998
Author:
clokwork from Iowa State University
Twisted, obscenely violent movie based on a great book. About as
disturbing as a movie can get. If the "Singing in the Rain" scene doesn't
make you want to vomit, you are severely disturbed. Lots of original camera
and lighting tricks, cool electronic score of Beethoven music. Look for
references to Kubric's other films.
It's hard to make a film better that this, 23 October 1998
Author:
JerBear-2 from Ouachita National Forest
It's a look into the future with just a twist on the attitudes of the
present, a hard twist. There's no far out futuristic and improbable new
world, just the same one we have today with new drugs, but the same
problems. The amazing creation here is not a dazzling vision of the future,
but the insight into a mind that has moved light-years from what we consider
socially acceptable and is at the same time likeable and sympathetic,
regardless of his visciousness and lack of a conscience. He's not even aware
that such a thing exists, let alone how it could possibly benefit him to
have one. The moral question posed here, however, is how far can society
stretch its morals in order to impose bureaucratic enforced standards on the
masses. The characters are well rounded and there are some truly memorable
scenes. I can still speak much of Alex's pseudo Russian-English dialect even
after 27 years. Now that's a movie that has an effect on you. I recommend
that all you starry-eyed vetches viddy the book.
Too complex for the average viewer to appreciate it, 22 October 1998
Author:
cukiman
I previously thought that the greatest movie of all times was "Braveheart",
how wrong I was. I had seen "Clockwork" before, but I didn't quite
understand it, as I was too young to get the point. The movie consists of
two halves, the first part is the bizarre, disturbing, ultra-violent, sexual
and complex part of a routine day in Alex DeLarge's life. This part is really
hard to understand, it is very complex, it has elements like the 5 Jesuses
hugged and dancing. This shot alone is enough to write a thesis about it.
Then the second part is really what the movie is about, but people seem to
remember better the first part and this part is the one that has made this
movie an all-time cult classic. The music chosen for the movie is also
perfect, I couldn't picture the movie with another song. The casting is
perfect, Alex couldn't have been played better than by Malcolm McDowell,
with his funny-evil expressions, that give a double meaning to every scene.
The best thing of this movie is the story itself, teaching us that we have a
choice (this is what the bible is all about), whether to be violent or not,
so then they show us what would happen if we weren't violent and Kubrick
somehow lets us see that this is not the answer, that we need violence as a
choice, really makes you think. But I think this movie isn't pro-violence
because it shows you that if you are violent you will eventually get caught
or get some kind of payback, so I would define it as pro-choice. When you
see this movie you do not get a Hollywood, commercial movie, you get a piece
of art, and movie-making today is lacking this. What people call weird I say
it's art and that's why this is without a doubt the greatest picture of all
time. All of those "Traispotting" fans MUST see this movie, because I think
that its based on "A Clockwork Orange". Amen.
Alex and his Ludwig Van, 3 October 1998
Author:
kubrik#2 from San Antonio, Tx
I think it's sad how people turn this off after Alex's "Karaoke" to 'singing
in the rain'. If people would watch the end the complaints wouldn't be
nearly as high as they are. It's a masterpiece
A surreal journey into a nightmarish future, 30 September 1998
Author:
Immy
Undoubtedly one of the best films of the
70's. Set in the closer-than-you-think
future "Clockwork" tells the brooding and
sometimes brutal story of Alex (a tour-
de-force by Malcolm McDowell) the ring
leader of a group of thugs who think
nothing of wreaking havoc for the sheer
heck of it.
The story takes a drastic turn when Alex
is set up by his cohorts to take the rap
for what would have been their biggest
haul. Once incarcerated, he submits to an
experimental form of rehabilitation that
changes his behavior to that of a model
citizen--or does it?
Transcending conventional sci-fi, "ACO"
comes off more as a commentary on the
slow decay of "civilized" society (the
moral subtexts are too numerous to
mention), with many unforgettable images.
To fully appreciate the film's message,
you should watch it more than once, if
only to comprehend the futuristic lingo
of Alex and hs "droogs." Add a wonderful
score featuring the likes of Beethoven and
and you get a classic film in more ways
than one.
After hearing about this movie for years I finally saw it, and all I can say
is WOW! What a statement this movie makes about the human mind and the
human spirit. How could anyone ever think they could tackle this issue in
a few hours of reel time. How could anyone actually achieve this? I am
amazed. It makes you think!
A triumph in artistic vision and poetic meaning, 5 September 1998
Author:
S.Kaiju from California
I'm still very young in my film career, but as far as it stands now, A
Clockwork Orange is the best example to me of what a live action film can
accomplish. It sets standards that haven't been touched ever since. The
film establishes a rhythmic style carried through the whole film. The
director is as the top of his form, Stanley Kubrick, the only live action
director I call a genius anymore. In wake of most people not understanding
the complexity of its art, I'm still after over a dozen viewings in awe of
his achievement (and Burgesse's...I'm a huge fan of the novel as well.) We
have entertainment, beauty, direction, music, choreography, acting, writing
, ideas, and all together art working in unison throughout this incredibly
fast paced two hour movie. I lost faith in Hollywood for the most part.
There is a very small margin of art being produced (or having been produced
for that matter) but A Clockwork Orange (and the philosophical-poetic
virtuoso 2001) reaffirms that watching the movies is worth sifting through
all this popcorn trash and finding life affirming beauty and art. Let us
rejoice in the glory that is A Clockwork Orange bellowing in the face of
all that is tyrannical, commercial, exploitative, dumb, pretentious,
meaningless waste. Amen, good night.
my all-time favourite film, 5 August 1998
Author:
Trafford from adelaide, australia
I absolutely loved this film. Kubrick's use of colour impressed me the most,
and his innovation used in the slow-mo and 'fast-mo' scenes. the acting is
superb and the conversion from book to screenplay is quite loyal while
being drastic in parts with the changes. also the music accomponying all
the scenes works beautifully. what can i say? it is my all-time favourite
film.
The art of killing, 2 August 1998
Author:
Raptor-6 from Canada
From what I heard of this film it was going to be very violent.
I found
that it wasn't as violent as people claimed it to be. Maybe I didn't find
it as violent because I've seen so many violent movies. One thing I found
different was that this movie showed killing as an art. It also had nice
little musical numbers like Alex singing "singing in the rain". Another
thing a found
neat in this movie were the words Alex
and his friends used giving you a bit more reason to pay closer attention
to what they say in this. There are still some words I don't know the
meaning of
. He used odd words like Guliver and Yarbles. Anyway I can see
why this won a few Acadamy awards. Also I found that Malcom gave a very
convincing performance of getting physically sick when he was exposed to
anything that is considered wrong.
my favorite movie, 30 July 1998
Author:
Kramer36 from California
Talk about a cinematic experience!! Stanley "the genius" Kubrick took
advantage of every directorial technique available. The dialogue, the
outstanding performance by Malcom McDowell, the music, the sets and
cinematography, and the story development are all top-notch. This movie
should go down in history as the movie Stanley Kubrick along with
Strangelove, 2001, Barry Lyndon. Malcom McDowell should have received a
nomination. His performance was the key element in this movie. The viewers
feel sorry for the "hero" in his downs. This was the film that made me
adore the ninth. The slang in this film surpasses any dialogue i have ever
heard in any other movie. My final point: anyone who has seen a movie
should see this.
I watched this movie some months ago on TV, but then I bought it on
Blu-Ray for I felt it was worth having. The first time I really enjoyed
it and the second time I also did, but for different reasons. I won't
be saying much about the good things. There are hundreds and hundreds
of reviews doing that. But I just have to state that the futuristic
soundtrack suits it perfectly and was one of my favourite elements. It
is a very entertaining movie and, as a story, it is great. But as a
philosophical study and an ethical statement it is ridiculous. This is
what happened: those videos changed Alex's perceptions on crime, making
him loath violence; but then a preach comes up and says that the
treatment is inhumane and that Alex doesn't have the freedom of choice.
Humankind has always had the tendency to find everything controversial,
so it wasn't surprising that it would become a problem sooner or later.
Well, I refuse to believe that feeling a pain in our head when about to
hit someone is worse than spending 14 years in prison. In fact, that
treatment is genius because when one submits to it, one can change his
entire behaviour in a way that he wouldn't feel anymore pain, i.e. not
indulging in violence. And what if it's bad for the criminal? Now, I am
not conservative and I am not that tough on crime, but isn't punishment
the objective? You tell me what you prefer: to loathe violence outdoors
or to have freedom of choice in prison?
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Very much overrated, but still a good film, 7 September 2009
Author:
Cameron Richardson from United Kingdom
Finally I have got round to watching this film. For years I have heard
it revered as one of the most shocking and greatest films ever made.
Upon watching it, I feel that both these claims are grossly overstated,
but it is in itself a good film.
My reasons for not regarding it as one of the best film ever made are
more than niggling points; they are in my opinion quite serious
problems with the film. One point is the fact that I found the first
20-30 minutes of the film almost quite amateur; with a terrible, wooden
fight scene in a theatre as a particular point of reference. At this
point, I was having fun, with the bizarre language used by the main
characters, but was not by any means blown away by anything. However,
once this chapter finally ends, a heavier plot is introduced, and the
fun element is almost completely removed, only cropping up in the odd
comedy relief moment. This change in tone lead the film to explore some
controversial topics whilst continuing to tell the story of the main
character. This chapter takes up a large portion of the film, and
creates an arc in the main character. It is this part that is
technically very well done, but is the least enjoyable part of the
film. The final chapter is where everything gets very confused; it
tries to retain the depressed tone, perhaps even build on it, but also
features situations that excel the comedy value of the light first
chapter. This makes the film very hard to follow in the sense that you
aren't sure whether to laugh at or feel sorry for the main character.
Turning points towards the end where characters meet up again all feel
very contrived, and when we see the main character meet with an old
victim, it is done in a very lazy way; as though the writers became
stuck as how to make them meet again. The final scenes once again pick
up, making the tone more comprehensible, and the plot more believable
Acting is all fine, with main characters played excellently, and all
supporting cast at least doing the job.
The overall look of the film is very interesting as well, with the
"futuristic" look of the early '70's, and the odd costumes the "droogs"
wear.
Although this may read as a bad review, I give this film 8/10. I have
chosen to dwell on my personal gripes with the film, as any and almost
every review will point out the over-mentioned good points to the film,
overlooking any flaws, as happens with so many films regarded as
classics. At the end of the day, all films have flaws.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A deep look towards Crime, 5 September 2009
Author:
João Pedro Tomás (joaoped@msn.com) from Faro, Portugal
Hollywood had always been in the center of a crime scene. From 30s
gangster movies, from 40s war movies and 50s noirs (not to mention
horror movies) they were capable of producing crime as it is. There
were times where those movies were an influence to criminals; there
were times that those crime movies really scared people in their real
lives.
But what is this obsession with crime that fill all fiction works, from
books to theater, ending in cinema? Why does humanity need to be
enjoyed with the hurting of another human being (even if it's played by
an actor) or with big robberies which doesn't do nothing good, except
for a small recession in our economy?
The answer may be found in Clockwork Orange. Or no, it depends on how
you see it. This magnificent novel by Anthony Burgess is dystopian yet
very real portrayal of our society and how we see crime... by our own
eyes. Brilliantly adapted by Stanley Kubrick, who even add to the movie
his directing credit - slow paced scenes, excellent camera work and a
top notch soundtrack (Wendy Carlos first steps into electronic music
with her amazing analog synthesizer (moog)) capable of scaring the
viewer in his/her seat.
The plot focus on Alex - who is by the way, played amazingly by Malcolm
McDowell, an irreverent youth, much like his character - a criminal
with nothing else to do. Rape, robbery or even manslaughter fill his
afternoons. He lives with his parents, whom are not happy with his
living-- eventually, something happens (you must watch this movie in
order to catch all this details!) and he's sent to prison. And now, the
most important deal with Clockwork Orange happens: a new treatment is
in order - Ludovico technique. Something similar to some kind of
aversion therapy. Alex accepts to be treated in this situation - not
only he is a different kind of prisoner (much more intelligent and with
more possibilities of redemption) he also doesn't have much of a
choice, as you can guess...
Which brings us to the final part of the film. This is half
American/half British, which you can guess too, because it couldn't be
entirely Hollywood's a wish to treat Crime this way - a genre that
always brought millions to the Studios' profits.
The Ludovico technique was a milestone. But would he be really cured?
Would people - who were victims of Alex's erratic behavior - really
forgive him? Would he be capable of live a normal life without his past
surrounding his present?
This is a very powerful movie about redemption, choosing life and
living it. A truly watchable experience for those you had erratic
behaviors in the past or for those who plan to do it in the future.
This isn't just that. It's a perfect movie which let us focus very
deeply on the lead character, think about him and put ourselves in is
position -- it's a dystopian masterpiece which all humanity should
watch. Because this isn't a movie about good vs evil. This is a movie
about reality, emotions, and, most of all, human behaviors.
For those of you who only like to read the first and last phrases of
IMDb reviews, mostly because you don't have the patience, here goes:
Clockwork Orange is a movie about redemption, in resume. The original
Shawshank Redemption.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Cult Film Masterpiece, 13 August 2009
Author:
harry-austin from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Kubrick has been renowned for movies that have been viewed as highly
controversial, the most notorious being A Clockwork Orange (1971) and
Lolita (1962). What makes the movie appear so controversial to watch is
how the worst crimes committed by Alex and his gang or 'drogues' as he
calls them are conveyed. For example, while Alex and his masked
companions break and entry into a couples home, the cripple the husband
by kicking him in the Dr Martens boots(a fashion icon from this
time)while then moving on to cutting the wife's jumpsuit off with
scissors while Alex happily sings 'I'm Singing in the Rain'. He then
rapes her of which we o not see. As well as this, the movies most
energetic fight scene is done in an almost elegant style, via the use
of classical music, of which is used for Alex's love of Beethoven.
A Clockwork Orange vividly captures violence, rape, and sex in an
almost disturbing way yet you still remain glued to the screen, it was
groundbreaking because of the taboos broken and how far you can go in
term so what is simply suitable to be shown in cinema.
An absolute masterpiece.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: wow, 11 August 2009
Author:
noneabve1947 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This was my favorite movie until i recently shuffled things up. If i
could put two as number one this would be there. The only reason
Network is tops is because of certain speeches by Peter Finch and Ned
Beaty.
But i digress. ACO is one of the most awesomely filmed things i've ever
seen...and the interplay with the music is perfect. I should had a clue
watching Kubric's previous film, 2001, with the "Blue Danube Waltz",
but this is better. Plus you get the whole idea of what is a "free
man". As the prison "charlie" says, the man has no choice after his
brainwashing. Real food for thought these days.
Oh, and by the way, Mr. Alexander's assistant near the end is Dave
Prowse, who would seven years later be under that Darth Vader costume
in Star Wars (voice by James Earl Jones).
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Artistic, powerful, intriguing, gripping main performance and an increasingly relevant message, 10 April 2009
Author:
Chrisgb-91 from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Kubrick is so immensely clever when it comes to film-making isn't he? A
Clockwork Orange pours out his talent as a director. He is well known
for his perfectionism and this, combined with his shining vision for
films has contributed to a masterful stroke in thought-provoking
cinema.
Most of you know the plot so I went spend a lot of time slaving over
it. It's futuristic Britain, law and order has almost vanished and
different gangs of thugs roam the country wreaking havoc wherever they
go. The film begins by focusing on one of these gangs, which is led by
the films central character, Alex DeLarge (played by the awesome
Malcolm McDowell). He and his fellow "Droogs" (russian for 'Buddies')
roam their town causing all kinds of chaos: beating the elderly,
robbing their victims, breaking into houses and raping women. All these
activities playing a part in their pleasure of indulging in a bit of
the old "ultra-violence". However, a mutiny arises within the group and
Alex is left stranded by his Droogs during a house robbery which has
left a women dead. The police arrive as Alex is recovering from a
bottle smash to the face. Whilst in prison, he longs for freedom and
his opportunity comes when a new method is introduced. The newly
elected government wants to crack down on crime and by trying to do
this, they conjure a method which involves transforming current
convicts into law-abiding, good citizens. Sounds good? it may do but
the description is only scratching the surface as we are taken into a
dark world of state control and brain-washing techniques.
The debate raised within the film in terms of criminals being
brain-washing tests the minds of the audience. They are criminals,
murderers after all, as in the case of Alex. However, during the scenes
of the experiments, you can't help but feel it still isn't right.
Depending on your stance towards reform, the images on screen pluck all
sorts of feelings from within you. The message of state control over
individuals is resounding. The film is 30 odd years ahead of its time
and I believe this to be a testament to the poignancy of the film and
also the cleverness of the author of the book, Anthony Burgess. The
scenes of "ultra-violence" are also becoming more and more common in
modern life. The scenes are so disturbing, not because of the brute
force but because of the sheer pleasure the characters are taking out
of the rape and violence as they destroy lives ("I'm singing' in the
rain!"). The lack of a soul, remorse or any human feeling. The
performances from all the actors are of near perfection to the vision
of Kubrick and the state of Britain which the film is trying to
portray. Its future Britain and I think the lack of a blockbuster
budget has greatly benefited the film. Instead of building extravagant
futuristic sets as seen in Bladerunner and Back to the Future II, the
film uses the oddly designed concrete gems from 1960's Britian (notice
the sarcasm). This approach not only greatly adds to the realism of the
film but also the overall bleakness and reality. The film is also
artistically ground-breaking. From the glorious set-designs and
costumes, to the use of beautiful classical music being played over the
top of images of violence and rape. This juxtaposition works
fantastically well, stirring the emotions and thoughts inside us at a
constant rate. The language used in the film is not only amusing but
also strangely effecting. It's nonsensical language but we still
understand every word. It's twisted and subversive and it has a
profound effect on the audience. The use of music is also of artistic
excellence with a superb blend of electronic noises to Beethovens
beauty. The camera work is, at times, breath-taking. The intense
angles, slow pans and editing techniques all contribute to the films
art. I still adore the opening shot in which Alex and his fellow
Droogies are in the milk bar, the zoom out being perfectly executed
whilst being accompanied to the futuristic music and surrounded by set-
design which is different and mind-dazzlingly brilliant. Jonathon Ross
(not known for being the best film critic admittedly) described the
film as "mind-searingly brilliant" and I couldn't agree more...
Not only is the film superb, we also have one of the best acting
performances seen in British film, and arguably of all film. Malcom
McDowell throws everything into his portrayal of the devilish Alex
DeLarge. Alex is wrong, twisted and darkly close to being the true
devil. However McDowell manages to somehow draw in feelings of sorrow
towards him as he goes through the torment of experimentation and its
aftermath. As an actor, he had to go through a hell of a lot. Being
stuck in a straight-jacket whilst having his eye-lids locked which had
to be constantly moistened by water eye drops (resulting in his eye
being scratched and temporarily blinded), being held under water for
what seemed an eternity, raping a women whilst seemingly being
overjoyed and singing his heart out and other moments where his acting
credentials were being harshly tested. He passed every single one and
pulled off a magnificent performance, shaping the intriguing character
that is Alex.
A film of artistic brilliance, poignant messages on anarchy and crime
soaring, state control over individuals and of the human soul, the film
holds so many qualities that it really does boggle the mind. It's too
much to take in on one viewing and after each one, you realise just how
powerful, relevant and bewildering that A Clockwork Orange really is,
coming from a film-maker whose vision is always played out on screen to
near perfection, the sign of a truly great director whose come out on
top with this legendary film.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Disturbingly Beautiful, 6 April 2009
Author:
VIPMafia (ragingbull1@live.com.au) from Australia
To inform you, I gave A Clockwork Orange a view about a year ago, I
didn't like it. In fact I only watched twenty minutes, my view towards
all the sex and violence turned me off the movie completely. I just
recently gave it a watch again, looking into the movie seeing the
message it sends and how music and words can be so vital. A Clockwork
Orange is beautiful. A fantastic movie that has all important key
society elements transferred and directed by the famous Stanley
Kubrick. Like 2001, the movie is set in the future and Kubrick along
with the fantastic performance by Malcolm McDowell gives us a
imaginative look on punishment and science. A Clockwork Orange is
something very special, the sets, the acting, the violence and the
disturbing scenes make it all into one fine movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Great Movie to Get High To, 30 January 2009
Author:
Hoffmanpmj from United States
Me and my bros rolled a FAT ASS joint and then Kenny was like, "dude
John hasn't seen A Clockwork Orange and we should make him watch it
tonight!" So even though we was blazed as hell we put my pirated movie
file onto the flash drive, and put that junk in my X box. The movie
opens in the coolest way possible: With drinking milk! I love milk;
builds strong bones, ya know? Then there's the horrible, disturbing,
grotesque rape scene that nearly made me do myself in! So disturbing
were the copping-a-feels and in-out-out's that we nearly turned that
off; that is NOT cool scenes to get high to. But then the movie that
followed left me with a compelling question: is removing one's ability
to commit violence really a correcting behavior? IT TOTALLY TRIPPED ME
OUT! So then Nick asked me if I was straight to drive to 711 for some
slurrppaaayyzzz and some Marlboro's. So I'm Outtie, Me Droogs!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Influenced on many film makers today!A masterpiece!, 28 January 2009
Author:
axismladen from Croatia
What to say about Clockwork Orange?There isn't really so much to say
because it's reputation speak's for it self.And i can say that it's
justified on that matter.This movie is just great.It's
excellent.Direction and production are at maximum in this film.I wont
even speak about acting.Malcolm McDowell portrayed one of the most
sealed character's in the history of movies in this film.If you watch
new Batman,The Dark Knight you can clearly see that Heath,even though
his acting was superb,based his way of acting The Joker on Malcolm
McDowell's Alex.Don't get me wrong,i'm not saying that McDowell acted
Alex better then Heath Ledger did the Joker,he probably didn't but Alex
from Clockwork orange is a cult character.McDowell had no one to look
by when he was acting in this movie while Heath did.Even though he
looked after McDowell,it don't means that it made it easier for him.It
just helped him in the way of imagination because he didn't have to
figure out the entire character's behavior for him self.Enough about
McDowell and his character,let's talk about Kubrick.Stanley Kubrick is
one of the best,most admirable director's ever.Not only that he made
one masterpiece but he made them plenty.Too bad he died,i'm sure he had
many more trick's in his hat to show which would come in handy to the
other director's and entire Hollywood.
He was a true master.There are classic movies and there are classic
figures of film makers.He is between those on the top.There is nothing
bad in his movies.For example...If you take a look at his other movies
an especially Full Metal Jacket you will see that no matter what the
story is,he never takes the political sides.His movies and him self are
independent!!!Period!!!That's why his movies are for everyone.No matter
are you English,Scotish,Irish,American,Russian,French,Croatian,Serbian
or anyone else,his movies will not insult your nation's history in any
way.
I wont say anything else except that Clockwork Orange is a masterpiece
that will be loved through generation's.A work of a master
director.Watch it under any price.No matter what anyone says he/she
can't explain the originality and brilliance of this movie.No word's
can't!An if someone says to you that it's a bad movie,don't listen to
him because he is lying!!!!!!!!!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Through A Glass Darkly, 5 January 2009
Author:
nineinchsin from United States
The film, A Clockwork Orange, was received by many as a grand
exposition in the promotion of violence. Yet, what does that say about
the press? In all seriousness, the film uses the premise of
exploitation in order to question society's ideas of right and wrong.
What lengths will humanity go to in order to create systemic peace
benefiting a single establishment? (In the film's case, the English
government). It is shocking and terrible. However, it is more real than
one can imagine.
Malcolm McDowell's portrayal of Alex DeLarge and his violent Droogs may
be seen as the "old-school" Devil's Rejects. Bear in mind, far more
substance pierces this film than the graphic tendencies may make
apparent. A Clockwork Orange is in one word...classic. It is a great
philisophic, political, and tantalizing picture. My bowler hat is off
to Mr. Kubrick and Mr. Burgess.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Dense: visually, metaphorically, cinematically, 11 December 2008
Author:
gwinter-5 from United States
One of my all time favorite films, I have watched Clockwork Orange more
than a dozen times, and will watch it a dozen more. Every time I watch
it I find something new. Every single scene is packed with multiple
layers and meaning: watch it just for the lighting, or the sound track,
the camera angles, or speed (slow-mo to high). Watch it as purely
political fable, science fiction, horror story, comedy, or even love
story (between Alex and Beethoven). Watch it for character development.
Watch it purely for its art historical view (from the Renaissance
through 19th century Romanticism to post modern, modern, pop, and
kitsch (Velvet paintings?). Watch it for the costuming. Watch it for
its take on architecture even, for chrissakes. Themes range from
government control to free will, religious zealotry, Pavlovian
conditioning, the welfare state, youth versus old age, political and
police state corruption, education, linguistic evolution, penal reform,
depression era economics (boarders anyone?), gang psychology, sexuality
(rape, homosexuality, menage a trois, voyeurism), and even Biblical
interpretation. There are so many cultural references and cross
linkages it's mind boggling.
The film is even more amazing when you discover it was made in less
than a year, was low budget, and filmed almost entirely on location.
A testament to collaborative genius: Beethoven, Kubrick, Burgess, and
Malcolm McDowell. I defy you to find a movie where every single frame
can be stopped, analyzed, and discussed on every possible cinematic
level.
It's well known that Kubrick would take dozens of takes and solicited
comments and recommendations from everyone on the set including the
security guys. In this way, he packed the film with so many details and
irony that it's nearly impossible to absorb them all in one sitting.
It's enlightening to discover that Kubrick was a still photographer
before becoming a film maker. Thus, he was used to thinking and
blocking out each scene as a static frame rife with meaning before
adding time and action for the fourth dimension.
Oh, and did I mention? it's damn good entertainment.
Watch and be warned.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Crazy...Funny...Disturbing...Super-Entertaining, 28 November 2008
Author:
omarstphn from India
Im singing in the rain Just singing in the rain What a glorious feeling
I'm happy again...
Follow the adventures of Alex DeLarge, a young boy, who likes nothing
more than Moloko Drencrum, Ultra-Violence,the old in-out and the great
Ludwig Van.
The movie is based on the book of the same title by Antony Burgess. A
graphic novel 'Clockwork Orange'. Clockwork - mechanical, something
being forced to function a certain way. Orange - the word orange here
has 2 meanings. One meaning the fruit, natural,juicy with life. And
'Orang' , Malaysian for man hence the word orangutan (man of the
jungle).
I am sure those of you who have not seen the movie or read the book
have no idea what I am talking about.
This movie is great the first time you watch it. But to really see the
brilliance of Stanley Kubrick you may have to see it several times. And
you will. Its the kind of movie that gets better each time you watch
it. Malcolm McDowell's acting is amazing. The movie has an element of
dark humor almost occult-like(not a real phrase). Alex DeLarge is like
a cross between Charles Manson and Charles Chaplin.
This movie is crazy. Vidi well my brothers,Vidi well....
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: incredible, 13 November 2008
Author:
jwilkerson999 from United States
I had been curious about this film because it had attained so much
critical acclaim and because I wanted to see if it matched up to its
reputation.
I was instantly captivated by the witty writing of this movie. The
dialogue throughout the story is extremely riveting as it utilized
chiaroscuro to mix the light and frivolous with the dark and twisted.
Alex's character is certainly an ambiguous figure as one has a hard
time not liking him by the end of the movie despite his obscurely
twisted motives. He conveyed a nightmare of a youth whose intentions
were anything but moral. Without any sense of righteousness, Alex
epitomizes the horrors of savage youth. He is every parent's worst
nightmare, yet he manages to intrigue every sense in viewing of this
film.
This was an extremely powerful movie. I will have to watch it at least
two more times before I grasp all the minute details that contribute to
the message. See this movie you and I guarantee that you will not be
disappointed.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: "a bit of the old ultra-violence. ", 9 November 2008
Author:
colt_89 from New Zealand
The acting from Malcolm McDowell is generally spot on, but I felt a lot
of the rest of the cast were mediocre actors. Particularly Alex's
"Drooges", I'm not sure which one it was, but the entire time he was
apart of the film he would just sit there and giggle, and it really
felt to me quite forced so it bothered me, but I could get past that.
But at later parts the same actor was mediocre, who just seemed to be
read lines and giggle like a little school girl. It wasn't just him,
though which I felt wasn't too great in the acting aspect, some of the
other people let down, though it was generally minor things, when they
gather, its more clustered.
Whenever I read about this film, people always talk about how "graphic"
they though this film was, or how disgusted they were about all the
nudity, and sexuality everywhere. There is undoubtedly quite a lot of
those things, for example, a lot of nude art, rape, sex and nudity,
even a penis shaped ice block. Though people may see this as perverted
and exploitive, I see it as very necessary, without it being this
"graphic" it would not be at all disturbing in any sort of aspect, it
would just be "Oh, rape.. interesting.". It also feels like it's an
intention to show that the times have changed from the older days, and
now the world has become quite a different one, so by emphasizing on
that aspect you get a grasp of that intention. With that all said, I
don't think it is that graphic, it's not like you will want to cover
your eyes or look away, but it's enough to get the point across, and
it's the content that is what "does it".
From the opening scene right until the end, this is quite obviously a
different and stylised film. Though that's not an entirely bad thing,
just at times, it felt to me Kubrick was trying too hard to stylise it.
But a lot of it is very interesting and great, but again, as I said,
just it clusters a bit and begins to become a bit over the top,
defeating the point, or the intention. Now this may be contributed to
the novel, and Kubrick was just trying to keep faithful in every
detail, but since I haven't read the novel, I won't go there.
The film really stresses over certain aspects of psychology, that one
must be able to choose to remain "human". It is quite affective
throughout, using the "Ludovico technique", which is where they
forcibly keep your eyes open and make you view disturbing videos, while
your on some sort of drug which makes you feel like your dying, or
makes you want to die, to some extent, thus making you not want to
commit crimes, etc. Despite building this up quite a lot, I felt that
in the end, they didn't go too far with it, I'm not saying the ending
was "bad", but they could have done more, or thats how I felt.
Despite my criticisms of this film, I still enjoyed it, and it is still
a good film, but it does have it's fair share of mediocrities, which
seem to be less talked about when it comes to this film in particular.
I haven't thought long and hard about this film, but I did try talk
about as much as I could.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Brilliant story and cinematography, 28 October 2008
Author:
Disfigurator from Latvia
In four words: I am blown away!
In few sentences: I saw this movie about a week ago and it has not
leaved my mind yet – still I remember that sense of humor packed in
this masterpiece titled A Clockwork Orange, as well as English +
Russian jargon and brilliant work of Kubrick and the story too, of
course.
In fact, I have only seen two of Kubrick’s films – first one was The
Shining and I immediately fell in love how this master treats the
lighting, camera angles, camera in general, actors and crew – pure
eye-candy! An as well as in Shining – here we have brilliant story
packed with Kubrik’s talent – deadly orgasmic combination of pleasures
of cinematography and story-telling. In fact – the only thing that
reminded me about the age of this film was the outfit of characters and
sound design. But in all of the rest planes – one with classicism in
heart could create this movie just yesterday.
This movie sure does generate the urge to see more films from Kubrick,
if not all of them. Also it generates the urge to read the novel!
Very beautiful movie, will seek the moment to watch it again!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's most chilling study of human evil, 6 October 2008
Author:
Max_cinefilo89 from Italy
For the entirety of his career, Stanley Kubrick was interested in one
universal theme: mankind's decay, both mental and physical. This led to
some of the most intense and frightening depictions of pure insanity,
as seen in The Shining or Full Metal Jacket, but none as powerful and
consistently relevant as the shocking A Clockwork Orange.
The notorious trailer consisted of quick glimpses of some key scenes,
with words such as "funny", "exciting" and "Beethoven" written on them.
Only the third word is spot-on - the rest is, at best, an example of
bitter irony. How come? Because the only one who could possibly find
the events of this film funny or exciting is the deranged protagonist,
Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell). Actually, "deranged" is the wrong
adjective to use with him: "paradoxical" is better. And what's so
paradoxical about this young man? Well, he's intelligent and cheerful,
with a soft spot for "the divine work of Ludwig Van", as he calls
Beethoven, and enjoys hanging out with his friends (or "droogs"). The
problem is, his idea of spending time is best summed up by an
expression he uses in the chilling opening sequence, where the camera
catches his insane stare and goes backwards to reveal the bizarre pub
he's visiting: "a bit of the old ultra-violence". He's never perfectly
happy unless he can beat, rape or (in one extreme case) kill someone.
Everything appears to change when he's sent to jail for murder and
undergoes a treatment that makes him completely incapable to commit
violent or perverted acts ever again. However, this "cure" is a
double-edged sword, as it also means he can't defend himself when his
victims come back for revenge.
It's the second section that constitutes the real heart of A Clockwork
Orange. Much has been said about the film's use of on-screen violence
and how it supposedly affected people upon its original release in 1971
(protests led to it being banned in England until the director's death)
, and while it must have been a shock back then, most of the
incriminated scenes look rather tame today (see Bonnie and Clyde for a
similar argument). The notable exception is the famous brainwash
sequence, which will probably never lose its sheer emotional power.
That's because it represents Kubrick's real concern: the loss of free
will, which will eventually turn all of us into mindless drones and
lead to nothing but tragedy (the latrine shootout in Full Metal Jacket
derives from this). The film was shot so that it would appear to be set
in a not-so-distant future, but in a time where the media manipulate
unsuspecting viewers and listeners every day, it is clear that the
director saw it happening and tried to warn us. The use of violence was
an inevitable part of this: the stronger the message, the more
effective the reception.
This strength comes not only from the haunting images and the
terrifying irony (Alex sings "Singin' In The Rain", the ultimate
feel-good tune, while raping a woman), but also and most prominently
from the groundbreaking central performance: McDowell, almost a
complete unknown at the time (not to mention pushing 30, while Alex is
supposed to be something like ten years younger), seized the
opportunity and delivered a portrait of absolute, unmatched evil, so
powerful it is sadly obvious why he hasn't done anything as astounding
since. Anthony Hopkins may have won an Oscar for playing a serial
killer, but it was McDowell who forever raised the bar for cinematic
inhumanity.
Overall, A Clockwork Orange is like any other film by Kubrick: it has
to be seen multiple times before its full significance can be grasped,
it will upset and infuriate some, and it's an experience like few
others. For its unprecedented boldness as to content and delivery, it
is also the great director's best picture.
The young boy Alex always takes a role of "bad" action. At first, he
and his fellows commit robbery and something again and again, but later
he and his fellows split, and he is framed. One day, being arrested by
the police, he makes use of the new plan of rehabilitation...
This movie is a kind of drama, novel-based, thought-provoking,
award-winning movie that contains a lot of sexual and violent
description. Some dirty images with clear classical music make
"different" scene, and the director want watchers to have a "different
point of view" in this movie. However, since the description is so
strong, you maybe become uncomfortable after you watch it.
Alex is always tired of real world, and wants to make use of others.
But he also has a very weak mind, so he started to step into the
collapse. The other people want to make use of him too, and every thing
is going to be failure. The Beethoven's No.9 sometimes sounds comical,
violent, sentimental, or just heartless in this movie... One of the
most cynical movies.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: The Products of Violence, 19 April 2008
Author:
BroadswordCallinDannyBoy from Boston, MA
The products of violence are not always easily identified. They seem to
be easily identified when people point out the obvious, but that is
hardly ever the whole story.
At first Alec is a very unlikeable character. A low-level punk who
manages to commit atrocious acts of violence with his band of "droogs"
and even keeps them in line with an iron fist. On top of that he
doesn't go to school and chronically lies about his activities and
whereabouts. Thus, it can be said that all he does is obstruct people
within his own society. The finger of blame seems to be pointing at the
one and only problem at this point - the problem is Alec and without
him society would be better off. After one night of vandalism and
mayhem, that inadvertently ends with a woman's murder, Alec is betrayed
by his own gang and left for the arriving police.
The cure for Alec's recklessness seems to be on its way as he is sent
to prison. At this point it is where many stories of this type end -
the anti-hero recognizes what he did and now he realizes that he must
pay for it. Kubrick takes his story further by introducing a new type
of program meant to rehabilitate criminals. Alec volunteers with the
hope that it'll work and he'll be not only out of prison, but assured
that he will never go back in. Yet it is during and after this
experience that Alec is given at least the same amount of abuse that he
unleashed earlier onto people. Being rendered in capable of aggression
Alec is left as a hapless victim for a society bent on violence as a
way of solving its problems. Even his "treatment session" involves
duress.
It is the film's ultimate irony that the violence that Alec unleashed
earlier is what has seemed to prevented him from harm until he is no
longer able to unleash it.
The film is quite long, but this is not a film to watch once and
plainly understand. Kubrick was a master of subtlety and upon repeated
viewings new things can still be discovered about his films and his
complex themes better understood. --- 10/10
Rated R for violent content including rape. Ages 16+
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's forbidden fruit... a cinematic gem, 13 March 2008
Author:
Graham Greene from United Kingdom
Trapped somewhere between the rigid, socio-political, part allegorical
anti-violence parable that forms the core of Anthony Burgess's
original, watershed tome and the screaming pop-art exuberance, come
visceral bleakness of Kubrick's vision, we find A Clockwork Orange;
grimacing away behind a false eyelash whilst calmly sipping at a glass
of milky moloko plus. Whilst this works primarily as an exercise in the
continuation of Kubrick's "2001" (sci-fi) stylisations; with large
chunks of the author's innovatively defined arguments augmented by the
inclusion of eclectic visual iconography - traversing the decades to
give us the antique, the kitsch, the camp and the graphically
futuristic - the core humanitarian debate that initially inspired the
author can still be seen as a reflection in the eyes of those wildly
caricatured performances. The film, and of course to a greater extent,
the book, can be seen as an interpretation of the ultimate 60's social
dilemma (spared on by World War II, Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, the Kennedy
assassination, etc), being that 'if man cannot choose freely between
animalistic violence and the power of rational thought, does he in
effect, cease to be a man?' Kubrick and Burgess choose as the focal
point of their story a youthful and remorseless street punk, who seems
incapable of possessing any feeling divorced from his own self-serving
point of view and yet, somehow, through the insightful (and all too
relevant) depth of the film's moral debate (and, of course, the central
performance from the great Malcolm McDowell), manages to become a
tragic and deeply sympathetic creature; able to present both the pros
and cons of a central treatise that is, after all, so essential to the
film's success.
This would be the main bone-of-contention when the film was initially
released, with many critics claiming that Kubrick was somehow
glorifying violence, rape and anti-social activity, by presenting this
portrait of a dystopian, teenage rebellion, through the eyes of a
goose-stepping, twelve-stepping, totalitarian, who not only shows wit,
intelligence and charm throughout his escapades, but also narrates said
exploits to the audience in a way that somehow makes us his droog-like
co-conspirators. There's also the point of Kubrick's direction, which
is here giddy, exciting, unhinged and certainly not what you would
expect from a seasoned filmmaker in his early 40's. The whole visual
and ideological aesthetic of the film makes the action seem like the
ultimate rush of adrenalin, with the film cutting between operatic slow
motion, high-speed camp, lethargic zooms, hand-held confusion,
fish-eye-lenses, severely anachronistic stock-footage, rear-projection
and musical montage; all of which is referenced directly from Toshio
Matsumoto's classic pop-art masterpiece, Funeral Parade of Roses
(1968).
Understandably, the film - as with the book - unfolds in an alien
landscape that is a reflection of the present day, but also something
much more prophetic; with the director allowing the drama to play out
against a backdrop of dilapidated 70's production design juxtaposed
alongside surreal interiors that are here adorned with plastic flowers,
gaudy coloured wall-paper, naked milk-dispensing mannequins and groovy
coloured lighting. This jars against the stylistic realisation of
Kubrick's previous films - the cold and stark space stations of 2001: A
Space Odyssey (1968), or the black and white majesty of Strangelove's
war-room - with the film, instead, attempting to visualise the
absurdity of Burgess's polemic and the stark, stylised, theatrical
nature of its text. Certain aspect of Kubrick's realisation of the film
could perhaps seem a little dated; with the high-speed sex scene and
the costume design in particular, making the whole thing look like
something more akin to "Carry on Kubrick" than the regal flair familiar
from something like Barry Lyndon (1975) or The Shining (1980). However,
for me, the film's power lies in its boundless energy, dangerous
charisma and unpredictable atmosphere, which sees it shift
uncontrollably from moments of dark comedy to punishing brutality.
Of course, it's not particularly violent in a gory sense, but more
foreboding, menacing and threatening in a lingering sort of way; much
like the fact that The Shining, as a horror film, isn't all that
terrifying, but more suggestive. Like the majority of Kubrick's work, A
Clockwork Orange is incredibly bleak and crushingly austere, with the
examination of these characters and situations presented in a highly
clinical fashion like insects beneath a microscope. For me, it's one of
the masterpiece works of the 1970's, fusing Kubrick's jaw-dropping
stylisations with Burgess's landmark look at man's capacity for
violence (which sadly, seems more relevant now than it ever did
before), whilst also offering great cinematography, editing, production
design, iconography, music, and the performances from everyone involved
(including a number of now highly recognisable British TV veterans). If
you are thinking of seeing this film without having read the book, then
I urge you to seek out Burgess's original text beforehand. The images
that the book creates within our mind are far more staggering and
psychologically lingering than anything Kubrick could create, despite
the fact that the two disparate texts still manage to complement each
other perfectly. A Clockwork Orange remains a bold and imaginative film
that presents an interesting and all too pertinent social dilemma in a
way that makes for great and entirely thought-provoking entertainment.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: I Was Cured Alright....., 20 February 2008
Author:
urntcookin045 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I really do feel it should have taken home the best picture Oscar in
1971.Truely a masterpiece. Anyway, the real reason i'm posting this
comment is for two distinct reasons.
#1) Before I saw the movie I read the book. As soon as i finished the
book(which i read in about 24 hours,after periodic breaks. Also my
favorite book of all time) I borrowed the DVD of the film from a friend
and watched it. At First I didn't know what to think.The questions that
crossed threw my mind were "Was this film even worthy of all this
hype?" or "Was that just the greatest movie i've ever seen?" The truth
is folks, this is one of the better films ever made,I certainly agree
this is Kubricks best film. It one of those movies that is so strange
and different that you cant help but to love it. The only real flaw
that I found in the film that i didn't like was all the perverted
photos and art in the film(which is prob. the strangest part of the
film, though I understand its purpose, i felt some of it was a little
senseless.
#2) The Ending. This film ends on one the greatest "What the hell just
happened?" final scenes of all time. You really can't tell 100% whether
or not Alex would continue his old ways or change because of his
experiences. The final quote of the film "I was cured alright", not to
mention the tone in which Alex says it, leads me to believe that he
would continue his old ways(though it the book it is apparent in the
final chapter that we wants to change).
This Film is absolutely amazing. Without a doubt in my top 5 favorites
of all time. I really enjoyed the book a lot more than the film, but
there no question that A ClockWork Orange is one of the better films of
all time.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: "Funny how the colours of the real world only seem really real on a screen", 9 January 2008
Author:
nora_nettlerash from Ruritania
A Clockwork Orange, like many "cult" films, is a bit of a problem for
film buffs. Whether it's good or bad tends to get lost under its
iconic, pseudo-hip status. Fans quote its quirky dialogue, delight in
the overt violence and sexuality and marvel over its philosophical
message-making, but if that were all there was to it Clockwork Orange
would be a pretty poor film.
Clockwork Orange is perhaps the most extreme example of the Kubrick
technical style – a kind of formal method which instantly distinguishes
his films. And bizarrely, it's all based around the game of chess.
While he had by now dropped all the actual references to the game which
peppered his earliest films, Kubrick had begun directing as if he were
playing chess. Look at the camera movements. With a few exceptions, the
camera only moves as if it was a chess piece – forwards, backwards,
left and right. The actors also move like opposing chess pieces, more
often than not directly towards the camera or across the shot.
Kubrick was always meticulous and extravagant in conveying an idea and
an atmosphere not just through performances but through set and costume
design, sound, music and lighting. In the first part of Clockwork
Orange (the first half-hour or so, up until Alex is arrested) every
aspect of every shot expresses the collision between formal
sophistication and crude roughness. So we have violent youngsters
wearing bowler hats, the mural with penises grafittied onto it,
classical music played on synthesisers and so on. It's a world full of
images we recognise, but is at the same time as deliberately outlandish
as possible. Compare this to the next section of the film, in the
prison, where everything becomes realistic and contemporary, although
the atmosphere is equally unnerving.
Clockwork Orange also represents the peak of the growing musical
dimension of Kubrick's films. It is what the director Michael Powell
referred to as a composed film – one where the images play out like a
piece of music. As I've hinted at above it's structured in contrasting
"movements" which reference and counterpoint each other, like a
classical symphony. However there's also the musical element to
individual scenes. The scene, fifteen or so minutes in, in which Alex
returns to his bedroom to listen to Beethoven's 9th is one of the best
examples in cinema of image and music working together – the quick zoom
onto the Beethoven poster as the piece begins, then the prowling
downward scan in the following shot, followed by the staccato cuts of
details of the dancing Jesuses ornament are simply perfect.
A Clockwork Orange, like all of Kubrick's later films, is incredibly
elaborate and painstaking in the way it is constructed. It's not quite
the classic it's reputed to be, and the statement it makes about free
will isn't really all that profound. It is entertaining though, and in
spite of what I said in the first paragraph, you can't help but like
that memorable, poetic Nadsat dialogue.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Beethoven in Clockwork Orange originally written to Pedro from the UK, 9 January 2008
Author:
myrockintoe from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I recently watched a Clockwork Orange and then read your review on it.
Let me tell you first, it is people like you that kept geniuses in
poverty.
The reason that I was looking through reviews in the first place was to
find the significance of Beethoven in the movie and book--yes, if you
did not know before, let me inform you now that A Clockwork Orange was
original a novel by Anthony Burgess and we students all know about
tedious readings such as this one where every word is filled with much
more significance than it seems. The first thing that you wrote in your
review that indicated that you were merely writing this to compensate
for something like intelligence or ingenuity was when you wrote "Many
scenes are quite revolting - and bizarrely they are even found
revolting by some of the people who rate the movie highly!" and then
indicated that revolting scenes had the purpose neither to educate or
entertain.
I see the grotesqueness of the movie with one of two possible purposes.
To educate or to provoke emotion and thought. Many of artists have
created things not to inspire beauty but to inspire ugliness. For
instance, Berlioz's famous fifth movement of his Symphony Fantastique.
Throughout the piece he is warping a single theme. In the fifth
movement it has warped into ugliness--he pairs bassoons with tubas, has
the strings play below the bridge. He is making the instrumentalists
play ugliness to provoke a sense of ugliness. People criticized this,
but let me ask, why does all art have to inspire beauty? Why should it
not inspire other adjectives. This movie does exactly that, it doesn't
inspire beauty as you want it to--which is why you call it
revolting--it inspires grotesqueness.
Let me now introduce myself a little further. I am a music major at
Smith College, sister school to Yale University. Beethoven is by far
one the most brilliant men to walk the earth. My speculations as to why
he and his music were so important in this film, I might say this
because you did not answer the question that I sought to answer, are as
follows.
Some say that Beethoven single handedly brought in the Romantic period
of music--a period where composers composed abstract ideas. Take
Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique. This is pure romanticism. He wrote an
entire symphony--and a gorgeous one at that--based of being high on
opium and the feelings and emotions that the experience evoked. If
Beethoven had not happened, I question whether such beauties as
Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Bizet's
Carmen or Copland's Rodeo would have been able to happen either.
Perhaps you are starting to see Beethoven's significance to the musical
world now.
Beethoven's ninth and last symphony is considered an Ode to a
Revolution. Mind you while writing this masterpiece he was completely
deaf. Now don't mistake me, I am not writing this because I am entirely
in love with Beethoven or his ninth. Out of all his symphonies I love
his sixth the greatest and I must say that I am a Mozartian at heart.
But any true music buff will acknowledge the amazing significance that
Beethoven had on this world. Therefore, playing his ninth continually
throughout A Clockwork Orange cannot be random or meaningless.
In the scene of Alex's demonstration, static rennaissance music is
playing in the background. This leads me to believe that Beethoven's
ninth, being a revolutionary piece, stands for the natural tendencies
and urges--violence and sex--of humanity. For when it is playing, Alex
is thinking about or actually preforming acts of violence and sex.
Another time it is played is when other people are preforming acts of
violence or torture. The renaissance music earlier is maybe to indicate
the old, common ways of music--using the preBach ways of writing music.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick = master, 18 November 2007
Author:
ensor_ostende-1 from France
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I've seen this movie twice, as well for Barry Lyndon (2 times), 2001
(something like 10 times), Path of Glory (one time), Lolita (2 times),
EWS (3 times), Shining (one time), FMJ (5 times) and Dr. Strangelove (5
or 10 times) ; my conclusion is simple... Kubrick = master.
I admire his art of making every single (and simple) frame a
masterpiece, no matter the subject, if is in B&W or colour or else.
A Clockwork Orange, although made in 1971, it's subject is (as in
french is said) d'actualité : violence travels time and space, so this
movie teaches this and also, violence doesn't comes from the least
expected place.
10 over 10, for all Kubrick's work
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A disturbing, yet poignant film that only Kubrick could of directed., 16 November 2007
Author:
Estefan Ellison from Canada
Stanley Kubrick was a filmmaker who continually tried to both shock and
amaze his audience, but most importantly he wanted people to come back
again and again to unlock the layers of secrets hidden beneath his
films. Plenty has been told regarding the impact of his A Clockwork
Orange upon its original release, yet even looking at the film in it's
own terms, it's easy to see why it's regarded as such a masterpiece.
Kubrick adapted Anthony Burgess's equally brilliant book rather
faithfully, but still giving the film his own mark. His films have been
criticised for being cold and heartless, yet it's almost necessary for
A Clockwork Orange to be filmed in such a style. Kubrick portrays his
near-future as bleak and lacking the Utopian feel that most
science-fiction writers were predicting. Reading the headlines in
today's newspaper, the futuristic world depicted in A Clockwork Orange
has unfortunately come true. This goes both for the portrayal of
youthful aggression as well as the government's attempts to rid the
world of it.
Teenage violence at its worst is personified in the lead character of A
Clockwork Orange, Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell). Alex is a parent's
worst nightmare: He is cruel, violent, cold-blooded, but filled with
intelligence, which he unfortunately does not put to better use. Alex
romps around town with his gang of "droogs", raping and hurting
innocent individuals just for the fun of it. One of the most disturbing
(of many) sequences in the film is the scene in which is rapes a
writer's wife while dancing and skipping along to "Singin' in the
Rain." A seemingly innocent song about love is used in a means
completely the opposite of its original intention, thus why it's such a
disturbing part of the film. What's even worse is Alex knows that what
he is doing is wrong, but his lack of conscience causes him to not care
what society thinks of him and his ideas of fun. Kubrick's uncanny
ability to seemingly combine beautiful classical music to a montage of
horrifying comes into play in A Clockwork Orange, with Alex's
admiration towards the works of "Ludwig van." Beethoven Ninth Symphony
is turned from a wonderful piece of music to something particularly
saddening as we learn how much this sadistic rapist obsesses over it
and "As I slooshied, I knew such lovely pictures!" These so-called
"lovely pictures" which contain such R-rated material as rape, violence
and blood pouring out of Alex's fangs would probably scare Beethoven
due to the way Kubrick so perfectly edits the images together.
Yet, there comes an interesting turn-around when Alex is arrested and
sent to prison. Soon afterwards, the tone of the film completely
changes as Alex begins to play nice and the film becomes far less
disturbing and chaotic than the first act was. Alex wants to get back
out into the world as quickly as possible and when he hears of a
technique that will help him do so, he jumps to the chance. He is soon
put in the Ludovico Technique, involving him being strapped to a chair,
his eyes made un-shutable and forced to watch horrible acts of violence
on a cinema screen. When Alex's beloved Ninth Symphony begins playing
over images of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, it is then that the
effects take hold. Even Alex of all people realises that he is an
amateur compared to the atrocities the Nazis performed during the
Holocaust. This leads to an effect more cruel than the Technique's
creators possibly imagined: Not only is Alex drained of violence, but
also of his love of fabulous music. Maybe Beethoven heaves a sigh of
relief, but us the viewer is oddly starting to feel sorry for Alex. He
may be unable to commit violent acts, but he is also unable to choose
whether he wants to or not.
Stanley Kubrick launches on these themes perfectly as only he can.
Other filmmakers would probably none too subtly through these into the
viewer's face, but not Kubrick. Like many of his other films, he allows
to slowly tear apart the film throughout multiple viewings and even let
us interpret the film's views ourselves without him interfering. He
just sits, stroking his beard and thinking "yes, that seems about
right. What else do you have to say regarding the film?" Malcolm
McDowell's performance also brings us into Alex's world, carefully
pronouncing each word that Burgess created for his book so as not to
make any mistake. Each subsequent viewing, we learn a new meaning for
"nadsat" and see that it is more than just the way Alex communicates,
but also a part of his rebellion against the world he tolerates so much
of. Stanley Kubrick not only created a masterpiece worthy of plenty of
conversation, but also a look at our world currently operates and ways
we can resolve these problems without the need of brainwashing
techniques.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Clockwork Orange Movie Review, 28 October 2007
Author:
joel massie (GoneWithTheTwins) from www.GoneWithTheTwins.com
One of the most shocking, revolting, outrageous and yet wildly
imaginative films ever made, Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange
brings to life Anthony Burgess' fevered novel accurately and in such a
visually arresting manner that this 1971 classic was nominated for the
Best Picture Academy Award, despite its abrasive subject matter and
controversial "X" rating upon its initial release.
It is a nearly indefinable futuristic Britain, where local gangs rule
the streets while drinking down vellocet (milk spiked with drugs) and
seeking out violent entertainment. Alex de Large (Malcolm McDowell) is
the leader of his gang of "droogs" who wile away the days beating up
bums, fighting with other gangs, and breaking into houses to steal and
rape, an extracurricular activity known as "ultraviolence." When Alex's
droogs betray him, he is captured by the police and given the option to
undergo a series of tests and a psychological corrective experiment
(dubbed the Ludovico Treatment) to try and cure his wicked ways. But
what the brainwashing does is effectively prevent him from making
choices and using free will. His newly feeble condition leaves them at
the mercy of those he wronged during his terrorizing days of
ultraviolence.
A jarring amount of nudity, violence, and disturbing situations make A
Clockwork Orange a difficult yet highly rewarding film to watch.
Gratuitous but arguably necessary to paint a vibrant scene of
futuristic and satirically current hysteria, the violence and sexual
assault is provided in a contrasting context to the tortures Alex must
suffer for his misdeeds. Alex chooses violence as a rebellious act
against conformism and values its evil above inertia. Almost operatic
in nature, a musical accompaniment of blaring Beethoven augments nearly
every scene, creating a lighthearted Elizabethan tone to intensify the
vulgarity on display. The soundtrack is phenomenal and perfectly
matched to each scene to evoke various emotions, and frenetic,
time-altered editing oftentimes accompanies these wondrous scenes.
The film is filled with breathtaking and uniquely memorable moments
including Alex confined to a chair with metal prongs prying his eyes
open, a dolly shot toward the group of droogs sipping spiked milk, and
the slow-motion scene in which Alex kicks Georgie into a canal and
gracefully replaces Dim's outstretched hand with a glistening knife.
The most impressive aspect of the film is one of the same critically
acclaimed aspects used in Anthony Burgess' chilling novel, and that is
the invented language "Nadsat" used throughout by all of the droogs. A
creative blend of Russian, English, slang and completely made-up
verbiage, Alex narrates using this language, and despite the numerous
unfamiliar and foreign phrases, audiences still universally understand
it. A brilliant mix of double-edged words and humorous adjectives (e.g.
"the old in and out" equals "sex") his speech is more complex in the
novel, but perfectly honed and never overused in the film.
The designs of Alex and his group were a huge success and have
immortalized the bowler hat. Bloody eyeballs adorned the sleeves of
their crisp white clothing, and their thick lower false eyelashes are a
strikingly bizarre look. The entire artistic design of the film is so
outlandish that words don't do it justice.
Kubrick's brilliant interpretation of the novel houses multitudes of
subliminal messages and commentary on society in a glaringly visual way
that couldn't have been achieved by anyone else.
A Clockwork Orange is an incredible journey into the fiery genius of
Stanley Kubrick and perhaps the best film of his career. Visually
stunning and an intense morality play involving the freedom of choice
and the state's influence on civilian lives, the film may be science
fiction on the outside, but it is pure classic on the inside.
- Mike Massie
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A classic indeed, 27 October 2007
Author:
Rautus from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Stanley Kubrick has done some really great and classic films like Dr.
Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey , The Shining and A Clockwork Orange
is definitely one of them. The film has an appeal to it that makes it
such a classic film since it has violence, rape, comedy, satire, irony,
drama and a main character that is so interesting you can't help but
love the film. The acting is great especially from Malcolm McDowell who
does a great job as the main character Alex. The film is narrated by
Alex has he tells his story of what happened to him with his gang and
what happened after, Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is a young man who is the
leader of a gang he calls Droogs that like ultra violence and rape,
Alex also likes listening to Beethoven music. They also like spending
time at a Milk Bar when they're not doing any ultra violence or rape,
the Milk contains drugs which makes them ready for more. Alex also
shows his Droogs who's boss and after a discuss of a new idea Alex
beats the two up but afterwards he lets them tell him there new idea to
rob someone, they go to the cat lady's house and Alex sneaks in and
after accidentally killing her with an ornament he unlocks the door and
just as the police are arriving they whack him over the face with a
milk bottle and leave him for the police.
Alex is sent to prison and after a while in there he hears about a new
treatment being used that stops people from going to prison again, the
warden allows him to leave so Alex is then transferred there where he
soon is taught that violence and rape is bad by watching videos of
certain things and the medicine makes him feel bad when these things
happen, Alex can no longer hurt anyone or rape anyone because if he
does he will feel a terrible feeling. Alex can only do good after only
doing evil, he's a Clockwork orange.
A Clockwork Orange is a great classic by Stanley Kubrick that should be
seen. Check this out. 10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: This is one of the best Kubrick films I have seen yet., 20 October 2007
Author:
BobStage from Ontario, Canada
"A Clockwork Orange" was always a book and a movie that were both
forbidden due to extreme violence and coarse matter. Like any young
guy, I acquired an interest to see it one day.
So now, as a teen, I can say that I have read the book, and also seen
the movie. The book is one of the best novels I have read yet. It is
amazing how foresighted and smart Anthony Burgess was in making such a
book. Then, who decides to make it a movie? Stanley Kubrick. I had seen
some of his other films, and I was eager to see "A Clockwork Orange".
The film is a very good film, most especially thanks to the talented
Malcolm MacDowell, the directing skills of Kubrick, and the story
itself.
Malcolm gives such an amazing act as the villainous youth Alex de
Large, who is a youth in a futuristic England, where hoods and teens
rule the night streets with a savage immorality. Rape, violence, and
rebellion are the order of the day, and Alex loves it. Then he is
apprehended by the police, and his journey leads him to a dreadful new
experiment. I would have to say that I could not imagine anyone apart
from Ewan Macgregor (TRAINSPOTTING) that could even match to the
stunning, Oscar-worthy performance of MacDowell.
Kubrick is a very good director, who ranks alongside Oliver Stone and
Martin Scorsese as my three favourite directors. His films inspire
thought, interest, and entertainment. His methods of direction truly
pay off in this adaptation to "A Clockwork Orange". It's a pity that he
was soon to be despised as a reclusive pervert from this film. He did
an amazing job, and I admire him for it.
Finally, the last but not least credit must go to the cleverness of the
original creator of "A Clockwork Orange". Burgess' novel is wonderful,
and for the most part, the movie takes the ideas of the novel
correctly. One error would have to be the cutting of Burgess' original
novel, but that is not Kubrick's fault, as the American version of the
novel is made that way. It would have been nice to see the original
ending in the novel, but this is a minor complaint.
This movie really appeals to youth, and it is a great movie to see. If
I had to pick the best films of Kubrick's career, I would hail "Eyes
Wide Shut", "Barry Lyndon", and "A Clockwork Orange" as the best films
he ever made. Thank you Kubrick, thank you MacDowell, and thank you
Burgess, for the genius that is "A Clockwork Orange".
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: One Of The Most Powerful Films, 7 October 2007
Author:
(Pulpthatsfiction) from Minnesota
First We all Know that Stanly is one of the best directors, but I had
not seen one of his films. When I first heard about this movie I
thought this would be bad. Then I heard how good this film was and
watch the trailer and then I knew I had too see it. It took me awhile
too find this movie but I found it. I was shock to how good this film
was and I'm glad to give this film a 10. first this film has great
acting and the camera work is great. I'm shock that this film won no
Oscars but at least it got nominated . This is one of the most powerful
film I have seen since platoon. I would highly recommend This film too
anyone .
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Iconic, mesmerising, intoxicating, beautiful... Kubrick's unique masterpiece is one of the greatest cinematic works of the 20th Century, 27 August 2007
Author:
galileo3 from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Number 1 - 1971
Top 10 - 1970s
Top 50 - All Time
This satirical sci-fi masterpiece featuring the charismatic and
psychopathic delinquent Alex de Large (in a tour de force performance
by Malcolm McDowell) whose prime interests are classical music rape and
ultra violence. A Clockwork Orange features disturbing and violent
imagery to facilitate social commentary issues ranging from psychiatry,
youth gangs, and other topics in a futuristic dystopian Britain. The
film is visually enticing, acoustically beautiful and magnificently
directed by Kubrick who should have been awarded a Best Director Oscar
for his simple yet bravura direction of the film.
A Clockwork Orange can be assessed on so many different levels. There
are several reasons why this film is awarded a five star rating, so
many reasons why it reigns on many critics' top lists and even today
more than three decades later, it is an undeniably popular film with a
cult status.
I find it to be an extremely bizarre film made by an eccentric
director. I appreciate and savour the film's fine elements such as the
beautiful soundtrack featuring Beethoven's 9th Symphony over disturbing
rape scenes and other scenes of various vulgarities. The film's
direction, sets and costumes create a feeling of a dystopia, which is
what England is supposed to be; a country where the government
maintains a firm grasp over its citizens.
Kubrick's creation of Alex de Large, played with ruthless efficiency by
Malcolm McDowell is an obscene cinematic creation. One of the most
sadistic, violent, twisted , disturbed characters in motion picture
history; yet Kubrick presents Alex, his protégé in this film, in such a
manner that although Alex commits such atrocities, Stanley Kubrick
manages to maintain a feeling of a strange compassion towards him; no
not compassion that is the wrong word; rather we do not hate the
character because he is the hero of the film, or rather the Anti-hero.
The film which is a perfect exercise in beautiful, visual film-making
is firstly a great impact on the psyche and on an emotional level the
film gets under you skin - just for that the film is a masterpiece. A
theme in the film is a question of morality and the definitions of good
and evil; can good be manufactured or reinforced through psychological
therapy? For example after the aversion therapy, Alex behaves like a
good member of society, but not by choice; his "goodness" is
involuntary and mechanical, like that of the title: A clockwork orange.
In prison, the chaplain criticises the Ludovico Technique, saying that
true goodness must come from within. Another theme is the abuse of
one's liberties – both by Alex and by those using him for their various
ends. The film is also severely critical of behavioural psychology as
propounded by Watson and Skinner, a perspective that human behaviour is
entirely moulded by social/environmental factors. Such theories were
popular from the 1940s to the 1960s. Burgess disapproved of
behaviourism calling Skinner's most popular book 'Beyond Freedom and
Dignity' as "one of the most dangerous book ever written". Skinner
argued that behaviour modification is the key to an ideal society. The
Ludovico treatment used on Alex is reminiscent of the Project MK-ULTRA,
the covert CIA mind-control and chemical interrogation research
program, run by the Office of Scientific Intelligence. The program
began in the early 1950s, continuing at least through the late 1960s,
and it used United States citizens as its test subjects. The published
evidence indicates that Project MK-ULTRA involved the surreptitious use
of many types of drugs, as well as other methods, to manipulate
individual mental states and to alter brain function.
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most cinematically pounding, visually
enthralling landmarks in cinema and one of Kubrick's finest
achievements.
10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Oh my brothers...what a film!, 27 August 2007
Author:
Skippy001 from USA
Twenty-five years on from its release, A Clockwork Orange has lost none
of its power to shock and outrage. In this near-future setting the
outlets for teenage enthusiasm are few and far between. Disenchanted,
youths form ritualistic gangs, fight battles and engage in vandalism.
Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) is the leader of just such a group,
marked out by their preferences for phallic masks and boiler suits.
His select followers (known as droogs) are Dim (Warren Clark), Georgie
(James Marcus) and Pete (Michael Tarn). On a typical evening they'll
stop by the Korova for some milk-plus, to sharpen them up, before
venturing into the urban jungle. On this particular night they don't
have to travel far for a spot of "ultraviolence"; a rival gang are
about to force a bit of the "old in-out" on a helpless young devotchka
(girl). For the pure love of violence they decimate their rivals.
The element which elevates A Clockwork Orange above similar films is
its bizarre juxtaposition of music (often classical) with violence.
Images and sound pull in different directions, stimulating conflicting
emotions (as Kubrick no doubt intended). On top of this, the profusion
of erotic symbols forms a not very subtle subtext, taking in everything
from the objet d'art murder weapon to the feverish coupling of medical
staff. Kubrick filters all of this through camera trickery
(slow-motion, unusual angles, fish-eye lens etc), heightening rather
than subduing emotion. It's easy to see why A Clockwork Orange has
divided critics - it's extremely graphic and unsettling...but its still
a masterpiece film that deserves praise and admiration.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Beethoven and ultra violence. Yes... of course its about our "clockwork orange"., 20 May 2007
Author:
Cristian from Colombia
Stanley Kubrick is one of the most important directors of all movies
history. He makes controversy since his "Dr Strangelove" to its confuse
"Eyes Wide Shut", and films that we never going to forget like
"Lolita", "Full Metal Jacket" (I Have not seen this yet) and famous
horror classic "The Shining". But, without a doubt, "A Clockwork
Orange" can be called as its most important masterpiece. "A Clockwork
Orange" is one of the most important critiques to any powerful division
of the world. Home, politic, religion and morality are the central
critiqued topics. All of this deceived by one of the most unforgettable
and hated characters of movies of all time: Alex de Large.
"A Clockwork Orange", based on Anthony Burgess, told us the story of
Alex. He is a young guy like any of its age. Well, only that he don't
like go to school, and instead of that, he decided go with his "droogs"
for milk-plus and at the same time to reserve forces for a night of
ultra-violence, steal, rape and murder. But all change when Alex
friends are unlawful with him. All is going to change? With a
unforgettable Malcolm Mc Doweell as Alex, this futuristic propose of
Kubrick is one of the most important works that i (Maybe every one)
have ever seen. If don't is the "most important" critique of society
(For me, the best movie that critiques society and world in every sense
is Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Salò o le 120 giornati di Sodoma") is one of
the best that you'll ever find. Alex, is that sarcastic character who
embodies all a society. A dirty, unlawful and unmoral society. A
society that in all its division, has and own interest (Politics and
religion). An abusive and vengeful society. A society where only the
strongest survives. The weakest lives wretchedly. And a society that
think itself that is changed for good ... but maybe its the same ...
maybe worst.
*Sorry for the mistakes ... well, if there any.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A clockwork ourang, 14 May 2007
Author:
brenn g from Argentina
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Based on the 1962 book by Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange cannot be
described as anything but a masterpiece of the science fiction and
drama genres.
Set in a futuristic London which resembles the old USSR, the film
directed by genius (and detail-obsessive) Stanley Kubrick -director of
2001: A Space Odyssey and The Shining, among others- shows a gang of
teenagers whose only aim in life is ultra-violence. Alex DeLarge, the
main character, portrayed brilliantly by Malcolm McDowell, is the
leader of this gang: a charming fifteen year old boy with a great
passion for music, especially Beethoven.
Throughout the film, Alex and his droogs (friends in Nadsat- their teen
slang, influenced by Russian) are shown raping, hurting and stealing
without any sense of guilt or morality. What strikes most to the
viewers about the film is that it gives a violent atmosphere while
showing almost no blood. Moreover, nobody can avoid feeling sympathetic
towards Alex, no matter how strong his lack of ethical issues is.
After quarreling with part of the gang, Alex is set a trap which leads
him to jail, accused of murder. There, he takes part of a special
reconditioning treatment, in order to shorten his sentence. Submitted
to brainwashing, the boy goes out to the streets again, transformed
into a different person… but is he in reality?
There is no scene in the film which cannot be referred to as
controversial: cruel fights shown in slow camera, with classical music
backgrounds (who can forget the Singin' in the Rain scene!); a rape
filmed in an aesthetically beautiful way; fast camera sex;
concentration camps and Beethoven appearing on screen at the same time.
When the film was released in 1971, it was rated either X or R, for
strong explicit sexual content and rape, perverse nudity, brutal
violence, and some language. Then again, most films nowadays show at
least as much.
However, there are few films that deal with the topic of freedom of
choice as A Clockwork Orange does. Is it right for a man to be good
when he is not choosing to be so? Also starring Patrick Magee and
Michael Bates, the film lasts 136 minutes and is a must-see of the
cinema. After 36 years the film not only still holds us in grasp, but
also speaks volumes about our current culture.
If I should critic anything about the film, however, it would be the
fact that it does not show the last chapter of the book. Nevertheless,
Kubrick had adapted it from the American version, which already lacks
that final chapter, in which Alex grows and experiences a change, no
longer finding pleasure in ultra-violence. Although in the introduction
of the 1996 edition of the novel it is said that Kubrick found the end
of the original edition too blandly optimistic and unrealistic, it
shows a very different interpretation of the "unruly youth", which
deserves to be known.
Therefore, not only the film is a must-see, but viewers should feel
compelled to read the end of the book after it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: hard to understand at first., 10 April 2007
Author:
ivanmatthews77-1 from United States
This is one of the strangest movies I have ever seen. The wacky twisted
world created in Stanly Kubrick's A Clock Work Orange is so bizarre at
first I really didn't know what to think. After I watched it a couple
more times and did some research, I realized what a great film it is.
First off it is a really great adaptation of the book which is written
in a thick British dialect so it is extremely hard to understand. The
story takes the unruliness of adolescent boys and how to deal with
them. The film is shot really well. There are a lot of dark shots and
contrast is used really well. I may never be able to listen to
Beethoven again. Thought this movie is extremely violent and crazy. I
think it is an excellent film. It takes a few viewings to really
appreciate it, but the pay off is really great.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Brutal, shocking and ingenious., 25 March 2007
Author:
SkullyD from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I will warn you. "A Clockwork Orange" makes no apologies. It's violence
is brutal, it's nudity graphic. But even more provocative is the fact
that the film makes you care about a character who is essentially the
villain of the story. Alex DeLarge, played with aplomb by Malcom
MacDonald, is a spoiled, heartless, immoral bastard. Alex enjoys making
other people suffer. He shows no remorse as he beats and old drunk,
rapes a writer's wife or violently bludgeons a woman to death with a
ceramic phallus. He seems disappointed in being sent to prison, but
never sorry. When Alex undergoes behavioral conditioning is when we
really begin to feel sorry for him. He's forced to watch scenes of sex
and violence which, thanks to drugs, make him feel sick. He develops a
physical aversion to both of his favorite pastimes, but there is no
inner change. Alex is released from prison following his treatment and
finds that he is no longer welcome. his parents have rented his room to
a stranger, his old gang have become police officers who beat and
nearly drown him and he is plagued by suicidal thoughts. Eventually,
Alex attempts suicide. He lives. To avoid embarrassment, the government
undoes his conditioning and bargains with him to keep his mouth shut.
In the end, we're left to wonder who the real villain is; Alex, or the
system which has spawned him. The film offers no pontification of this
question. The viewer must decide; is "badness" a choice or an inborn
quality? And ultimately the question becomes: Is man basically good or
basically evil?
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: This is a great, yet very weird movie., 1 March 2007
Author:
xsdeuce from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange is a movie staring Malcolm McDowell. It is a British
film that supposivily takes place in the far future. It is very
preverted,yet has one amazing screen-play. I have seen it in 8th grade,
9th grade, and have not understood it until 10th grade, but it is truly
one of a kind.
It is based on a book titled none other than "A Clockwork Orange"
written by Anthony Burgess. He was told he has 6 months to live, and he
ended up living for 24 years! This movie is about a young "hoolagan"
and his buddies. They go around rapping women and other things. Finally
one ends up getting caught. going to jail, and experiencing therapy
which will make him less preverted. The therapy works, yet in the end
of the movie it basically states "it is best to be yourself" and he
goes back to being the preverted mind that he is.
The movie is explaining ways which the government works, and how to
bend the rules. Took me 3 times to watch before i understood that.
I love this movie and I could watch it 4,000 more times. Would i show
my kids it. NO. would i recommend it to you? Most Definitely.
So if you are in high school, i sugjest you get off your behind and go
rent A Clockwork Orange. Ya know, don't rent it.BUY IT. its a keeper.
Thanks pals. -Eric Ari
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Wonderfully Sardonic, 18 February 2007
Author:
Carly (evil_pickle_666@yahoo.com) from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I love this movie. The first time I saw it was November of this year in
fact. I saw it at my best friends house. I had read the book for
English class (I was actually surprised my teacher let me due to the
fact that it was the eighth grade) I had read the book three times over
after that and couldn't get enough of it. I got my best friend into it,
and we like to quote it all the time. I really liked how they used
quotes directly from the book in the movie. Some of the scenes though,
Stanley Kubrick left out that I thought was necessary, for instance,
the scene when he was raping the two 10 year old girls I thought had to
be there because it showed how sick he was. Though there were some
parts in there that weren't in the original book like when ALex was
singing 'Singin in the Rain' as he was beating up the old man. That was
rather sardonic yet entertaining. Overall I thought it was excellent
and I would recommend it to anyone.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's best, 15 February 2007
Author:
ozgur aytac from Canada
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clock Work Orange directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1971. The movie is
great example of amazing art style cinema and Kubrick shows his
visionary point of view as an artist.
Movie takes place near future in Britain. Main character anti-hero Alex
is a teenage gang leader. Alex and his gang members are stealing,
beating and raping their victims everyday. When Alex is jailed by cops
he volunteers for the experimental cure program. And he does not know
that treatment is painful brainwash until it is too late. He is cured
and he is ready for the new life which will be more painful than his
treatment. And ironically rapist and murderer hooligan Alex become a
victim of the movie
In the movie, Kubrick delivers his messages in a perfect way by using
symbolism in every frame. For instance, Alex kills his victim by using
sculpture of the penis, He and his friends drink milk all the time and
so on
Amazing storytelling, strange camera angles and movements make the
movie totally different than other movies. Moreover, violence is so
intense and realistic that creates disturbing feel its audience. Such
as, using eyeball clams, rape and beating scenes are painful to watch
Kubrick creates very cold atmosphere by using his camera style. And the
futuristic retro designs also give a moody ambiance its audience.
Political system as cruel as it can be moreover, Fascist government
uses its power to control feelings. In that point, movie is asking its
audience which is worst? His crime or the punishment he is given.
Another great thing about the movie is its character changing. These
extreme characters changing create more trouble for our victim Alex.
I believe that Malcolm McDowell gives one of the most powerful
performances in the history of cinema. Unfortunately, he did not get
the attention which he deserved it.
Soundtrack of the A Clock Work Orange is as good as it can be. Whenever
I hear Beethoven or singing in the rain I picture the scenes from the
movie.
A Clock Work Orange is a masterpiece. In addition, Kubrick's powerful
film making style proves his art vision. I came up with two questions.
Is Stanley Kubrick the greatest director of all time? And, is A Clock
Work Orange best Kubrick movie? I believe that he is the greatest and
yes A Clock Work Orange is the best Kubrick movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Karma=Commupence????, 10 February 2007
Author:
will feather from United Kingdom
Malcolm McDowell plays the optimum role in the film. His cruel intent
eyes. and his hook smile, bring upon a vindictive character that all
will fear. Although the cool, controlled motions of his character bring
about an icon that most men would like to experience once in a
lifetime, his leadership ways are so sincere. He is both feared and
revered. He is an ugly Churchill. Taking into account the other end of
the spectrum, women find him dominating, yet attractive and at the same
time very repulsive. He is both feared and loathed. He is an ugly Bruce
Willis.
The film also highlights the idea that abiding by the law and
conforming to religion, is the correct way that people should live.
Being filmed in 1971, religions that were of the minority at the time,
were not taken into account and were dismissed entirely. Yet who is to
decide that this is right? There is that edge that Christianity is the
only root.
Throughout the film Beethoven's 'ninth symphony' can be interpreted in
a rainbow of ways. There is the fear of being unable to predict what is
around the corner, but it also has that definitive feel of defiance and
dominance. It is so consistent throughout the film, it creates an
equilibrium level. Furthermore the use of William Tell brings an
accelerated pulse to the consented sexual notions in the film.
The use of Russian language and the combined idiolect of the characters
bring about some amount of social understanding and status hierarchy.
The understanding however, is shot right back down when the filmography
is taken into account. Stanley Kubrick uses wide shots on a
technicolour camera then extreme close ups on the characters, whereby
the appearance means nothing and their facial expressions and eyes show
their emotions.
Guilt is a key theme that runs throughout the film, recognised fully at
the end, unfortunately however sometimes not recognised at all. None of
the characters feel guilt, it is in actual fact the audience that feel
it. It is the pressures that the Government put people under to bring a
shortcut to legislation and the revival of criminals. One thing that
the audience should not feel guilty about however, is thoroughly
enjoying the film, as it is a work of art in its own right.
And lets face it, Karma is a key concept, and if believed we should all
treat our friends better and take into account how much they are
worth....BKWF
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: amazing film, but..., 10 February 2007
Author:
almightynicco from Denmark
PLEASE read the book.
It's by Anthony Burgess, and it knocks the spots off sappy imitators.
The slang-lingo Nadsat is the language they're speaking throughout the
whole movie..
the entire book is written this way.
You'll be gavoreeting real horrorshow after giving this libro a serious
viddy, my very fine droogs....
Don't cheat yourself out of a fantabulous read.
And yes, Kubrick is a genius... the film is spectacular.
And I don't think Malcolm McDowell has ever been able to top this
performance over the course of his expansive career... but I can't
blame him.
And it should definitely be listed as one of the top 10 films of all
time.
There, that's gotta be 10 lines...
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: One of the greatest films ever, 8 February 2007
Author:
Alex Hobart from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
From start to finish Stanley Kubricks' 'A Clockwork Orange' entrances
the viewer with incredible sets, astonishing music and a brilliant
script Malcolm McDowell puts on his best performance as the anti hero
protagonist Alex DeLarge. McDowell truly captures the charm, evil,
unique and mesmerising character which the viewer will fall deeply in
love with.
The sets of this unmissable film are the greatest i have ever seen,
which ooze with colour and unique obscenity. Every time i watch my
Clockwork Orange DVD i enjoy the use of shadows, mirrors and pictures
throughout. Kubrick's unique vision of Anthony Burgess' classic novel
remains as provocative and powerful as when it was banned 36 years ago.
The violence portrayed is disturbing and show the depth of Alex's evil.
In the first 10 minutes of the picture the viewer sees some of the most
disturbing violence seen on screen. This evil is accompanied by his
love for music especially for Beethoven's ninth symphony.
Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange is far more then a controversial
masterpiece. It is a unique study of language, visual interpretation,
the power of music and of course the universal question of free will.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Greatest movie ever., 22 January 2007
Author:
Korovabar from Rotterdam, Netherlands
A clockwork Orange is a brilliant masterpiece of Stanley Kubrick: in my
honest opinion, the best movie he ever made. The Shining en 2001: A
Space Oddesey were fabulous movies, but ACO rises all above them. To
tell you the truth, I have never been so impressed by a movie as this
one. I now am going to explain the reason for that right know, at
least, I'll try to.
What many people say, is true: The first time you watch this movie, you
really think "What the ****"????? and you'll prefer to throw this movie
away. Then again, it's not a movie to rent at a dull Friday night with
a bunch of friends. No my droogs, this is a very controversial movie,
so brutal and cruel yet filled with so many messages and looks at the
future, you really have to think while watching this movie, and have to
stay serious. The movie has very funny pieces in it, but then again,
it's far from a comedy. It's a dramatic, criminal, violent, and also a
very crazy movie. But with crazy I mean it the good way crazy. This
movie is about a teenager (16-18)named Alex, who's life is all
violence, sex and Beethoven. Every night he sits at the Korova Milk
Bar, drinking drug milk with his 'droogs' (buddies or friends) Dim,
Pete and Georgie. Dressed very odd, they walk and drive to town, raping
and beating the **** out of innocent people. Just for fun. But when
they are breaking into a woman's house, the other droogs take revenge
on Alex for being to bossy and too violent against them (pushing Dim
into the water, slapping him etc. etc.). Alex is caught by the police
and has to go to jail for 14 years. For 2 years he sits in this prison,
when he hears of a new technique that will cure him and make him a free
man in 14 days. He agrees...
Thus so far the story line: I don't want to tell too much of it, for
many people still have to watch this movie.
Why do I give it a 10?? This movie is harsh, violent and almost
pornographic sometimes, but those are just a few scenes. The real moral
of this movie, the plot, the idea behind this whole story is the work
of a genius. Also, they can make a movie look so good without any SF
and the actor's are doing a great job, especially Alex. Also, the set
is very strange, yet awesome: you can't place this movie in a certain
time period or year. This movie still plays on in my head after 2
years, still let me think about this strange world and I'm still a
great fan of Alex and his droogs. Cheers.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A mind-boggling film, 2 December 2006
Author:
xiayun from United States
I'm not even sure how to start reviewing this one of the kind film. I
had seen 5 Kubrick's films previously (The Killing, Paths of Glory, Dr.
Strangelove, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut), and the uniqueness
of each endeavor is so palpable. His film is divisive because he is not
afraid to push the envelop, and A Clockwork Orange is more vivid in
that regard than any others. From its jaw-dropping opening shot (I was
like, "oh my goodness, this is going to be weird"), the first act went
on a mind-boggling journey of sex, violence, and unlawfulness. The
extreme sadistic behavior is presented with Beethoven's classical music
on the background; it truly has to be seen to be believed.
The story got progressively weaker in the second and third acts, but it
showed the other extreme of trying to eliminate the "criminal impulse",
the dark side of human mind, by developing a negative Pavlovian
response to illegal activities through medical and psychological
treatments. It demonstrated the danger of dehumanization and proposed
the important question of, as a society, how much we are willing to
trade our freedom for a "quieter", more secure life. Alex turned from a
chilling villain to a somewhat sympathetic victim; a lot of his acts
are despicable, but somehow we could identify with him throughout the
movie, even if we don't want to admit.
The film touches some serious subjects, so it could easily feel
heavy-handed with a lesser director, but Kubrick's style, full of
memorable images, just completely absorbed me in until toward the end.
It's both a satire and drama and deserves the status fans have given.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Thrilling and Attracting, 26 November 2006
Author:
mwuttke-1 from Germany
After having watched the film for several times, I must say that "A
Clockwork Orange" is truly a masterpiece and has not lost any
attraction ever since. Why? Because Kubrick managed to connect his
"style" and the controversial topic of Anthony Burgess novel "A
Clockwork Orange" and turned it into a nightmarish and futuristic
thriller. When I watched it for the first time, I was completely stoked
and could not believe that it was made back in the 1970s, because for
me it could easily keep up with a lot of today's films.
Especially the language of "Alex and his droogs", "Nadsat", a mix of
old Russian and English got me right from the first scene of the film
and has not let loose ever since I have watched it for the first time
either...
Some people argue that the violence used in "A Clockwork Orange" might
be too "violent" and too graphic, but I think that the violence only
contributes to Kubrick's main goal of connecting the strong language
and strong violence, in order to create the notion of a strong
apocalyptic future, where the individual is completely dispatched from
any kind of values, confronted with a society based on the material
status and only functions (especially in Alex' case) as society's cue
ball.
Almost like our current world! Almost?
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Society as a person., 20 November 2006
Author:
Allison Pitts from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
The most enigmatic villain/ protagonist/ hero graces the screen and
shocks us into amazement and revulsion. From the start, one feels as if
one is watching a snuff film: the gritty, slarkly brutal beatings and
the rape set to the tune that implied the joy of being in love creating
a world that you thought you understood. Then one is taken into the
home of what had thus far been painted as an untouchable and distant
figure. Allowed to see inside the room and presumably the mind of this
man, who, the viewer is shocked to see, still lives with his parents.
Humanizing seems an incorrect word to use here when you consider that
everything that Alex did and that we can assume that he would do is all
inherently human, human nature being more akin to that of a beast than
any of us would like to let on. We can all identify with Alex in one
way or another, because Alex is the unbridled product of society set
loose upon itself.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A strange film indeed,oh my brothers! But good!, 10 November 2006
Author:
SmileysWorld from United States
It goes without saying that Stanley Kubrick had unique visions when it
came to film making,steering clear of any traditional styles and
clichés.What struck me about A Clockwork Orange was it's unique dialog
and unique musical soundtrack.Who would've ever thought we would see or
hear Singin' in the Rain or Beethoven's 5th in such a way as it is
here?The plot of this film is to say the least,bizarre.It all takes on
the appearance of a strange English dream,yet something about it is
very appealing.Despite it's strangeness,you are compelled to keep
watching.It's one of those rare films that makes it difficult to tell
anyone about it or give away any of the plot line.You just have to see
it for yourself,and that qualifies it for greatness.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Oh My Brothers!, 10 November 2006
Author:
Taran_Cross from United States
This is possibly one of my favorite movies of all time. This is by far
the best Kubrick film ever, the brilliance of this movie is three fold;
first, the performance by Malcolm McDowell, second the music, and third
the political message presented by the movie. McDowell's take on the
character Alex is so excellent because he makes you love him. Even when
he's doing the most despicable and deplorable acts you can't help
cheering him on, and wanting him to do these things to women, and
innocents. You love this sociopath and want to hang out with him and go
indulge in a little of the old ultraviolence with him. Every time he
says my brothers you can't help being taken in by his charismatic and
bad ass personality. The scariest part of this movie is when it's over
and your sitting there and you realize that you love the character
Alex, and you wonder what that says about you as a person. Second the
integration of Ludwig van into the movie is what makes it a
masterpiece. Beethoven almost becomes a character in and of himself in
the film, like he's speaking to you through those eyes as the 9th is
playing. also the scene where Alex singing singin' in the rain while
raping the wife is so powerful, and it's amplified by the choice of
such a happy go lucky song. After watching the movie so many times it's
impossible to tell if I love this movie because of my love of Beethoven
or if I love Beethoven more because of this movie. They become unified
in your mind so that you cannot hear the 9th without thinking about
Alex and this movie. You love Alex because as he is a rogue and utter
miscreant, but the music he loves isn't hardcore rock, or death metal
(even though they didn't exist in 1971) it's classical, and Lugwin van!
That more than anything makes you love this character because of his
complexity. Lastly, the political message of the movie. How the
'treatment' that Alex is given turns him not into a good man, but
rather into a mechanical apparatus that has no real choice. I also love
the irony that is not lost on the audience of the Priest saying that
Alex has no choice, and is not really being good. But Alex is really
the best Christian, because Christianity does not say that people
should be good men for the sake of being righteous, but rather because
of a threat of punishment if you perform bad acts, this is paralleled
to the sickness that Alex experiences, which is his personal hell. The
political implication of this are far-reaching and reflect many
political writings on control, mainly, to me, Michael Foucault and the
idea of biopower. Where in, after much conditioning the agent will
control himself because of fear of a threat that may not even be
present, much like the mind police in 1984, the fear of possible
punishment controls the agent, as it does Alex. For while the drug has
left his system the effects of the conditioning make him feel as if he
is sick, he is within the panopticon. This is one of the greatest
movies of all time, and reflects the artistic brilliance of it's
creator. It is one that all generations should experience, whether you
are a baby boomer, or if you are a member of generation x like myself.
I tip my hat to the genius Stanley Kubrick, possibly the greatest
writer/director ever, and this is his shining jewel that blinds with
it's magnificence
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Viddy viddy viddy well!, 30 October 2006
Author:
SeanJoyce from United States
****The bulk of of this "comment" was aimed at trying to shed some
light to a user on A Clockwork Orange's critical and commercial appeal.
As of this writing, I'd say that A Clockwork Orange is my 3rd favorite
film in the Kubrick oeuvre (from what I've seen so far.) I'll try to
give a brief explanation as to why A Clockwork Orange is so adored by
cinephiles and it has attained such a high place in the cinematic
pantheon.
Visually, aside from 2001: A Space Odyssey (which I detested), it is
Kubrick's most impressive film. The aura created through the unique
look of Alex and his droogs, the gaudy British clothes and the palette
of colors that surface throughout the film make the whole package
appeasing to the eyes.
Kubrick is renowned for his usage of classical music in his films, and
here he litters his movie throughout with an eclectic mix of
recognizable and catchy music. People dig that; it's enchanting in a
hip and cool way.
Despite it's surrealism, A Clockwork Orange carries a message at it's
center that is actually incredibly simple to understand. In other
words, while it may confound you, it really shouldn't; it's an easy to
follow film when it comes down to it.
At its center, A Clockwork Orange raises the question of the importance
of free will. Would society be better off, much safer and more orderly
if man were stripped of his will to choose? And what makes a man? Is he
really a human being if he lacks this fundamental principle, the
defining characteristic of what it means to be human? To establish
this, Kubrick simply set the story in a futuristic Britian, with almost
cartoonish like characters; they're caricatures of real life. The
characters we come to associate with are larger-than-life, and somewhat
satirized accounts of real life people....Ex. Alex and his droogs
represent street gangs. The Hitler-like guard (no doubt a spin on the
actual person) represents tyrannic oppression...it's all an exaggerated
analogy for real life situations. We see a torn-environment where
hooligans run rampant and the law is powerless. Alex is a product of
this environment. He commits a murder and goes to jail. The "curing"
device rids man of the will to do harm, rendering everybody docile and
obedient. There is no murder and violence after everybody is "cured".
Society is thriving, but do we cease to be human beings without the
all-important free will?
That is essentially A Clockwork Orange (at least I hope so!) It's
commercial praise stems from it's immense enjoyment factor...people are
enthralled by A Clockwork Orange. They dig the British lingo, the
classical music, and it's anti-establishmentarianism. The punk look of
the droogs caused a massive cult movement. The violence, while
off-putting, carries a strong entertainment factor. It's just a
different film and a wholly satisfying cinematic experience. It was
controversial and extremely shocking; there really had never been
anything quite like it before. If you didn't like it, that's fine. My
dear friend Arthicus at this website utterly despises it, but his taste
in movies is sublime, so you're not an idiot if you don't like it. But
try to watch it with an open mind, or give it the old second viddy.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Great movie. Has aged like fine wine, 26 October 2006
Author:
dean2900 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I prefer escapism but I do occasionally enjoy a movie that has a a
point to make and A Clockwork Orange is one of my all-time favorites.
I am not a big fan of 20001, but love Dr Strangelove, and even one of
the few people that appreciated Eyes Wide Shut.
The story is narrated by Malcom McDowell as a young thug who him and
his cronies like to terrorize, mug, rape, and abuse people for their
sadistic entertainment.
One of Alex's rape victim dies and he is put in jail.
Alex volunteers for a "brainwashing" experiment which will have him
back in society in no time.
The brainwashing requires his eyes to be help open by metal pins and
for him to watch constant violence while being given drugs to be make
him ill. The operant conditioning works and Alex is not capable of
harming his fellow man.
However, once he is released from Prsion, many people including his
only cronies do harm Alex who is defenseless to protect himself.
The movies asks the question "What measures are considered moral in
order to make society safe." The movie has done a great job of turning
Alex into a hate villain from the first Act into a sympathetic
character that people can relate to by the third act.
The leaves out the last chapter of the book and shows that Alex has
reverted back to his old self after bring tortured by his previous
victims and pals. In the book, the final chapter showed him becoming a
productive member of society. I like the ending of the movie better
because it is a bit more cynical and basically shows that you cannot
change what person is inside.
The movie is loaded with Sex and Violence but nothing to the point of
artless garbage such as Hostel. This movie was made for adults and for
people who want to think about the theme's presented.
The movie was filmed in an a not often used 1.66 to 1 ratio and objects
in the center of the picture look perfect while objects on the edges
look distorted. This is a interesting technique used by Kubrick.
I will admit the one part I don't understand is that Alex's mother has
a different hair color in every scene of the movie. She has orange
hair, green hair, blonde hair, etc. It is not critical to the plot but
there must me something I am is-sing on that part.
This is one of two movies (out of 1000s) that I have rated 10/10.
Dean
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: BRILLIANT!!! But read the book first if you want to understand it the first time through, 24 October 2006
Author:
johnmichael-2 from United States
Okay, so many of the 10-star reviewers said they didn't like this movie
the first time they watched it, but that they loved after repeated
rewatchings. I'm telling you, if you want to understand it and LOVE it
the first time through, read the book first! It's one of the best books
of all time (just like the movie is one of the best movies of all
time), and you'll get a head start on sorting out all the themes.
Then watch the movie. See what Kubrick lends to Burgess's masterpiece.
See the juxtaposition of classical music (actually much of it is from
the Romantic Era, not the Classical Era) against ultra violence. See
Malcolm McDowell's amazing act (and the amazing acting of pretty much
everyone else in the cast). See his amazing turnaround(s), and marvel
at the most disturbing happy ending of all times. Then leave the movie
screen, unable to think of "Singing in the Rain" and "William Tell
Overture" in the same way ever again.
I won't go into great details to explain the plot, as you can find it
on other reviews in this site. However, I will go on a bit farther to
name random thinks I loved. Firstly: "Singing in the Rain" was more
appropriate and more effective in this movie than it was in its own
movie. Secondly, the humiliation scene was simply amazing, and very
sad. Thirdly, the scene where ALex leaves his parents' house after they
gave his room to a tenant made me cry and cry and cry and cry.
Fourthly, the threesome played to the "William Tell Overture" is the
BEST bit of fast motion in a movie. . . EVER!! Fifthly, everything else
in the movie was amazing.
Yes, so read the book first, and then watch the movie, and you'll enjoy
them both immensely. Read the book also if you want to know the meaning
of "A Clockwork Orange", because the movie never really explains it.
Oh, and look past the violence and sex. My parents refused to watch it
because of it, my sister walked out after the first ten minutes, and my
brother wasn't able to see past it. But I was, and I marveled at what I
found underneath. This isn't a light entertainment film, nor is it a
glorification of violence. But to see that, you need a brain--scratch
that, a functional brain that isn't allergic to a good workout. Then
you're set. Enjoy the greatest masterpiece of film-making!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Singin' in the Rain, 15 October 2006
Author:
booyatom from Canada
I saw this film recently. "Legendary", "cult classic", "extreme
violence", "agonizingly crude scenes"; all these were but a few terms
used in reference to it. I was quite uneasy before seeing it, worrying
that I might not appreciate it enough. Or maybe I wouldn't "get it". I
had heard that this film contained very important social messages which
viewers were not allowed not to grasp. So with all this hype, I rented
A Clockwork Orange and learned what classics are all about.
The first thing that people who approach classics warily must learn is
that these films are deemed so because they are highly accessible and
let you go filled with ideas you did not have going in. Classics are
not work, they impress you with their looks and their styles, their
stories and the innovative ways in which they are told.
One could interpret Kubrick's classic anyhow desired. One could say the
film's message is you cannot "cure" someone from what is inherent, in
this case, a sociopath. Or, one could say the message of the film is
you reap what you sow; you can never escape the mistakes of your past
because they will end up coming back at you in any way, shape or form.
Of course, there are a plethora of other social messages in this film.
Independent of the derived messages of the story, the film is
brilliantly constructed. First and foremost, the main character's
evolution throughout the film is admirably conveyed by both Malcolm
McDowell and Kubrick. McDowell presents us with an absolutely ruthless
Alex Delarge whom everybody fears, regardless of his stature; for all
we know, he's eighty feet tall with that demonic look in his eyes. The
actor shows, through his character, all the signs of a true sociopath,
as seen when Alex gives us his first rendition of "Singin' in the
Rain". In this early scene, we literally witness our main character (or
as he deems himself, "your narrator") break into a married couple's
residence, beat the man and rape the woman, all this while singing the
aforementioned song. In stark contrast, after the controversial
treatment he undergoes sets him free, he is not at all the same person,
and only a great actor can genuinely convey that. In addition, what
really got to me was when they put him in that restraining chair and
they forced his eyes open. There was no cinema magic involved there,
they were actually doing that to McDowell, yet he remained totally in
character, albeit the physical discomfort.
Now with regards to what Kubrick does in order to bring life to Alex's
evolution throughout the film. There's a certain quality great
directors have when making their great films and I believe it is that
they immerse themselves so completely, heart and soul, into their works
that all throughout them, there is a reigning atmosphere which screams
that they are creations of artists. A Clockwork Orange bears these
qualities. Unlike bad directors (whomever they may be), great ones do
not dissociate themselves from their films, undertaking the shooting as
a purely technical process riddled with time constraints and budget
concerns. The first part of ACO (that is, until Alex is captured) is
dominated by the classical music that Alex loves. Even during the
beatings and the rapes, the background music is always happy, feel-good
music. This is a means Kubrick uses to show what a sociopathic monster
Alex is. Killing is fun, rape is a blast. This is Kubrick's message for
the first part of the film. Consider this: Kubrick could just as easily
have played heavy, dramatic music, or nothing at all, through all this.
But he didn't. The reigning atmosphere here is surreal: the attacks are
surreal, the homes are surreal and the characters are surreal. It is as
if Kubrick is Alex during the film.
A classic comes down to these pretty basic components: great acting,
great directing, a score that improves the action instead of hindering
it, great writing and all the offshoots of these. Don't break your
heads over what we call classics. They are just damn good films.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Disturbing, powerful and stunningly stylish, 15 October 2006
Author:
Ben_hanson111 from United Kingdom
Whatever you say about the film's message or moral core, A Clockwork
Orange is sensational entertainment. There is no need to search for
meaning. Alex is a fantastic protagonist, someone morally reprehensible
but very complex, oozing menace and character. His exploits throughly
explore this and also how he adapts to survive. The effect hardship has
on him show his depth.
This film is Kubrick through and through. Visually stunning, full of
futuristic design and cinematography reminiscent of 2001. I view it as
pure entertainment, full of dark humour, violence and nudity. Yet it
has to be treated seriously. The tone of A Clocwork Orange is very
haunting with a chilling soundtrack. It has an endless ability to send
shivers down my spine. Alex's narration is very important as it tells
you exactly how his complex mind works. The film throws up many
fascinating, enthralling and even comical scenarios for Alex which are
expertly depicted by Kubrick for maximum impact and suspense. That
makes for a great film.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: What is the point of this movie? Sedition, 11 September 2006
Author:
dantown from United States
This was a shocking movie 34 years ago. FYI-it's no longer 34 years
ago. Just thought y'all should know that. The photography of this movie
is absolutely excellent. This movie is a picaresque novel about one
Alex the Droog. He is outside the Establishment and embroiled in the
establishment-which spits him out its maw. It is supposed to cheer and
encourage any young man to throw over the old farty bastards and
establish a new order. And now we have the Clintons, and their hippie
camp-followers . This was the movie which was supposed to set Malcolm
McDowell's career on a high flight into the stratosphere. I find that a
serious bad thing, because Malcolm didn't make it as a star. Malcolm is
a genuine star, with acting qualities we all recognize. This movie
really shocked me and caused mental damage-because I didn't have the
mental discipline, or artistic maturity to absorb it. Oh well. I was a
teenager and I will survive. This is a gigantically artistic movie for
its time. It is elegant in its editing. It is powerful: The colors and
angles and script and direction all coalesce into an intense
anti-establishment statement which stand as art even today. It is a
creature of 1972. It is not so bad, considering the year 1972.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Truly Amazing, 5 August 2006
Author:
Mike Murphy from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" is a truly amazing film. Alex is
a young man who lives a life of ease. He skips school, parties hardy,
and has a good night out with his "droogies" causing mayhem. Alex loves
a good night that involves rape, ultra-violence, and Beethoven. He and
his entourage, eventually, cause so much mayhem that in the process of
having fun, Alex murders a woman. On the way out his posse leaves him
behind and he goes to jail for murder. When an inspector comes to the
jail he chooses Alex for a test of a new project that can cure
criminals of their crime and leave them free of crime for the rest of
their days and can do it within a year. Alex is very excited and eager
to begin the project.
The project involves Alex strapped to a chair with his eyes forced open
watching films of extreme ultra-violence, including disturbing WWII
violence, and films of terror, including graphic rape. Alex is stunned
and sickened by the footage and is cured. Or is he? Returning home, he
has the hope of returning to his home but when he finds someone else
renting out his room he tries to pick a fight but the thought of
violence almost makes him vomit and he runs away to find himself get
caught with people who he has tortured in the past when he was king of
the streets. He seeks refuge in a rich writers home who, unknown to
Alex, is a man who's wife was raped by Alex and died a few days later.
Alex later realizes it when he calls government people over to "help
Alex" but the end up helping the man get his revenge by playing Alex's
favorite-turned-least-favorite artist, Ludwig van Beethoven. The song
drives Alex mad and leads him to attempt suicide. He, somehow, doesn't
die and and put in a public hospital where the best caretakers nurse
him back to health.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Arguably Kubrick's best work, Definitely his most notorious, 3 August 2006
Author:
edantheman from Not-so-great Britain
The word 'masterpiece' is one used to death by so many critics and
film-lovers today, but 'A Clockwork Orange' is a work of art totally
deserving of that label that so few possess. Although, this being a
Stanley Kubrick film, I can't bring myself to say that this is his best
work. He gave us cool-as-ice film noir with 'The Killing', wartime
terror with 'Paths of Glory', epic entertainment with 'Spartacus'
(though not really a Kubrick film, if you get my drift), controversy
(Kubrick's middle name!) with 'Lolita', riotous and satiric (very
Kubrickian) laughs with 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop
Worrying and Love the Bomb', visual splendour (and humans being
convincing as monkeys) with '2001: A Space Oddysey', this time a more
Kubrickian epic with 'Barry Lyndon', shocks with 'The Shining' (Kubrick
at his perfectionist best) and psychological torment with 'Full Metal
Jacket'. It's just TOO hard to put my finger on 'one' of them.
Anyhow, back to where I began, this IS a masterpiece and more than
'just a film'. Kubrick puts his screen writing skills to the test as
well as directing this time (he did co-write 'Full Metal Jacket' but he
had sole credit as screenwriter this time) to create an astoundingly
cinematic adaptation of Burgess's cult novel. The film's ending comes a
little earlier than the book's and hits you like a billy-cane on the
gulliver when it does. Now, please ignore the silly remarks about 'all
kids being worse these days and they gonna keep getting worse', because
our children will always be bad and so will yours and so were you.
True, with the excessively bloody 18-rated 'Grand Theft Auto' series
dominating the video game market, the Columbine and Virginia Tech
school shootings; it has become more common for the youth to think
about violence and murder, but this seems to be telling us that it's
better to choose bad than be forced into good. We're all born violent,
but we're all born peaceful; but we're all born with minds for making
the decision.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: If the movie A Clockwork Orange is not a perfect 10 what is?, 28 June 2006
Author:
theman_thefreak from United States
What is there to comment about this movie it is in my top 5 movies of
all time. Malcom McDowell who played Alex is one of the great actors of
the 20th century. He nailed the role of Alex which is why the movie was
so successful. Malcom had even developed his own walk for the role of
Alex. Not only this but the changes he had in the movie were so drastic
and sudden it left your toes for whether or not you would get normal
Alex or psycho Alex. thank you for reading what i have to say about
this movie. I thought a few things in the movie as i look back at it
now were kinda of funny like for example the name of his thugs
were(Droogies).
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Wow, 28 June 2006
Author:
Pneumathorax from Netherlands
I have seen ACO 2 times, and the first time I didn't really like it,
because of all the violence, but the strange thing was, I just had to
see it again.
After the second time, I have come to conclude that it's a great film.
I especially like the music during the violence, and the shooting
angles are no less than great. I don't notice such things, but I have
to say, it was absolutely magnificent.
The story itself is very good. But I have read the last chapter on
internet, and I think it should be included, for it makes the film more
complete. I think you should see through all the violence, to look at
the real message the film has. 10 out of 10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: One of my favorite works of art, 22 June 2006
Author:
twin_ears from United States
I know there have been hundreds of comments posted regarding this
movie, but I just had to post yet another one because people should
always comment on their favorite films. A Clockwork Orange qualifies as
my favorite. If you have never watched this film, please do yourself a
favor and take the time to do so; it is a highly rewarding experience.
I won't go into a summary of the plot or the meaning behind any of it
all because that has all been discussed at length here by other
reviewers. I will simply write that it is impossible to overstate how
truly remarkable and unique this film is, and how simply genius the
vision and talent of Stanley Kubrick was with regards to A Clockwork
Orange. This has been my favorite film since I first saw it about
twenty-two years ago. I certainly enjoy and appreciate other films,
though no other work in the medium of film has even come close to
approaching this film, in my opinion, as the best example of the medium
as an art form. (How very fitting that Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the
best piece of music ever written, features prominently in this film. A
marriage made in Heaven!) Though usually classified in the genre
'science fiction,' this film genuinely defies categorization, so
universal is its scope. Every moment of it is poetry. A priceless film
and one of humanity's crowning achievements. I'd give it 100 stars out
of 10 if that were mathematically possible.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Not what I expected. Unbelievable., 15 June 2006
Author:
Brand_New_Username from Addison, Illinois, United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
It is a disgrace that this movie is #59 on the top 250. It's
underrated. Yeah, I said it. This movie should be in the top 20, not
behind The Matrix (no offence).
The first time watching this, it's not hard for one to see why this was
such a controversial movie for the 1970's. Blatant nudity, brutal
violence, and a few rape scenes, to name a few.
However, what really pushes this movie into cult classic, and classic
period, is how Alex is completely turned around by "the cure". Being a
no good, immoral punk, to a straight-laced person that literally
couldn't hurt a fly, even if he tried. The way his parents reject him
is very emotional. Malcolm McDowell delivers some of the best acting
I've ever seen.
This film teaches a lesson to everyone: be careful what you do in the
past, for they will haunt you in the future, in ways you can't even
imagine. This is shown in the surprisingly emotional 40 minutes, when
Alex is turned away by his parents, former friends, and people he had
hurt in the past.
This is definitely a must see, and definitely one of Kubrick's best.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Clockwork Orange, 12 June 2006
Author:
Zack H. (supersonicx@gmail.com) from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange is about a teenager named Alex, who, along with his
three "droogs", participates in beating and raping helpless victims
during the night. After being slapped around by Alex, and a night of
the ol' "ultraviolence", the droogies decide to knock him out and leave
him for the police to find. He agrees to participate in a new, yet
controversial treatment that will shorten his jail sentence. When he is
eventually let out, he becomes A Clockwork Orange, which is an object
(or person in the case of the movie) which appears normal on the
outside but is completely artificial or "mechanical" on the inside. He
loathes violence, and can't defend himself, but his ex-droogs, and his
victims are looking for revenge.
Stanley Kubrick's direction is top notch as usual, as he was a
perfectionist, and in my opinion, got the best from his cast, who were,
and still are, excluding Malcolm McDowell, unknowns. Malcolm McDowell's
performance is truly Oscar worthy, and I'm surprised he didn't win. I
really can't imagine any actor playing the part of Alex other than him.
Even Kubrick said that if McDowell hadn't been available to play the
part, then he probably wouldn't have done the movie. I also read
somewhere during the "Ludivico Treatment" scene, one of his eyelids was
scratched by the glazzy clips, also when they were filming the scene
where Dim and Georgie were drowning him while beating him, he almost
drowned because the breathing pipe in the water messed up. That's true
commitment to a film, if you ask me. McDowell also became immensely
afraid of eyedrops after filming the scene. There adds to the
commitment - doing something so many times so as to become afraid of
eyedrops. McDowell's performance in ACO is, in my opinion, one of the
greatest, most underrated performances in movie history.
As for the question, "Is this Kubrick's best?", well, I'd say 2001 is
his best, but as we all know, opinions differ. In terms of greatness,
it's definitely one of his best. I think it is a must-see for any
film-lover of any kind.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's Masterpiece is a Genuinely Unique, Sensational, and Brilliant Work of Art, 2 June 2006
Author:
RenaissanceMan42 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
What I personally admire most about Stanley Kubrick, and about his work
in his master opus A Clockwork Orange especially, is the extent to
which the film maker completely disregards the cliché, invariable
Hollywood motifs that are present in and ruin so many potentially
enjoyable films: there is no obligatory Hollywood love story in this
film; there is positively no regard for normal Hollywood decency
standards, especially of the time; there is no effort made to
minimalize the esoteric language used by Alex and his droogs, despite
the fact that only an individual with a moderate grasp on Russian could
understand the nature of the speech; and there are, as far as I have
noticed, no concessions made to the mainstream, whatsoever. Kubrick
relates Anthony Burgess's story in a manner arguably considerably more
effective, if not just completely better, than that of the novel. Set
to an absolutely glorious soundtrack, featuring Rossini, Elgar,
Beethoven, and other great giants of classical music; featuring fight
scenes that are so ingeniously choreographed as to be amusing as well
as visually stimulating; featuring the signature camera work of Kubrick
himself; featuring 'futuristic' art and other eye candy, Clockwork
Orange in film form is Burgess's vision brought to life. To glorious,
brilliant life. The story of the film is unique in that it combines
relative simplicity and sheer genius. As the film focuses on the
escapades on the young Alexander De Large (a play on words from a scene
in the book that Burgess fans will remember smilingly, as Alex refers
to himself as 'The Large'; no last name is actually ever given in the
book) and his fortunes, the audience is able to observe in one
character, many characters. First there is the revel-rousing, obviously
clinically insane Alex, the leader of a gang of vicious young
criminals; then, there is the scheming institutionalized Alex, who
wants nothing more than to get out of prison; then there is the Alex
who is a puppet of society after his treatment; and then there is Alex
the victim, the treatment having gone terribly wrong. And, in the end,
there is the same old Alex, the criminal, indicated subtly so to the
audience in the triumphant final scene of the film when he utters a
pair of lines identical to those he had spoken earlier in the film. In
the end, Kubrick's Clockwork Orange is a masterpiece. It is a
psychological analysis, and it is social satire; it is a showcase for
beautiful music and beautiful language; it is an amusing spectacle of
dark humour and sly jocularity; is a bizarre, chilling dystopian tale;
and it is, very possibly, the most enjoyable film ever produced. And
this can largely be contributed to Kubrick's disregard for the
Hollywood mainstream. This film is as good and important to people as
it is for films, as well. If you are human, and if you enjoy a good
film, then Clockwork Orange will suit you just fine. Even if you've
fallen desperately dependent upon the sort of mainstream nonsense that
Hollywood pumps out today. Indeed, if that is your situation, you will
find Kubrick's Clockwork Orange a breath of fresh air, and you will
find yourself desperately desiring more films like it. Sadly, there are
so few. Wnjoy this film, then, for what it's worth: a great film for
the sake of being a great film. And it is truly that, if nothing else.
A great film.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Chilling.....Exiting.......Brilliant, 21 May 2006
Author:
jarrodarnett from Madagascar
I have seen all of Kubrick's movies and i loved each and every one of
them but A Clockwork Orange is different and original from the rest. I
was in way confused my first time i seen it. This is a type of movie
you have to see more than once to fully understand its meaing. The
movie is set in the near future where there is a struggle between power
and technology. The story takes off when we see Alex a young troubled
teen caught in the middle of this struggle in society. Him and his
three friends go along the night causing whatever mayham then can. This
is were the most disturing scenes of the film are mostly were Alex and
his gang break in a writers home and make him wacth as they gang rap
his wife. Alex acts as the commander of the band of rouges. One night
the boys get fed up with him and set him up. Alex gets arrested and is
put in prison but has a chance to shorten his term. He Voulneteers for
a project by the government which is just part of the chaos in society.
After that Alex is released he quickly finds out the world is in worse
condition than before and he realizes he is a clockwork orange. The
movie is most notorious for the portion when Alex and his friends are
doing harmful acts against people and it shows how this all seems a bit
fictional it could become reality.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Outrageously remarkable, 22 April 2006
Author:
Peter Rhydon from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
"A Clockwork Orange" is without any doubt the most politically
incorrect movie that I could have seen in my short life. Full of sex,
violence and shocking and degrading images so much that it could make
the screen blowing off, it appears necessary to wonder why many people
(including myself) dare to talk about this Kubrick picture as a
masterpiece.
"A Clockwork Orange" tells the story of Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a
young delinquent who patrols the streets of a futuristic and dystopic
London accompanied by his "Droogies" and their only goal is to get "a
bit of the old ultra-violence". We can quickly discover Alex's only
three interests: savage violence, raping and Ludwig van Beethoven. Why
does he love Beethoven so much? Judging by the images that are shown,
it's simply that Beethoven's music inspires violence in Alex's soul.
However, Alex's life takes a different turn when he is betrayed by his
Droogies and then arrested and jailed for fourteen years for the murder
of a lady in her residence. After two years of incarceration, Alex is
offered to be liberated after two weeks if he agrees to give himself up
to an experimental treatment which is supposed to free him from any
desire for violence and brutal sexual acts.
Even if there isn't any doubt that the main theme for this film is the
origins of good and evil in the human being, it could be totally normal
that some people ask questions about the utility of including so many
scenes of violence and sex in order for the story to make the point
about the conclusions it attends to draw.
It's probably because "A Clockwork Orange" seems more to be an exercise
of style and a test of tolerance rather than a simple and ordinary
allegory about a dystopia that doesn't really differ from many other
portrayals that we've already seen before.
Stanley Kubrick doesn't content himself by putting degrading scenes in
their most natural character. He brings each time his own personal
touch and transforms the vice into art.
Kubrick's favorite weapon remains the ironic use of music, just like in
"2001". Rossini's services are particularly used. The brawling scene
between Alex's own gang and a rival gang is particularly brutal, not to
say almost humorous, and that on the strains of Rossini's "The Thieving
Magpie".
The scene where Alex rapes two young girls in his room is very
particular and is probably the best one in the whole movie. In fact,
the scene is shot in fast-motion on the strains of the famous piece
"William Tell Overture" (also played in fast-motion).
And obviously, how could we forget the famous raping scene of Mr.
Alexander's (Patrick Magee) wife? How could we forget those images
where Alex, wearing a Pinocchio-like mask, ill-treats his victims while
singing "Singin' in the Rain" and dancing just like Gene Kelly?
In fact, Kubrick's cinematography stays simple except at the moments
where offending images appear. So Kubrick's goal is to prove that it is
possible to treat violence as an art. It's nothing but morally
unacceptable, so why doing it? Kubrick rather seems to ask: why not
doing it?
It's rather obvious that Kubrick doesn't give a damn about the
commercial side of cinema. After all, his film originally received a X
from MPAA and was inevitably condemned by religious authorities. It
must be admitted: Kubrick didn't draw a very flattering portrait of
religion in his movie. We can see four plaster Christs wearing rather
prominent crotches and Alex, in his fantasies, imagines himself taking
pleasure to whip Jesus carrying his cross and we can see him taking
part to bloody death fights and orgies.
The society presented in "A Clockwork Orange" really is a totally
absurd society where totalitarian and repressive governments can emerge
anywhere, even in traditionally democratic states like England. Several
characters are so much bizarre that we cannot even consider them as
living caricatures. It's the case of Mr. Deltoid (Aubrey Morris) with
his totally ridiculous smile who drinks water from a glass containing a
denture. There also are the prison guards which look more like soldiers
than civil servants. Their chief (Michael Bates) furiously look like
Adolf Hitler.
The film succeeds in giving the impression of a futuristic world
without ever showing any futuristic technology. Everything is based
upon peculiarity. We can see Alex and his Droogies wearing totally
white suits as well as bowler hats, top hats and flat caps. As for
women, they dye their hair in fluorescent green, blue and pink. The
architecture and design are also odd, without counting upon the fact
that it's often garish and ugly.
But Malcolm McDowell's performance is all but undesirable. His
character shows so much charisma that he almost hides his sadism and
his own darkness. He is violent, not because of a mental disorder, nor
because of an unstable family or social order, but because he chose to
act that way. He also made the choice of subjecting himself to the
Ludovico treatment and he made the choice of throwing himself out of
the window when he's unable to bear with his new situation. But the
treatment looks like an antidote to freedom. So it's a formidable
battle that Alex does against society itself. And when he's searching
for forgiveness, he can't find anyone ready to offer him.
It's therefore a cold, hopeless and pessimistic look that Kubrick
offers here. In his case, it's just normal. He simply combined his
ideas with an exercise of style that acts at the same time as some kind
of test to check out what an audience is ready to bear to watch a
movie. Even thirty-five years later, "A Clockwork Orange" have lost
nothing of its ability to shock and cause controversy. For me, it's a
shocking film but there's nothing to blame. It's outrageous and it's
remarkable. Nothing else to add, O my brothers!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: "In this world of make-believe, they don't believe in me!", 5 April 2006
Author:
Aluísio Parondi (nem.freud.explica@gmail.com) from Winooski, Vermont, USA
I have just seen "A Clockwork Orange" for the first time, after many
years looking forward to seeing it. Looking back, it was good that I
didn't watch it when I was younger, as I probably wouldn't be mature
enough to handle it.
"A Clockwork Orange" is certainly one of the most cruel, bizarre and
disturbing films ever made. There are some really unpleasant,
ultra-violent scenes. It is disturbing because it's not gratuitous,
like Larry Clark's movies (especially the outrageous "Ken Park").
Anthony Burgess and Stanley Kubrick were visionaries. ACO not only
hasn't aged, but it's quite a landmark now rather than it was 40 years
ago. We can see a gang like Mr. Alex de Large's (Malcolm McDowell,
superb) on every corner. 21st century youth is gradually getting lost.
It's such an empty, brutal state that the recent movies to portray this
callow, lost youth don't even use metaphors to criticize the "society":
they're raw, straight to the point (at least, most of them). "Thirteen"
and "Elephant" are good examples. They may not be half strong and
original as ACO, but they're sadly realistic; because we tend to think
there isn't a true reason for these teenagers to behave so badly.
Apparently, they have everything they need. Whether there's a solution
or not, I don't know. What could it be? Brainwash? It wouldn't work.
Unless it's in a large scale. High technology has made us lazier, there
are lunatic clowns in power, Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff are queens
and "Crash" gets the Best Picture Oscar. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad
World. I'm laughing not to cry.
Holden Caulfield, the catcher in the rye, is an idol of mine. He was no
angel, but at least he tried to understand what's around him – in his
eventually twisted way. But at least he tried. And he was sincere. Alex
de Large is a bastard. I don't relate to him but, unfortunately, as an
18 year-old guy, I've known much more De Larges than Caulfields. I
should stop digressing.
My verdict: "A Clockwork Orange" is a truly unique film, one of
Kubrick's best – if not the best. Watch it by yourself. You may not
find a solution, but you're going to have an unforgettable cinematic
experience. 10 out of 10.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Violence opium to society, 24 March 2006
Author:
Roberto from Costa Rica
Kubrick's second, just a little bit behind to 2001. Violence is
violence opium to people, and it only can generate... yes you guessed
it, Violence. Set Design, costume Design, Music, everything might be
considered perfect. McDowell's performance is amazing, what is a shame
is that he didn't get the recognition he deserved. Plus, Singin' in the
Rain, has a whole new meaning for me. Metaphorically speaking the
movies sends the message of Violence as a disgrace of society
beautifully. Not for everyone but.. great if you have an opened mind
and appreciate the real message.Kubrick sends a message for ages... "I
was cured, all right", that's how you end a movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Clockwork Orange, 21 March 2006
Author:
undertow456 from United States
Clockwork Orange shows a man and his insatiable love for violence. Alex
is a sick and demented man who takes pleasure in others' suffering and
demise, until he eventually sees the horror of his actions. He wants to
be a part of a new system of reform to get out of prison early, but he
slowly loses his sanity and humanity in the process. What he once
loved, he now cringes at the thought of. He becomes even more twisted
in his mind after becoming "reformed".
The story and the events that take place in this film make it an
instant classic in the movie industry. It takes a man from the high
point of his life doing whatever he wants, to the lowest part of his
life in an attempt to commit suicide. A great movie for all to see and
enjoy.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: For me It's the best homage to Beethoven and Mozart, 13 March 2006
Author:
ajag180 from Mexico
Oh, i think that "a orange clockwork" remember us the pain of our
ancients instincts. Many people say that the ultra-violence represented
is the worse form to express our essence. We are a violence specie, we
love to communicate, we are afraid of dark and solitude. I consider
that the relation or harmony between music, the performance and the
dialog is perfect. It also represents the human without any obstacle to
action, without any moral code, without any influence of the society,
perhaps also without conscience. Alexander is Mozart. We, the
homo-sapience are staring, no without desperate a form to be a real
different animal. So we must watch the movie with scorn.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: From a Fruit to a Vegetable., 11 February 2006
Author:
(Cloud20) from United States
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Anthony Sharp, Warren Clarke, James
Marcus, Godfrey Quigley, Michael Bates, Philip Stone, Carl Duering.
'A Clockwork Orange' is, without a doubt, one of the strangest films I
have ever seen, and will ever see. It is twisted, disturbing, and
ultimately haunting. It is a masterpiece that shows us a look inside
the mind of an intelligent, yet disturbed youth.
The plot is about an older teen named Alex who enjoys listening to
Beethoven, skipping school, and hanging out with his friends during the
evening in a not too distant future. He is obsessed with sex/rape ("the
old in-out") and "ultra violence" so much that he thinks about it
almost all the time. During the nights, he and his "droogs" either hang
out at a milk bar, terrorize bums on the street, or get into brawls.
They get into a gang fight, steal a car, break into a writer's house,
beat up the writer and rape his wife right in front of his eyes.
The next night, Alex accidentally kills a woman inside her home. When
he leaves, his friends betray him and leave him for the police. Alex is
sent to prison for years because of his crime. In prison, he hears of
something that can cure people from their problems. The doctors decide
to test it on Alex by flashing images onto a screen, images that Alex
is obsessed with. When Alex is released, his former victims and friends
plot revenge on him.
'A Clockwork Orange' is a thought-provoking piece of film that still
delivers after over 30 years. It had a powerful impact on me by the
film's finale. Content wise, I don't recommend it to everyone. It is
extremely graphic with strong use of sexuality and nudity. If that
doesn't bother you then you should see this. It really isn't as
disturbing as it sounds.
Stanley Kubrick, once again, gives a wonderful direction. I love the
way that he directed his movies, almost all of them are great. The
soundtrack is very great with Beethoven's Ninth and the film's original
score. The composer of the original score, Wendy Carlos, does an
excellent job of giving a haunting score.
The words to describe Alex De Large are sick, perverted, twisted, and
despicable. I'd be surprised if anyone couldn't tell that already, even
after the grin he gives to the camera after the opening credits. Alex
has a wide imagination, even if his thoughts are somewhat disturbing.
Malcolm McDowell plays him masterfully. I really didn't expect the
movie to be like this. I expected it to be some sort of Cyber-Thriller,
but it turned out to be a powerful experience.
This movie was adapted from the novel by Anthony Burgess. I admit, I
never read the novel, but I really understood the movie. Although it is
a Science Fiction movie, it never does have what most others of that
genre do: which is lasers, flying objects, and epic battles. This is
much different from those, and much more original.
'A Clockwork Orange' is one of Kubrick's best films, definitely his
most thought provoking. He is one of the greatest directors in the
history of film, and has given magnificent movies. I can't decide if I
like this or 'Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (quite possibly
THE Sci-Fi film). I will never forget the impact that 'A Clockwork
Orange' had on me. 5 stars out of 5.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: One of the most bizarre and unique films ever attempted, 30 January 2006
Author:
Jimmy Vespa from United Kingdom
Of course it's not perfect...how could it be? Stanley Kubrick, the
obsessive-compulsive auteur was the only choice (except for Ken
Russell, who would have had a ball with it) to bring Anthony Burgess's
brutally compelling novel to the screen, and he does a fine job. The
opening shot, of a smirking, unblinking Alex, staring down the
gradually retiring camera as he drinks spiked milk prior to going on a
violent rampage of vagrant-beating, gang fights, joyriding,
housebreaking and rape, makes sure the film grabs you from the start
and doesn't let go. And what a journey it is! A CLOCKWORK ORANGE takes
in everything, and I do mean everything, from high farce, black comedy,
surrealism, British smut and schaedenfreude to some of the most
disturbing, troubling and thought-provoking sequences ever committed to
celluloid. It's a film that delights in pulling the carpet out from
beneath the viewer, again and again and again. And it works on all
kinds of levels, too - beneath the 'futuristic' veneer (which, for all
I know, could have already looked dated in 1971) there's a virulent
satire on the sheer, eyeball-coruscating ugliness of modern
architecture, particularly the neo-brutalist school of characterless
concrete blocks and swathes of hideous white cement that was cropping
up all over Britain at the time. Then there are the 'minimalist'
interiors, hideous costumes (especially on the female characters!),
Godawful pieces of pop art trash...it's clear that Kubrick really HATED
this stuff, and it must have been a conscious decision for him to dump
the classically-minded misfit Alex (whose taste for Beethoven and the
most sordid aspects of the Bible mark him out as one who abhors a
shallow modernity, and rebels against it wherever possible) in the
middle of a world that's so alienating and drab. A common complaint
among British youths of the seventies, the nascent 'punks' in
particular, was that "everything's crap" - and looking at the ghastly
(and surprisingly, not TOO exaggerated) world of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE,
you can understand where they were coming from! I could banter about
this film all day, druggies, but this is my perspective - it's one of
the most vicious pieces of social satire ever created, and the legacy
of the horrible world little Alex was rebelling against is still with
us, decades later. Viddy well, little brothers!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick at his best !!, 25 January 2006
Author:
nablaquadro from Ravenna, Italy
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Re-watching a film like "A clockwork orange" these times, we cannot
avoid a comparison between the violence 40 years ago, and now. What's
is changed ? Drugs, sex and madness still are the (principal) reasons
of violence. Yes, but....what's about vengeance ?
When I watched it the first time I supposed "A clockwork orange" little
different. I didn't imagine the redemption. What amazed me were the
sadist revenges of the previous victims (and even the previous pals)
against a cured, disciplined man. Their vendetta is doubly cruel,
because they had the consciousness to do it.
We lived (40 years ago) in a hypocritical world.....like today.
Great Malcolm McDowell, and greater Kubrick !!!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Clockwork Man, 20 January 2006
Author:
Elwood_Cooper from London, Ontario
The first time I ever saw A Clockwork Orange, it was about 11 at night,
and it was on ShowCase. I had heard about this movie a lot from reading
stuff on the internet, always coming across it when I was reading about
something else, so curious as I am, I decided to watch it. I wasn't
ready at all to see what I saw in this movie, but it's like a horrific
car wreck, or a guy streaking, you just can't look away. By the time
the movie was over I felt sick to my stomach, and I couldn't stop
thinking about how horrible it was. But I found, the more I thought
about the movie and the more I read about it, I had grown a liking to
it.
I had become so fascinated with it, I went out and bought the book and
read that, which was difficult because of the language, and it took a
while to figure out what some of the words were referring to, but when
I finished I was in love with the book.
The movie and the book are very close, with the few adjustments due to
time constraints in a movie. The ending to the movie though, kind of
disappointed me because the book was much more to my liking. In the end
of the book, Alex ends up going back to his old ways, but now him being
an adult he finds everything he use to do very juvenile, and then he
decides maybe he should get a real job, find a girl and settle down. In
the end of the book, he's grown out of his old ways, and I really like
that aspect, and it would have been good to show in the movie.
A Clockwork Orange is a brilliant movie- it's colorful AND dark,
comical AND horrific. Watch this movie with an open mind, and if you
ever get the chance, read the book because it's more thrilling if you
have the two mediums working together. A Clockwork Orange is my
favorite movie and book and I recommend it to everyone- that is, if
they are in a time of their life where they can handle it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: "real horror show", 18 January 2006
Author:
GangStarr from LA
from the music score to the spectacular direction this movie really is
Kubrick's master piece. the moment any one sees this film they'll know
right away its a classic. sensitive viewers may have problems watching
some parts of the movie but hey, times are changing and most movies
will be harder to watch than this one. clockwork orange hits all the
spots and even though its far from perfect it creates a genre of its
own, blending in action, thriller and a bit of comedy. the first time
you see it you'll be stunned by the originality and acting(especially
McDowell)that it creates. go on, ignore the distasteful reviewers who
loath it and the elderly that whine about it and go watch it. *****
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: moral choice, 22 December 2005
Author:
oaziz2005 from United States
I used fake ID to get into this movie when it first came out. I'm 50
now. At the time, this movie made me laugh, think, and shrink back into
my seat. The scenes of violence were so 'in your face' for the time,
and yet so....so...eeeesh.....breathtaking??? I abhor violence, and
can't believe I am using the word 'breathtaking', but damn, it really
was (is) amazing how Kubrick pulled it off.
Younger folks who watch it these days may not see the big deal about
the violence as it is portrayed in the movie....which is simply a
testimony to the movie's worth over time. Desensitization towards
violence is a core element of the movie's point, after all.
I liked (*really* liked) the main character (Alex) in the movie...he is
funny, quick witted, and charming. But he is also a scumbag prick
bastard, and it's easy to lose sight of that. He is easily embraced
while we sit in the dark and eat our popcorn, but most of us would
probably go out of our f*king minds if he lived next door to us.
I walked away from religion as a young adult, a few years before I saw
this movie. I am enjoying the view from out here to this day. However,
the one person who seems to 'get it' in this movie is the prison
chaplain. With all of it's visuals, and fine use of music, and great
acting and directing, there *is* a point to this movie, and the
chaplain articulates it. It's a simple assertion, and certainly not a
new one...that people are regarded as being either "good" or "bad"
based on their ability (or lack of) to make the correct choice while
using their own set of ethics as arbitrator. The Catholic church
**HATED** this movie when it came out, and yet it articulated the
foundation of their entire credo in a favorable light. LMFAO!!!! They
missed the whole point!!
Bottom line is that you shouldn't. This is a fantastic movie on many
levels. Enjoy.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Unforgettably brilliant., 13 December 2005
Author:
TOMASBBloodhound from Lincoln, NE USA
A Clockwork Orange is an incredible experience. Few films have the
ability to grab your attention quite like this one. No matter what age
you were when you first saw it, the film most likely changed the way
you look at cinema. I would still give a slight edge to 2001 as far as
which is Kubrick's best, but it's a photo finish.
Our story centers around a mischievous young gang leader and the
attempt by society to change him into a model citizen through the means
of chemically squelching his violent or lusty desires. The first act
shows how ruthless the young man named Alex and his "droogs" are, and
some of the trouble they get into. We see how disrespectful he is
toward his parents, and society in general. After a dispute over
control of his gang, he finds himself solely responsible for the death
of a woman. Alex is sentenced to a considerable length of time in jail,
and soon he volunteers to participate in a new experiment designed to
curb people's lust for sex and violence. We are never quite sure if he
really wants to be "good" as he claims, or if he just wants out of
jail. After two years as a model prisoner and some considerable sucking
up to the prison Chaplain, Alex is cleared for the treatment. Little
does he or anyone else seem to realize (except maybe the Chaplain) just
how helpless the treatment will make him back in the outside world.
The film, though made with a paltry budget, is a technical wonder.
Kubrick once again mixes sight and sound like the master he was. The
futuristic world these characters live in looks like a fully amplified
version of 1971. Tacky, but kind of beautiful. The stylized dialect
these characters talk with will be ringing in your ears well after the
film is over. The film contains numerous rape and assault scenes that
can still be somewhat off-putting even if you've seen the film a dozen
times. It's easy to see why this film was pulled from distribution in
England for so many years. Even by today's standards, the violent acts
may seem graphic.
The most amazing thing about the film is Malcolm McDowell. As Kubrick
himself has stated, this film really couldn't have been made without
him. His performance as Alex is on par with some of the best acting
even done in movies. What's most amazing is how he can create such a
lecherous character and then make him almost sympathetic in some
scenes. Especially as he refers to the audience as his only friends
once he's sent to prison. You almost feel sorry for him even though he
probably deserves a much more severe punishment. Once he has been
brainwashed of all his violent and sexual tendencies, Alex invokes
nothing but pity. He cannot even fight off an elderly mugging victim
who remembers him from years earlier. To top things off, two of his
former gang members have become cops and now take pleasure in beating
him up and leaving him for dead in the country. His parents don't seem
to want him back, either.
After all is said and done, we learn that people just cannot live
without their animal instincts and free will. The treatment was
most-likely scrapped after what happened to Alex, and hopefully society
was able to find a more successful way to deal with their crime
problem.
The film is amazing in any way a film can be. No DVD collection is
complete without it! If you haven't seen it, then for goodness sakes
get to your local video store and see what you've been missing!!!!
10 of 10 stars from the Hound.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: My favorite film, 5 December 2005
Author:
junglejuanz from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I first saw clips of this film as a child and like Sonny's Demise in
the Godfather, I found it profoundly disturbingly violent. Let 20 years
pass. Seen Eyes Wide. Watched 2001, (was finally old enough for the
pace.)
Taxi Driver is a similar film in many ways. The difference, first off,
is that Alexander Delarge is unquestionably an evil character, if he
manages to play this part and through the role of a lifetime and
brilliant acting make us love his performance, Malcolm, and at times
sympathize and even identify with Alex.
This is where Alex does represent the troubled yet gifted child which
had no place mere centuries ago. A futuristic symbol of industrialism's
oversight of what used to be the most important part of society; family
and child-rearing. Now it's all about Empires and to quote Queensryche
again, "got to make a million bucks no matter who dies."
Alex separates himself through his narrative, where he admits to
reveling in ultra-violence, and even fantasies about whipping Christ at
his Crucifixion. Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver has angst and mental
troubles, but his narrative shows he strives to be a good man.
So it is the combination of Mcdowell and Kubrick that get us past the
shell and recognize the revelence of the treatment of the mentally
unstable or misfits. McDowell and cast give us countless guilty
pleasure with the aclairity with which Alex delivers his lines. I love
the scene where his truant officer informs him that his victim has
died, and Alex almost laughs in spite of the situation, unable to deny
the genius with which Kubrick has told this story and captured it's
black comedy on film.
Cukoo's Nest came out around the same time as well as Lucas's Thx
movie, all dealing with the topic of societies ways of dealing with
mental health.
When I first watched the movie, I thought he was still conditioned
against the Ninth. It was on the next viewing I realized he had been
un-conditioned and could once again enjoy Beethoven. No matter the
character of Alex, Kubrick and Mcdowell did indeed pull off one of the
best films ever.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Good, but the book is better., 30 September 2005
Author:
boblover from Leeds, England
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
For those who don't know, the film 'a clockwork orange' is actually
based on the book of the same title by Anthony Burgess. The film itself
is effective, well made and deals with most of the issues that the book
does. It does seem to have become slightly dated as time has worn on,
and a lot less shocking to modern audiences, but it still manages to
create controversy and has had lasting popularity. I watched this film
a while after reading the book and although the actual movie is good in
it's own right, compared to the book it's quite tame and uninteresting.
One example of this would be the girls Alex rapes. In the film they
appear to be at least 15, however in the book they are described as
being around 10; personally i find that a lot more shocking. In all,
this is a good film. It is well directed and well acted. However, if
you are really interested in the story, i would suggest reading the
book with it's ingenious use of new language and real shocking power,
it makes for a very good read.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: The greatest movie ever!, 24 September 2005
Author:
FlaX_686 from Portugal
Stanley Kubrick's Masterpiece, this movie recorded in 1971 in England,
UK is my favorite movie, and one of the best movies ever done in film
history. With a excellent perform by Malcolm McDowell gives life to a
disturbed boy called Alex DeLarge. So this is a story of a young guy
whose principal interests are Ultra-violence, sex and Beethoven. I like
this movie because it was made in 1971 and it is very actual, so I love
it. And because of the concept, the colors, and because of Kubrick! I'm
a big fan of this movie so, I have got a Poster, DVD and A Clockwork
Orange book by Anthony Burgess wrote in 1968, because Stanley Kubrick's
A Clockwork Orange is inspired by Anthony Burgess book "A Clockwork
Orange".
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Fantastic., 14 September 2005
Author:
rrudder from United States
First let me say this much, I've never been a huge fan of movies that
invoke a lot of thought, but this movie is an exception. The movie is
amazing, not on a material level, but almost on a subconscious level.
It's something about the movie that leaves you feeling as you've never
felt before. Why? Because the movie is like nothing ever made before.
It is a amazingly original. The music and pictures intricately connect
with each other in a way that I've never seen before. Alex DeLarge is
an incredibly deep and well portrayed character. He is a character that
you are currently having to change your viewpoint towards. I don't know
what it is, but despite Alex's violence in the beginning of the film,
he is not a hated character. You feel almost an indifference to hi min
his droogies, almost as if they are mere helpless products of society,
with little ability to change the course of their actions. Once the
story progresses, however, you start to feel sorry for him as he
experiences hardships. He is eager to change, but is constantly struck
back by the actions of his past. I wasn't sure what I'd think of the
movie before I started watching it, as I have never read the book. The
movie however is a clear cut, amazing piece of art work that is hardly
rivaled by any other movie. The mood of the movie is an odd
juxtaposition of good and evil, an interesting look into the fruits of
irresponsible society. Escpecially relevant in today's society.
However, I must warn the movie does contain some graphic violence
(including rape) and nudity. If you are sensitive to such things I
wouldn't suggest watching the movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Disturbing Social Commentary that has only grown in validity, 11 September 2005
Author:
Mark D. Brown from California, USA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange was shockingly violent for its day. Our nerves have,
of course, been hardened by the intervening thirty years of steadily
mounting physical violence in cinema. As emotionally conventional as
the R-Rated "Saving Private Ryan" may be, its opening D-day sequence
would not have seen the light of day if the film had been released a
quarter century earlier. Hence, young viewers seeking a thrill from "A
Clockwork Orange" may be bitterly disappointed by the movie's tameness
compared to the offerings of today.
However, for more sensitive viewers, "A Clockwork Orange" is still
shocking because of its cold lack of empathy. The events of the film
are told by the main character- Alex deLong- a teen of above-average
intelligence, charm, and aggression. His emotional makeup lacks empathy
for others and a sense of duty to society and fellow humans. He is as
ruthless as he is capricious, cruel, and selfish. Yet he is likably
good-humoured.
The society he lives in is one much like the America of today (And
Britain of 1970)- a trash-littered concrete jungle defaced by graffiti,
decay, and a sense of hopeless acquiescence. The totality of the
society's moral bankruptcy becomes fully apparent only in the latter
half of the film during and after Alex's "Conversion".
****************Spoilers begin******************
The film has two phases- the first depicting Alex's cruel coldness, and
the second depicting the cruel coldness of the society that made him.
progression from first to second phase occurs when he is imprisoned for
murdering an old woman and tries to obtain early release by agreeing to
participate in a new treatment process designed to render violent
offenders harmless by conditioning them to be sickened by violent
thoughts and acts. In what is a fairly famous scene in cinema, he is
strapped in and forced to watch violent films while given drugs that
induce feelings of nausea and despair. He emerges from treatment
incapable of even contemplating violent acts without becoming acutely
ill and is, thus, released as "Cured"- thereby freeing up a desperately
needed bed in a terribly overcrowded prison system.
Just like Alex, we see the society in which he lives actuated by
calculating selfishness. It does not care that Alex is not actually
cured of his pathology- they only care that he seems safe enough to
release from prison- thus forestalling the day when a new prison must
be constructed and staffed. Unsurprisingly, the Film universe ends up
being more swift and sure in justice than the real one. Soon after Alex
is released, both Alex and his society are punished for their selfish
deeds- Alex is badly hurt when he is attacked and unable to defend
himself. Those who made him that way are forced to de-condition him,
provide medical care, and leave him at large so to limit the political
fallout of their failed experiment.
***********End Spoilers*************
The use of a Russian-inspired slang by Alex and his fellow hoodlums
("droogs") is incidental to the plot of the film. It was much more
important in the original Anthony Burgess novel. I am not so sure what
this slang achieved in the film. It certainly doesn't facilitate viewer
efforts to follow the plot, however it's not much of an inhibition and
DOES remind us that Alex is different from us and there's no reason to
expect him to share our sensibilities. Though he's obviously an
evildoer, his life experience is so different that we can't say that
his personality was, inherently, evil or merely distorted by life
experience in a cold and uncaring society. Of course, that sort of
relativism won't do you any good if you stood between him and his next
goal!
The film is, as is standard for a Stanly Kubrick film, well
photographed and tightly edited. The film has a vitality that his later
films lack and should be justly thought of a one of his greatest along
with Doctor Strangelove. It is an excellent introduction to Kubrick
and, simply put, good entertainment provided the viewer is not put off
by the "'70's" influence in the music and settings. Malcom McDowell
fans should see him put in one of his best performances ever as the
lead character Alex. The ironic detachment common to Kubrick serves
this film particularly well since it so accurately conveys the mindset
of many of the film's chief characters- Alex as well as the bureaucrats
who try to reshape him for their own convenience.
To me, the film is one of the greatest films I have ever seen (in the
top 25) because it is so entertaining with it's well-photographed and
well-edited action, witty and engaging dialogue, and, yet, it is an
excellent and unsentimental study of the frightening consequences of a
human society that is trying to live without morality or genuine
compassion. Because of it's humor and detachment, the viewer is not
emotionally overloaded by the terrible prospects set forth in the movie
and can see plainly and without hysteria the similarities between the
movie's fictional world and our own.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Piece of Art, 29 August 2005
Author:
Sühan Gürer from Turkey
I don't know how many times I've watched it, the last time being
yesterday night. It is certainly a piece of art by Kubrick. No one can
criticize his talent. He still has a great impact on the art of cinema.
The totally fictional story being told in the movie is told like a
fairytale so that it criticizes very different parts and structures of
the society.
It shows how some actions can end up creating the violence in other
people. It also shows how the modern society is getting an awkward
prejudice to the youth.
Politics is as always one of the best topics of Kubrick to analyze. The
political inability and stupidity in the movie as well as political
games picture a world that is quite known to us.
Another movie by Kubrick that has all the plot line beneath the
surface. I wish he could've lived 20 years more and left us more art
pieces that we could watch in admiration over and over again.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: best film ever, 23 August 2005
Author:
teenymartini from United States
the best film ever made Kubrick is a genius no questions asked the
people who find this movie disturbing or sick just can't get past the
actual film and see to the depth of this film. it is so much more then
a bad kid doing messed up things. this movie (and all of Kubrick's)
show so much more then that and make you think, which i believe is the
whole point of cinema. you definitely need to see this movie with an
open mind, and if you do that it can certainly change your opinion on
many things, especially cinema in general --> masterpiece also if you
enjoyed this like i have i highly highly recommend other Kubrick films,
the man is a genius and doesn't get the credit he deserves (which is
way more then Stephen Spielberg gets times ten)
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: flawless-absolutely brilliant, 21 August 2005
Author:
murali83 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
without doubt I can say this is the best movie I have ever seen. The
vision towards which Kubrick directed this movie is mindblowing.
Malcolm McDowell is too good in his role as Alex, who has some
abnormalities about him and has some violence which is inborn and is
his nature. A series of events lead him into trouble and he find
himself in jail. very smart thinking by him gets him into a hospital
where political tricks are trying to influence people by trying to
prove that criminals can be treated medically.
the movie shows in a beautiful way the flaws and the true colors of the
political system.
i cant say more, just go and see it if u have not.
brilliant
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Most amazing movie of all time, 20 August 2005
Author:
Greg Lindsay from Australia
A Clockwork Orange changed me, when I was 16 I was at the video store
and I saw it and my Mum says it was great, I was doubtful. I put "A
Clockwork Orange" into the DVD player, the next few hours of my
"viddying" changed my whole perspective on cinema. Malcolm McDowell is
absolutely perfect for the role of Alex and as he says he was born to
play Alex. At first I was totally thrown by the outlandish language and
dress code of Alex's gang of droogs. In fact the entire cast was
perfect from Michael Bates as the Chief guard to Philip Stone as Alex's
Father. Stanley Kubrick is a god and everyone who wants to direct a
movie should bow down to him, and we should all try to phase out
appalling movies like XXX, The Fast and the Furious and Van Helsing
(yuck)
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Stanley Kubrick Plus Drencrom, 14 August 2005
Author:
Mar-Cinema from United States
My friends have placed hype on this movie for years. There would
obviously never be an uncut presentation on cable television, so I had
to use a bit of the old ultra-violence to get a copy at Best Buy. I sat
in front of my 13 inch TV, eyes pried open with a clamp around my
gulliver, and saw Kubrick's greatest work. Dear Brothers, this is the
best 2 hours you could ever spend. A Clockwork Orange has that effect
on you. This is unlike anything you have or will ever see. I doubt that
anyone will ever create such a delicately beautiful work of art.
Kubrick was at his artistic zenith in this film. He presents a
decadent, psychedelic London terrorized by teenage gangs called droogs.
They speak a strange language, a peculiar mix of English and Russian
called 'Nadsat'. I went into this film not knowing what to expect and
that is the best way to watch it. Kubrick allows us to hear perverted
remixes of classical music, he even has Alex whistle the theme song to
Singing in the Rain during a rape scene. There is plenty of that
brilliant dark humor in A C.O. that Dr. Strangelove is full of. Some
may think that this film is encouraging violence and bad behavior, but
it is doing the opposite. We see how Alex's lifestyle catches up with
him in the end. We also once again get a glimpse at Kubrick's
disapproving view on the world. He portrays the decline of society due
to the lack of parental control. The fading trust in the government due
to the dishonesty of the state. I am still a teenager, but I know why
this film was so important in 1971. All of the themes presented were
directly related to what was going on at the time. It is just so ironic
that Anthony Burgess hated his book and this movie. IMDb states that it
is because he didn't get a check from it. Well Burgess hates A
Clockwork Orange, but I think that it is truly, the best movie of all
time.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Only one film can be considered "perfect"., 7 August 2005
Author:
altcontrolsdelete from Richmond, Virginia, USA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
And this is it.
What can a mere mortal say about this film? Stanley was a god among
men, and this was without question his defining work. This story (not
to mention his numerous other marvelous works) also cements Anthony
Burgess's place as one of the greatest authors of the period. Honestly,
if this film doesn't reach into the core of your being and make you
think about what you are, there is nothing that will.
Burgess's story and Kubrick's vision are unmatched; a completely
uninhibited and unfettered look at what makes a man and how fragile his
humanity is. We can thank Burgess for bringing the viciousness and
helplessness of humanity to light, and we can thank Kubrick for
bringing it to our attention.
From the haunting scene of Alex in the milkbar to the ashamedly
thrilling scene of Alex in his own personal heaven, Kubrick captures
the very best and the very worst of what defines us as humans. The
animalistic nature of man is presented beautifully among Alex and his
droogs through the fight with Billy Boy and his droogs, the rape of the
author's wife, and the murder of the cat lady.
Even more brutal is the attempt at Alex's reform, and that's where the
message of the story and the film begin to make the reader/viewer
sympathetic to the brutal force that is Alex. Until the realization of
Alex's torture at the hand of the government it is impossible to
sympathize with Alex's behavior, as it is simply despicable. But, more
despicable is his reform -- death would have been a more humane
punishment.
To try and explain or review the film is ultimately unfruitful. Each
viewer will have his or her own takeaway, and it will either be
revelation or disdain. It's simply a story that must be viewed with an
emotional detachment to be accepted, and an emotional attachment to be
understood. Thus, it's a film far too difficult for those unable to
make the connection and disconnection simultaneously.
Kubrick's genius does justice to Burgess's own, and I'm left saddened
that the two never directly collaborated. One can only imagine what the
fruit of a collaboration similar to Kubrick and Clarke's on 2001 would
have been. For that matter, one can only be disappointed by the
omission of the 21st chapter of Burgess's work, but you must also
wonder what the cost to the film version would have been, had Kubrick
been made aware of the chapter. Honestly, I can't imagine the film
being better than it is, nor is the novel complete without the view
into the life of a mature Alexander de Large.
Perfection comes along a great once in a while. This is the very
definition of the word, and I think that this film serves to segregate
those who "get it" from those who don't.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Whats it about, 6 August 2005
Author:
Alexatmoneypit from United States
This is an excellent movie based on a man who's principals are rape and
ultra-violence and this is like one of the worst movies that has
violence.I'm 12 yrs old and I've seen this movie about 13 time i've got
the Stanley Kubrick Special Edition Its got almost every
genre.Violence,Rape,Killing,and one man does this.He goes to far and
gets sent to a prison where they put these metal wires around his eyes
and make him watch violent movies. If you like Cult Classic Sci-fi
movies this is the ticket!!!!This is the best movie ever made. Stanley
Kubrick hit the gold when he directed a 1970 Masterpice.A Clockwork
Orange.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick Really Opens Up, 4 August 2005
Author:
seventhsamurai1954 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This has to be the most unique film I've ever seen. From it's stunning
and sometimes disturbing visuals, to it's dialog, A Clockwork Orange
keeps you engrossed for the whole time. Taking place in the near
future, this film follows Alex and his gang of Droogs as they commit
acts of atrocities in an attempt to look for the good old
"ultra-violence". Alex is later arrested and put through this
revolutionary rehabilitation center where the people try to "correct"
all the evil that is in him. Without giving away too much of it, this
movie primarily appealed to me because it was nothing that I had ever
seen before and I was shocked to see that this movie was made back in
1971. This is a cult classic and a must see. Viddy well.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Simply genius!, 3 August 2005
Author:
Theo Brown from Netherlands
This movie reigns as my most favorite movie now for more than 25
years... and the reason is simple: it's one of the most
thought-provoking and bizarrely styled peaces of art in the whole
cinematic history. It's so beyond its years that it also aged very
little, and it's got one of the most thrilling soundtracks ever!! In
the middle of pointless, gimmick-like and often stale productions
throughout the last years this one will definitely catch any
movie-lover's eye. I say that Malcolm McDowell's role in this movie is
very much under-rated on the whole. He's as mean and scary as Nicholson
in the shining, but at the same time as weak as William H. Macy in
Fargo for instance. The point the movie makes is that there isn't a
reason or motive for violence, it's simply inherent to some people
(that enjoy it). But the point is largely overshadowed by the brilliant
outlook of the scenes, and the Shakespeare-esquire dialogues that make
the characters even more ambiguous. I would say this movie is a typical
product of the coincidence of a brilliant director and a brilliant
writer, which delivers the perfect movie! Watch in the dark...
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Absoulute epic masterpiece blending music and satire with insanity., 30 July 2005
Author:
Lucas Ellis from Winter Springs
Alex de Large(Malcolm McDowell) is the leader of four droogs who steel,
rape, and fight for pleasure in a futuristic society. The spend every
minute of their spare time causing absolute chaos anywhere they please.
But after being challenged for his leadership, Alex puts his own droogs
in their place by beating them. Wanting revenge for Alex's betrayal,
the gang betrays Alex and leaves him for the police by whom he is told
that he will be prosecuted for murder. Alex is sentenced for 14 years
in prison, but after a while with good behavior, he is given the
opportunity to get out early through an experiment that reforms
criminals through brainwashing to be perfect citizens. Now, a totally
reformed Alex must go back and face the society that he once terrorized
as a human being with no free will.
What amazed me most about the movie, was the classical music that was
played throughout horrific violent acts that Alex committed, showing
that his violence was in nature. The music assisted the idea that he
was a criminal at heart and he doesn't want to change. With the movie
originally being rated X, you can probably guess that the criminal acts
are very graphic. But that it was makes the movie even more brilliant.
It doesn't hesitate to show the viewers every aspect of brutal fight
scenes or disgusting rape visuals. Every detail adds to the idea that
he is a sinner, plain and simple.
The acting also amazed me. Malcolm McDowell did a masterful job at his
character's changes throughout the movie. The mood changes throughout
the movie also. When Alex is "allowed" to be sinister, the mood is dark
but yet happy. But when he is forced to be good(either in prison or
after the reformation) the mood turns very dark and you can see Alex's
unhappiness at what he has become. The movie shows very strong
opinionated themes:Society cannot forgive other's sins and criminals
are naturally evil and cannot be reformed. Disagree with this you may,
but you have to respect the epic masterpiece that is A Clockwork
Orange.
Overall,the movie is completely flawless and is everything it was meant
to be and more. The idea of a criminal being transformed into being the
idol citizen was captured brilliantly, through the graphic genius of
Stanley Kubrick. It is one of the greatest of all time and one of my
personal Top Ten greatest of all time.
I highly recommend this movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Weird, Disturbing, But Still A Masterpiece, 22 July 2005
Author:
LoneWolfAndCub from Australia
Stanley Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' is a very odd movie, it may seem
extremely twisted and sick and a terrible movie. It is most definitely
not. Not everyone will have seen it, but many will know the reputation
it has gathered.
Alex (Malcom McDowell) is the leader of his little gang. His hobbies
include rape, ultra-violence, drugs and Beethoven. In other words, he
is a very disturbed individual. But when he is caught by the police he
wants to change to get out of prison. He applies for a controversial
treatment to cure him of his need for violence and rape.
This movie is one of my favorites but for some it wouldn't be easy to
watch. There is a lot of nudity, a rape and a few sex scenes. Not to
mention, ultra-violence (but by today's standards it isn't too bad).
But it is a classic nonetheless. Stanley Kubrick does an outstanding
job of directing and the acting is fine all around, especially
McDowell's performance as Alex. The soundtrack is very good, the
opening theme is suitably unsettling and there is a lot of Beethoven
(which I love).
The movie, even though it might seem aged, should not be seen as a mere
violent movie with sex. It is much more, it has actual meaning and
morals, brought to screen by Kubrick and McDowell with skill. It is a
movie that not all will love, but it's definitely worth the 2 and a bit
hours.
5/5
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: As shocking today?, 22 July 2005
Author:
G1acier from United Kingdom
After summing up the courage to finally view this notoriously dark,
disturbed but also acclaimed film I purchased it from HMV thinking to
myself and informing others that I will only watch the film when i am
mentally prepared.
After around the first half an hour I found myself totally immersed in
the film but not shocked. The intentions of the gang are shocking and
cruel but the aged portrayal for todays much hardier audience has
become quite tame; and this film was banned?
Never the less, Malcolm McDowell's portrayal of the evil yet childish
Alex and the superb language used, "bit of the old in out, in out" is
inspiring.
This film was coveted for its violence but the main focus should be its
image and style, go and see it, looks can be deceiving.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Greatest film ever, 20 July 2005
Author:
ronnay_barkay from Ireland
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is a beautiful, beautiful film. It shows how humans behave in the
real world and doesn't compromise one inch of truth in doing this. It
tells the story of a young man who's daily way of life involves gang
warfare, drugs, rape, and listening to Beethoven. The central
character, Alex, doesn't see himself as bad. However the society around
him thinks otherwise and he eventually gets caught and locked up for
his crimes.
He's sentenced to 14 years in prison for "the accidental killing of a
person" and one day a government minister visits the prison in order to
look for a suitable candidate for a new experimental form of treatment
which is supposed to stop a criminal from committing crimes and turn
him into a functional member of society.
Because of his outgoing personality, and the fact that he's still a
vicious young hoodlum at heart, Alex is the one who they pick as the
guinea-pig for this new therapy.
After undergoing 2 weeks of being strapped to a chair and forced to
watch movies of rape and violence whilst having a paralysing serum
injected into his body and his eyes kept permanently open thanks to a
set of "lid-locks", our hero is transformed out of all recognition.
Now a mentally crippled member of society who is free to roam the
streets again, the people he terrorized in the past come back to take
their revenge on him. Helpless, homeless, and unable to listen to the
music he loves without getting sick, Alex decides to take the ultimate
step and end his own life.
However, although badly bruised and with many bones broken, he survives
the jump out of a third-storey window, and as he lies in hospital
physically recovering, he is also recovering mentally from the
"treatment" and is starting to once again feel twitches of desire for
the old "Ultra-Violence" and we see him become happier and stronger. At
the last moment in the movie we see a strange look on his face as he
revels in Beethoven's 9th symphony while having a fantasy about having
sex with a woman while people stand around and applaud him, We know and
he knows he's cured.
That brief summary doesn't do justice to the movie, or the book for
that matter. Once you see "A Clockwork Orange" you'll never look at
life the same way again. See it a few times and it becomes part of you.
It shows you the intangible things everybody in the world spends most
of their time talking about, but nobody can explain. It shows you what
people mean when they say they "made it" in life, It shows you why
people that don't show fear ultimately don't get picked on, regardless
of physical size, about why honesty about one's vices will always lead
to you being hailed as a hero, regardless of how despicable those vices
are.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Great, 12 July 2005
Author:
momycom from Argentina
Best movie ever; great script.Inspirational.Although rape, and some
other things are quite not to pleasant to "viddy" view, I think this
piece of Stanle Kubricks art, inspired throughout the years to many
directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Joel Coen (Coen brothers).
Considering that this movie dates on 1971;shows the vision of the world
as if it were nowadays in the 2000's.Pulp Fiction and some other
so-called - violent movies, should thank Kubricks work. It shows the
understandable point of view from a murderer and what it is his
reaction when he became conscious of what he has done, throughout a
very strange method
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Clockwork Orange, 12 July 2005
Author:
Jackson Booth-Millard from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Director Stanley Kubrick was one of the greatest, and even though this
was banned by the director himself, till his death in 1999 (just after
Eyes Wide Shut), this is still not a bad film, but more especially for
students. It tells a dark story about a psychopathic gang leader of
raping, beating and killing thugs. This young gang leader, Alex De
Large (Golden Globe nominated Malcolm McDowell) loves Beethoven, loves
raping and having sex with women, takes drugs and kills for fun. One
day he is found out for his terrible crimes and is sent to Rehab. After
many months of torturous experiments, he is apparently cured. It's only
when he is haunted by his previous crimes that he cannot stand what he
has become. In the end, he is obviously cured properly and back to his
evil self. This film, along with Natural Born Killers, has been
criticised for controversially glamorising violence, in this case,
making it look fun, and easy to copy (which it was). A disturbing film
with some drugs, sex, rape, violence, bad language and a giant penis.
It was nominated the Oscars for Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best
Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium and Best
Picture, and it was nominated BAFTAs for Best Art Direction, Best
Cinematography, Best Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Screenplay,
Best Sound Track and Best Film, and it was nominated the Golden Globes
for Best Director and Best Motion Picture - Drama. Alex De Large was
number 12 on 100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains, the film was number 21
on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, it was number 54 on The Ultimate Film, and
it was number 7 on The 50 Greatest British Films. Good!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Sociological study, 8 July 2005
Author:
tomimt from Finland
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
It's weird how a movie can look so modern and fresh even tough it was
made in 1971. Not many movies can do the same.
A Clockwork Orange tells a tale of a man, who isn't exactly a nice lad:
He rapes, steals, fights and kills. No need to moralize, he's not a
hero, there are no heroes or heroines in the film, the movie just tells
about him and what happens to him in the society.
So Alex (Malcolm McDowell) leads his gang of droogs and spends time in
a Milk Bar (not drinking exactly regular milk, mind you) plotting out
for things to do. But so it happens, that Alex gets caught and is
imprisoned. Soon he's taken for a guinea-pig in an experiment to
brainwash criminal behavior out from his mind. Every time Alex is
thinking anything criminal he's punished with pain.
But what happens to man, when his right to make decision, no matter how
bad they would be, is taken from him? This is the question Stanley
Kubrick so masterfully examines in his cinematic essay. To get in the
end of this movie is actually surprisingly easy, because of the unique
visuals and dialogue: Everything flows forward like a dream, but
everything has a meaning and a purpose.
Watch it once, twice as many times you want, you'll always find
something new from it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Stanley Kubrik's masterpiece works like clockwork, 5 July 2005
Author:
Bryan Nixon from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. It
is my favorite film by Stanley Kubrik, who I believe, along with Martin
Scorsese, is the greatest director ever. Full Metal Jacket, The
Shining, Eyes Wide Shut, 2001, and Dr. Strangelove are some of the best
of all time, for me anyway. I wish that Kubrik could have had the
opportunity to direct Artificial Intelligence, but Spielberg's homage
did just fine. Back to A Clockwork Orange. This film is painful to
watch on many levels. It is violent, but that is the subject matter.
Due to that, this film is not for everyone. The soundtrack adds so much
depth. The opening shot is planted in my brain, which is a closeup of
Alex's face in the milk bar that features eerie music that fits so
wonderfully. I do not want to describe the plot, because many others
have and I do not want to give anything away. I do, however, want to
write about my interpretation of the scene in which Alex is being
"treated" in the movie theater by scientists who are trying to
forcefully remove the evil from within his mind and heart. In the
scene, they strap Alex down in a chair and hold his eyes open, so that
he can not blink or look away from the screen. While he is strapped
down, he watches footage of violence, rape, and war. In a way, this
scene describes what the movie does to the viewer. When watching this
film, it is impossible to look away, no matter how far it goes. The
violence is not stylish or exciting. Instead, it is painful, brutal,
hateful, and violent. Kubrik made this film to turn audiences off by
violence. In today's world, violence seems to be the key to the success
of a film. Just look at The Matrix or Kill Bill (I love both of these
films by the way). I believe that Kubrik's mission was the same as the
scientists, which was to scare the evil out of you. At least, that is
what the film did to me. You know what I'm saying? If you have not seen
this movie, I highly recommend it. Art does not get much better than
this. It's a shame that the movie is loved by younger audiences due to
the fact that they find the violence to be hilarious. They have it all
wrong.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: "What we were after now was the old surprise visit. That was a real kick and good for laughs and lashings of the old ultra . " - Alex DeLarge, 3 July 2005
Author:
Michael Margetis (pmargetis@cox.net) from United States
#1 Best Film of 1971
There are many great filmmakers who are unfortunately not alive today.
There was Hitchcock, Curtiz, DeMille, and the list goes on and on.
Eventually you'll get to Stanley Kubrick, director of such films as
2001: A Space Odyssey, Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop
Worrying and Love the , Full Metal Jacket, Barry Lyndon, and my
personal favorite, A Clockwork Orange. Out of all the filmmakers to
ever live, I always thought Kubrick was the finest. His meticulous and
carefully crafted works of art (his films) are superior to any other
filmmaker on a good day (in my opinion). Out of all his incredible
achievements, I find the best is 'A Clockwork Orange', the
controversial - Best Picture nominee about in youth in our society,
well a future society.
In futuristic Britian, young Alexander DeLarge (Malcom McDowell) and
his droogies enjoy pranks, robbing, izing, , spiked milk and 'a bit of
the old ultra '. One day while Alex and his crew (Dim, Georgie, and
Lodger) are izing and eventually ing a "dirty old sumka" with a lot of
cats, Alex's crew decides to turn against him, and leaving him alone at
the scene for the cops to come. Young and trouble-making Alex's life
gets turned upside down when he goes to prison. In prison he becomes
very interested in religion and the and pain Christ went through. Not
because of sorrow for Christ, but because of his obsession with
inflicting upon people. He day-dreams of being a Roman, whipping Jesus
while he carries the cross, and having s with the temple chambermaids.
One day, Alex comes across an experimental medical procedure that
supposedly cures violent criminals, and decides to take up the offer so
he can get out of jail. The rest of the film follows him in the
procedure and the consequences, hardships and situations that follow.
'A Clockwork Orange' is such a well-made production it almost can't
even be considered a film, it should be considered a work of art.
Stanley Kubrick beautifully molds this dark, dim and disturbing tale
based on Anthony Burgess' novel, and turns it into his own glorious
vision. Kubrick achieves utter and absolute perfection in his
direction, and he also provides a magnificent screenplay filled to the
brim with intriguing almost Shakespeare-ish sort of dialogue in which
Alex speaks. The acting is a cut above the rest also. Malcolm McDowell
owns the role of Alex DeLarge, and plays him with intensity, passion,
great understanding and an almost shocking realism. You don't see Mr.
McDowell on the screen, you see his character Alexander DeLarge, a
young mischievous monster in the making. The film also stars Patrick
Magee, Warren Clarke, Carl Duering, Adrienne Corri, Anthony Sharp,
James Marcus, and Michael Bates in a very comedic role as chief guard
at Alex's prison. The film garners neat cinematography, awesome set
decoration, interesting costumes and a highly inventive and exceptional
vision thanks to the brilliant Stanley Kubrick.
'A Clockwork Orange' is my favorite Kubrick film, and that is saying a
hell of a lot. Others may not agree because it doesn't have the awe of
'2001' or the cult following of 'Dr. Strangelove'. I love it to though,
because it's so different then his (Kubrick's) other work and that is
what makes it so special. It was one of the most controversial films of
the 1970s because of it's extreme and , and it had to be cut from it's
original version (now restored on DVD today) to receive an 'R' rating
it all along deserved. In conclusion, this is an incredible work of art
(one of the two only - features to be nominated for the Oscar for Best
Picture) that will be adored by the film buffs and detested by the
weak-hearted. I highly recommend it. Grade: A
MADE MY TOP 300 LIST AT #12
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Film making at its finest!!, 21 March 2005
Author:
stacey_loxton from United Kingdom
Although A Clockwork Orange has a disturbing storyline with some
graphic images, the story itself is pure genius.
Alex is the leader of his "brothers" - 3 men who do as he says, when he
says it. The events these "brothers" participate in is both horrifying
and bizarre. So, you take this man who has raped and murdered and try
to reform him -impossible, some might say - or is it? According to a
new government project, they can do just that - but with what
consequences?
Speaking in sometimes confusing terms, with a jolly background score
and a psychedelic set, A Clockwork Orange is pure Kubrick. You will not
be disappointed - but not for the faint hearted!!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Malcolm In The Middle, 1 March 2005
Author:
Bill Slocum (slokes@optonline.net) from Norwalk, CT USA
People sometimes call "A Clockwork Orange" their favorite Stanley
Kubrick film. Me too, except higher praise in my book is that it's my
favorite Malcolm McDowell film. McDowell's portrayal of a vicious young
hood up against a system every bit as cruel is what draws me in, and
keeps drawing me in, time and again.
McDowell is a young fellow named Alex, who in a vaguely futuristic
society goes gallivanting off on assorted crimes with his equally nasty
mates until he finds himself in the hands of justice. To get out of
prison, Alex volunteers for a new mind-altering technique designed to
rid him of his antisocial impulses. But is the cure worse than the
crime?
One of only two X-rated films ever to be Oscar-nominated for best
picture, "Clockwork Orange" has lost none of its ability to shock in
the more than 30 years since its release. It still attracts hard-core
fans while offending others. I used to be a bigger fan, back when I was
a college boy. I even took a first date to see this. Needless to say,
there wasn't a second date, though it's not only for that "Clockwork
Orange" hasn't aged for me as well as some other films I can mention.
It's a very good film all the same. Kubrick's perversity and his
structured style of storytelling are well tailored to an Anthony
Burgess novel that operates like a boomerang cuckoo clock. The music by
Walter Carlos, re-fangled classical melodies served up electronically,
works very well with the slightly putrid color scheme and odd lighting
to create a sense of prevailing unease throughout. In his other works,
Kubrick too often tended to elicit either mechanical or hyper-emotional
performances from his actors, but with the exception of Patrick Magee's
embarrassing turn as one of Alex's victims, the approach actually works
here because the film itself is something of a satire, boldly comical
even in depicting brutal crimes like the murder of a cat-loving woman
with a giant ceramic, um, sculpture.
But what makes "Clockwork Orange" worth repeat viewings, more than
Kubrick's cleverness, is McDowell's lead performance. Though we get an
education right at the beginning just how terrible a person little Alex
is, McDowell invests him with such charisma, wit, and even grace that
we kind of gravitate to him despite ourselves. "Don't sing that song in
the bathtub, Alex!" "Watch out for that milk bottle!" There's no reason
we shouldn't wish Alex his instant karma, yet the lively McDowell gives
us someone to perversely root for. His narration, like Richard III's,
is a marvel of mordant sympathy-stealing.
While the film raises questions about the necessity of being able to
choose good or evil in order to be human, and how society casually
corrupts the individual, I have a sneaking suspicion a lot of people
gravitate to this film because it serves up generous helpings of nudity
and ultra violence under a decorous umbrella of deep thought and even a
vague spiritual dimension courtesy of the prison charlie. Kubrick knew
how to make a trip in the gutter seem elevating.
However absorbing it is in all its parts, "Clockwork Orange" is a
one-man show, and for me that man is Malcolm McDowell. The way he
smiles so menacingly yet with real allure, wipes a smear of spit off
his face, screams out how he's seen the light while undergoing the
Ludovico treatment, and maintains his weird bond with us the viewer is
a marvel of morality-warping brilliance. McDowell had other great
roles, but Alex is one for the ages. Is there anyone else who could
make corruption seem so refreshing?
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: MasterPiece!!!, 28 February 2005
Author:
nowacbra from United States
This movie brings sunshine to the dark corners of society! A ClockWork
Orange is wonderful. If you have not seen this movie, go out and rent
it today, then buy it. Stanley Kubrick is a great director who is
missed by many film lovers. This film will forever be on the top 250.
It should be on the top 5. There is no film like it around. The movie
brings the mind of a young boy named Alex, who is having problems in
his life, he is bring violence into everything of his life. With
numerous sexual acts, the movie brings a stunning turn, and shows what
a person goes through, when being incarcerated. This movie will be a
great for many years to come. Go out and buy it!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: An ultra-great movie, 23 February 2005
Author:
Philip Van der Veken from Tessenderlo, Belgium
With his excellent, but violent movies like for instance Pulp Fiction,
Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill..., Quentin Tarantino is seen as one of the
best directors ever. And yet, what he does isn't all that renewing.
Stanley Kubrick did it before him in 1971, more than 20 years earlier,
in a decade where violence in movies wasn't yet as tolerated as it is
today. So in a way, Kubrick was more ground breaking than Tarantino
will ever be (Not that I'm not a fan of QT's work, I certainly am).
This is how the story goes: In the UK, somewhere in the near future,
Alex is the leader of a gang of teenagers. He enjoys rape, violence,
everything sadistic and ... Beethoven's classical music. They spend
their nights terrorizing anyone who they might encounter. One night,
they break into the house of a woman with a lot of cats and kill her,
but than his gang turns on him and leaves him to the police. He is
sentenced to 14 years in prison, but he finds a way to get out of
prison soon. The government needs more prison cells for political
prisoners and all he has to do is to be a guinea pig for a scientific
experiment. The experiment should change violent people into good,
sweet and loving people, who are no longer able to even think about
violence. Alex immediately agrees, because than he'll be able to get
out of prison soon and return to society as a good and honest man. But
the experiment has some unforeseen side-effects. He nearly dies and his
case becomes a major embarrassment for the government, who arranges to
cure him of his cure.
What may be the most thought-provoking about this movie is the contrast
between all the violence and the beautiful classical music, composed by
Beethoven (I guess the man himself could never have imagined his music
would be used in such a context). What you see is awful and the music
accentuates that even more, but thanks to the music it also seems to be
more "digestible". But don't think this movie is a celebration of cheap
violence, it certainly isn't. If you look closer, you'll see that it's
against violence, but also against any dictatorial government who
thinks it should control its citizens by any means.
Perhaps it is all a bit difficult to understand what I mean and I guess
you'll have to see the movie for yourself to fully understand it,
perhaps even more than once. Only after several viewings, this movie
will get fully through to you. And after you've seen it at least once,
you'll agree with me that this is an absolute masterpiece and that it
deserves a full 10/10.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A brutally violent yet intellectually challenging classic, 16 February 2005
Author:
El_Rey_De_Movies from San Rafael, CA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
It amazes me how a movie like this, which was so hugely controversial
when it was released, can be so completely ignored now by the average
movie watcher. Kubrick was widely reviled because of the way he pushed
the boundaries of what was considered "acceptable" in movies –
specifically, sex and violence, the two-headed cultural Hydra that
continues to fascinate and repel us. Although I've read a number of
reviews that chastise the film for being "old hat" and really no big
deal here at the beginning of the 21st Century, I have to admit that
this picture is still as shocking, brutal, comic, nihilistic, and
philosophically challenging now as it was in 1971 – and if someone
tells you different, then get the hell away from that person because
they've become so desensitized to violence that they'd probably think
that the 5-car pileup they just passed was faked because the blood
didn't look real! But under all the violence, what Kubrick gave us is a
parable, narrated by Malcolm McDowell like some demented younger
brother of Fielding's Tom Jones, about choice. The plot is the story of
Alex, a young ne'er-do-well living off his parents in a cookie-cutter
flat in a slightly-futuristic London who cuts class during the day and
hangs out at night with his "droogs" in a bar where they serve milk
laced with various drugs – which is just a prelude for "a bit of the
old ultra-violence", as Alex calls it. Kubrick shows their various
escapades and adventures, that escalate from a simple joyride to a
rumble...to a harrowing home invasion where Alex sings "Singin' in the
Rain" while beating the living crap out of the writer who lives there –
which is then followed by a ball gag in his mouth so he can watch Alex
and his gang beat and gang-rape his wife. Eventually, the gang turns on
Alex because he's an arrogant, supercilious, conceited, manipulative
son of a bitch who's not above sending his cane crashing into the balls
of his gang-mates to assert his authority as leader. They set him up
with a little breaking-and-entering action which Alex, sadist that he
is, turns into a murder when he assaults the woman who lives there with
a statue of a giant penis! He's convicted and sent to prison for 15
years, and normally that would be the end for someone like him. But not
for our little hero, who discovers that he has an untapped talent for
hypocrisy, a talent that he uses to manipulate the prison chaplain into
making him first his assistant and then to get him accepted into the
"Ludovico Treatment". Of course Alex doesn't care what the treatment is
– all he cares about is that it will get him out of prison,
permanently, in a fortnight, as a completely rehabilitated member of
society. But, for once, Alex has outfoxed himself. The treatment is not
some simple psychological counseling and job-training program – it's a
new and radical method of re-sensitizing an individual, essentially a
kind of massive negative reinforcement towards sex and violence. And
THAT'S where the crux of the picture, the essence of Kubrick's argument
lies. The treatment makes Alex physically sick and induces suicidal
tendencies when he tries to act violently or engage in sexual activity,
which makes him "cured" in the eyes of society and the government. But,
as the chaplain says, he has lost the ability to choose his behavior
and, in the end, isn't that the only thing that distinguishes man from
beast? It isn't intelligence, it isn't laughter, it isn't the opposable
thumb – it's the fact that, for human beings, there is really no such
thing as instinctive behavior. Alex has not learned that his behavior
is wrong, objectionable, evil – all he's learned is that if he tries to
act that way, he'll feel like retching and killing himself. He's simply
been programmed to respond in a specific way to specific stimuli, not
to make any kind of moral choice. And not only is it not a permanent
solution, it also has the unintended consequence of taking Beethoven's
music away from Alex, who just loves "Ludwig van" but can't listen to
the 9th Symphony anymore because it was the background music the
treatment used! Filmed in Kubrick's signature chillingly documentary
style, it's a picture that will make you laugh, cringe, but most of
all, think.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Give it a chance., 12 January 2005
Author:
Lex (xel_kid@yahoo.com) from DFW Area, United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
***Spoilers***
I thought this was an awesome movie the first time I saw it, but I can
see why people wouldn't. I still remember it vividly. There is, as the
rating says, a lot of violence, nudity, and suggested rape, and it is
partly this that makes the movie such a big hit.
My personal feeling on the movie? It was awkward, but extremely thought
provoking. The "ultra-violence" didn't bug me as much as the boys'
indifference did to it. The way they made beating people, no matter how
old, the way they used sympathy to gain entrance into a house, just to
beat the old man and rape his wife. I have not been able to hear
"Singing in the rain...I'm just singing in the rain." since without
thinking of this movie. It made me think differently of things I had
always thought perfectly innocent.
Ten minutes into the film, I was on the edge of my seat-though not
quite literally-waiting to see what happened. It was flexible, and
could have gone either way. Throughout the film, I wasn't able to guess
what came next, the way a person can for a cheesier movie, and I loved
it.
The setting is futuristic, but not like the others I've seen. It
doesn't focus as much as the way of life or government, and it may be
possible to think the story is happening in the present. The setting is
also a bit queer; in the milk bar, there are naked statues, where milk
is squeezed from the woman's breasts. The main character's apartment is
fairly run down on the external, and on pictures of nude individuals on
the outside, there is a fair amount of graffiti, the kind that could be
found scrawled in school textbooks.
I found the main character, Alex, endearing in an odd sort of way.
While he could do cruel acts in cold blood, he always answered promptly
when spoken to, usually with an added "Yes ma'am" or "Yes sir" so crisp
that it would make your shirts jealous. This is one of the principal
things I remember about the film.
The brainwashing that Alex undergoes is just awesome. When it is over,
he is unable to beat anyone, unable to touch a naked woman, is even
forced to lick an officials shoe. He can no longer hurt anyone.
But when he gets out of prison, it's only to beat nearly drowned to
death by his old thug friends. When he tries to return home, it's only
to find that his room has been rented out. It's only when he's in the
rain, trying to find a warm place to stay, that he's taken in by an old
man that doesn't recognize him for who he was; the Alex that beat him
and raped his wife.
The end is also interesting. It's fair for the old man to want the Alex
dead, is it not, after Alex raped his wife and confined him to a
wheelchair? Yet there is also the political undertone, wanting him dead
to prove that the brainwashing the new government had done to him was
cruel and unjust.
But Alex doesn't manage to die, and it is the new government themselves
who pay for his hospitalization. (Correct me if I'm wrong in any of
this, it's been a fair few months since I saw it.) They also repeal
their brainwashing, and manage to cure Alex of his. It is this part
that makes one wonder, is it a favor or a curse? Once Alex is free of
his brainwashing, he is free to pursuit any hobby he wishes; including
those that got him in trouble to begin with. His smile at the end of
the movie is both ecstatic and sinister.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: The best movie ever made, 23 December 2004
Author:
Mikael Axelson from Sweden
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is definitely the best movie I have ever seen. It contains
everything I ask for and the actors are great. I am also very, very
satisfied with the filming. Stanley Kubrick makes new film technique
look like the 30's. There is so great feeling in this movie.
Some favorite scenes are the one at the dock and the housebreaking of
the old lady. Also the burglary at the man's house (the guy who later
is forced to sit in a wheelchair). Man, there are too many good scenes
to write down! And the clothing is so brilliant. Loose eyelashes, white
dresses, hats and the walking sticks. Awesome!
Other movies from Stanley Kubrick are also great but this is really the
best one. The two next best are Full Metal Jacket and The Shining.
In short, the best movie ever made: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A great film, 15 December 2004
Author:
horton-scorton-is-here from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
(minor spoilers)
Many people appreciate this film, if only for its shock value. The
controversial subject matter in this film is indeed a merit, but this
is not the only reason this is such a great film. Many people as well
think that this movie is too violent, and just a lame excuse to shock
and disturb people. I do not agree with this.
As I am sure has been mentioned countless times, this film criticizes
society as well as human nature. It asks the viewer if what is being
performed on Alex, which is designed to make him a "good" person, is
moral or the right thing to do. It also suggests that society is cruel
and unforgiving. Note that upon Alex's return to his home, people
constantly beat him, when he is now "good" and quite defenseless.
Sometimes, society doesn't give you a second chance. Alex is left
defenseless under society's bitterness. But does he deserve this
treatment for the crimes he committed? These questions and others the
film asks, making it a thought-provoking film. This is a huge merit.
I also believe that the film-making in this movie is excellent. Stanely
Kubrick was a master filmmaker. The opening shot, which opens up on
Alex and slowly zooms out, is great and absolutely genius.
So, if you are the mood to see a movie that is excellently filmed,
though-provoking, saddening, disturbing, and even sometimes "funny",
see "A Clockwork Orange".
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: fascinating!, 20 November 2004
Author:
Ivana Kovacevic from Uzice, Serbia
I was really eager to see this movie, since I've heard so much about
it. The first word that comes to my mind is: fascinating. True, there
is much violence and "hard-to-look-at" scenes, but after you've seen
the movie, it stays long in your mind, and makes you think about it for
a long time... Music is perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of
the movie. Actually, I couldn't imagine ACO with some other music than
this. Suits just perfectly. Acting of Malcolm McDowell is fantastic.
Remarkable music, perfect characters, great plot... it is flawless.
Simply exquisite. A movie that deserves a place in every home movie
collection. As I've said, some scenes are really "heavy", but that's
exactly what makes this movie so brilliant.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A great representation of the Novel, 14 September 2004
Author:
Jacob Gest (jakegest@gmail.com) from Denver, Colorado, USA
I really enjoyed this film. Kubrick really captured the essence of the
Burgess' Classic. I particularly enjoyed the opening scene, which
really captures, in my opinion, the character of Alex and his friends.
I did fin there to be some major details cut out of the movie,
including the reason for the title itself. I also at times felt that
some characters were portrait very differently than I had perceived
them while reading the book. Still I think Kubrick really did a good
job bring this piece of literature into a different medium. With the
use of a peculiar soundtrack, Great imagery and especially his
including original duologue, I believe he was able to bring this story
to a much wider audience, and hopefully has compelled some individuals
to read the novel itself.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Disappointing would be a Horrible Understatement...., 17 August 2004
Author:
AmericanMan04
A Clockwork Orange is perhaps the most pointless film in the cinema. Just a
peep show for teen movie buffs and perverts obsessed with violence and sex.
The plot: a teen named Alex is caught by the police, and sent to prison. He
becomes the victim of an experiment that can "cure" him, and then he is
released. And then you can imagine the horrible things that Alex does. For
example, he and his "droog" of friends break into a writer's house, beat him
up, and then rape his wife. Who wants to see that happen? No one. So why
bother making it? So Mr. Stanley Kubrick would have more excuses to make
films with violence and sex so the audience would get used to it. Malcolm
McDowell's narration is useless, and perhaps it would have been better
without it. Overall, stay away from this repulsive mess.
0/5 stars.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's Vision?, 6 June 2004
Author:
Baxter de Wahl from Canberra, Australia
A flawed masterpiece, especially where Kubrick detours from the vision of
Anthony Burgess.
Much of the comments about this movie refer to "Kubrick's Vision", unquote.
The problem with that perspective is that the best parts of this movie are
those that directly translate the novel by Anthony Burgess. The worst parts
are those that Kubrick and his designers came up with themselves.
For instance, the original novel was set in a much more Orwellian world of
dark staircases, concrete decor and the smell of cabbage. The so-called
"vision" of Kubrick and his designers gives us what must have seemed very
futuristic then but now appears so very 1971. Look at the decor of the
Korova milk bar with it's naked female sculptures dispensing drencrom from
the breast. Look at Alex's apartment with its silver and golden walls. Look
at his parents in their oh so 1970 clothes. Look at "Home" cottage where Mr.
Alexander and his ill fated wife live - looks more like a trendy 1970 flat
in Chelsea!
In yet another case of the Emperor's new clothes, "Kubrick's vision" is,
ultimately what fails this movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Good movie, but too complex for this type of movie., 30 April 2004
Author:
ks4 from EU
They say Stanley Kubrick has always been ahead of his time, and
considering
the age of this movie, that is probably true, this is a very a sharp
critical movie, still it contains a high amount of social realism though,
it's a twisted movie that is very hard to sit through, but leaves you
thinking.
Alexander De Large and his gang is a product of a numb society, for fun
they
entertain themself with violent acts towards whomever crosses their way,
Alex is the leader of the gang, the others go in his path and does what he
wants, one day though two of them objects and wants to be equal, Alex
doesn't agree and starts a fight, after that things go back to normal,
Alex
in charge, but his gang is no longer his friends.
He is betrayed and is sent to a prison, to get out early he volunteers for
a
program that is supposed to help him out of his violent
path.
Kubrick has always had a very experimental style, and even though this
mvoie
is hard to watch, it's still very powerfull and have a very realistic
(even
though the movie itself is portrayed unrealistic and fantasy alike). The
movie spends a lot of time on the act of violence, and Kubrick's morale
point of view is never in doubt, but then again, it always appears to be
in
doubt, because i dont think that i ever managed to figure out completely
what the meaning was with the plot, just as i thought i was on a straight
path, understanding everything, the movie turns and goes in the opposite
direction, it's definetely a complex movie, that for full understanding
has
to be watched more than once, problem also is that it's hard to sit
through,
Kubrick uses the soundtrack perfectly, especially in the start, Beethoven
is
nearly constantly playing, but as soon as Alex is arrested, it stops. And
from here it only plays occasionally as he gets cured, but in the end the
path comes back to hunt him, together with the music.
Of course this is Kubrick's movie, his directing habits shines through in
all his movies, because he is a genius, and a true master, this movie is
very powerfull, but i think also maybe too complex. Kubrick has his own
style and his own way of saying it, i think not all will understand this
movie, but the ones that do will think it's a masterpiece, this movie will
divide the audience, some will understand it and think it's brilliant,
another large group will think it's jibberish, and then there'll be the
ones
still trying to figure out how all the puzzles fits together, the movie is
very symbolic, colors and music displays a lot of the meaning of the
movie.
In one remarkable scene in the start we see Alex and his gang attacking an
elderly man sitting in a tunnel, as Alex and his gangs walks in their
shadows grow long down towards the old homeless man, i think this specific
scene tells a lot about what the initiave with the movie is, it's a
symbolic
movie. Which is also one of the reasons why i believe it has to be watched
more than once for full understanding.
Another thing that is interesting in this movie is the special use of the
language, it's obvious that Kubrick was thinking in a futuristic style
while
taping the movie, the language is unique and gives the movie a weird
touch,
though interesting, the movie is very experimental as other Kubrick
movies,
it does seem like he is trying to look into the future and predict the
future of a numb society.
Malcolm McDowell is Alexander De Large, and he fills out this complex and
interesting character very well, he is the only of the chracters that
shines
through, all the others pretty much fades to the background, perhaps
because
the story doesn't stop at them long, there are many supporting characters
playing various roles and they all appear in different parts of the movie
for a little while.
The movies strength is definetely the directing and storyline, Kubrick
dared
to check chances, a movie like this nobody else could have made at this
time, he is unique and that's what shines through in this movie, this
experimental director has created a movie that will and should never be
forgotten, because it's a landmark in cinematic history. However, to me it
doesn't stand as the masterpiece of all time, mainly becuase it's too
complex, and at times too long, but the complicated way it's directed is
what makes it hard to understand, so for me it's both a strength and a
weakness, strength because it's unique and original and it will stay in
your
thoughts for a good while, weak because it's very hard to absorbe and
understand, and it's almost definate that it has to be watched more than
once for full understanding, something that isn't always a good thing,
especially considering that it isn't an easy movie to sit
through.
7/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Not bad but way too overrated, 28 March 2004
Author:
benny5719 from NY
This film was by no means bad. It just isn't great as everyone says. Why
are these teen's are whatever they are beating/raping people? They have no
motive. They're not poor. they live in a futuristic society without a
gov't
but that's no motive. And who and why are there cops if there's no gov't?
There are so many plotholes in this movie it made me lose any enjoyment.
So
if there's all these plotholes, then how is this a masterpiece? Cause it's
violent and has naked chicks and has one memorable scene(the film/cure
scene)? The directing isn't great either. Kubrick definitely improves
drastically later on and becomes a phenominal director, but this proves
his
amaturety at this point. Everything just has a corny look to it. I
couldn't
take any of it seriously. It was too tedious. This is the kind of movie
I'd
want to be dark and serious and disturbing. And the cheeze-ball music
makes
it even more rediculous. The last complaint is the horrible representation
of a futuristic society. Some scenes look less futurstic than today's look
and other's have an obviously fake futuristic atmosphere. OVerall, this
movie is just....stupid is the only word. Not bad. Just stupid. Had it
been
done in the past ten years by Kubrick, I think this movie could've had
much
more merit and deserve to be overrated.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Such a nonsense, 30 July 2003
Author:
jsalazar92 from MX
i didn't enjoy this movie just like others have said, violent porn, at
least
this movie, different from other overrated movies, has a story but i don't
recommend you this one its just another disappointment of "classic"
films
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: WELLY, WELLY, WELLY, WELLY, WELLY, WELLY, WELL!, 13 June 2003
Author:
SHADE BURNETT from ST.PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is my #1 FAVORITE movie, because it's timeless. Back
in'71 it looked futuristic. Today in 2003, it still looks futuristic. I've
easily watched it over 100 times. And I never get tired of seeing Malcolm
McDowell!!"VIDDY WELL LITTLE BROTHER. VIDDY WELL." RIGHT, RIGHT,
RIGHT?!!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: The epic, dystopic vision of ultraviolence, 5 May 2003
Author:
Petra Allen from Palmdale CA
This was Kubrick's first film following his magnum opus, "2001: A Space
Odyssey" and if anything exceeds that film in pure audacity. The audience
experience an epiphany even more cathartic than that of Alex (played with
dead-on insouciance by Malcolm McDowell). Kubrick's unsparing eye harpoons
the penal system, the Church of England, trendy Skinnerian behaviorism,
and
a host of other modern madnesses -- all to the angelic scores of lovely,
lovely Ludwig Van!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Not just entertaining..., 20 April 2003
Author:
Voxel-Ux from London, England
The film based on the book is an intriguing view of choice, personality
and
the morality of society and the media. It centres around the main
character, Alex de Large, and his gang of young adventurers who terrorise
people for the sheer pleasure of it. But this is not the point of the
story. The story is concerned ultimately with the right to choose how to
live: to be an individual. Should a criminal be kept essentially human
by
being allowed to live criminally, as is his nature or nurture, and be
punished for their crimes, or be transformed into a "good person" through
deliberate conditioning for the safety of other citizens?
The film takes great effort to reveal points on both sides in the
backdrop
of a strange nihilistic, almost cyber-punk world with fine acting,
direction, and atmospheric music by Walter (now Wendy) Carlos. The film
was
banned in Britain by the director, Stanley Kubrick, until recently which
added to the mystic of the film, at least here in Britain.
This is a film to watch and in my view, the first film of this genre
recognisable today as a "modern film" in its execution and, in some
cases, a
truer representation of today than one may, at first, realise.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: My Favourite Film of All Time, 9 February 2003
Author:
Leafs4eva
I love absolutely everything about this movie. The acting is superb, Malcom
Mcdowell is amazing as Alex. The music composed by Wendy Carlos is
incredible, it matches perfectly with Kubrick's filming style. I don't think
i really need to say anything about the direction, I mean it was directed by
the master of film; Stanley Kubrick. The film may require multiple viewings
for some people, it's nothing like normal hollywood garbage. I myself could
watch it unlimited times and never get bored. From the opening shot the film
draws you in and doesn't let go until the end. Stanley Kubrick is the best
film maker of all time for many reasons, one being that he can make A
Comedy, a Horror, a Sci-Fi, a few war, and some films which cannot be
categorized, and all of them define the genre. This movie is shocking at
times, funny, disturbing, and always very strange.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Over-hyped, 8 February 2003
Author:
Missy from Britain
Its not a bad movie, I found the expected conformity of the Government and
society interesting, also the use of music throughout was very clever. My
opinion of the scenes of violence was that they were not all that
grotesque
and although still disturbing were watchable however, I could not help but
feel a little bored by the repetitive sexual references and pretty naked
ladies (it has now come to my attention why so many males like this
movie.)
I am not saying that nudity is wrong but I did feel that on some occasions
it was completely unjust for example the topless woman on stage whilst
performing the experiment was just plain well, ridiculous. I also felt
that
the government characters were potrayed in a very stereotypical biased
type
fashion on a whole and were robotic and calculated much like the 'droogs'
themselves which for me was just too one sided.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: a film with depth, 31 January 2003
Author:
(bigdaddydave@lycos.co.uk) from oxford, england
A great film, its probably the only film i couldnt make my mind up on
immediately after seeing. Im not in to hard-core analysis, but this film
gets you thinking in a big way.
In one way the film is itself (violence deemed too bad for society, so
artificially censored) true of both film plot, and film. Maybe this was the
plan, when we debate whether the film is too violent, we are also debating
the film plot.
Clever stuff indeed.
This film also seems to have somthing that gives an unusually high number of
intelligent comments, be they praise of criticism. There is a lot to this
film, but thats not to say you will like it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: This review has been withdrawn, 29 December 2002
Author:
(derekparry696@hotmail.com) from High Wycombe, England
Sorry but I have had to withdraw this review on account that I might get
beaten up and the review wasn't really that good. However, with any luck the
review will build up a certain amount of notoriety over the coming years and
when it finally sees the light of day will be hailed as a masterpiece. Well
why not ? It worked for others....brother.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: big issues tackled, 14 October 2002
Author:
toonnnnn from Hartlepool England
Well I saw this movie in 1971 it was the most controversial of its time,it
tackles big issues like youth crime,freedom ,vengenance and disenchantment
with society.The film is too long a good thirty minutes could and should
have been cut.The rape scene was very disturbing and it worries me some thug
may try to copy it.However the film does make you think about issues so
thats a bonus,but its not an easy film to watch and it is dated.The film was
banned in several places in the Uk but now its violence the rape scene apart
is not as shocking or bloody as it could have been,so if you haven't seen it
watch it but its a hard slog.
6/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A funny & Disturbing piece of filming. Truely a work of art!, 16 August 2002
Author:
Lee Bartholomew (sage_patrynxx@cfu.net) from Cedar Falls, IA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Funny & Disturbing probably shouldn't be in the same sentence, but they are.
(Spoilers?)
Indeed... after watching this movie I can say with out a doubt that had
Kubrick been alive to release Eyes Wide Shut, he would have released it
uncut. Since there is so much stark nudity in this movie I'm surprised
anyone would balk.
And seeing a barely recognizable Malcolm is beyond me. Since I only know
him as an older man with white hair. :(
This movie though may corrupt you for a few days. But it certainly has a
great last effect. If your into controversial type movies this movie will
excell at that. It did have an ending thats a bit of a letdown. But great
movie nonetheless. (quick note though. playing this movie repeatedly is
similar to playing a Marilyn Manson repeatedly. It'll stump yer growth.
lol)
I read somewhere that the late Stanley Kubrick was reputed to be
against conventional and repressive forms of establishment.If that was so,
then I believe that he potently expressed it in "A Clockwork
Orange."
Based on Anthony Burgess' 1962 novel, the film introduces us to one of
the most violent, amoral and deviant characters in cinema
history---Alexander (but of all the film characters, protagonists and
antagonists alike, whom I've encountered so far, he's the only one who has
registered so strongly in my mind;and Malcolm McDowell's realistic and
complex portrayal has greatly helped in making that happen).
I can't forget the opening shot where, while we begin to hear his
introductory voice-over narration, we see Alex, together with his fellow
"droogies," sitting idly on the floor and staring sharply at us, as the
camera slowly pulls back and then we notice marble (or is it wax?) figures
in strangely provocative poses.It serves both as an invitation and a
warning:we're invited to take a peek into a "new friend's" visionary milieu,
but then be prepared for the consequences.
At first, one can't help but be disgusted at the atrocities---devilish
and whimsical at best---that Alex and his gang have committed (they maul an
old and sick beggar, involve themselves in a violent gang fight, barge into
a quiet household, tie up the couple, torture the man and rape the
woman).Alex even disdains his family and entices women (total strangers to
him) into sex as if he were asking them for a dance in a party (and this
might be so, if one is to have his own "reading" of the outrageous scene
where Alex does sex with two pretty ladies in fast motion and to the tune of
Rossini's "Overture to Wilhelm Tell").Such kind of "rebellious" attitude of
Alex may strike one as being done out of youthful capriciousness---at best,
a mere show just to satisfy some self-serving ends;nowhere is to be found
any justifiable or rational basis at all.
But not until the film reaches its critical point where Alex murders
(with the use of a "phallic" furniture) a woman (who's fascinated with cats)
when the latter aggressively refuses his advances does one start to rethink
his/her thoughts.You have to see for yourself how Kubrick manipulates the
narrative from this point on for the viewers to have a "change of attitude"
toward Alex.
After that, one can already make sense of Alex' "rebellious" attitude,
for the conflict has become clear:it's Alex vs. all the conventional and (as
it turns out) dubious forms of establishment---family, government, mass
media, education and state.They have laid down the standards on how one must
think, feel and act within a given system, but once it is achieved, they are
at a loss as to what to make of the individual---to have a firm grip on him
or to leave him out in the open---leading them in the end to play the game
according to the rules set by the individual himself.
And in Alex' case, as the state's program of reforming criminals and
producing pliant citizens will be put to shame because of the former's
failed suicide, the people concerned are now willing to fall on their knees
before Alex---let Alex be what he is."Now, I was finally cured" has become a
classic line.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Twisted Film, 13 March 2002
Author:
The Black Englishman from London, England
There was nothing inspirational about this film at all. I did not care about
the characters. I found them warped and twisted. There was no significant
plot or redeeming qualities about the film. In fact, the only thing I felt
was a slight sexual arousal when they broke into the married couple's house
and began to shag (as it was not sex) the wife.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Stanley Kubrick's best? Hell yeah!, 21 November 2001
Author:
Mika Pykäläaho (bygis80@hotmail.com) from Järvenpää, Finland
Unfortunately Stanley Kubrick died but he left an incredible legacy to the
future generations. Is the unforgettable "A Clockwork Orange" the very
greatest movie he created? Actually the amount of films he directed over the
years wasn't very huge so one would think it's not all that hard to pick a
favorite. But it is. I'm always facing the same annoying problem. When I see
any Kubrick movie for the millionth time I claim: "This is the best movie
Stanley Kubrick directed." And when I see another Kubrick film also for the
millionth time I immediately change my opinion: "Hell no, it has to be this
one."
Maybe he wasn't all that productive - only three movies in his last two
decades (The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut) is a proof of it.
But he directed those few films with such a dedication and in such a
masterly way that it's almost impossible to choose a finest masterpiece
among a bunch of beautiful masterpieces. But, in the end it simply has to be
"A Clockwork Orange". Kubrick always knew the way to create a whole knew
imaginative worlds. Words can't describe the world of "A Clockwork Orange".
It's an odd, disturbing, frightening place.
Actors in Kubrick's movies were always fabulous. From James Mason in
"Lolita" to Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in "Eyes Wide Shut" Kubrick always
found the most fitting people to appear in his movies. Who could forget Jack
Nicholson's violent, furious and maniacal performance in "The Shining" and
think of anyone else to fill his place? When we look at "A Clockwork Orange"
we can witness the fact that Malcolm McDowell's phenomenal role as young
Alex is unhuman - something out of this world. Movie history rarely sees
anything as disturbing and at the same time as enrapturing.
Kubrick's movies were never easy ones and "A Clockwork Orange" is probably
the most obvious example of it. If it's still brutal, twisted and shocking
today I can only wonder what kind of reactions it gave people 30 years ago.
And still, despite the fact that the movie is basically nauseating there's
always a place for humor too. It's a wicked humor but it makes the movie
look even more confusing. In 1994 Oliver Stone tried to make his own
analysis of violence for the 90's but "Natural born killers" failed badly.
His film turned out to be only violence for the sake of violence. Kubrick's
visions were always much wider as "A Clockwork Orange" eventually shows.
This is truly a wonderful 'one of a kind' movie. Long live the memory of
Stanley Kubrick. 10 out of 10.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Dark, Violent and Twisted Masterpiece - Spoilers, 10 November 2001
Author:
dee.reid from United States
Alex DeLarge(Malcolm McDowell) is a hoodlum in not-too-distant future
London. As the tagline says, "His principal interests are rape,
ultraviolence and Beethoven. He and his "droogs"(friends) often spend a
lot of time away from home and out on the streets. They go out at night
and have fun which means getting into fights with other gangs, commit
random acts of violence, and "in-out"(rape) women. One night, when Alex
comes out of some lady's house after beating her to death with a large
statue, he is beaten up and betrayed by his droogs and is left to be
arrested by the police. At the jail, Alex is informed that a woman that
he had performed an "in-out" on had died at the hospital from her
injuries. Alex is then sent to prison. While there, he reads the
Bible(he only reads about the sex and violence) and dreams of getting
out of prison. He then asks a preacher about an experiment that he had
heard about at Ludovico that if successful, could possibly rid him of
any violent or sexual impulses he might have. Soon enough he is sent to
Ludovico. There he is forced to watch unedited footage of brutal
beatings, rapes, and Nazi marches all the while with good old Ludwig
van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony playing in the background. Alex comes
out of Ludovico a changed man or is he?
This is actually the second film directed by the late Stanley Kubrick
that I've watched with "Full Metal Jacket" being the first. Malcolm
McDowell is truly awesome in his role as the sadistic, young Alex.
Stanley Kubrick said he wouldn't been able to make this movie without
him. Stanley Kubrick did take an awfully big chance with this movie.
The violence here in "A Clockwork Orange" can simply be described as
ultra. There are many brutal rape scenes and several bloody beatings.
People who like Gene Kelly's "Singing in the Rain" may not like it
anymore if they watch "A Clockwork Orange" because Malcolm McDowell
sings it while kicking the crap out of an elderly man and raping his
wife.
The musical score is the easily one of the best parts of "A Clockwork
Orange". It is fantastic! The opening score is the one I like the most.
The way it plays while Alex is looking into the camera with that
half-smile, you wonder what exactly is going through his head at that
moment. The "milk bar" or whatever it's called that Alex and his droogs
are sitting at, is unique and yet ultimately frightening and disturbing
at the same time.
The film's setting is apparently futuristic London, but it seems a lot
like present day London. The reason it feels so much like present day
is because of the clothing and all the cars and stuff like that. This
feels a lot more like some sort of dark, comic satire than it does a
science-fiction movie.
"A Clockwork Orange" certainly is a twisted work of art. It is now my
favorite Stanley Kubrick film. As I said before Stanley Kubrick did
take a chance making this movie. It probably could of either made or
ended his career because of all the sex and violence that's in this
movie.
"A Clockwork Orange" gets a 10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Brilliant and Thought Provoking, 8 June 2001
Author:
(bowman___@hotmail.com)
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Possible Spoilers:
A Clockwork Orange is the type of film a person will either love or hate.
Many will find it to be incredibly offensive, and they will refuse to look
deeper for the moral complexity and satire the film possesses. The first
fifteen minutes are pretty shocking, but all of the violence and cruelty is
not glorified, it simply tries to make us understand the type of person Alex
is, and it tries to make us hate him.
After Alex's capture and rehabilitation, he is declared "cured" and is sent
back into the world. After he suffers from his former victims, we
surprisingly begin to pity him, which is one of the incredible things about
the film.
A Clockwork Orange raises several moral issues. We become angry when the
government "reforms" him, because they don't reform him at all, they simply
take away his rights and freedom to be a person. They dehumanize him and he
becomes a governmental experiment to be helplessly pummeled by
others.
The film is also filled with satire. Alex performs unspeakable evil each
night, but when he is rendered helpless, his victims do the same thing to
him, which doesn't make them any better than Alex. It shows that we are
just as evil as him.
A Clockwork Orange is one of Stanley Kubrick's most complex and thought
provoking films, as well as being one of his most mesmerizing and daring.
It is an unforgettable film that should be experienced more than once to
look past the violent nature and look for the satire, humor, and the
questions it asks.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Makes me feel like throwing up,...a lot, 6 June 2001
Author:
meryl-2 from Los Angeles, CA
All I can say is that the first time I put this film in my VCR, I ran out of
my apartment, and made one of my friends go over to my place and take it
out, because I was too scared to touch it. I watched it at HIS place later
with LOTS of lights on....
Is it a CHICK THING???
This movie just made me want to throw up,...a LOT,...
AND it gave me nightmares,...
But I know MANY, MANY MAAAAAAAANNNY MEN that think that it's one of the most
brilliant films ever made,....
I'm not saying it sucked,...
I'm just saying that it freaked me out to much to REALLY pay attention to
what the movie was trying to "say."
Maybe when I grow up,...I'll be able to watch it again and be able to
appreciate it,...as for now, I don't want to touch it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's sheer talent!, 20 May 2001
Author:
Stunner_laugh
I am a big lover of Kubrick's films, so this may be a bit biased, but
viewing A Clockwork Orange was meaningful because it left a sense of
paradox, what life is really like and what you thought of the place you
live
in and this sense of realism was hard to find fault.
Kubrick wanted things to be PERFECT in all his films because that was the
auteur he was.
Clockwork Orange is one of the best films I have seen because of all its
multi- generic conventions and a film that not only challenged my eyes but
my mind too.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Thought provoking, hardly gratuitous (Spoilers), 30 April 2001
Author:
Mike from Royal Oak, Michigan
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Gratuitous is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as "Unnecessary or
unwarranted." This movie is far from gratuitous violence. The violence in
this film is necessary to prove how demented he is, and at the other end of
the spectrum, how his spirit has been broken and how he was "cured". This
film is so well done, you don't even realize what you have felt until it is
over. Brilliantly, Kubrick pulls you right through this movie, controlling
your emotions with the onscreen action. Example, at the begining of the
film, you witness the horrific acts of violence and rape, so when he is
caught, you don't fell bad for him whatsoever. Through prison and treatment
he is "cured", and in the demonstration he is beaten to show he will not
fight back. When he is released, he is disowned by his parents, insulted by
the guy who lives in his room, beaten by homeless guys, and nearly drowned
by his former droggies. At that point in the movie, I said to myself "he
doesn't deserve this, he did his time, he can't even defend himself", it was
at that point that I realized how talented Kubrick really was. This movie
was very well done, proving how strong the mind is.
Easily a 10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: To remain decent, is to tolerate the indecent..., 20 April 2000
Author:
jscavness from USA
This film, is an uncanny, prediction of Today's society, as seen in 1971.
As an American, I value my freedom, and this film shows just how fragile
that freedom really is, for as seen in today's (everyday's), headlines
there
are those who, take away all that we hold dear, and get by with it. The
idea of a "free, safe" environment is an oxymoron, and yet to strive for
anything less, is un-American. The film asks the question "Is there
rehabilitation, for rapists and murderers"? See this film, and decide for
yourself. A brilliant movie!!!! 10 out of 10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Violence made to seem beautiful- a reflection of human nature?, 15 April 2000
Author:
zhr1 from Ramat Hasharon, Israel
Violence made to seem beautiful- a concept that repulses many, and
rightfully so. However violence is deeply embedded in human psychology and
in society. Clockwork Orange uses a stunning sound-track and stylized
English argot as a backdrop to choreographed extreme violence to bring
across this point. The association of Beethoven's Ninth and Nazi horrors
exemplifies how thin the veneer of civilization really is. Can the
sociopathic human really be change, and if yes into what, is a second
aspect
that the picture explores.
Beyond the major sociological point raised by the film, it is a masterpiece
of atmosphere and setting, exemplifying the strength of cinema as the major
art form of our time.
One of the all-time great movies.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Sociologist's nightmare, film-buff's dream., 5 April 2000
Author:
Insincere Dave from Maidenhead, England
I must admit that I am not Stanley Kubrick's greatest fan - I found Eyes
Wide Shut disappointing and 2001 just plain dull. However, I went to see A
Clockwork Orange not only on account of the hype but also as I had read the
book several years previously and I wanted to see if the film version lived
up to the literary classic. I discovered, not to my surprise, that it is
affected by 'The Exorcist' syndrome. Kubrick managed to create something
totally different to its source material, yet with a charm of its very own.
Obviously, from the very outset, a very seventies film, this was unlike
anything I have experienced at the cinema before. This film disturbs at
almost every conceivable level - rape, murder, brainwashing and
"ultra-violence" are all breezed over during this films run time. And does
the film stop to moralise? It barely takes a breath, leaving ethics up to
the audience's discussions on their way home. You leave the cinema wondering
who - if anybody - you should feel sorry for. Everyone in the film, from
Alex (Malcolm McDowell) to Dim (a very early performance from Warren Clarke)
and from Mr. Deltoid (Aubrey Morris) to Mrs. DeLarge (Sheila Raynor)
displays inhuman characteristics.
There seems to be some confusion as to whether this film is really about
Alex and his violent nature, reflecting the darker side of human nature, or
society having no qualms about using a victim to their own ends. Perhaps it
was too many people believing the former which led to its retraction in
Britain for more than 20 years. Either way, the dark undertones, superb
soundtrack and excellent acting make this film a must-see for any
self-respecting film fan. Kubrick-lover or not.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Definitely Kubrick's best movie., 31 March 2000
Author:
uffe-5 from Sweden: E-mail: fredro_link_86@hotmail.com)
This movie is amazing. One of the best movies I have ever
seen.
Violent, gross, strong, powerful, and the most uncomfortable movie in the
world. McDowall as the Beethoven-loving hooligan-leader is perfect and
disgusting, when he and his pack of 'droogs' is going around and rape,
kills
and as he says commiting 'ultra-violence'. His mates sets him up, he gets
brainwashed and is thrown back in the society as a new person. But is he?
And
how does the world treat him nowadays?
This movie is VERY disturbing. It's so tragic and powerful.
Just the feeling you get when the droogs rings the bell on mr.Alexander's
door. You don't feel safe in your house anymore. I don't think I could
sleep
for a week after seeing this movie. Actually, I kind of hide it. I have
seen
it two times, maybe three, no more. The main reason is... I don't dare. It
isn't just a movie you slack upon a Sunday morning. Just as in other
Kubrick
movies you will have to be ready for something different. 2001 (you can't
say I'm wrong), DR. STRANGELOVE (verrryyy bizarre), Barry Lyndon (is there
a
longer movie?), The Shining (it IS scary!!!) and Full Metal Jacket (about
the same as this one). I haven't seen EYES WIDE SHUT yet, but I will be
prepared.
I love Stanley Kubrick, he is my nr.1-director (even though he's dead) and
A
CLOCKWORK ORANGE is his best movie ever made.
The scariest movie in the world. 10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: "A glass of Moloko+ before a bit of the old ultra-violence", 27 March 2000
Author:
(dirty_dog_2k@yahoo.com) from Northampton England
This really is a love-it-or-hate-it film. I have to say I wasn't to
impressed by Eyes Wide Shut, but now that "A Clockwork Orange" has been
re-released in the UK, I can say that it is one of my favourite films. The
theme compares to other modern pictures, such as "Fight Club" (another top
film), but the original has not lost any of it's impact after 25 years.
Real
horror-show, viddy this.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Up with Dr. Strangelove, 28 July 1999
Author:
David Mahon (mahond@hotmail.com) from NYC, USA (Irish on holiday)
Oh, what a great flick this is! Confrontational, ultraviolent, a stark
realisation of how Burgess envisaged the future - random violence,
liberalism gone hard, your choices made for you, the parent as the child.
Is
Alex the man-child that was last seen staring at you in the last 2 minutes
of 2001? If so, we've definitely taken a step backwards, the dusk of man
as
rational being. The treatment (which, I've heard, damaged McDowell's
cornea)
is scary - my girlfriend couldn't watch. The music intertwines beautifully
with it all, and the attempted suicide scene makes you feel the crunch of
bone on ground. The ending also makes you think: has he changed at all? Is
he still the choiceless fool rendered a vegetable by the Ludovico
treatment?
Where does society go from here? This is, along with Dr. Strangelove,
Kubrick's best.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's best and also a terrific film, 12 June 1999
Author:
herb-20 from Teaneck
A Clockwork Orange is definitely Kubrick's strangest (and most brilliant)
film I have ever seen. It also makes some good points. This film's genre
is supposed to be Sci-Fi but I think it's more than that. I think this
film
is also a drama about what can happen when you put your faith in the
government. That they prove they can mess with you anytime they want, and
that includes boys into the bad things in life as well. A definite
classic
for Kubrick fanatics and film buffs as well.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: The best movie of all time., 9 May 1999
Author:
mrt-5
For all who would view a film as a painting in motion, rather than some
comment on society, this movie is yours. Godspeed, Mr.
Kubrick.
I registered at IMDB just so I could say this.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: excellent direction, 6 May 1999
Author:
anonymous from Monterrey, Mex
It's probably one of the best if you like a profound different drama. See
humans as if they let out the animal inside. Do men really choose?
It has the best ambientation, great fotography.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: True Disappointment, 24 April 1999
Author:
Solrac-3 from Manhattan Beach, CA
Now what the hell is this? For years, I hear about this movie, hushed in
whispers like it was an underground illegal drug, the most violent
horrible
movie ever.
Finally I get off my butt and actually RENT the thing, and what does it
offer in "ultraviolence" and gore? NOTHING! Oh the rape scene? It was like
5
minutes! Not even the stuff they showed Alex to brainwash him was very
shocking at all. Hell no, this movie had hardly any violence! If you want
to
see REAL ultra violence, watch Fist of The North Star (animated). That is
the greatest movie ever. So I was disappointed. But I wouldn't let that be
the judge of the movie. So people blew the shock value of it all out of
proportion? So what, it was still a good, entertaining movie,
right?
HELL NO, the thing was BORING. It was worth watching, no doubt, to see
what
would happen next, but still. It wasn't exciting, it wasn't suspenseful or
captivating. All it had going for it was the ultraviolence and shock
value,
but that turned out to be all blown out of proportion.... not even. In
fact
I now consider all that I heard about the movie to be LIES. That's how far
from the truth all the rumors about the movie are.
Oh well, at least now I can say I've seen the stupid thing.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's best movie, 26 March 1999
Author:
Barbara Pinzka (bpinzka@partnersmc.com) from Cincinnati, Ohio USA
In honor of the director's recent death, I've rewatched almost all of his
movies and decided this is truly his greatest, the most fully realized in
terms of character, style and message. As I love Kubrick films, this is
saying a lot. The subject matter is still appalling and hard to watch,
but
I wish those directors of the Van Damme/Schwartzenegger school of movies
would watch this to really learn what violence is.
As always, a cast of relative unknowns makes the movie sparkle and Malcolm
MacDowell's all-out performance is spellbinding.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Horrorshow!!!!!!, 20 March 1999
Author:
anonymous
I had read a lot about `A Clockwork Orange' before seeing it, basically
because I was unable to see it. When I saw it two days ago, I thought
that
maybe reading a lot about it would make the actual film disappointing. It
was better than I had read about. This is the greatest film ever made -
better than The Professional, and that takes some beating. The overacting
by the minor characters is excellent, as is Malcolm McDowell. Why this
film
didn't win all sorts of awards for art direction and costume design is
beyond me. (as well as for best film, director, actor, editing,
cinematography and adapted screenplay) Kubrick uses music in such a
brilliant way, like in 2001, (notice its display at the record store)
making
for a great experience for eyes and ears. ACO is thought-provoking,
funny,
entertaining, and scary. Everything a film should be and more. Viddy
well,
brothers.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Viddy well little brother, viddy well., 18 March 1999
Author:
Doug Galecawitz (dougg@evilnet.net) from Lisle, IL
This is an awesome movie. The whole movie gives a displaced feeling from odd
camera angels and crazy set designs to the native Nadsat language and
introspective violence. I love this movie and its message that even evil
people are entitled to the freedom of choice. The gang fight scene is cool.
Somebody gets hit with a window. They don't go through or out a window, they
actually get hit with the window. The extreme Gene Kelley homage is classic
as the original. The cat lady death sequence is cool. Enough things can't be
said about this movie. It's #3 on my all-time top 100 list.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A movie that should gladden the hearts of career criminals everywhere, 4 March 1999
Author:
anonymous
Stanley Kubrick's ode to personal freedom at any cost is one of the most
amoral movies ever made. The film seems to be implying that it's all right
for a person with incorrigible anti-social tendencies to rape and steal and
murder if the "Ludovico Technique" is the only alternative. Kubrick really
wants us to think that Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is a cool guy. First, we
have the chummy, confidential narration, spoken by Alex himself. Then the
director distances us from the rapes, beatings and brawls perpetrated by
Alex and his buddies by setting them to jolly Rossini and Beethoven. He
then dehumanizes Alex's victims by making them even more vicious and
disgusting than he. Figures of authority are either pathetic, grotesque
cartoons (Alex's parents) or sadistic repressed homosexuals (Alex's
correctional officer). The movie does raise the important question of just how far a
government should go in attempting to reform career criminals, but since
cocky Alex does volunteer for the treatment in order to get a reduction of
his prison sentence, no one can say that he doesn't know what he's in for.
However, Kubrick means for us to cheer at the end when our "hero" is able to
return to his old sociopathic self. Somehow, I didn't feel like joining in
the chorus.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Brilliant. Simply brilliant., 3 July 2009
Author:
dtgonehome from United States
Nearly 40 years after its release, Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange
remains as arguably the most controversial movie ever made. It was
rated X when it came out, a rating only ever bestowed unto pornographic
movies if anything; and even when it was partially censored by Kubrick
to attain an R rating, it was still slammed and condemned heavily by
every conservative mind on the planet. When you watch the film, it's
doesn't come as any surprise; there's a bevy of images of full-frontal
nudity, and there's repeated scenes of rape, physical ultra-violence
and extended orgy scenes too, none of which employ euphemistic devices
of any kind. Kubrick reveals all with nothing to hide, and this element
certainly makes the film memorable.
However, this is not the focal point of A Clockwork Orange, albeit
being the inference behind the film's notoriety among censorship
groups, religious groups etc. The key aspect behind A Clockwork Orange
is its message. This message lies behind all the seemingly ubiquitous
rape, sex and ultra-violence that occurs on-screen; in fact, the rape,
sex and ultra-violence is somewhat of a catalyst to deliver said
message. The film is based on Anthony Burgess' novel of the same name,
and it deals with issues such moral choice, decency and totalitarianism
throughout its entire 130 minute running time. The multitude of themes
on offer in A Clockwork Orange are astounding, to be frank, and if one
can get past the graphicness of the on-screen events, then the film
will truly be an unforgettable one.
Both the explicitness of the film and its brilliant themes and messages
coalesce to form one amazing viewing experience, and A Clockwork Orange
is a film that will go directly to your heart and your mind, and not
let go for the entire time it's alive. No doubt it is the characters of
the film, an idiosyncratic bunch, which add so much life, emotion and
ferocity to the movie. Malcolm McDowell plays a now
instantly-recognisable role as the main character, notorious delinquent
Alex DeLarge. McDowell lives and breathes his persona, a rebellious,
brash young teenager who is seemingly incurable of his violent habits
and atrocious ways.
It's stated officially that Alex's hobbies are: rape, ultra-violence,
and Beethoven, and during the graphic first act of A Clockwork Orange,
he shows off to the audience his love for each of these hobbies. Alex,
along with his 'droogs' (his dim-witted gang of thugs who share an
equally fiery passion for sadism) take a night out on town – a typical
one at that too. They start at the Korova Milk Bar, where they drink
laced with drugs of all sort, on top of tables fashioned from the
spread-eagled mannequins of naked women. Such are the graphic images of
the film – and it only gets better.
Alex and his droogs decide to beat up an old, haggard beggar living
underneath and overpass. They do this just for laughs, and they
certainly get laughs out of it. Then, they seemingly heroically rescue
an innocent woman from being raped by another gang; however it's
revealed that they only interrupt the 'in-out, in-out' proceedings just
to beat up and bash their rival gang. Then, Alex and his friends steel
a sports car and drive at breakneck speeds on the country highways.
They dump the car, break into a nearby home of a writer, bash said
writer and rape his wife in front of his eyes. Alex sums up by saying
'it was a wonderful night'.
This first act of the movie is indeed an eventful one, a shocking start
to the film which has the ability to put off a myriad of viewers should
they be unable to handle it. However sadistic and however dangerous
Alex proves himself to be here, he somehow miraculously winds up being
the dazzling anti-hero of the movie, and we simply cannot help but be
captivated and enthralled by his life, style and character. This
feeling of engrossment lasts for the entire duration of A Clockwork
Orange, and no doubt it isn't just McDowell's acting which retains our
attention; director Stanley Kubrick also adapts Burgess' novel, and no
doubt the story he crafts and transposes onto the screen is one of the
film's greatest assets. No only does it pack an emotional and thematic
punch, but it keeps the audience in its own world, and never lets them
go.
It's also a matter of whether we want the film to let go, as in reality
we don't. A Clockwork Orange has so much to offer and so many ideas to
share with us and astound us that it's a rich viewing experience that
we would live over and over again, just to receive the satisfaction.
The second and third acts of the film only prove to be equally as
abundant of ideas and themes, despite their enormous variation from the
film's opening act. The succeeding parts of the film have nowhere near
the amount of violence and profanity; in lieu of these things they have
much more dialogue-oriented scenes. It is at this time when the movie
starts to flesh out its ideas for all to bare, and it does so until the
very end of the movie.
Speaking of the end of the movie, it is an ambiguous one, and one that
is open to interpretation. It's a common Kubrick trait, and although
one requires thought over the ending, it's effort that is well exerted.
The ending of A Clockwork Orange is the cherry on top, the icing on the
cake; it reaffirms everything the movie has been telling us since the
very start of the movie. Indeed, everything seems to be in its right
place here in A Clockwork Orange, and although it may be off-putting on
the outside, it's the inner layers of the film that prove to be most
rewarding and worthwhile. What can I say but Kubrick's done it again. A
Clockwork Orange is simply brilliant.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Practically a parody, 6 May 2009
Author:
lisaoklahoma from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
"A Clockwork Orange" is my favorite novel of all time. Before watching
the movie I wondered if it would do justice to the novel. Well, it
didn't. The movie was basically a porno version of the novel. Kubrick's
aim seems to have been to take a philosophically meaningful story and
incorporate as much female nudity into it as possible. Why? I guess it
was avant-garde or something. I think there were a couple occasions on
which bare "groodies" were possibly warranted. Other than that, the
nudity was over-the-top and cheesy.
People talk about how disturbing the violence is in "A Clockwork
Orange." Disturbing violence? I really didn't see any. What did
masquerade as violence reminded me of the old "Tom and Jerry" show.
Most of the violence consisted of Alex and his droogs tapping each
other and their victims with canes, but the bizarre sound effects
during these scenes told the viewer to see this as brutal. In another
scene Alex raises a phallic sculpture in order to clobber a crazy
cat-lady, but you don't actually see him hitting her with it; instead,
you are shown something that looks a bit like cartoon fireworks. Then
the rape scenes are always accompanied by upbeat music which just makes
them seem comical. The violence in the book was truly disturbing, but I
don't see how you are supposed to take violence in this movie
seriously.
The book had a theme, which was that a person's most important right is
being able to think and choose for himself, and nobody has the right to
take that away from him regardless of the consequences. In its truly
ridiculous final scene, the movie obliterated that theme by choosing to
focus on and glorify Alex's sexual fantasies, as if he was some sort of
perverted superhero. Thus the point the movie inadvertently seems to
end up making is that if the government doesn't stop people, they will
just go out and perform deviant acts, but deviance is so much fun that
the government shouldn't try to stop them. This completely undermines
the message of the book.
In short, the novel is a literary masterpiece. The movie is a
hypersexualized, cartoonish version of that masterpiece, practically a
parody. Good thing Kubrick didn't try a film version of "Pride and
Prejudice"--wonder how that would have turned out. There are numerous
things I hate about this movie, from the glow-in-the-dark jumpsuits to
the fact that I will never be able to listen to the William Tell
overture the same way again. But it had a few good points. It did
follow the basic storyline of the book up until the end and was well
acted and filmed. For that I will generously give it a 3.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's best, 23 February 2009
Author:
thewhiterose85 from India
I have read many comments here about the movie being disturbing or
offensive but believe me, that is not true. This film is a stunning
visual experience. As with most of the Kubrick films attention to
detail is quite apparent here. From the costumes to the sets to the
music to the acting, everything is just perfect. I need not say
anything more.
As regards to the films relevance today, I would like to say that films
like these are ageless. They will always be relevant. The central
premise of the film questions whether it is correct to suppress the
free spirit of an individual, even to do wrong, for the greater good of
the society. I think that this premise remains as significant today as
it was 100 years ago and would be, a 1000 years from now.
I had always thought that 2001 was Kubrick's masterpiece, but that was
until I saw A Clockwork Orange. I can only now sit back and marvel at
the genius that was Stanley Kubrick. I just wish we had more filmmakers
like him today.
Highly recommended to everyone. 10/10.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: I don't see why so much praise for this film..., 10 July 2008
Author:
Atreyu_II from The world of artists
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I know that movies are a matter of tastes and I respect that, but
frankly I can't understand all the praise towards this movie. Its "out
of this world" plot? Its peculiar visuals? Its strong contents?
Whatever the reason is, one thing is for sure: there seems to be very
few people who dislike this. I'm one of them.
I've been trying to watch this movie for a long time, after hearing so
many good things about it. Today I finally did.
Well, for one thing, this is a satirical, shocking and disturbing
movie. People should know that: it is a violent movie (sometimes,
extremely violent) and it has strong sexual contents (even in artistic
shapes), as well as nudity. Besides the nudity itself, this movie shows
some rape scenes and sexual violence. This is not a pleasant movie to
watch, neither comfortable, although it has the power to impress.
Anyway, when this movie initially came out in 1971, it was extremely
controversial for being too violent. In fact, it was banned from UK
cinemas and nearly caused serious trouble for the director Stanley
Kubrick. This movie was hidden for 29 years and only went to the
theaters after all that time (after Kubrick's death in 1999). This
movie was more than controversial at the time, it was a scandal. A
similar situation happened with the 1969 song "Je t'aime... moi non
plus" (by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin), although in the case of
this song it wasn't for violence, but for sexual references and sounds
of orgasms. Its video was forbidden and the song itself too, but later
it was accepted (and it is a great song).
For a movie from 1971, its visuals are original, eccentric and
futuristic. In fact, it takes place in a futuristic dystopian society
(somewhere in England). This is a positive point. And the soundtrack is
great, consisting in classical music - mostly by Ludwing Van Beethoven,
or simply «Ludwig Van», like the character Alex says. The dialogs are
very interesting, especially because many of them are narrated by Alex.
This is also a very energetic movie, with a level of energy comparable
to "Dog Day Afternoon".
The character Alex is brilliantly portrayed by Malcolm McDowell. He's
the movie's main character, a mentally very sick person who loves to
rape, kill people and hurt them very badly with the use of extensive
violence. Alex and his "droogs" somehow remind me about the musical
band Culture Club with their way to dress and looks. Alex, for example,
does look a bit like Boy George, doesn't he? At least in the beginning.
Alex, however, after "curing" himself, becomes a victim and pays for
his own crimes.
The movie has its brilliant things, but it also becomes too long and
tiring when Alex begins his "cure". From that part on the movie almost
never seems to end. I liked, however, the part when Alex and his
"droogs" steal a sports car for a reckless drive into the countryside.
That part is crazy and brilliantly done.
This is a very weird and bizarre movie, one that is difficult to
"stomach". But for those who can "stomach" it, it will be an
extraordinary movie experience. The title is weird too, although it
might have something to do with Alex - his instincts, the way he
functions is like a clockwork orange.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Second in my top five, 15 November 2007
Author:
tiwawa9005 from United States
This movie is one of my favorite movies of all time,the only movie that
i prefer than this is American Beauty.This movie is about a young man
named Alex(Mcdowell)who loves a bit of the old ultra
violence(raping,stealing,beating people up)and eventually gets
caught.So then the government decides to try a new technique on
him,told that it will cure him of his sickness.To me this is Kubrick's
best but i still haven't seen 2001 a space odyssey so who am i to
judge.This movie will leave you sickened and yet in love with it.I
don't know how Kubrick manages to make you love all his movies but i
guess it was just that Kubrick touch that always leaves you wanting
more,i think that he is the greatest lost we will ever have in movies.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: One of my favorite movies, 11 September 2007
Author:
icet2004 from Estonia
this movie is awfully good.Stanley Kubrick was one the greatest
directors who ever lived on planet earth.it's based on same name novel
by Anthony Burgess.the main person(Malcolm McDowell)as the charismatic
and psychopathic delinquent Alex.director Stanley Kubrick was a
perfectionist.he has made many masterpieces.this was in many countries
when it's came out.but it's still a kinky movie but anyway a
masterpiece.it's a little bit future movie 1995 about imagined from
1965.a teenage boy Alex whose hobbies are violence,raping and classical
music - mostly Beethoven(in book Bach) and a weird slang.most famous
song in this film where Alex beating and reaping and sing song "i'm
singing in the rain".this movie is timeless.Stanley we miss you.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: a masterpiece and probably Stanley Kubrick's best film, 29 August 2007
Author:
oliver simpson from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
a brilliant film one of my favourites of all time and Malcolm McDowell
performance being one of the best ever really played the role of Alex
with perfection, the film has such clever dialogue and amusing scenes
(like the the singing in the rain scene i tell you i keep singing that
song because of the film) and performances from Micheal bates as Chief
Officer Barnes, Aubrey Morris as Mr Deltoid and Miriam Karlin as the
Catlady (miss weathers). but the thing about the film that strikes me
the most is that it feels like Anthony Burgess (the writer of the book)
went to the future though a time machine and saw the UK as it is today
and created the film to show a warning of what the future as going to
be like. Stanly Kubrick i felt did brilliant on the film and its one of
if not his best films the way he and the composer used the Ninth
Symphony by Ludwig van was genius it really was brilliant the was they
used it you have to admire that
i will write off saying its one of my favourite films and it will
always be in my favourite list
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Horrible, 5 April 2006
Author:
ArtisanArtist from United States
This is a short review - I think this film is horrible. Showing scenes
of rape and violence, this film is a piece of trash. It glorifies what
it presumes to decry. It does nothing to really help people - it just
encourages the violence that is in the world today. Young kids watch
this and feel their emerging sexism and hatred are well-justified. The
rapist mentality is what feeds this films. It's hypocritical in the
extreme, because of this. Kubrick should have had to do ten years
parole at a rape shelter to see the devastation up close. Anyone who
gets off on this movie should have to do the same. It's too bad that so
many movies add to the hatred that exists in the world today - and it
makes it even more heinous if they are done well - it's creativity in
the service of something trashy and hateful.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: The world of Stanley Kubrick: A Clockwork Orange., 30 July 2005
Author:
Captain_Couth (sirjosephu@aol.com) from Sacramento, CA
A Clockwork Orange (1971) was a product of it's times. The late sixties
and the early seventies was a violent era. Movies were becoming ultra
violent in nature. World affairs were brutal and the media was showing
it all. So when you mix a brutal novel about a nihilistic society with
modern times you get this. Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. Based
upon the U.S. released edition of the novel.
Malcolm McDowell (in a career making performance) stars as Alex, a gang
leader who lives a violent filled life with two parents that he treats
like imbeciles. But we can tell he's getting tired of his gang and when
they try to push around for more leg room, it get's nasty. But one day
Alex's nice way of life is gone in an instant. Will Alex be able to
cope with his new lifestyle? How will he react when reality hits
him?Can he be cured of his criminal behavior? You'll have to find out
for yourself when you watch Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.
A nasty and brutal film. It's still a tough watch, even today it's
packs a mean punch. The movie riled all the critics back in the day.
But it's a well made film and another notch in the master's belt.
Highly recommended.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: it requires multiple viewings, 15 March 2005
Author:
look_closer_45 from New Zealand
This is a true masterpiece of Film. It definitely requires multiple
viewings because each time you watch you notice subtle little things
that Stanley Kubrick has done in order to both save time but to truly
bring you into the world of our Narrator. I have seen this film on many
occasions(I would say close to 50) and it still never ceases to amaze
me, from start to finish it has you on the edge of your seat.
Of course this film is not for everyone i would recommend you to watch
at least twice to even begin to truly understand the character Alex and
the Genius of Kubrick and Burgess as well.
Still my favourite film(a tie with Citizen Kane)after all these years
and viewings i will never good tired of it.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: For all those who think this is crap, 21 January 2005
Author:
babuska111 from Pickerington, Ohio
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I've recently been reading some of your comments and posts saying this
movie is overrated and a piece of "crap". I even just read Roger
Ebert's own review of it and even he seems to not understand it. Maybe
I'm wrong in this, but it seems to me that all you people just seem to
not get the movie. Maybe I can explain it to you. The movie is about
the ability to control society. The movie asks the question of whether
or not society can be controlled without sacrificing art and
creativity. Many of people might be asking how I came to conclusion.
All I simply did was think about it. Rogert Ebert, in his review, said
that the fact that Alex listens to Beethoven was completely pointless
and served no point to the meaning and only helped to stylize the film
more. He was wrong. The music Alex is so passionate about is supposed
to represent art in our society. It is very important to the film. Alex
himself represents all the violence in the world. In the film, a
hospital attempts to "cure" Alex of his need to commit acts of violence
but in the process of doing this, they also make him "allergic" to
Beethoven. What the film is asking is "can we cure society of violence
without sacrificing art?" This is the meaning to the film. It is not
just some film glorifying violence, and it definitely not the
definition of the word "crap". Please people, think about a film more
before you start hating it.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Stanley Kubrick's best film!, 31 January 2003
Author:
Michael Margetis (MrWhite2) from Glendale, Arizona
Untill 1971, the song "Singing in the Rain" from the movie "Singing in the
Rain" was a nice happy song. After 1971, most people who hear it think about
the use of it in "A Clockwork Orange". The main character, Alex DeLarge
(Malcolm McDowell) sings it as he and his so-called droogs, beat up an older
gentleman and rape his young wife. This violent, and sometimes unbearable to
watch scene is what makes this film so interesting, good, and daring. I
think this film is an excellent horror/fantasy/sci-fi flick! Personally, it
is one of my favorite movies. The direction is absolutley brilliant, the
writing is very good, the acting is great (Malcolm McDowell hands in a
haunting, scary, and impecable performance that is still memorable today).
In my opinion, Stanley Kubrick's best film. Too bad he's dead!
Grade: A
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Holy Overrated Movie, Batman!, 12 December 2002
Author:
Sydney (joeorewan) from Iowa
Let me start with a little autobiographical information. One day, I
wanted
to see "A Clockwork Orange" because I heard it was an awesome movie. But,
I
decided it would be more spiritually rewarding to read the book before I
watched the movie. At this same time, I was assigned a research paper for
English class, and I decided to do it on "A Clockwork Orange". So, I read
"A
Clockwork Orange" in detail, studied the Nadsat language of the
malchicks'.
I read criticisms, more criticms, analytical essays. And then, I decide,
ah
gee, I'm going to watch this movie. And yes, I am an avid movie watcher
and
I claim to know what I'm talking about when I say this or more correctly
write this. Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" is a perversion of the
novel. He deep down wanted to make a porn and decided he's going to
interject it within the story of "A Clockwork Orange". What was the point
of
the sexually explicit material? There is no connection between it and the
novel by Anthony Burgess. There wasn't sex in his story, there was rape
and
the ravaging of innocence. There was nothing sexy about it. So why then do
these big chested, curvy Playboy bunny-type women "get raped" with little
to
no struggle (I think one assisted in taking her clothes off) and in the
book
they are 10-11 year old girls who have yet to have big breasts and
gorgeous
hips. A minor detail overlooked by a director's arrogant vision. And then
there's the old lady who is brutally attacked (then murdered) by Alex.
Very
old and decrepid in the book with no capability of defending herself
except
with her copious amounts of cats (I think I saw five in the movie, in the
book there was like twenty). In the movie she is limber, probably early
50's
and is killed by a giant phallic symbol. In the book, it was a bust of
Beethoven. It was so significant to have the music destroy this lady, not
this huge phallus. What is the point? The point is, o my brothers, is that
Kubrick I believe is a sexist man who wants his victimized women to be
dominated by large maleness (aka ceramic phallus). I will admit one thing
good that this movie accomplished, the comedic tone of the book. The
lightness of the language and Malcom MacDowell captured the humor well,
BUT
he was too old to be Alex. Alex is fifteen which makes it all the more
CREEPIER. The actors were too old to be playing a gang of teenagers. Hmm,
what else....oh yes the violence and the underlying theme of freedom of
choice. The violence, not at all shocking, but then again I've grown up to
"pulp fiction". Not that I need the in-your-face style, but I think that's
what Kubrick was going for. He doesn't leave it for the imagination, but
fails at providing grotesque imagery that would make you feel sickened by
the violence. And the freedom of choice, yes the prison chaplain has his
famous line, but I think the ultimate point of this movie is lost in once
again Kubrick's obsession with sex. If you want Kubrick-directed naked
people I suggest "Eyes Wide SHut". At least then I get the point. But
here,
he fails. He doesn't do enough justice to the book. He strays from the
Anthony Burgess's vision too far. Sure, it's more faithful than a lot of
Hollywood's book adaptations, but it could have been done so much better.
This book was practically begging to be made into a movie with it's
already
picked-out soundtrack. But I honestly feel that if people read the book
before jumping on the hype band wagon back in the '70's, we wouldn't look
at
this movie with such awe.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Another self-righteous Kubrick film, 13 November 2002
Author:
great_198 from Muskego, WI
Like 2001 and Full Metal Jacket, Kubrick tries to express the point he's
making WAY too hard in this movie. Nothing's left to the imagination, and
it's like Kubrick thinks that his audience are a bunch of morons who can't
come up with conclusions and ideas of their own. See Lolita. I thoroughly
enjoyed that movie. This was before Kubrick became all self-righteous and
tried to push ideals on his viewers. I heard Dr. Strangelove was good,
too.
The same kind of humor as Lolita. And Peter Sellers, who's in both these
films, kicks ass. Kubrick, I don't know why people praise you so
much.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Spastic Porn?, 15 October 2002
Author:
mrtopsyturvy from Suffolk, England
After watching the network premier on Channel 4, I was pretty much left
wondering what all the fuss was about. As is the case in many Kubrick
films, nothing is left to the imagination in this futuristic "shocker".
The
special vernacular used by the movie's juvenile delinquents puts me in
mind,
however, of the "computer-nerd" language used by teenagers at the start of
the new millenium as a way of setting themselves apart from their 'square'
and 'pedestrian' elders. A future society that revells in extreme
violence
was also more than touched upon in the 1976 film "Rollerball", but
thankfully these dire predictions have not yet been realised. A much
better
film (based on a protracted adventures of a young man, at odds with the
world around him) would have been "O, Lucky Man" (also with Malcom
McDowal),
two years later. As a film of prophecy, one has to say that "Clockwork
Orange, A", like "2001: A Space Odyssey", pretty much fails in every
respect. So the question has to be asked - "What was all the fuss
about?"
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Good story, lousy film, 29 September 2002
Author:
Peter (fineanimal) from San Diego, California
A Clockwork Orange has achieved legendary status, but for the life of me I
cannot figure out why. The original story by Anthony Burgess strives to make
an important Orwellian statement about the perils of allowing society to
override peoples' free will for the common good. But the production of this
film is so irretrievably dated and incoherent that the moral is almost
entirely lost in a bizarre mix of stylish ultraviolence and unrefined
cheese. Take Stanley Kubrick's name off the credits and its almost a
certainty that the gang at Mystery Science Theater would have had a field
day with this overrated dud.
Granted, the nudity, sex and violence must have been shocking in 1971, and
shock can make a point. These scenes are commonplace today, however, and
there lies the main reason that this film seems forever trapped in 1971: it
relies entirely on shock value to make its point, yet the scenes in this
film are no longer shocking. In too many ways, they are disturbingly
silly.
For all the talk about Kubrick's "brilliant" ironic juxtaposition of
beautiful classical music against the ugliness of violence, most of the
soundtrack sounds like it was created by an escapee from the primate
sanctuary who entered the sound studios of Leonard Nimoy's "In Search Of..."
and began pounding away at the Mini-Moog.
Unlike Kubrick's timeless masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove, A Clockwork Orange
looks like it was already seriously dated by the end of the year it was
released, even though the story apparently takes place well in the future.
So much bad hair, pre-disco costuming and overtly sexual "modern" art makes
one think of Andy Warhol far more than George Orwell, adding a buffoonish
quality to what should have been a serious story.
And unless Kubrick expected that Americans would never see this film, one
has to wonder why the speech almost entirely consists of slurred, sloppy
British slang to the point where one requires English subtitles to get
anywhere beyond the gist of what is being said in this English-speaking
film.
My apologies to those who love A Clockwork Orange, but it really isn't a
very good film. It's sad enough when art achieves immortality through style
rather than substance. But when even the cheesy style upon which a work of
art's immortality is based has long since become a historical embarrassment,
we have to start looking for psychological reasons why this film remains so
popular.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Very hard to describe..., 12 December 2001
Author:
nat from England
Hmmm I have mixed feelings over this film. The book 'A clockwork orange' is
brilliant and overall this isn't a bad adaptation. However, I think this
film really glorifies the violence too much and takes it too extrmes. It
also misses out the moral of the story and the interesting ideas Burgess had
about morality and free will. OK to watch once but only if you can handle
some fairly horrible scenes
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's best!!! A haunting masterpiece that will always be remembered!!!, 2 May 2001
Author:
mattymatt4ever from Jersey City, NJ
"A Clockwork Orange" is a film I didn't quite get the first time around, and
it's interesting that many other people felt the same way in their first
viewing. I mean, how am I supposed to react a scene where Alex and his
Droogs are raping an innocent woman, while he happily sings "Singing in the
Rain"? I'm no sadist.
However, in the second viewing, I realized the film's moral value and was
able to indulge the spectacular visuals. Kubrick has that masterful quality
that sucks you into his movies via the initial shot. The opening shot of
"CO" is a memorable one in which we see Alex (Malcolm McDowell) staring
straight into the camera, evil in his eyes--which do not flinch for a
second. Combined with the astounding soundtrack, highlighted by Beethoven's
"9th Symphony," we're dazzled by this hypnotic piece of artistry that
contains maximum doses of style and substance.
There are many lessons to be learned after watching this movie. Because
"CO" deals with all the faces of evil. We embark on a journey, through the
mind of Alex, bringing us into his sadistic world. There's a great scene in
which Alex retires to his bedroom, puts on Beethoven's 9th and we see a
montage of violent sequences interlocked with close-ups of Alex's face with
blood seeping out of his mouth. We learn how these acts of violence and
rape stimulate him to the fullest. Then we learn about the jealousy that
exists among evil. When Georgie wants to take over the Droogs and become
leader of the pack, Alex tosses him in the water along with the slow-witted
Droog Dim, and slashes him in the hand teaching him a lesson on who's the
boss. And finally, when Alex commits his last murder, we learn about the
betrayal that spawns from evil. All of Alex's fellow Droogs beat him
senseless and leave him at the scene of the crime, allowing him to get
picked up by the authorities and thrown in jail. In jail, we learn about
how "supposedly" morally correct individuals try to eradicate pure evil.
We're introduced to a fanatical preacher, who feels jail is the best
punishment for this group of sinners and they fully deserve to rot inside
until their souls are cleansed. That shows how religion can sometimes be
exaggerated and far-fetched, and religious leaders don't always take a
realistic approach to these matters. Alex is later rehabilitated by being
put through an unusual procedure. He is forced to watch scenes of brutal
violence and rape, put to the soundtrack of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. At
first, he feels satisfied. But as his mind gets healthier, he gets more and
more disturbed by these images. And we learn that the healthy mind is not
able to withstand such evil. Alex was able to withstand this evil in the
past, because his mind was in a sick, demented state. After Alex is fully
rehabilitated, he's released back into the world and--unfortunately--things
don't turn out so good. His family doesn't want him anymore. And we learn
more and more in upcoming scenes how evil cannot be tolerated by society,
and how evil acts of violence and rape are not forgiven or forgotten in the
eyes of those who were traumatized, no matter how clear Alex's conscience
happens to be. And society will often use evil against evil. This is the
type of the movie that gives a raw, unflinching look at the evils of
society, how we deal with them, how we're faced with them, how they're
inflicted upon us, etc. This is one of the best social satires ever made,
brutally portraying all the "dark sides" of society.
The dialogue is also memorable--though sometimes difficult to understand.
This is the type of movie that is great in all aspects. It's not only
emotionally stimulating, but visually stimulating, in a way only Kubrick
could've expressed it. I can't imagine any director doing it any better.
"A Clockwork Orange" is Kubrick's most noble masterpiece, and a definite
must-see!!!
My score: 9 (out of 10)
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: A strange fruit to say the least, 28 August 2000
Author:
davideo-2 from United Kingdom
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A
Meal
Instead*Avoid At All Costs
Natural curiosity is more a reason than any to watch a movie.Having been
banned on video for apparently 29 years, A Clockwork Orange,like all the
rest,inspires you to watch it if only to see what all the fuss was
about.Reservoir Dogs was splendid,The Exorcist was watchable.....but,then
again,Natural Born Killers was an unspeakable mess.This film emerges on
that
unparallel line between uniquely great,and preposterously
dreadful.
There is,whichever way you look at it,actually very little rhyme
or reason to the story of this film.Like in his past overrated
disappointment 2001:A Space Odyssey,Kubrick has instead here mesmerised
the
audience with his own variently effective roleplay on how his orchestra of
filming should go.He was capable of great,more reasonably effective work
in
the past,as The Shining and Full Metal Jacket have proven,while Eyes Wide
Shut remains to be seen on my part,but,revolutionary filmmaker he was,it
was
perhaps slightly unfair of him to expect the audience to swallow his own
complicated world view on such astoundingly thin plot material,though the
lead young man's journey from an unscrupulous lawbreaker to a dedicated
abider of law and order is strangely involving.
Yes,again in this scenario,maybe due to the
film's age,it's hard to see what all the fuss was about.Which is,in
turn,all
the worst,leaving you with an unbelievably uneven whole that churns you in
for the ride,and endures you in it's inexplicable revelation.**
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Some thoughts about A Clockwork Orange, 3 May 1999
Author:
b-a-h TNT-6 from nowhere
I have to agree with a previous comment about the detractors of this
movie; it seems this is not the right movie for people who just wanna see
the classic psycho movie characters and be scared (while laugh at the
characters' foolishness inside). This is not that kind of movie; so just
watch The Shining (a really good movie, btw) instead of this if that's
what
you want. ACO isn't, indeed, an easy movie; Stanley Kubrick did a
wonderful
job in trying to make the audience identify in Alex's character, while
keeping Alex's character himself so unbelievably real that sometimes you
think Malcolm McDowell was real crazy. That's probably why the movie is
psychologically shocking (and no, you don't see that much blood or
straight
violence on the screen).
This is not, indeed, a movie translation of the novel itself: although
they
share the sharp sense of humour of Alex's narrative, the story is slightly
different, and the reader doesn't identify with "the novel's Alex" that
much; as Burgess himself said, the movie is "Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork
Orange", the book is "Anthony Burgess' a Clockwork Orange". I'd say their
aim was pretty different: Burgess' primary one was probably to describe
society dehumanization, Kubrick wanted to show how criminals aren't
"aliens"
and sometimes respectable people aren't better than them. This is,
probably,
why the movie was dubbed "disgusting" by so many people.
The movie is visually really different from anything else ever appeared on
the screen: not at all hollywood-looking (nothing fancy looking here), and
maybe that's another reason why the "anti" camp is still pretty big;
nevertheless, I think Kubrick did a wonderful job in describing those
"futurible" suburbs.
One final note: the movie described a very close future when it came out;
now it's probably more like "an alternate world", although really close to
ours. That's why the movie itself still keeps his scary
fascination.
10/10
3 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Stupid., 12 August 2007
Author:
reg-alita
Yeah, I know I am a fool not confirming with the praising mass for this
movie. Yet I still gave it two stars because I watched it till the end.
At the time this movie was made it must have been fantastic - today I
think it's quite flat. The message is quite important - maybe even more
today than then but the presentation is quite weak, mostly plain
stupid. The one thing I don't like the most is that the primitivity of
some expressions stay in your head for quite a while - just like a
chant.
All in all I'd say that A Clockwork Orange does not deserve it's good
reputation in any way and I know that many people agree with me. I
regret that I have watched it.
4 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Overbaked and overrated, 10 June 2007
Author:
theskylabadventure from United Kingdom
The fact that this film is still held in such high regard is surely one
of the greatest mysteries in cinema.
For the record, I love the book. It would be easy, then, to dismiss my
disliking of the film as being no more than that I preferred my own
vision of the story upon reading it. Alas, my reasons for not liking
the film go far beyond this.
Firstly, and perhaps most significantly, I do not like Malcolm
McDowell's reading of Alex at all. I find him tacky, annoying and not
in the least fearsome. To be fair, Burgess wrote the infuriatingly
tacky lingo that Alex uses in his relentless narration throughout the
film, but I don't remember him describing Alex as an annoying, whiney
Northerner.
It is not just the performance of Alex's character that misses the mark
for me. Almost everyone in the film seems to think they're in an
episode of Monty Python. Yes, I know it's meant to be satirical, but
it's more parodical than anything. We're not laughing with it, we're
laughing at it. You could be forgiven for assuming that every actor
here thinks they're in a stage production and that we won't understand
their character unless they shout and overact their way through each
scene.
The production design is possibly an even greater crime. Rather than
looking futuristic, the whole film looks so stuck in the '60s that I
can't help but be completely detached from the action. The colour is
overwhelming and the lighting only serves to enhance the feeling that
this is a cheap TV movie, not a "classic" Warner production.
Don't even get me started about the cheesy, electronic renderings of
Beethoven that plague almost every scene. What on earth were they
thinking? Surely they knew that by using "state-of-the-art"
synthesisers they were condemning the film to being out of date within
five years. To begin with the music is mildly amusing. Soon it becomes
tedious. Then downright annoying, like everything else in the film.
Quite simply, I just cannot take this film seriously. It has no impact
whatsoever. Part of the film's longevity in the minds of moviegoers is
said to be the controversy and the powerful, disturbing tone of the
movie. Frankly, I found Bambi more disturbing, and a damn sight less
tedious.
On that note, let me not forget how long, slow paced and drawn out
every single scene is. By the 90 minute mark the film has gone past
boring into something completely new. Needless to say, when the film
finally ends, you'll find yourself struggling to resist the urge to
follow Alex in jumping straight out the nearest window.
7 out of 14 people found the following review useful: Violent actions, violent reactions..., 29 May 2004
Author:
Merwyn Grote (majikstl@aol.com) from St. Louis, Missouri
According to IMDb.com, Stanley Kubrick had exhibition of A CLOCKWORK
ORANGE stopped in the United Kingdom after his family received death
threats protesting the film. There is a certain irony here: Kubrick's
film at the very least trivializes violence and maybe even glamorizes
it, but Kubrick himself didn't seem to recognize the power and the
influence that stylized violence has, until it posed a real threat to
him and his family.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is undoubtedly a fascinating film to watch. Its
creation of a bizarre, pop-art, surrealistic, vaguely futuristic world
is, as you'd expect from Kubrick, meticulous and detailed. The film
fulfills a daring, conceptually bold vision of a world that is violent,
superficial and coldly impersonal. In essence, a somewhat more colorful
version of the type of world with which Kubrick became increasingly
fascinated. And, as in the Kubrick style, the more obsessively intense
the appearance of the film, the more progressively shallow it is
thematically and philosophically. Like much of Kubrick's work, A
CLOCKWORK ORANGE is about how something is said, but not all that
interested in what is actually being said.
The film is not just about violence, but about the theatrics of
violence. The acts of violence are just that, acts -- i.e.,
performances -- of violence. Some of this is obvious: a gang rape
happens on a theatre stage and another rape is performed as the main
character parodies "Singin' in the Rain." Other instances are less
obvious, but still apparent as Kubrick takes great pains to control
angle, lighting and image to make the attacks "ultra-violent," but in a
photogenic way. We don't see the violence as realistic, but in a jazzed
up cinematic way. Terrible things happen to otherwise innocent people,
but Kubrick isn't interested in their suffering, but in the calculated
high his protagonist and his fellow thugs get as they commit crimes --
and the calculated high he wants the audience to have as they watch.
ORANGE's anti-hero is Alex (Malcolm MacDowell). Alex is a rapist and a
murder and God-only-knows what else. Kubrick wants Alex to be seen as
the film's victim. To this end, Alex is arrested and, during the course
of the film, reprogrammed to abhor violence. This, it seems, makes Alex
a helpless victim in the real world, much like the helpless victims he
terrorized during the first half of the film. The difference is that
Alex is the victim of a big, mean, horrible government that has left
him stripped of his free will, while Alex's various victims were, well,
secondary characters; important as props, but little else. Kubrick
seems oblivious to the fact that his argument in favor of individual
freedom has little respect for most of its individual characters.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is unique in the world of film, there is nothing
quite like it. But, unfortunately, it is very typically Kubrick. Like
an architect or interior designer who strives to be an artist, Kubrick
creates a world that is stunning visually, but coldly inhospitable. He
is so obsessed with having every frame of his movies looking just so,
that he neglects to create worlds where there is room for anything as
messy as humanity. Even in a film like ORANGE with its defense of free
will at any cost, Kubrick himself seems to fear anything as
uncontrollable as spontaneity. His plea for free will is cold and
mechanical.
Kubrick's message is that being robbed of free will by the state is far
worse of a crime than rape or murder or any other act of violence.
Which, in theory, is a noble philosophy, assuming you have not been a
victim of rape or murder or any other act of violence. Whether in the
real world or the reel world, violence always robs its victims of their
free will, and in far more oppressive ways than suffered by Alex. It is
sad and somewhat telling that Kubrick wants to work up a great deal of
pity for a shallow monster like Alex, who essentially is stripped of
his dubious right to do harm, but the director can't seem to muster up
anything but a passing interest in the people who are harmed by Alex.
Kubrick seems to respect Alex as a man of action, albeit antisocial
action, over the benign passivity of his victims.
ORANGE doesn't really condone violence, but it doesn't condemn it
either. The film sees violence as a moral choice, something for the
individual to accept or reject. Which would be fine, if the film also
recognized that such choices come with responsibilities and
consequences. What most people would see as justice -- Alex losing his
freedom to chose his life's options -- the film sees as oppression.
Whether you want to see it as chaos, anarchy, amorality or just plain
stupidity, the film's seemingly high-minded defense of personal freedom
is noble only if you are devoid of basic human compassion. That is, you
are willing to place intellectual theory over simple human dignity. I
suspect that Kubrick -- like the makers of other "ultra-violent" films,
from THE WILD BUNCH to NATURAL BORN KILLERS -- thought he was making a
bold statement about our violent society, creating "art," but foolishly
he didn't seem to grasp that such "art" is what helps to make a society
violent in the first place. Unquestioned violence begets indefensible
violence.
Art should be the antithesis of violence and even violent art should
mock or repudiate violence. Maybe that idea finally hit home when
Kubrick moved to suppress the film in order to protect his family.
8 out of 16 people found the following review useful: Interesting but flawed, 26 October 2002
Author:
bob the moo from Birmingham, UK
In England Alex and his droogs are just one of many small gangs of youths
who live for thrills experienced through ultra-violence and forced in and
out with girls. Internal conflict with his droogs sees Alex abandoned at a
crime scene where he is arrested. Faced with 14 years in jail Alex tries to
get involved in a new Government led initiative to rehabilitate
criminals.
I imagine I'm in the same boat as many users here. I first saw Clockwork
Orange many years ago on a pirate copy where the words `sound quality' and
`visual sharpness' didn't play any part. It wasn't till recently that I was
able to watch it on a screen without squinting, when Kubrick's ban was
lifted in the UK. At this point I waited several years till it came to TV
before revisiting it – I wanted to watch it away from media hype and make my
own mind up.
What I found was a film that was taking it's points from the debate that was
going on at the time over treatment of criminals. The plot is worthy and
does set up a situation that becomes more relevant every year in the UK –
that of violent disaffected youth. However Kubrick doesn't look at the
wider impact of society on Alex, he only looks at Alex and how he is treated
now by society. His life consists of sex and violence – all for thrills, a
picture that is all too realistic. However only in the second half does
Kubrick make some strong points about the nature of people and how society
can be as cruel as individuals.
Most of the film is a sort of arty porn type of film. That's not to
criticise it for this, but it does feel like Kubrick is concentrating more
on style rather than content. Visually the film works well, even if some of
the scenes of sexual violence I felt were more than they needed to be and it
felt like it was revelling in the very things it was criticising. However
at it's heart the story is a good idea and it is told in a weird way that
holds the attention.
Alex's weird childlike use of made up words make it feel like he really is a
teenager trying to create a world different from his parents and plenty of
the images show the reality of his world. McDowell delivers another great
performance and effortlessly carries the film. However his constant swagger
could be criticised for being too much, but at the key moments of weakness
he brings out Alex's fear well. The rest of the support cast give good
Orwellian authority figures or vengeful victims well.
Overall this film is worth watching once simply because of the hype. Now
that it's no longer banned it will lose much of the credit it gave you when
you could tell people that you'd seen it (now every school kid can rent it
on video!) and may lose some critical support as a result. McDowell is
great but Kubrick works harder on his style than making clear, strong points
through narrative.
18 out of 36 people found the following review useful: So disgusting I am amazed it ever made to the top 250!, 2 December 2007
Author:
iteptex from France
Usually, before watching any movie I look up IMDb to see its rating and
viewers' comments on it. I did the same before seeing the Clockwork
Orange. It said, mostly, yes, violence, yes, the main hero's a monster,
but what a masterpiece! It seemed to deserve its place in the first 50
in the IMDb rating... Then I watched the film. And I believe it is one
of the most disgusting films I ever saw. It is no doubt intended to be
full of hidden significance, the grotesque manner in which characters
speaks, move, dress, live. This is supposed to be "new and
frighteningly surrealistic", a "sharp, futuristic social satire". The
viewer is probably supposed to be saturated with disgust to the point
that he/she realizes, oh my God, that's us! That's the worst part of a
person in modern society, bla-bla-bla. Suppose, however, that you don't
go along with this idea. What do you see then? You see an empty film.
It is filled with violence that serves to get the oh-so-new idea of a
social satire through. Because, you see, without it the viewer won't
understand. He won't understand the idea of mixing English with misused
and twisted Russian words. He won't understand that the Music line is
supposed to be thought-provoking and not just stupid: ah, Beethoven and
the Nazi, Beauty and the Beast, whatever. This film is two wasted hours
of your life. After having watched it, you get the awful feeling you've
been taken for an idiot. One way to deal with the situation is try to
look thoughtful and say, "hmm, so new, so sharp". Another way is throw
the DVD into the waste bin and try to forget you've ever watched it.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Simply the greatest film ever made, 17 June 2009
Author:
Irish man from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I am a Stan fan, just putting it out there first. From "A Clockwork
Orange" to "Full Metal Jacket" and "The Shining" and so on. So forgive
me if I embellish on Mr. Kubrick's past works. This is not just
Kubrick's best work, but also the greatest film ever made. This film
works and does well on so many levels. Upon my first viewing, "I said
to myself 'this is all-right' not too good and not too bad. My next
viewing I had seen many things that I had not noticed before." The day
after the second viewing, I went out and bought it and it was worth
every penny.
The primary goal of the film, I believe, was to show futile our efforts
are to change people because of the way they "tick." I learned from
this films that people don't "really" change. The films embraces these
thoughts with dark humor and disturbing actions. In one word the film
is: SATIRICAL. On another level, the words to describe the film are:
"THE TIMES ARE A-CHANGIN." These wise words of Bob Dylan apply to this
film as well as others and are every bit true in real life, like "No
Country for Old Men." For example, as a slight spoiler, Alex, towards
the beginning of the film; Alex is shown to not wanting things to
change like his "droogie" Georgie had briefly mentioned. This and the
poorly-sought ambition to change certain characters in the film WITHOUT
any side effects are both inevitable and the central ideas in the film.
A few characters had mentioned how they wished things were still the
same in terms of anything, like in terms of Alex's punishments for his
crimes. When Alex changes his ways, the others become hypocrites and
oppose to what they once believed. For example, the people wanting to
change Alex in a non-violent way find that at the end of the film, this
is utterly impossible. Certain conversations between characters
symbolize a world's readiness to change from one belief to the next and
then back again, hence the title which also applies to Alex himself. In
the film, half of the characters started as being the "ultra-violent"
and wanting a change in their ways or vice-versa (good people becoming
violent). I'm going to leave it at that because I am getting
overwhelmed with just how much this film covers.
I cannot even fully write out how deep this movie is. For those who
haven't seen it, go rent it now if you are not easily disturbed. The
film was robbed of several deserving Oscars including some I thought
the film also should have gotten, but didn't even get an Oscar nod (ex.
Best Original Score). The only film that I believe comes close to this
masterpiece is Eastwood's "Unforgiven" Once again, in a nutshell, go
see this, but is not obviously not recommended for kids to watch.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Dazzling and provocative; Kubrick at his creative peak., 21 January 2009
Author:
bobsgrock from United States
If there ever was a film that was shocking and twisted, yet so
important and unique in cinema, that would be A Clockwork Orange.
Stanley Kubrick, having just come off the success of 2001: A Space
Odyssey, continued the most creative vein of his career with this
adaptation of Anthony Burgess' controversial novel about gangs of young
boys wrecking havoc amongst the streets of futuristic Britain.
This film is so much more than just a look at the future of youth.
Kubrick also is able to insert his brilliant visual style which works
so well here with the subject material. For the first half hour, we are
stunned, amazed at the vicious and cruel acts of Alex and his droogs.
As the story moves on, under any other director the story would have
become less titillating, but thanks to Kubrick's vision and a tour de
force performance by Malcolm McDowell, this movie only gets better. We
follow Alex through all aspects of his journey, and this is the key. By
the final third, we find ourselves somewhat sympathetic for Alex
despite his previous wrongdoings. Beyond this, there is also exploring
the fact of whether state control is good or how much it takes until
someone is devoid of their basic choice as a human being.
Still, all these nuances aside, this is one movie not easily forgotten.
With terrific performances, magnificent backing music, and flawless
directing from one of the greatest of all time, A Clockwork Orange is a
film to experience and think about for years to come.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Carefully prepared, highly stylised satire, 30 October 2008
Author:
Framescourer from London, UK
High watermark Kubrick. It's a convoluted and often hysterical British
satire shot with great care over lighting and composition. It's target
is the near future or even a Britain of an alternative present.
Everything follows fashion: clothes, culture, language, politics. The
one exemption from this is the prison in which Alex is briefly
interned, an establishment run by pre-war tub-thumpers for whom
dogmatism, both religious and social, is inflexible. Importantly,
whilst these characters are also amusing they are not contemptible.
Malcolm MacDowell carries the movie, cannoning between the adolescent
bravado, belligerence and victimisation that Lindsay Anderson already
cast in If... Kubrick photographs him, as he photographs everything,
straightforwardly, making the cast work hard, but repaying their work
by obscuring none of it. The older cast are wonderful: Philip Stone is
key as the put-upon father suffering his wife's hideous clothing and
furnishing fads; Patrick Magee does a super turn as the writer driven
just short of madness by the first attack; and Anthony Sharp is the
manipulative interior minister, familiar from our contemporary
politics.
Controversy may be the legacy of this film for its brutal, stylised
rape and violence sequences. What we see today though is an account of
how the attitudes of those in the film already profoundly affected by
fashion are further dictated by the media (there are lots of papers
throughout). However, Alex's attitudes remain constant: they are the
typical desires of a young man which, as often as they are maliciously
sought also find consummation in as many circumstances that are not
only anodyne but also humorous (the time lapse orgy to Rossini and the
final shot). 7/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: "Naughty, naughty, naughty! You filthy old soomka!", 18 August 2008
Author:
Bozo
This movie is pure art on the screen.
From the interesting language, to the colorful inventions of this world
created by Alex Burgess, this is the story of a young man's night-life
gone wrong, his recovery and suffering.
Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is one of the most interesting characters on
the big screen. He is leader of a "gang" consisting of Dim (Warren
Clarke), Georgie (James Marcus), and Pete (Michael Tarn). Alex does not
like being challenged and has his fun at the expense of others. He also
heavily enjoys Beethoven and his pet snake, Basil.
Some other good performances in this movie were Frank Alexander
(Patrick Magee), and my personal favorite, Mr. Deltoid (Aubrey Morris),
Alex's crazy, blissfully always happy parole officer (I think so
anyway).
I was very disoriented watching this movie, but a few more viewings
helped me appreciate this movie so much more.
This is definitely a favorite of mine, and well worth a try.
10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Terrifying, Grotesque, Funny, Lyrical, Violent, Spetacular., 30 June 2008
Author:
skeletonman13 from United States
Kubrick really knows how to make a good movie! He really has shown me
now, after seeing The Shining, Barry Lyndon, 2001, and Dr. Strangelove.
I knew this has to be really good!! From the reviews I read, to the
opinions i heard. I really set my expectations high for A Clockwork
Orange. And the film, really blew me away. It is one of the greatest
films ever made (to me). Stanely Kubrick, is now my favorite director.
ACO has amazing visuals, the beautiful use of vibrant colors, the
acting is incredible. McDowell did an excellent job as Alex DeLarge.
The cinematography (spelling?) is amazing. Every little thing about
this picture, is beautiful. Along with 2001, Barry Lyndon, The Shining,
and Dr. Strangelove, they all blew me away, and all are in my top 50
greatest movies ever made!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Pure genius, timeless and not for everyone, 11 June 2008
Author:
Trythewine from United States
It's hard for me to read the negative comments about Kubrick's "A
Clockwork Orange," but then I have to sit back and realize this movie
is not for everyone. So here is a quick checklist for those considering
viewing the film.
1. If you go to church every Sunday...this movie is not for you.
2. If your favorite movie came out in the last 15 years...this movie is
definitely not for you.
3. If you dislike classical music...It's not for you.
4. If you dislike like violence...you better stick to PG-13 because
this movie is absolutely, positively not for you!
Unfortunately, it appears that many who dislike the film cannot get
past the ultra-violence and brief nudity, which are central to the
plot.
Alex, a youth living in a nondescript future London, is pure evil. He
is deceitful, manipulative, he robs, rapes, kills and brutalizes
without any remorse. In this future society the government is concerned
with staving off the climbing crime rate and rehabilitating the youth
of the day. After a murder conviction leave's Alex in the stir, we
truly see how conniving and unrepentant he is. Once released from
prison, a government experiment leaves Alex defenseless against
violence from those he has wronged, but it is still difficult not to
root for him.
I think people are who are truly disturbed by this film realize, but
would never admit, how they would like to be like Alex in a small way
and take part in some or all of his exploits. I wonder if they would
say the same about "Lolita," equally disturbing, but on a different
level. Those who love it feel the same, which is why they watch it over
and over.
Yet another masterpiece by Kubrick, in my humble opinion.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: My comment!!!, 30 May 2008
Author:
jorgepulgo from Colombia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Clockwork orange, the story of a young man called Alex and his gang of
teenagers, the kind of boys that loved do drugs, drink, skip school,
and wreak havoc during the night. The movie shows a complete
metamorphosis of the main character (Alex) who loved ultra-violence,
Beethoven, who was the leader of the gang, and was rude and
disrespectful towards his other droogs, and, in a higher level, with
the people that suffer his wreak havoc. Alex become in a complete
different man contrary to the man he used to be, and his "new brain"
forces him to hate what he used to love. Thanks to this change, the
hangman (Alex) was the victim and his old victims were the hangmen.
This movie doesn't seem to belong to any particular time; You can find
situations and behaviors similar to those shown in the movie. It
doesn't matter if it's now or ten or twenty years ego, its messages can
be applied to any epoch. One of the messages that this movie gives us
is: "old sins have long shadows", in other words: late or soon you have
to face the consequences of your acts, and that happened to Alex. From
other point of view, the movie can make us reflect on the possibility
that other person or think can have to control our mind, our decisions,
our life. They don't have to use medicines or special treatments to
make us live under their control, they only feed our mind day after day
with the concept of "perfect or ideal life", they construct our dreams
and goals around this concept. The special treatment in our case are
those material things we "need" and the media that every they wanna
sell us all necessary things to build that perfect life. Do We actually
live like we would like to live, or we live like this "treatment" wants
we to live? think about it.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: single view, 28 May 2008
Author:
juan f garcia from Medellin, Colombia
It is a crude film in the which everything that is shown is because it
needs to be shown to give it a meaning. At first glance, this seems
rude and morbid but every time I look more closely, I understand that
all those involved in a lyric violence, plays a key role in the plot
and development. The bar, the dresses, masks and the particular gangs,
everything is needed. I am charmed with the movie for the mixture of
violence, music, heap and the dialect that to the hearing can sound
rough. Alex is the a unique character for his way of life with extreme
likes. The performance of the main characters is impeccable, each one
seems to have born for this role. The only thing that set me up at the
first time was the speeching and language that is used. but ti was only
the first time because like all the good movies, it doesn't give all in
the same time. then I comprehend that this slang is very useful to the
movie, in the same way that the ultra-violence. In addition the film
leaves us to see a reality that has never been easy to see. The
attempts of the State for dominating to everything that one that
represents a danger for the balance of this one. In this case the State
relied on the science, tries to dominate the part that does us more
humans, the power of choice. It is not important if it is chosen
towards the bad or good side, the autonomy is one of the principal
rights that we have when we do part of a society. In this sense, the
movie is futurist because it let us to have a view about the things
that are going to happen in the cold war and what nowadays is passing
with communication media and the influence of the State on the
citizens.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Karma, 27 May 2008
Author:
Diego R from Diego Rojas UdeA
"A Clockwork Orange" it's a movie to remember us than there are crazy
people in this world, because the situations weren't fictitious
situations. There are criminal people than doesn't matter other people
and they are able to attack somebody without reasons, Like the main
character "Alex" and his gang, than they were too bad to society
because they stole, hit and rape people. But at the end they discover
the "Karma" and pay for their acts in jail. After that, the main
character turns in defenseless person by the tortures in jail
I liked the movie, not much, but i liked it, because the bad guy
happened bad things
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A Clockwork Orange- A work of sheer brilliance, 7 May 2008
Author:
ibuk from United Kingdom
I only viewed ACO a couple of weeks ago, from the minute go I was
spellbound by its sheer brilliance. Adapted from a novel by Anthony
Burgess ACO is a shocking tale of redemption and revenge. When released
ACO caused a huge sensation and was banned for several years. After
seeing I can see why it caused so much offence, there is a fair deal of
nudity and it shows the main character raping women. Until I saw ACO
the only movie I had watched of Stanley Kubrick was The Shining but
this is in a league of its own. After seeing this movie I also saw
Kubrick's other masterpiece 2001: A Space Oddysey which I didn't fully
understand but I will give another go. ACO is a landmark movie and is a
work of sheer brilliance from a great director.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: One of the best movies i have ever seen!, 6 May 2008
Author:
atomicpunks22 from United States
A clockwork Orange, is a tour DE force of sounds and images. Never has
the optical illusion of motion with the mixture of sounds that is
movies,affected me so much. I came in, expecting the strange, the
sublime, i heard many things about this movie and had high
expectations. But after i was done watching, it didn't have that much
of an impact on me, i thought it was OK, i did not get the message at
the time, butthe next week, i watched it again, and i got it, i got the
message, i understood the genius! the next day i watched it again, and
after that day i became in love with this movie! Stanley Kubrick's
best! he takes this movie by the reigns and steers it into the perfect
movie. the images in this movie, while not as epic as 2001 a space
odyssey, our still certainly incredible! the scene of Alex and his
droogs will stay with you for ever! speaking of Alex, Malcom Mcdowell
is incredible, he steals the show, the dialog that he speaks is odd and
captivating.
the music is mesmerizing, its hypnotic, classical music playing
opposite such "ultra-violence" is not the type of music one would first
think of for this type of movie. As for the violence, it is not that
violent now, in fact it isn't, back then people were over exaggerating!
they had grind house movie worse than this all the time! the real main
problem is the rape scenes. There is a lot of it, and i can see why
people would find it disturbing, but to me, the way they are shot,
makes them just one of the things to love about this movie.
Most directors give you all the answers, so that you can understand the
whole movie the first time you see it. Not kubrick. The first time you
see this movie, you are tooo distracted by the weirdness of this film
to tkae anything out. But the second time trhough, its much more clear.
overall i have seen this movie many times and it never gets old, it is
a classic, and one of the best films ever made!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A Masterpiece From The Master., 30 April 2008
Author:
LagerLagerLagerShouting from England
Stanley's Kubrick's vision of a dystopian future is arguably his most
accomplished film. Highly controversial on first release A Clockwork
Orange was undoubtedly way ahead of its time and to this day remains an
engaging, bold and brilliant satire on the corruption and hypocrisy of
a fickle society. At the centre of this, the film remains chillingly
topical, demonstrating the debate between free-will versus conformity
with a distinct visual approach and creative structure. The best
element of this film is the wickedly funny dialogue, a highly inventive
take on delinquent orientated slang, but what makes the film a
masterpiece is Kubrick's flawless direction. Every scene is beautifully
composed and imaginatively stylish, combining zooms, tracking shots,
pans and inventive close-ups coupled with some deliriously original
editing that pays homage to the class system and engaging pop-art. The
film remains a hallmark of modern cinema that is rivetingly brilliant,
combining stunning visuals, darkly funny dialogue and insanely catchy
music to amazing and accomplished effect.
10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: One of the Best Films Ever Made, 11 April 2008
Author:
PeterWilliamson from Australia
One of my biggest wishes about this movie is that Stanley Kurbrick were
alive to see the huge and successful re-release of his perfectly
brilliant artwork.
Malcom McDowell plays the sly and cunning Alex. He likes a bit of the
old ultra-violence with his three drogues. As far as I'm concerned is
this movie is often extremely under rated, I was glad to see that it
was in the IMDb top 250.
A Clockwirk Orange is visually brilliant, absolutely stunning; hardly
any faults. After watching this memorable masterpiece you will have
lines, music and scenes in your head. Still giving the impact of what
they did while you were watching it. Singing in the rain will never be
the same to you. The elements and effects of drama in this movie are
outstanding, it's one of the most powerful films I have ever seen and
one of the best perspective of the future (even though it was made in
the late 60s). This movie has an unbelievable power to it, that creeps
you and keeps you interested at the same time. You see the main
directing signature of Stanley Kurbrik a lot, the P.O.V (point of view)
shot. Although the movie focuses on the more horrible sides of life,
you still get a good feel from it by the end; and that is what helps
keep this movie brilliant, you DO NOT lose interest in it. Every part
of it is extremely attractive, the beginning, the middle and Kurbrik
even managed to give it an ending to suit it. The amazing flash backs
and shots showing how Alex is thinking helps to also make the
brilliance more obviously shining; and to think of how low budget this
amazing attraction is or was.
I recommend this to anyone whose ever liked any 'off beat' film and can
handle a bit of violence. 9.7/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Brilliant Classic on the problems with "Aversion Therapy", 9 April 2008
Author:
ozmosis2323 from Australia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This extra-ordinary classic novel by Anthony Burgess originally sold to
the Rolling Stones for $500 was picked up by the great Stanley Kubrick
who wrote the screenplay and produced and directed it. The film set in
the future uses a language created by Burgess , Nadsat, which is a
mixture of English and Russian slang.
Story revolves around a stylistic gang leader Alex and his gang the
droogs. Alex and his mates not only indulge in violent robberies
involving rape but also attack rival gangs with their successful style
of ultra violence. Alex also loves seducing very young teenage girls
for group sex and this is displayed in the film at high speed to
William Tells Overture. He is also obsessed with Beethoven's 9th
symphony in D minor which gives him delusions off grandeur and manic
elation especially during a scene when he turns on his fellow gang
members. A graphic scene follows where Alex and his subjugated gang
carry out a home invasion to the theme of the Rossini's Thieving
Magpies overture.
Alex is caught and imprisoned for the murder of the old spinster owner.
Alex undergoes a new and radical procedure of "Aversion Therapy" to
suppress his violent and sexual tendencies. Unfortunately this therapy
also leaves Alex unable to function within the realms of his
personality creating disastrous Psychological problems. Alex is unable
to defend himself when attacked by various of his victims including his
former fellow gang members who are now Police. Eventually Alex stumbles
across a wealthy political activist Mr Alexander who is trying to
overthrow the government and seeks solace with him. Unfortunately for
Alex Mr Alexander recognises him as the man who raped and murdered his
wife during a home invasion.
Mr Alexander tries to expose the Governments use of Aversion therapy as
an abuse of human rights but it backfires and Alex becomes a hero
indulged upon by the Government.
Kubrick withdrew the film when censored in Britain. It a classic on
every level.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: man as a machine, 19 December 2007
Author:
madalina_roca from Romania
The movie deals with the human mind, the pervert man, brutal, violent,
atrocious but free and the 'good man', the man seen as a plant, as a
manipulated object, without free will. The world may be violent and
horrible but still, a world full of plain, smiling, good people would
be worse. Man is both good and evil, thats the beauty of humanity,
that's the thing that brings color to life. The movie mocks at the
government, the supreme control organ that manipulates the human mind
under the pretext of doing something good for the society. The use of
music in the violent scenes is not comic, Kubrick deals with music just
like David Lynch does. The music is dangerous because itţs an extension
of the characterţs inner self.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: a masterpiece, 20 August 2007
Author:
masdestroyer12 from United Kingdom
Clockwork Orange is what you want to understand it to be. Some may find
the movie very gross, that is. But some who see this film see it as the
greatest film made, people such as myself, and can see through the
carnage. The message of the movie is, you choose what you want to be,
no matter what. You can be that kind of person, who does evil, the
person you choose to be, or be a good person. That is the main message.
It is up to the one who is evil to realise, what he/she is doing, doing
is wrong. And the choices they make that make them to the person they
are. You cannot make a man good, it is his will to do so. Clockwork
Orange is a cinematic masterpiece, because of the way it was done.
Truly showing how sinister the wold can be, even if i is set in the
future. Again, i say that clockwork orange is a masterpiece, not
because of its depiction of a future gone wrong, nor of the raw
brutality of human beings(although these are very important factors
which make this movie great), but the message of choice, choice to be
good, or be evil.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Impressive movie, 18 August 2007
Author:
daniel Carbajo López from Barcelona, Spain
In a new future, the society has gone to an offspring. Alex is a
charismatic intelligent guy that loves violence and evilness. He is the
leader of a gang and we can see him doing some act of terrific
ultra-violence, just for fun. When he is arrested, as he wants to leave
prison early, he accepts to be part of a new treatment which will cause
him to be a good citizen. This is one of the best Kinrick's movies.
Cruel, satiric, intelligent. The fact that ultra-violence is shown to
us with lots of ironic and black humour, in almost a hypnotic-oniric
way makes it special, then, violence becomes wonderful, and this
disturbs you, which is specially the main of the director, he is able
to make you love such a disgusting guy. Then, as the violent becomes
the Government, Alex is just a victim, a guy that only wants to live
quiet, and the "law" is the ultra-violent there, programming the
prisoners, making them fools that cannot decide freely.
It is a critic not only to the violence (of course violence is bad) but
also to the way that a country uses to fight against it, which are the
limit should not be passed? Who will guard the guards? With all these
thing in mind, th movie is just a masterpiece, disturbing and sometimes
uncomfortable, but impressively good. The choose of Malcolm as the main
actor is just perfect, he is able to play perfectly this not so mad
danger and makes us ask ourselves why he was not even nominated to
Oscars. may cause repulsion due to its violence (though lot of time has
passed!) but it is totally good. Recommended to everyone able to think
about ethics and who wants to watch to a good movie that makes you
think.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's One True Masterpiece, 16 August 2007
Author:
Jonny_Numb from Hellfudge, Pennsylvania
Stanley Kubrick is easily one of the most overrated directors of all
time, but I will say that "A Clockwork Orange" is a singular
masterpiece that still carries an effect, 36 years later. I think this
has less to do with Kubrick the director than Kubrick the
adapter--working from Anthony Burgess's novel of the same name, rich
with food for thought, the director does not skimp on the intertwining
strings of morality, religion, criminality, science, and the State that
mark Alexander DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell, in an iconic role)'s descent
through a literal mindf*ck in order to curtail his delinquent desires.
Kubrick's "point-and-stare" technique, usually an invitation for sleep,
is properly observant and well-utilized here: the characters convey the
aforementioned commentary in a lively, sly way (from Alex's 'droogies'
to the pitch-perfect Aubrey Morris as the perpetually-grinning Mr.
Deltoid). While time has diminished the shocks that made the film
controversial upon initial release, the morality-play structure is
still well-executed and compelling, culminating in a scene revolving
around Alex, a plate of spaghetti, and a bottle of wine that is nothing
short of masterful. There are many more scenes like this, but like the
rest of "A Clockwork Orange"--they are best experienced cold. Highly
recommended, and that's coming from someone who thinks the rest of
Kubrick's filmography is negligible.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: An excellent presentation of art in cinema., 14 August 2007
Author:
filmviewer64 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
"A Clockwork Orange" is one of the strangest and most brilliant films
in existence. Based on the novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess,
director Stanley Kubrick brings an ultimately surreal and artistic look
to the movie.Never before have I seen a movie that works and operates
so well on a visual level, and I am not sure if I ever will. It is a
movie that must ultimately be seen to believe.
For the course of "A Clockwork Orange", we follow the experiences
encountered by young British criminal/rapist Alex DeLarge, played
wonderfully yet hauntingly by Malcom McDowell. Alex and his droogs
(members in a gang lead by Alex) rape, beat, lynch, and steal just to
have their own sick sense of enjoyment, all while communicating to each
other in a type of language known as Nadsat. Whether you view these
experiences as intelligent views on society or just plain vile and
disgusting images, there is no denying that it is definitely artistic,
and that is the level that this movie succeeds best on.
While the movie is full of violence and sexual content, it is the way
that it is portrayed that truly sets it apart. Bright, brilliant colors
make up much of the backgrounds and settings, while various pieces of
classical music are used as background music. While the colors and
music usually clash with what is taking place in a particular scene,
the overall experience that they all create is truly a wonder to view.
I place a lot of emphasis on this movies artistic direction, and while
it does make the movie what it is, it is not the only thing that makes
the movie great. Malcom McDowell portrays the monster Alex DeLarge so
well that, even though we find everything he does to be awful, he can
almost make you sympathize with him when he encounters various
problems. Even though you never agree with the type of person that Alex
is (or at least I hope you don't), you can truly see Alex as an actual
person, and I attribute this in great deal to Malcom McDowell.
It is not surprising that this movie was so controversial when it first
came out in 1971, as it shows a great deal of infamous rape, sex, and
violent scenes. To only see the movie as something of those elements
only, though, is to be rather short-sighted. Another popular criticism
of this movie is that it seems cold and lifeless, but that is necessary
to ensure we see the entire move fold out in front of us like a piece
of artwork. Simply said, their is no time for real character
development. All that time wasted on complaining about such issues,
however, detracts from time that could be spent on one of the most
visually arresting and absolutely brilliant movies in existence.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Memorable, Mesmerising and Magnificent Masterpiece, 13 August 2007
Author:
Alexander Penn from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange is a story of a young degenerate called Alex de
Large who seems as if he is a normal teenager living with his parents.
But as you scratch the surface you see that he's a cold hearted evil
criminal. After he gets betrayed by his gang and sent to jail for
murder he is chosen to try out the governments new reformation program
which has interesting results.
The reformation technique is called the 'Ludivico Technique' in which
the prisoner is pinned down and forced to watch films of graphic crimes
such as rape, murder etc. The idea of it is to give so much violence to
the prisoner that he begins to dislike it and grow a natural resistance
to it. This natural resistance is a sick sensation felt any time the
thought of violence comes to the prisoners mind. Although this stops
the prisoner committing crime, it raises ethical issues that are
stressed by the prison vicar such as the fact that Alex isn't truly
good, he only performs because of the fear of being in physical pain. A
quote that interested me in the film is 'A man who cannot choose ceases
to be a man'. Alex cant choose whether to do good or bad because hes a
robot forced to do good. This in itself is called a clockwork orange.
There was much confusion of the name 'A clockwork orange' and what it
means. In the book, F.Alexander is writing a book called a clockwork
orange which Alex notices prior to the brutal rape of his wife
(otherwise known as the 'singin in the rain' scene) he then rips its
up. However this isn't in the film. The actual definition of a
clockwork orange is someone that can only perform good or evil. This is
in direct correspondence with Alex's story in the book and film.
Alex and his droogs (Dim, Pete and Georgie) use a very enigmatic and
somewhat Shakespearian lexis such as 'chelloveck' and a personal
favourite quote of mine 'how art thou glob of cheap stinking chip oil'.
This is the slang of teenagers in the time of the film which is in the
not so distant future. This is a fantastic prediction and also
assumption of how youth will change. Many people find the dialect used
by teenagers in the present day very hard to understand like we do to
the language used by Alex and his droogs. No-one else seems to use that
language other than Alex and his droogs, its teenage talk. Its like
another realm of todays world. Also the fashion is a fantastic
prediction of the not so distant future. The outfit and hairstyles in
the film seem ridiculous to us as we watch it such as Alex's mum's
crazy hair!. Much like today, we look back at 80's and 70's fashion and
we see it as ridiculous. This all adds up to the conclusion that
everything in this film is plausible even the crazy design of the
Korova milk bar.
The movie is in three parts, Alex and his droogs, Alex in jail and the
treatment then Alex out of Jail
Alex de Large rapes, steals and kills people but he listens to and is
driven by Classical music such as Mozart and Beethoven. Music is a very
important device in this film. Part 1 of the film is series of music
and violence orchestrated together with perfect harmony. Kubrick
manages to take relaxing classical music and use it to make the scenes
deranged and frantic. Not only that, the film also manages to give the
music sadistic outlooks for the audience. For example, i now see the
9th symphony and Singin in the rain as evil songs now however, i enjoy
listening to them more!. The film conditions us to like or hate the
music more much like Alex is inavertely conditioned to resist beethoven
in the Ludivico technique later in the film.
Near the end of the film, Alex's demons come back to haunt him.
Firstly, the old man he and his droogs assault in the beginning of the
film spots him and realises who he is so he and his other homeless
friends attack Alex savagely and take his belongings. Of course, Alex
cant fight back because the pain of being punched is better than the
sickly pain he gets if he performed any violence. The fight is then
broken up by two police officers.....which Alex realises in horror are
his two former droogs that betrayed him, Dim and Georgie. This is an
ironic twist in the tale that the ones who are doing bad have switched
sides. Alex is then near killed by his two former droogs. This is of
course afer Alex had been rejected from home by another lodger staying
there. He had no home, money or prospect so he ends at F.Alexanders
house...Yes the man who Alex and his droogs assaulted earlier in the
film. The writer doesn't recognise Alex at first but he knew he was on
thin ice. F.Alexander wanted to use Alex for political value against
the government because he is against the use of the Ludivico technique
and the government. However, all changes when the old writer finds out
who Alex really was when he hears him singing the same jingle he was
singing when raping his wife, Im Singin in the rain.
Kubrick manages to make the audience feel sorry for Alex. We feel sorry
for a prisoner of rape and murder. Alex is clearly an evil soul yet we
seem to have a relationship with him through the film which makes us
like him and empathise with him. This makes this film a beautifully
cunning film.
I love the music, I love the iconic direction and I love the language!
10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: As shocking as it ever was, 6 July 2006
Author:
Martin Bradley (MOscarbradley@aol.com) from Derry, Ireland
Kubrick's great comedy is as dark and as shocking as it ever was and as
we march further into the 21st Century it's view of Britain is no less
chilling than it was in 1971, (even more so, if anything). In fact,
it's prescient view of a dystopsian state makes you realise how ahead
of its time it really is and how, if made today, would seem an unsubtle
and outright condemnation of Blair's Britain.
It's sci-fi leanings notwithstanding, the film gives us an uncannily
accurate portrait of an cancerous society ruled by young thugs and
policed by sadistic, corrupt politicians and law-makers. It's as if
Kubrick and the original author, Anthony Burgess, had second sight. As
Alex, leader of a gang of 'droogs', out only 'for a bit of the old
ultra-violence and in-out in out', Malcom McDowell is magnificent. He
was fresh from Lindsay Anderson's "If" and his cocky arrogance was
never captured as well again as in these two films and like the devil
he has all the best tunes, raping and killing to the strains of 'Singin
in the Rain'. He's a monster who wins you over.
Naturally, it would be hard to warm to this movie but Kubrick's chilly
gaze is alleviated by shafts of dark humour and Alex will always be a
more approachable anti-hero than Barry Lyndon even if you wouldn't want
to meet him on a dark night, or any other night for that matter.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Very Bizarre, excellent though., 16 March 2006
Author:
Tommy Nelson from Long Beach, California
starring: Malcom McDowall.
In a futuristic England, groups of teens rape and brutally beat people.
One group is led by Alex. The film is really 3 plots in one film. The
first 45 minutes of the film are just showing the violent acts of this
group including a horrible rape scene and a fast motion sex scene
between Alex and two women. Alex accidentally kills a woman and he goes
to prison (14 years is the charge). the next 45 minutes are Alex in
prison and then being able to go through a treatment that will end his
evil ways and let him out of prison. The last part is Alex out of
prison, no longer able to do violence, sexually attack women, or listen
to Beethoven (you have to see the film to know what i mean). It's very
bizarre, but it adds to the film. Malcom McDowall is great, and the
character is one where sometimes you want him to die, sometimes you
feel sorry for him. The direction is really excellent and the classical
music choices really added to it. Excellently done.
My rating: 4/4 stars. rated R for nonstop full frontal male and female
nudity, strong sexuality including rape, violence and some brief
language. 134 mins.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: not quite so disturbing, but very intriguing, 7 March 2006
Author:
bdwilner from United States
Unlike another critic, I read the book well before I saw the movie. (I
was too young for that sort of movie when it came out but,
fortunately--by my teen-age years--it had ascended to the status of
"cult classic" and ran ubiquitously in the Greenwich Village "art
theaters.") Alex leads a gang that gets drugged out at the local "milk
bar" and then indulges in orgies of violence, rape, and, eventually,
murder. The Beethoven fascination that others have mentioned is,
frankly, a relatively minor plot component: Alex is a big-time fan of
the "Glorious Ninth" and enjoys playing it while "playing doctor" with
girls he's picked up at the local record store. (Odd how, in 1971, the
vision of a "future society" still included LP records, a technology we
did away with decades ago--even though a CD is less flexible: you can't
play your favorite part of your favorite song, and you can't play it at
45 to raise its frequency by four steps.) After murdering an old lady
("and me still only fifteen," Alex quasi-guiltily monologues to us),
Alex is spirited off to a jail where he is treated to the experimental
"Ludovico Technique" for curing violent offenders by forcefully
subjecting them--eyes maintained open with surgical clamps, ears
inobstructible--to non-stop barrages of extreme torture, rape, murder,
etc. But Alex isn't exactly cured, and, after his return and
"reintegration" into society, the movie--quite honestly--spirals
downward in pace, consistency, texture, and, frankly, excitement. The
end result is that Alex is still Alex, still a rapist, still a
murderer, and still "triggered" whenever he hears Beethoven's "Ode to
Joy" (a choral section of the Ninth Symphony).
What made the book much stronger than the movie, frankly, was its
reliance upon Nadsat, the three-quarters-Russian lingo in which the
teen-agers communicate. Thus, "heads" are "gullivers" (Rus. golowy),
"friends" are "droogs" (Rus. drugi), "brains" are "mozgs" (Rus.
mozaki), drinks are "peeted with vellocet" (spiked with speed, though
"vellocet" obviously hails from the Romance family, not from the East
Slavic), etc. It adds tremendously to the pace of the written story if
you are quick enough to pick up on the language without having
continually to check the appendix to see what is meant when Alex says,
e.g., "I wasn't expecting the millicent, so I hastily slipped my nagoy
nogas into my woolly pantoofles." That was missing from the
movie--though it didn't have to be. I remember a cheapo, late '60s or
early '70s flick called "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth": upon entering
the theater, an usher handed you a card that essentially translated the
troglodytes' language into English (yes, I know, cave men opposite
dinosaurs: it clearly isn't a paleontology lesson), although Ringo
Starr and John Matuszak's hysterical "Caveman" managed with only an
occasional troglodyte word here and there, which you could always pick
up from context.
TO THE EDITORS: MY "SPELLING ERRORS" (with the possible exception of
inobstructible {please check the OED} and cheapo {well-known slang})
are not misspellings, but either words in Nadsat, an artificial
language coined by Anthony Burgess for his novel, "A Clockwork Orange,"
or transliterations of Russian words into the Roman alphabet per Polish
spelling rules. PLEASE DELETE THIS PARAGRAPH. THANK YOU.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Why I don't like it, 25 February 2006
Author:
bearian from Albany, NY, USA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Normally, I would rate any memorable movie, even if I did not like it,
or certain parts or acting, a 6 or 7 at least.
The reason I rate this so low is for the gratuitous violence. Mad
Magazine did a dead-on satire of this movie two decades ago. The
violence is repulsive and over the top. It's putrid. The rape scene,
and the constant batteries and assaults are too much.
Most unusual is some of the dialog between the gang members, which uses
a made-up slang.
That being said, I loved the acting and the score. The plot is
basically relevant to modern times. The set design and live action
scenery is excellent.
Everyone should see this, but hold your hand on the fast-forward, which
is used on one sex scene anyway, very humorously.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Important but very disturbing Kubrick film, 2 September 2005
Author:
Stanley Strangelove from Portland, Oregon US
Master director Stanley Kubrick's dark film about a bleak future in
England where gangs terrorize ordinary citizens and the government is
corrupt to the core. Malcolm MacDowell as Alex the droog in one of the
greatest movie villain roles ever created. He and his band of droogs
cruise around doing the in and out and ultra-violence until Alex is
caught and sent to prison. What follows is an absolute nightmare. The
violence in Clockwork Orange was, and is by some, considered extreme.
It's the way Kubrick films the scenes that gets under your skin. The
movie itself is an indictment of violence but some people incorrectly
read it as a glorification of violence in the character of Alex. He's
just a victim of a ruined society. Personally, I think the film is a
great film, and I love Kubrick, but I avoid watching Clockwork Orange
after seeing it three times. The scene where Alex is bound in a
straight jacket and is forced to watch images of war violence turns my
stomach. Clockwork Orange is #41 on the AFI's 100 best films list.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A good movie....if you can handle it, 1 July 2005
Author:
mattm89 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Stanley Kubrick has created what some may call a masterpiece, and
others may simply call trash with A Clockwork Orange. Personally, I
thought that it was a good movie, but certainly only for mature
audiences. It was originally rated "X", and I honestly don't know how
even the re-edit that I saw got down to an "R" rating. The movie is
about a group of young hoodlums whose main sources of fun are
Beethoven, rape, and murder. After drinking some apparently drug-laced
milk at a milk-bar the four men go out for a "bit of the ultra
violence" as they put it, as they beat an old bum, and rape a few
women. After one particular altercation where he had to break into a
home (He usually knocks on the door saying that his friend was in a
horrible car accident and gains entrance that way) he kills a woman
with a statue of a penis (yes you read correctly) and as he tries to
escape from the police, his friends, and fellow gang members break a
bottle off of his head and take off, leaving him there to be caught. He
is taken to jail but learns of a new experimental treatment that will
release him from jail sooner, and also cure him of his addiction to
murder and rape. He goes through the procedure (I wont give away
details but it certainly isn't for the faint of heart)and is released
from prison. After getting kicked out of his parents house he wonders
the streets until he finds a house that will let him in and let's just
say that he has seen the house owner before. I'm not going to give away
any more of the movie, that is for you to watch and find out.
Overall, I gave this movie a 9/10 it is a very good movie, but only if
you like this type of movie and can stomach the ultra violence, blatant
nudity, and other adult themes.
Some of the best parts of the movie are just listening to their
slang... some of it is hilarious.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: This highly controversial and also highly enjoyable piece of 70's artwork both revolts, attracts and connects to me, and I'm sure many others out there., 11 March 2005
Author:
lyndzamabob from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This masterpiece entered my 'list of things to do' while watching a
film countdown on Channel 4 a few months ago. From then on I was
impelled to watch this infamous film banned to me, being 14 years of
age. I experienced a rush of joy when I realised a close friend at
school had a VHS copy in their possession, and she lent it to me the
next day.
Like a child with a new toy, I could not wait to get home in order to
watch this long-awaited movie, and I was not disappointed.
I am hard to surprise and shock, but the pace of this film did indeed
surprise me. For me, the most memorable part of it was near the
beginning, where the character of Alexander DeLarge, played by the
fabulous Malcolm McDowell ( and in my crazy opinion, simply sumptuous
in his younger years ) is woken up by his PVC and nylon clad mother,
after a hard night out containing the usual - ultra violence and 'the
old in-out, in-out' - and it is revealed to the audience that this
assumed twenty-something man is actually a boy of 15, younger then the
films certificate, and only one year older than myself. After this
early morning arousal, Alex sleeps some more then, in his waken state,
is called upon by a confusing character of some significant importance.
This leering man, I assume to be a Police or truant officer of some
sort, then proceeds to interrogate Alex, in his underpants on his
parents' bed, then grabs his testicles in what I am sure would not be
classes as orthodox, even then. The homosexual tendencies of this
toe-curling character are fully displayed and explored in this scene.
For me, the two reasons why this film is one of the best of all time,
are thus. Firstly, the incredible use of imagery, music and language.
Stanley Kubrick, genius director, chose the most repulsive outfits for
Alex and his 'droogs' for while they were out on the town: sterile
looking white overalls and a giant fake penis worn as over pants,
whereas a rival gang (named Billy Bob and his droogs) wore pirate
outfits, giving them a more unclean and savage look. These types of
costume gave the feeling of a cult following similar to that of the Ku
Klux Klan. The music chosen gives a whole new slant to classical music:
I will never be able to hear Ludwig Van's 9th symphony without thinking
of Alex and his adventures with the world. It is haunting, perfect,
strangely tech-no-sounding and modern when put in this context. Also,
'Singin' in the rain' is placed in a very obscure situation and becomes
a classic all over again. The language for me is pleasing: it shows
that maybe the most vicious of our criminals are well-spoken and have
no need to swear. The sheer lack of f-word and partners should be a
signal to other directors to show that criminals seem all the more
absorbing, memorable and real when anything other than the normal
street talk is used in their language.
Also, the very fact that this wonderment is banned from UK terrestrial
networks is enough to make me think.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A Clockwork Orange itself, 25 February 2005
Author:
JaneSchmo from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
"A Clockwork Orange" is, despite what everybody in the world has told
you, despite what the AFI thinks, despite what the New York Times says,
despite what all those 250 Best, 150 Best, 100 Best lists say, A BAD
MOVIE.
Stanley Kubrick was a great and original director.His "2001" and
"Dr.Strangelove" are among the best films ever made.From the others I
have seen, "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Full Metal Jacket" were flawed but
still very much worthwhile.Even "Spartacus" had its moments. Kubrick
only directed sixteen movies in his lifetime but not one was
uninteresting, worthless or mindless.Except for "A Clockwork Orange".
Number One, it's mechanical and boring.It's such a bland and colorless
adaptation of the book.The film follows the book nearly word for word;
it doesn't flow, it marches from page to page.
Number Two,it's cruel and morally repugnant.The movie doesn't know that
its sick and sadistic hero, Alex, is not supposed to be a sympathetic
character (or maybe he is. Who knows. The book was ambivalent, first
describing his horrific crimes and then turning him into a victim and
object of pity.)However, the movie is pretty clearly on Alex's side.At
the end, when he survives a suicide attempt, can rape and kill again
and collaborates with the criminal government, it's like we are
expected to cheer.
One thing always bothered me about "A Clockwork Orange", the book and
movie; what in God's name is the message, the great underlying idea?
It's obvious the author is trying to make some sort of metaphysical
point, but what the hell is it? A lot of graphic violence and scenes of
rape are employed, but to prove what? As the American film critic Roger
Ebert once said, I don't require ideas in movies,in order to be great a
movie doesn't at all need to have a message-but in a message movie, I'd
sure like to know what the message is.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Adventures of a sadistic predator in merry old England, 20 February 2005
Author:
ebsmooth from United States
This is one of my all time favorite movies.The first time I saw this
film I couldn't grasp all the Shakespearian language,but I still was
fascinated.The opening scene with little Alex and his pals chilling out
and a local lounge getting ready for a night of ultra-violence is one
of the most powerful scenes I have witnessed.The direction & the sound
along with sinister look on Alex's(Malcom McDowell) face had me
mesmerized & I went along for a two hour journey. The story basically
tells you the story of a young dude named Alex who is as sick &
depraved as any serial killer produced on this planet.There is a
consequence for his actions which is strange & compelling rolled up in
one. There are some brutal rape scenes along with violence that might
not be for everybody,but you'll probably be glued to your seat. Malcom
McDowell is brilliant in this movie,but outside of Gangster No.1, he
has lite up some stink bombs in movies like Tank Girl,Milk Money,&
Class of 99 but no one's perfect.The prison guard with the Hitler
mustache stuck out for me. The only drawback might be getting use to
the language of the film along with some bad settings since the movie
is suppose to be in the future but a lot of movies have great settings
and no plot.Great movie
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Greatest Movie Ever, 17 February 2005
Author:
simonwawrykow from Niagara Peninsula, Canada
Without a doubt, the greatest movie ever made. Kubrick got everything
right in this film. From the social commentaries, to the in your face
violence, to the Love Story (or the lack there of), to the Music...
"...all we needed now to end the perfect evening, was a little of the
old, Ludwig Van..." From the opening scene of panning in on Alex at the
Kirdova Milk bar...to the fight scene with the William Tell Overature
in the background...pure brilliance. The fact that Kubrick doesn't lose
interest with flaky and often unneeded love stories is another selling
point...the only love story is Alex and his Ultra-Violence. I highly
recommend this film...not only for Kubrick's interesting look into the
future, but for a good chuckle here and there, and of course for bits
of the old 'Ultra Violence'. Look past the violence and see the film
for what it is...a masterpiece.
Keep on Rockin'!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: The most visually-audacious film of the twentieth century, 20 January 2005
Author:
whitestripesobsessed from Australia
*I vow not to spoil this film for those of you unfortunate people who
are yet to see it.*
"A Clockwork Orange" is an inimitable film, unparalleled in its optical
captivation - arresting the viewer from the very start.
"A Clockwork Orange" is filled with scenes of debauchery, scenes of
sadism and not to mention, scenes sharpened by a dark, sardonic humour
that the lead character, Alex De Large so effortlessly seems to put
into words.
(Again, i vow not to spoil, so no quote will be inserted here.)
The sophisticated soundtrack, embellished with music from the likes of
Ludwig Van Beethoven, collaborates with the film to effectively create
something that was never done prior to its release date (1972) and will
probably never be done again - visual-audaciousness.
This exceptional film is incomparably and unequivocally the ultimate
movie for any movie-lover.
"A Clockwork Orange" will never cease to replay itself in the cinema of
the viewer's mind.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: An Amazing Film!, 15 January 2005
Author:
stylishkidintheriot from Dublin, Ireland
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Basically its about a criminal/rapist who goes to jail, but then is let
out, and taken on as a test subject for a government experiment to
reform criminals. But does this experiment work?
"A Clockwork Orange" is a great film in so many ways, I would find it
hard to give every example of its excellence and stay within a 1000
word limit. :)
The script is excellent; it's very strange, the characters are speaking
very advanced English that sounds so weird coming from a criminals
mouth.
At the start of this film i found myself not liking Alex because he did
such horrible things, but he was also very funny; wearing that
ridiculous nose! Nearer the end, you just forget that he is such a
criminal, and feel so sorry for him...
This is one of those films that everyone should see. 10/10!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A Clockwork Orange, 14 January 2005
Author:
The_Director2004 from United States
My family has always been scared/freaked out by the evil smirk Malcolm
McDowell gives to the camera in this film's opening shot. Now that I've
seen this movie, I get to freak them out whenever they serve milk as a
beverage at holidays. :) Using stunning tracking shots, bizarre
surrealism and just sheer drama, Stanley Kubrick created one of, if not
the best movie of 1971. Now that that's been established, let's take a
more in-depth look at this exceptionally deep film.
My first Kubrick film was 2001: A Space Odyssey when I was six. I
understood most of it, but I just liked the visual effects. When I saw
it again on DVD when I was 13, it was so much different. Since that
day, I had wanted to see all of Kubrick's movies. A Clockwork Orange
may just be his masterpiece.
Kubrick's tracking shots have always been the best of any director
(Martin Scorcese is right behind). Using the trademark fish-eye lens,
the screen follows characters from an inanimate third-person point of
view. The record store scene in particular is a great example.
Sometimes the scene will just stay still for so long, the tension
becomes so unbearable because you just want the camera to move.
The acting is extraordinary, especially from British actor Malcolm
McDowell. He is able to completely embody Alex de Large with startling
and sometimes even scary ease. When I read the trivia section at IMDb
before seeing this movie, I couldn't figure out why McDowell would have
a fear of eye drops after making this. The "conditioning" scene
explained to me why.
Anyway, this is a terrific film that mature audiences should all
experience. If you are reading this review and haven't seen it, you
really should. I can almost promise you (I can't promise you because I
don't know you) that you will not be disappointed.
****/****
10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: If Pink Floyd had made this movie..., 7 January 2005
Author:
dcdz78 from United States
I wouldn't have been surprised, The very first time I saw this movie I
went through spells of being horrified, laughing uncontrollably,
tapping my foot to a well known score and staring wide-eyed at the
screen filled with a sense of "weird". The narration of that covers the
movie from "Alex" is a wonderful touch, his choice of words and the
English syntax kept me wanting more. Poetry if you will. He uses words
that I found extremely funny in place of common words we would use. The
music was used in ways that I found very odd such has the happy
classical music that overlaps the rape scene in the theater. But the
synth that you hear through out the movie reminded me of some 80's Pink
Floyd, actually all the shots and back grounds, clothes, furniture
etc.. reminded me of Pink Floyd for some reason. And the story itself I
though was really good because from the friends that I know that have
seen it, we all had different ideas of what it was really about. I
thought it was a big lesson on karma, others saw it differently. never
the less, it was an amazingly unique movie that is enjoyable to watch
to this day. I highly recommend this movie if you haven't watched it
before.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: The Greatest Film Ever Made!, 1 January 2005
Author:
Ndirsch11 from United States
What Stanley Kubrick accomplishes with A Clockwork Orange is simply
beyond words. This film is number 1 on my favorite film list for an
infinite number of reasons. First of all, the acting, screenplay, and
direction are all top notch; the story is ambitious and brave; the
film's use of classical music fits perfectly; and it leaves you with so
much to think about. The key to the film's brilliance lies in its
humor. The film contains extraordinarily dark subject matter yet seems
lighthearted all the way through. I can't help but watch this film with
a smile on my face because I know and understand that the film is
trying to poke fun at society and the hypocrisy within our various
institutions. That's what all great satire does and this is the
greatest satire of them all. Notice such scenes as the nurse and the
doctor having sex while Alex is waking up in the hospital, the cat lady
with her obscene paintings and statues, the naive parents who don't
suspect that their son is up to no good when he goes out at night. All
of these things highlight the fact that ordinary, everyday people act
much differently behind closed doors than they do in public. In fact, I
believe that one of the main messages of the film is that we all in a
sense have elements of Alex DeLarge's personality within our own
personality. When we can't even acknowledge our own barbaric and
disgusting drives then how can we even begin to think of solving such
social problems as murder and rape? Many people make the mistake in
thinking that the film is trying to justify Alex's crimes. Alex is not
meant to be looked upon as a hero or a role model. He's a villain all
the way through. But one must also notice how villainous all the other
characters are too. Everyone in this movie is essentially a villain
because they are all human, and subject to the same drives that drive
Alex and his droogs to murder and rape out of boredom. The reason why I
believe Stanley Kubrick to be the greatest director who ever lived and
ever will live is his ability to depend on the audience's intelligence.
All of his films are deliberately ambiguous because the audience is
supposed to come to its own conclusions. What you put into a film is
what you take away from it. Stanley Kubrick will be missed. Perfect
10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A Classical Masterpiece, 15 December 2004
Author:
Mohsin Khan (ci03mak) from London
A Clockwork Orange is no doubt a classical masterpiece which
artistically employs themes such as good vs evil and free will vs
indoctrination, followed by presenting them in a very dark manner,
which may seem surreal to some, artistic to others and if you are like
me, both. The aforementioned themes are presented in a dark manner
because whilst presenting them in the movie, kubrick has made abundance
use of coupling violence with sex, and has exploited several immoral
ways to bring some fundamentally important issues to light. I did not
know what to expect when I watched this movie, and when i did, I was
intrigued. Therefore, I won't tell you what the movie is about because
it is best to watch, not knowing what to expect (even to the most high
level subjects such as "main themes"). My advice to all you is to
abstain from reading into the movie details before watching the movie
and just rent it out like you would rent out an ordinary movie and
watch it (preferably alone). I'm sure you will compliment the works of a
genius, give it a 8 or a 9/10 rating and refer to it as an artistic
masterpiece. Rating for A Clockwork Orange = 8.5/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: negative reviews miss the mark, 8 December 2004
Author:
anotone (anotone@aol.com) from NYC
Anybody who thinks ACO is a disgusting film and that Kubrick was merely
trying to offend or shock really has a lot to learn about film,
literature and the windows they can be upon society and the human
heart. First, it was based upon the brilliant novel by Anthony Burgess;
Stanley Kubrick did not create the story from whole cloth. Second, it
is true that much of the violence in the film is shocking and
disturbing. But to dismiss those scenes as simply showing violence for
the sake of violence is to deny a fundamental truth of modern human
society: horrific and sadistic violence and cruelty exist in it and we
must confront that terrible truth if we are ever to truly know
ourselves. By using violence Burgess and Kubrick were trying to convey
something much more profound about the role of crime and punishment in
the modern state, personal redemption and the importance of free will
and moral choice in the individual (see my comments of Nov. 14th for a
more detailed treatment of these themes). Dostoyevsky's Crime and
Punishment and Tolstoy's War and Peace depict acts of horrific violence
and wanton cruelty as well, yet we would not dismiss two of the
greatest novels ever written as shock art or "attention grabbers." The
fact is that ACO is one of the greatest, most fascinating and most
important films ever made by one of the titanic directors of our time.
It is impossible to look away: the beautifully lush still shots and
pans, the hypnotic and perfectly placed haunting music, and the cold,
bleak desolation of the modern totalitarian state intricately
interwoven with Stanley's wonderfully black sense of humor. It is a
masterpiece that will endure for all time. Violence and man's
continuing inhumanity to his fellow man is a reality of modern human
society. So too is the frightening power of the state to ostensibly
correct such conditions in the name of the common good. Never before or
since has a film portrayed these complex and difficult themes with more
import or power.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: I'v taught you much my little Droogies! So tell me what you had in mind Georgie Boy!!!, 6 December 2004
Author:
EDWARD BAGGALEY (EJBaggaley@yahoo.co.uk) from uk
Clockwork Orange is a classic 'Stanley Kubrick' production, as its a
film way ahead of its time. I admit this film was low budget, with
disturbing scenes and the storyline/plot got cut in half from one
extreme to the next, but I think what held this film together was its
great acting, soundtrack, memorable scenes and its genius script/
dialogue for its Russian Lingo, Old-style Cockney accents and
sophisticated (yet hip), Cult-Like London jargon, made this film a 'One
of a kind'.
I can understand a person not liking this film (especially women),
considering the rape and violence, but in order to appreciate this
film, you've gotta look beyond that; By doing so, you'll need to watch
this film at least twice in order to absorb the unique dialogue and
Lingo (ie. If you want a motorcar - you pluck it from the trees and if
you want pretty Polly - you take it) and of course its amazing
memorable scenes. The scenes I love in this film are when Alex chatted
up the two women in the record shop, when Alex was strait jacketed in
the Institution (with his eyes held open), while watching the violent
films, when Alex beat-up Georgie and cut open Dims hand at the canal
(in Slow motion), when Alex wacked Dims lap, with his cane, in the
milk-bar, after Dim mocked the ladies singing ! and several other
scenes. However, these scenes wouldn't have been half as good as they
were, without the brilliant soundtrack in the background. Another
element of this film that I quite liked, were the subliminal
(micro-second) camera shots that Stanley Kubrick hid within the film.
This happened when Alex dropped the over-sized penis ornament on the
catwomans head. If you haven't seen 'Clockwork Orange' and would like
to, than go ahead and watch it. However, please concentrate on the
external view of the film and not the internal view of it, as its the
only way you'll appreciate watching it.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: If you don't like this film, you don't like Drama.., 5 December 2004
Author:
illidansart from Norway
This is one of the best film ever made. To me it is number 1. Malcolm
Mc Dowell does a fantastic performance as the cultural bully Alex.
This is Kubricks very finest masterpiece. All persons who like films
should see this picture, no question about it. If you thought Kubricks
2001: A space odyssey was a boring film, than this film is exactly the
opposite. It is a film that really opens your eyes. It has rape scenes,
drug use, violence, blood and Hitler.
You say "This is nothing special, almost every films has these things".
What is so special about this film is how is directed. The actors are
phenomenal, and so is the music. The story, music and actors are mixed
together in such a good way that its almost shocking.
But keep this film away from little children. They should be at least
16 before they see it. Its violent, but not that scary.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's Masterpiece, 25 November 2004
Author:
middleburg
In a film career distinguished by films of great style, this one is
Kubrick's most brilliant, entertaining, and beautifully conceived.
There is not a moment which feels dull or forced or unimaginative. Of
course Kubrick had a great piece of literature to deal with. People may
quibble with his "retelling" of "Lolita" or "The Shining"--I don;t--but
this film is so completely true to the spirit of the book, and so
beautifully finds a cinematic equivalent of the writing style of the
original--that it is truly amazing how he pulled it off. The moment the
film begins--with that unbelievably spectacular film score using
electronic versions of one famous
piece after another and the vision of that Korova Milk Bar that began,
what in the 70's was a really shocking film, we are tossed into a world
so vivid and so
imaginative. The moments of violence were practically unwatchable when
it first came out (now of course we are desensitized to
that........hmmmmmmm...was
this film somehow prophetic?). But these horrific scenes were balanced
with
moments that were simply beautiful or really amusing or intriguing as
could be. In addition to being an extremely "artistic" film, it also
tells such a great and compelling story, and we get carried away with
it. We somehow identify with
Alex. We are appalled and we feel guilty at the end as we hear those
final ironic strains of "Singing in the Rain", and are so relieved that
Alex is well and good-- that miserable rat bastard! How can this be?
Kubrick has a field day
manipulating all of us. I think of any film I have ever seen (and I am
a real film buff), this work made me think like none other.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: the tale of a young man Alex who loves danger, 23 November 2004
Author:
freeway6f (freeway6f) from united states
Clockwork orange is a work of beauty. it raises many questions of
humanity and has a way of making u question yourself. If u want to
think and be entertained watch this movie. The acting on the part of
Malcolm McDowell is superb. It may be a little adult for some viewers
but everyone should watch this film. It makes u question, what is right
and what is wrong. Instead of feeling remorse for the victims in this
movie. You will find yourself feeling remorse for Alex. The young man
who loves ultra-violence. Even the scenes of him day dreaming about the
bible are thought provoking. It makes you think and laugh all at the
same time.It also has many quirks about religion which is always funny
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: REPULSIVE,UGLY,VIOLENT...and 1 of the best movies ever to hit the screen, 16 November 2004
Author:
there_is_no_good_names from newfoundland
Well I saw this movie without knowing about it's strong sexual
sequences and outrageous violent sequences.I have to say when i first
saw it I thought that Stanley Kubrick was of his head and I thought
what would make him do a film that had such sick happenings.Then I
watched the rest of it and I WAS BLOW AWAY!!!!It had such an impact on
me the idea alone is genius and the acting hear is great also and the
direction oh my god this film is just a great masterpiece in film
history and is or at least should be in everyones top ten!Those who say
this is a repulsive film or it's not edgy enough just don't get it!This
man is taking you into the world of a sadistic freak who enjoys
inflicting pain on others that alone is great then you got the cure
which made him a changed man and made him feel pain like he made others
feel.The one thing is the ending were he still didn't change after
knowing that what he was doing was wrong he still thought up dirty
thoughts and was probably going to do the same again.So all in all this
is a great piece whom ever dislikes it is obviously a moron and cannot
take or understand what a genius like Kubrick is showing them.
*****/*****
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A Timeless Classic!, 14 November 2004
Author:
hokeybutt from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (5 outta 5 stars)
One of the most wildly, imaginative and fascinating movies ever made.
Stanley Kubrick's obsessive eye for detail elaborates this simple
science fiction tale of a cruel, young sociopath who is "conditioned"
to become a "normal" human being. Amazing performance by Malcolm
McDowell (just look how long he is held underwater and beaten in one
extended take!) The lead character of Alex is one of the most evil
characters ever portrayed on film... and yet he also gains audience
sympathy as the story progresses. I've always thought it incredible
that the author of the book actually experienced the vicious home
invasion that takes place in the movie... and yet he went on to write a
novel from the point of view of the rapist of his wife... making him
the HERO. The movie was banned in England for many years. It was
claimed by some that the movie promotes and glorifies violence. What
crap! Anyone who is "turned on" by the violence in this film needs
help... seriously.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: one of greatest films ever, 14 November 2004
Author:
anotone from NY
A Clockwork Orange is clearly one of the greatest and at the same time
most disturbing and frightening films ever made. Its commentary on free
will, morality, the human psyche, good versus evil and crime and
punishment in modern society is as penetrating and relevant today as it
was 33 years ago, but first about the title. In the words of Anthony
Burgess himself in his new introduction to the novel entitled A CWO
Resucked "A human being is endowed with free will. He can use this to
choose between good and evil. If he can only perform good or only
perform evil, then he is a clockwork orange- meaning that he has the
appearance of an organism lovely with colour and juice but is in fact
only a clockwork toy to be wound up by God or the Devil or the Almighty
State. It is as inhuman to be totally good as it is to be totally evil.
The important thing is moral choice. Evil has to exist along with good,
in order that moral choice may operate." This is in essence the heart
and crux of the film and book: free will and the ability to make moral
choices are ultimately removed in Alex and he is left conditioned by
the State an empty shell of a human being devoid of everything that
makes us human. In the name of eliminating crime and violence the State
has in effect created a condition that is arguably equally as inhuman
as the violence that Alex and his droogs were perpetrating in the first
place: a cold sterile society full of empty wooden waxen clockwork
oranges. Kubrick brings this frightening moral landscape into sharp
relief- the cold stark futuristic setting, the sadistic sickening
violence and the searing image of our poor narrator strapped in and
forced to watch films of horrific and unspeakable wanton carnage and
carnality with a little of the old Ludwig van playing in the
background. The theme of revenge and redemption is also a prevalent one
in the story. The image of the mad obsessed writer of subversive
literature taking his vengeance upon Alex at the end of the film is one
of the most terrifying scenes I have seen on film. In the end, Burgess
and Kubrick make it clear that a conditioning treatment such as the one
performed on Alex is itself morally wrong and doomed to failure because
it destroys free will and the human ability to think and act
autonomously. Although it is disturbing and difficult for many people
to sit through and watch, A Clockwork Orange is one of the most
important films ever made for what it tells us about society and what
it tells us about ourselves.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Being the escapades of Alex De Large, with lashings of the old ultra-violence in Stanly Kubrics Masterpiece., 24 October 2004
Author:
Strider_1978
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Probably my final attempt.
One day, several years ago I picked up a copy of either Empire or Total
film, I don't remember which. Inside, center pages was the review of a
film called 'Clockwork Orange.' The film was to be released after being
banned for a number of years. No stranger to watching previously banned
films: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the atrocious Last house on the
left, it piqued my interest. In the middle of the wording there were
five bold stars, the highest rating a film could be given. I read the
review. When I read about things like a tramp getting kicked to death,
it doesn't compel me to watch a film. When I see other ratings from
various magazines and reputable firms and agencies throwing out full
marks like they are mardi gras beads, I do take an interest. Visiting
my local Blockbuster one day, there it was on the shelf. . OK. . here
goes nothing. . . . I had the film over the weekend, I think I must
have seen it five or six times before I took it back. The next time I
was in town, I bought it. I've tried two reviews before this one, I
want this one to be more user friendly than some of the things I have
tried to convey before. Clockwork Orange is nothing short of a
masterpiece. It's one of these films, that I agree with other reviewers
when I say it needs multiple viewings. It's a huge art fest that allows
us to experience the brutal and disturbing escapades of Alex De Large
and his fellow Droogs, without being completely repulsed, because
during the nastiness we are submerged in sets comprised of intricate
detail and brilliant lighting. The story, the rise and eventual fall,
or even "reform" of little Alex in surrounded by messages and
philosophy. It is like drinking a dark concoction of medicine that can
be distasteful and hard to swallow, but at the same time exfoliating.
Perhaps categorised as 'futuristic', or 'sci-fi fantasy' the film takes
us on a fantastic and satirical, yet disturbing and venomous journey.
It is a highly controversial, yet also a brilliantly told tale of
society, that has only grown worse in the 36 years of it's cult
following and longevity. there are recurring messages spoken by
characters where no dialogue is wasted. Every line of scripting has
been used, with no bloating and writing for the sake of writing to make
uber bucks. The lashings of ultra violence, both sexual and brutal are
countered verbally by statements such as - "He resisted his lawful
arrestors, violence brings violence" -and- "Violence is a horrible
thing,you're learning that now." Kubricks direction allows us to see
facial detail in such a way that we are indeed, as another review has
noted 'drawn into the psychology of the characters'. Everything that is
said, comes to our ears from a face that conveys the sentiment without
flaw. Muscially, the film, that is entirely non conventional as far as
cinema goes is vibrant. The images presented to us accompanied by
classic orchestrations. Classical music alone, without imagery can take
us to wonderous heights; this time we are allowed to view a motion
picture of aesthetic mastery while the score puts wind to sail. There
are times, through some of the nastier parts of Droog fancy when the
themes take on a dark and venomous cacophony, thereby telling us that
what we are witnessing is nasty and wrong. Though we may see it with
sometimes intricate detail, it is never, seemingly advocated. Clockwork
Orange is, in my opinion one the greatest and most important films of
all time; Though it's controversy may never be wholly accepted, it's
messages cannot be denied.
i love this movie, it's now in my top favorite movies of all time, this
movie is about a man(Malcolm McDowell) whose about fifteen who spends
his free time putting on fake eyelashes, raping women, breaking into
houses, and ultra-violence in general. and this man goes to prison and
gets "special treatment" to be good, but this man loves Beethoven(so
much they're on a first name basis)cannot listen to his ninth symphony
anymore(this is an important plot point later on)i am 13 and i have not
been raped of my innocence by this or any other violent movie i have
seen, this movie is one of about 10 which prove Stanley Kubrick is a
genius and deserves more recognition, and McDowell looks pretty hot in
this movie to as the main character Alexander "Alex" De Large, this
film is not to be missed or messed with. now i will read the book
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Great film, novel still better, 11 July 2004
Author:
helloness from Toronto, Canada
I watched the film after I read the novel, and I enjoyed both. The film
is great, and surprisingly amusing at times, due to the music in the
background. However, many parts in the novel were taken out in the
film, especially the 21st chapter that Kubrick alleges he never knew
existed. I believe that the 21st chapter is essential as it provides
closure and suggests that maturity will always overcome human beings,
but unfortunately it was not included in the film.
It was wonderful how the film made you hate and despise Alex at first,
yet in the middle of the movie you begin to pity Alex and actually
disgusted by all the injustices that are imposed upon him. I felt that
there was not enough use of Nadsat language, but Kubrick probably
didn't want to use too much because there is not enough time for the
audience to adjust and understand it.
It was a wonderful movie, but the novel will always be 10x better. 9/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: disturbing, slight spoiler?, 16 June 2004
Author:
sillymidget27 (sillymidget27@aol.com) from Durham, NC
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This movie was the most disturbing thing I've ever seen. Thank god it's
been over a year since I've watched it, so luckily I've forgotten a lot
of it (*relieved sigh*) The whole thing was immoral & disgusting. I'm
not one to be easily offended, I've been watching horror movies and R
rated movies since I was only a year old...this is the first time I've
ever truly been upset by a movie. It wasn't even just the plot that got
to me; somehow, the techniques Kubrick used to shoot it & the dialogue
made my skin crawl too. One of the worst things is when they kill the
lady with a giant replica of a penis. I think that they also kill a
couple in front of each other, but I'm not sure about that b/c it's
been so long. Anyway, it goes way too far, way beyond the boundaries of
good taste. Kubrick should have known better. I believe in free speech,
but this is a load of trash, & America is better off without it. In 2
words--morally dangerous. In a sentence--The biggest barrel of trash
you could ever stumble across, this movie is just downright amoral.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Very overrated, 14 June 2004
Author:
Brad (Dreadnought757) from Missouri
"A Clockwork Orange" is an early film by famed director Stanley Kubrick
about a distant future where bands of vicious criminals roamed the
night. We meet Alex, a young boy, who, with his three friends beat
innocent elderly people for their sick kicks. However, one night, an
attack went terribly awry. While his droogs escaped, Alex was captured
by the "rozz" (police) and sent to the "Staja" (state prison). While
there, he discovers an experimental procedure that could get him out of
prison in two weeks. However, he was ill-prepared for what horrors
awaited him. He sits in a dental chair in the center of a simulated
while his body is strapped down, eliminating any movement. His eyelids
are forced open, so he has to keep utmost attention to the gruesome
images he is shown on the screen. After 14 excruciating days, Alex is
deemed cured. The media hails him as a success, although Alex's sanity
is beginning to deteriorate. He goes back home, but his parents are
convinced he escaped, so they refuse to let him in. Through the movie,
Alex frantically tries to find some salvation from society. Eventually,
he returns to his original state of mind, but vows not to return to his
criminal behaviors of the past.
Before I get into the actual review, I must admit that I am not a huge
fan of Kubrick. I think his movies are somewhat overrated, considering
most of them are based on books, including "Clockwork". Maybe he was a
revolutionary in his time, but now there are plenty of quote-unquote
"weird" directors, so I'm not that impressed with him. "Clockwork" was
no exception. If you didn't know, the movie is based upon the '60s
novel by Anthony Burgess. His novel, if you can imagine, was actually
MORE controversial than the movie and was banned in several countries.
It was also better than the movie. It's not that I think "Clockwork was
a bad movie, it's just that it bears too many similarities to the book.
With the source material Kubrick was given, he should've made a much
better movie than this. He and this movie get far too much credit.
Almost everything was taken word-for-word from the book. Instead of
interpreting it in his own way, he interpreted as it Burgess did, which
I dislike in movie-book adaptations. So, basically, what I'm saying is:
If you're a fan of the movie, do yourself a favor and read the book,
then see how much respect you have for the movie.
** 1/2 out of ****
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: The film doesn't do justice to a great book, 9 June 2004
Author:
Sabriane from Melbourne, Australia
I thought that Anthony Burgess' "Clockwork Orange" was one of the most
brilliant and disturbing books I've ever read, so I was very eager to see
Stanley Kubrick's cinematic take. Sadly, while I thought that the film was
worth a look in the end I was underwhelmed. It's very well made, as befits a
Kubrick film, with great eye for composition, camera shots, etc., and it
boasts a fantastic central performance from Malcolm McDowell as Alex,
although he's obviously too old to play a 14-year-old. But any message the
film was trying to convey was completely lost in ridiculous lurid production
design that I found shockingly dated. You don't need to have seen Austin
Powers movies to giggle at the 70s fashions gone barking mad. The film's
"ultra-violent" tag looks just as hopelessly dated. I'm not desensitised to
screen violence and rape, but here it just looks cartoonish and frankly
ridiculous; therefore I felt there was no real impact to Alex's crimes. It
also doesn't help that Alex is made to be the only character who seems alive
and vibrant amongst the unlikeable, personality-free drones. Oh, and did I
mention that practically everyone overacts like there's no tomorrow? In the
end, the film IMO is nothing more than a curious relic.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Stanley Kubrick's True Masterpiece, 19 January 2004
Author:
KurdtKobainIndustries from Lorain, Ohio
I care not what anyone says about Full Metal Jacket or 2001. They are
great
films, as well are Spartacus, The Shining, and Dr. Strangelove. I have
posted something like this on the message boards, but I will say it again.
A
Clockwork Orange is Stanley Kubrick's all time best film. The acting,
directing, cinematography, writing, look, feel, and music are all perfect.
All of the scenes are genius. This movie is not about raping, murder,
lying,
fighting, or going to prison for doing those things. It is about the
transformation from monster to man and back again. In a way, Alex never
changed. He was always his stubborn violent self. But that is what is so
genius about the film. It's almost as if the book was written only so
Stanley Kubrick could create this film. I recommend this great story about
the rise and fall of Alex DeLarge to everyone, as long as you see it with
an
open mind and the intelligence to understand that this is not glorifying
violence.
I give this film a **********10 out of ************10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Mabey Its Just Me, 21 December 2003
Author:
Matt from Canada
Mabey its just me but this film was more disturbing than anything. I can
realise why people would say that its such a masterpiece but I think the
only reason it is such a masterpeice is just because of the clothes, the
milk bar, the language, the emotion or lack thereof. The whole style of
it
is this movie's only saver, when theres bad taste in the characters they
really make up for in the backdrop of the movie.... Infact thats one of
the
only things i really remember (or care to remember) of the movie. The
bars
name escapes me now but i thought it was beautifull. I guess the only
reason I don't like this movie as much as everyone else is because of
what I
do remember... for 2weeks after watching that movie i kept thinking that
someone would break into my house and try to kill me, it drove me crazy
when
i wanted to sleep!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A fantastic Masterpiece and one of the best directed movies of all time., 14 December 2003
Author:
Jim RAynor (jraynor@new.rr.com)
I suppose that this is one of my first reviews so don't judge me for my
wording. clockwork orange is by far one of my favorite movies ever. To sum
this movie up it is one of the most violent disgusting movies ever and
when
you add it up this is a 1970's Kill Bill, and I loved it. But don't take
me
as a sick perverted freak just because of that fact. I'm also in love with
movies like Jerry maguire, but lets face it, thats a whole different type
of
movie. To get back to the subject lets list some of the things it lacks
and
doesn't lack. First the lack; Kindness. All right that about sums that up,
lets move on to the things that make it a great movie. First of all it is
by
far the most original and inovative movie of the 1970's. Second, it's
crude
humor that I don't personally think was meant to be there makes up for its
ultra violence and sexuality. And thirdly, the music in the background
gives
it an edge that no other director , alive of dead, can capture like
Kubrick.
So in the end this movie gets a rating of 10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: One of my better movies from my English Lit course, 1 November 2003
Author:
mm-39 from Winnipeg
Taking Dr Morton class in English lit/philosopy I found this the best book
in the lot, and movie. The movie transends the book well. The story in the
movie is better with the missing chapter, but the book is more complete with
the extra chapter. The extra chapter makes my essay on what is evil easier.
Read the book for the extra Chapter. Now, on with the movie. It is
interesting, and the director get the feel right. I like how they ended it,
and it shows that violence be gets more violence. Not for everyone 6 out of
10.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE!!!, 26 September 2003
Author:
EVOL666 from St. John's Abortion Clinic
i'm not sure why this movie is listed under horror, but i feel compelled
to
write about it anyway.
as anyone in their right mind will tell you, this is one of the most
incredible movies ever made. the story line is insanely inventive, the
movie itself is very well acted; this is one of the few movies that truly
creates an entirely different and believable reality and draws you in from
beginning to end.
built on the "negative-utopia" platform (such as 1984 and Brave New World)
it explores topics invoving juvenile delinquency, human depravity, and the
flaws of the "justice system".
Although some will find that outwardly it appears dated due to obvious
'70's
references and style, it is an incredible work of art that is
shocking/humorous/and a cautionary tale all in one.
this movie will have you reeling from beginning to end and the ending is a
twisted "Twilight-zone" style conclusion that will have you thinking for
days, if not years to come.
Kubrick is a master of artful storytelling, and if this film does not
touch
you on some level, than there really is no hope for you as a
movie-goer.
11/10 - untouchable
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A man who loved a bit of the old ultraviolence was betrayed by his droogs, and was left for the millicents to catch him, he went to jail and volunteered for the Ludovico teqnique which was guaranteed to get, 15 February 2003
Author:
What92691 from London, England
Droogs, Ptitsa, devotchka, millicents, a bit of the old ultra-violence,
some
of the most creative things ever, Anthony Burgesses novel was too good to
be
true, and when the movie came out it stunned me. I ought to warn you this
is
only good when you see it two times. But the second time for me, was
bliss
bliss and happiness as they say.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: What Was I Thinking??, 10 February 2003
Author:
richiethebaumer
I originally had said this film was bad and too much for me to take and
so on and so forth.
I am now revoking that opinion. This is a great film that is a bit over
the top, but in that way it is also perfect. I originally liked the
film but upon a second viewing found it unappealing, but I have changed
my mind again.
Maybe I was just in the wrong frame of mind the last time I watched it.
But I am making up for it and correcting the error of my ways.
This is yet another stellar effort from filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. It
must be seen to be believed. It really is a very dark film, but it is
also very funny. This is one of the ultimate dark comedies. It is
pretty twisted and sick but that's the point. You just have to know
what you're getting into, and then you should be good to go. I really
do think this film is excellent and am not sure why I once thought
differently. So to everyone I enraged and so forth, I am sorry. I was
wrong and am admitting it now.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Stanley Kubrick's Best Film, 11 November 2002
Author:
soranno from Las Vegas, Nevada
Cult director Stanley Kubrick scores his greatest success with this still
controversial 1971 Warner Brothers release. It's a lengthy and extremely
violent character study about a young man named Alex (Malcolm McDowell). He
leads a punk biker gang in Britain and amuses himself and his gang members
by going on nightly orgies of rape and murder. His mind gives him the
impression that he can not function whatsoever if he does not torture and
kill people on a regular basis. Alex is finally busted when he is found
guilty of bludgeoning a young girl to death with a large phallus art
sculpture. Sent to prison, he is soon picked up as a potential guinea pig
for a rehabilitation experiment that just might take those evil thoughts out
of his mind. However, the results of the experiment go awry and Alex begins
to show some rather unpredictable behavior changes. Not for all tastes and
may be way too violent for others (it was originally rated X) but if that
can be tolerated and if you're looking for a fine showcase from a masterful
director, then "A Clockwork Orange" is just the film.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: One MUST have the ability to think before embarking on A Clockwork Orange..., 21 August 2002
Author:
RHPSvegas from United States
It's funny. Upon reading the reviews of A Clockwork Orange, all of the
people who wrote negative responses admitted they didn't understand it.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN IT IS
ILLEGITIMITE OR INSULTING YOUR INTELLIGENCE!!! If A Clockwork Orange
insults your intelligence, you are obviously not intelligent enough to
understand it. If you say it does not count because it does not follow
the book 100%, then you are being hypocritical - can you honestly name a
movie based on a book that has followed the book to a "t"? Didn't think
so. Stanley Kubrick's version of Anthony Burgess's tale is one that is a
lot more in-your face and blatant. It has to be - it's a movie!
Basically, what is implied in the book is actually shown in the movie.
Some aspects have been altered because they'd just be inappropriate to
show in a movie (I doubt ANYONE would honestly want to see a 15-year-old
Alex having sex with two 12-year-old girls). Also, this movie is not
about making fun of or "ousting" other films, as one reviewed
misinterpretted. You have to keep in mind while watching this movie that
the language, characters and settings are derived FROM A BOOK. How could
a book try to oust movies - they're not on the same plane (media-wise),
so this type of logic is therefor disengaged. This movie does an
excellent job representing governmental flaws, just as the book did. The
movie, however, is able to capture violence in a unique way - a
picturesque, arthouse way. The violence and sex depicted in the film are
done so uniquely - set to Wendy (used to be Walter) Carlos' haunting
symphonic versions of classical music standards - that really make you
see that even a disgusting act can be portrayed beautifully, which in
itself is a vastly disturbing thought. This movie is very real and
hardcore in its style, which is something one can only WISH Kubrick
would have done with his other films. Everything: the language, the
music, the violence, the sex, the character development, the true
cruelty of the world around us - is all right there, in your face. You
can either choose to turn it off and dismiss it, or endure the whole
thing and attempt to make sense of it (which, if you are capable of
thought or free-will, should not be too hard). A Clockwork Orange IS a
classic, period. 10/10.................
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Weird yet Great, 28 April 2002
Author:
Douglas McTague (mdbumcs@hotmail.com) from baltimore, Maryland
Wow, this movie blew me away of it's content and universe. The idea of how
society's standards cannot change ones being. There were many strong scenes
such rapes and brutal beatings. Great acting my Mcdowwel and the universe
that Stanly created is unforgetable. It may be a bit weird for some but
overall, a great movie. This is not a movie to watch with
parents!
-=FINAL VERDICT=- 9/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Brilliant, 27 April 2002
Author:
whitegold from Portugal, Porto
This movie is certainly my favorite movie and the greatest of all a ever
seen!!!
Kubrick is one of the greatest movie directors of ever and this is (in my
opinion) his master piece!!!
This movie when seen once you never forget... and it shows so much about
our
society and aspects that should never happen and Kubrick does it in a way
that we never get secondary thoughts and focus where we most be with all
attention!!!
Everyone must see this movie at least once in a life time... without this
movie anyones life can not be complete!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: No one would dare make this movie in 200x, 25 April 2002
Author:
aramo1 from Ireland
Based on R2 DVD.
Following '2001' by three years 'Clockwork Orange' closely resembles its
predecessor in form if not content. 'Clockwork Orange' also has a degree of
on the cuff political cynicism not seem in later Kubrick movies and it's all
the better for it.
The stong visual nature of the movie is pure Kubrick though it's a certainty
that no serious producer or director of the 2000s would dare emulate the
style - thanks be for DVDs.
8/10 classic material.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A Violent, Dark, Twisted, Sick, Eye Popping, Disrespectful Film....and I loved it, 25 April 2002
Author:
Sal Santorelli (Jawa11182@aol.com) from Queens, New York
A Clockwork Orange is a Violent, Dark, Twisted, Sick, Eye Popping,
Disrespectful Film....and I loved it. It might actually be one of the most
controversial films in the 20th Century. The director of A Clockwork
Orange, Stanley Kubrick had the most twisted mind in making this film, but
not only was he twisted but the author of the original novel had some part
in the distorted visions or beliefs of Alex and his "droogs". I loved this
movie because it was different. I also found it a little humorous when
Alex
did some of the things that he did in the film. Call my crazy, call me
wrong, call my sick in the head but that's what I believe. If you are not
one of those always moral people, you will like this movie. I guarantee it
trust me on that one.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Brilliant,Genius,Masterp i e c e!Freakish,Greatest film ever made., 24 April 2002
Author:
BizarreBoy from aussie
The film can mean different meanings to different people,and somehow the
more you watch the film the more different it becomes,something very odd or
bizarre,almost out of this earth feeling to the film,which makes it very
very frightening not so much with the R rated but the hidden message that
becomes clearer the more you watch it and work out the true meaning of the
film,if you can that is..you'll be cured alright!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Great movie, 16 April 2002
Author:
AndrewWalker747 from Worcester, Mass.
This was a great movie, what else can I say? Ive seen it over 10 times and
it never stops getting better. Please see this masterpiece if you haven't
already. Oh by the way, some songs you will never listen to the same again
after seing this movie; "William tell Overture", "Bethoven's 9th Symphony",
"Singing in the Rain"....
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: WHY GLORIFY RAPE AND VIOLENCE?, 11 July 2001
Author:
alistairmuir from Trumpton
THIS FILM PROTRAYS RAPE, BURGLARY AND VIOLENCE AS GOOD THINGS TO
DO.
THE SAD THING IS THAT PEOPLE LOVE THIS FILM NOT BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT ITS
INTELLECTUAL STANCE ON SOCIETY BUT BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE RAPE AND VIOLENT
IMMORAL CONTENT. SHAME ON KUBRICK. Thank God that this pervert is dead, who
knows what more filth he could have directed if he still was alive.
He is a pervert and the people who watch the film and like it are all
perverts too.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A greater movie on the horror of violence has yet to be made, 6 May 2001
Author:
raging bull from Hamilton, Ontario
A Clockwork Orange is an amazing film that shows the extreme horror of
violence. I have seen most of Stanley Kubrick's movies and am very
impressed by the ones I have seen but Clockwork stands out. Kubrick must
have been a great person to know. The film proves his genius and especially
compared to the films being made today, Kubrick's movies are brilliant.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's best!, 3 May 2001
Author:
makers99 from Madison, WI
This film is as incredible now as it was in 1971. Did you know that it was
banned for a time in England because of all the copycat violence? Its too
bad Macolm MacDowell wasn't used more often back then, his performance was
superb. Kubrick's display of violence shocks the viewer as well as giving
one a new appreciation for Ludwig Van (Beethoven).
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Bizarre, 21 April 2001
Author:
Jonathan Horner from Stockton-on-Tees, England
I was dying to see this movie because it was directed by Stanley Kubrick. I
remembered Kubrick had directed "The Shining" which was a masterpiece, so I
dashed down to the shops to buy "A Clockwork Orange"
When I started to watch "A Clockwork Orange" I couldn't believe how bizarre
this movie was. Watching a pack of "droogs" go around smashing everybody's
face in!
As the movie progressed I started to get into it and by the time the end
came I was stunned, this movie truley is a classic.
9/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: We can see why you were withdrawn . . ., 8 April 2001
Author:
Stuart Ian Burns from Liverpool, England
It isn't difficult to approach this film without the frisson of excitement
you experience when you see anything which was withdrawn (at least in the
UK) for so many years. Unfortunately, at least for me there was a definite
disappointment in viewing the product. Although the is a definite visceral
quality to the exploits of Alex there is something very sterile about the
piece, akin to watching a pop video which doesn't have anything to do with
the song. One of the many film whose creation is more interesting than the
product. **
I thought Clockwork was an awesome movie every skinhead should see. It has
an excellent hidden psychological theme. Alex is the toughest character
ever written. I like how society is portrayed and I especially like how
after all Alex was put through, the brainwashing, losing his Droogs, etc.,
he goes back to his old ways. I admire all of Stanley Kubrick's work.
This
movie ranks on my list of top three favorites, the other two being Romper
Stomper and SLC Punk.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: It cant get any better than this, 24 April 2000
Author:
skahead77 (skahead77@hotmail.com) from pa
im am a teenager and i heard about this movie from a friend. i
bought this movie and it was honestly one of the best movies i have seen in
a long time. its the greatest cult movie around. rent/buy it whenever you
can get your hands on it.its a long movie but very good.ONe of Stanley
Kubricks best and shockingly most popular movie.
Rated R contains:a little bit of rape but its basically all
implied. however there is a lot of backround nudity, violence and mild
language. it could have been rated PG-13 if there wasnt nudity in it.
I have recently been cautious about renting "Henry: POrtrait of a
serial killer", so if anybody has seen it and is a teenager(so i can get a
teenagers point of veiw) contact me so i find out how it is, and if its a
good one to rent
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Astonishing, but is there something missing?, 5 April 2000
Author:
Darragh O' Donoghue (hitch1899_@hotmail.com) from dublin, ireland
This film, withheld for 30 years in Britain, and banned in Ireland, is
finally rereleased, and five things are immediately apparent:
* That this is, as always with Kubrick, a stunningly beautiful film, with
the stylised, futuristic, predominantly white set design clashing crucially
with the very real, grim, abandoned 70s Britain, looking more
post-apocalyptic than anything Kubrick could imagine;
* That the film is absolutely hilarious, for childish reasons, as
caricature, as alarmingly prescient satire in this era of New
Labour;
* That the film's 'ethical' difficulties arise from a Hitchcockian
engagement with point-of-view, which points the blame on passive viewing
(and, by extension our (non)engagement with society);
* That the film is gleefully homoerotic - check out the sly imagery in the
warehouse fight scene between the two rival gangs;
* And that A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, for all its thrilling rush, and for all its
showing up of our cowardly generations' cinema, is not a Kubrick
masterpiece: whether the ironies are too broad, or the structure is too
schematic, I don't know, but, unlike THE SHINING or BARRY LYNDON, Kubrick's
major achievements, it just doesn't breathe. Sorry.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Sick, 10 July 1999
Author:
Adam Morrison (dvd53@hotmail.com) from Bathurst, New Brunswick
Disturbing film about a sick man who undergoes some weird tests.A powerful
performance and equal direction are great.
Rating:**** (out of five)
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: My review takes more of a comment format (not a summary), 9 May 1999
Author:
Nate Vanderella (nate120@hotmail.com)
Wow. That is just how I felt while I was watching this masterpiece. I
have
never seen anything like it. This is the ONLY movie I have ever given a
10.
Why? Simple, it is interesting, insanely original, and most of all FUN!
It is just great to watch this movie and drink milk. It makes me feel
like
I'm a part of it. One of Alex's droogs. Some may say that it is just
some
kind of independent film that throws sex and violence at the teenage crowd
to
make a buck, but that is quite untrue! Well, admitted that it IS violent
and it DOES have rape, but these are key plot elemets. Nothing hurts me
more than watching this with someone and when it's over saying "So?" and
getting the reply "It was pointless. Just violence and sex" I guess some
people just don't get it. The thing that REALLY sets this apart from
other
movies is the music. It is a joy to see Alex and his
droogs(friends)smash,
destroy, yada yada all to the tune of classical music. It sounds weird,
but
it really works! Well anyway, rent this movie. It will give you a whole
new outlook on life. (It will also make you think twice about letting
strangers in the house!)
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Do not listen to the detractors, 30 April 1999
Author:
Chet! from Wrexham
I have just read two previous comments on this film and I was astounded by
their stupidity. One complains that Kubrick's film isn't violent
enough. The thing is, while films like Fist of the North Star justify
violence as a means of gaining revenge, A Clockwork Orange actually faces
the real ugliness of violence, embodied in the young and amoral anti-hero,
Alex. To just watch a film to get a cheap thrill off brutal scenes is one
dimensional. The film also deals with such problems as mind control, teenage
peer groups and the aspects which make us human. Evidently, some people
don't want this kind of intellectual experience. If this is the case with
you, then why don't you just lock yourself away with your copies of Zombie
Flesh Eaters and other similar films, and don't trouble anyone else ever
again.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: if you think rape is funny then you'll love this DVD, 13 November 2009
Author:
BossEberts from TAGAYTAY CITY, CAVITE Philippines
Stan the Man Kubrick delivers another gritty, no frills modern London
film. What starts out like a horror movie slowly morphs into something
else, something more ambiguous, all while maintaining a vice grip on
the viewer's mind. It helps that Malcolm McDowell and Warren Clarke
deliver first rate performances and add instant depth to the plot.
Malcolm McDowell is particularly compelling in a role unlike any he's
played before. His character continually plays with our perception of
him, swinging like a pendulum from insanity and supernatural possession
and back again, and even invoking sympathy at times. Malcolm McDowell
is commanding, and his raspy-voice and stoic appearance imbues vitality
to his role as the standard teen bad boy. Behind the camera, Stan
Kubrick is more concerned with creating mood and atmosphere rather than
showing off or displaying cinematic tricks.
This Classic from the eighties is one of the many sci fi films to be
produced in England incidentally it is also one of the best. Directed
by Stanley Kubrick of "2001: A Space Odyssey " fame A Clockwork Orange
is one of his earlier works. The cinematography may not be great but
the rest sure is! An interesting and intelligent story that makes for
full on family entertainment. This movie will make you smile laugh and
cry and bring out all the other various emotions in you. Malcolm
McDowell players the bubbly cheerful droogie and Patrick Magee the
crippled one who upon discovering the invisibility formula sets out to
avenge the worlds evils. Michael Gover played by the greatest villain
ever to grace the English screen as the acting Prison Governor. His
portrayal still strikes terror into the hearts of kids. Patrick Magee &
David Prowse's relationship is more of a homage to the Louis lane Clark
Kent type relationship seen in several superhero movies. The rain and
wind dance number by Alex. could easily give the new crop of actresses
a run for their money. brilliantly acted and executed his dance with
the phallic sculpture is simply unforgettable! who can forget that
cheeky "Singing in the Rain" number. you can watch this film time and
time again and not get bored. The special effects may be basic but the
story and acting are just brilliant. directors and actors of today take
a note. Its not just about the visuall appearance. its also about soul
that films of today lack which this film is full of. watch it and be
truly entertained.
In a horror film, this is a definite plus – and some of the grimy
scenery inside the "futuristic urban area" evokes the dreary and dirty
world of David Fincher's "Seven". But then again, you do have to ask
yourself: *is* this a horror film? The answer is ultimately up to the
viewer. Give this film a chance and decide for yourself. If you're a
fan of the director, actors, or are just craving a solid thriller, "A
Clockwork Orange" comes highly recommended.
Other notes ----------- Stephen Spielbarg after watching this film
offered both Godfrey Quigley and Amrish Puri a Hollywood film, though
Amrish Puri did a film with him, Quigley declined the offer due to his
workload in the Phillipines.
The verdict ---------- If there's one movie that I am going to
recommend to people of all ages, then it is this movie. Watch it on
DVD, and live the life of the young kids as they pass through one
adventure after another. Plus, have the thrill of saving Alex from "the
System". You will have everything in this movie. Just go on, watch it
and live your dream!
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Fantastic Movie, 13 February 2009
Author:
tdaddict99 from Australia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
~CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!!!~ A Clockwork Orange, directed by Stanley
Kubrick, is one of those movies that stays with you long after you have
seen it. The first time viewing, I thought it was a pretty good movie,
but not one of the greats. But after repeated viewings of it, it
definitely grew on me and I now know why people give it such good
reviews all the time.
The movie is basically a take on the inner workings of people. the way
we think, the way we act and why we do these things. We all have our
good sides and our bad sides. We make mistakes, that's a part of being
a human.
The movie revolves around the character of Alex DeLarge, a teenager (at
the beginning), who, with his droogs (friends), goes on the wrong side
of the law. He takes drugs (the milk at the beginning of the movie), he
steals, he bashes up old people, rapes women and eventually murders a
woman while trying to attempt a robbery, which eventually goes wrong
because the police arrive and his droogs betray him because they are
sick of his actions. Alex is taken by the police and that is where the
story really starts to pick up.
While in Prison, Alex starts to read more and more of the Bible. Alex
is eventually chosen to take part in a new rehabilitation project which
will change criminals and make them lose the ability to do evil acts.
This is shown when Alex is released from Prison and is unable to act
violent towards anyone, nor is he able to perform sexual acts upon
women (such as raping them).
When Alex is released, he tries to go back home, but finds out that his
room is being taken up by a lodger and his family basically do not want
him anymore, so he leaves and meets up with the old man that he once
bashed up with his former droogs. The old man gets his friends and they
all surround Alex where upon two of Alex's former droogs appear and
then Alex goes through hell. They punish him by sticking him in a
trough full of dirty water. Alex stumbles upon a house where he once
came to (with his former droogs) and raped a woman and injured the
womans husband. The husband is still there and he punishes Alex, where
upon Alex tries to commit suicide by jumping out of a window, and
fails. He is taken to the hospital and he is changed back into what he
used to be because people thought that it was wrong to have had him
changed in the first place.
The story revolves largely around Alex and explores the evil sides of
human nature. It's a very engaging movie and it will grow on you, like
it grown me. This is definitely a recommended movie.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: I'm siiiinging in the rain...satiric, sarcastic, provocative...Weird !!!, 2 February 2009
Author:
delija84 from Slovenia
20 minutes ago, i watched one of the strangest if not the strangest
movie that i ever saw in my life!...and let me tell you that i have
mixed feelings. I certainly think that this movie is a classic flick,
that was very provocative in the 70's ( the best movie era in a history
of the motion picture ) but at times it made me a little bit bored, but
that is because this is the type of movie that you should watch at
least 3-5 times before you get your mind correct-after all, the
godfather part II is certainly the best movie EVER for me, and after i
watched it for the first time, i said to myself that this movie can't
come close to the original, but after few seeings later, it become
obvious that this is the only movie who will get a perfect score in my
book.
But let's go back to A Clockwork Orange. It is satiric and
sadomasochistic. Malcolm Mcdowell is just brilliant and he should get
at least an Oscar nomination if not the main prize. SPOILERS: The movie
has a simple plot, Alex ( Malcolm M. ) and his 3 friends robe, fight,
rape and also kill the rich and odd people. In one particular moment
Alex is arrested by the police and then they put him in jail for 14
years. He only serves 2 years, because he is willing to do the test
that will erase from his mind the violence...but here is the sick part
-the good is not always good-!!!...It only makes his life more hard and
at the end he tries to kill himself, but he fails. And he becomes once
again the old menacing Alex! The movie has phenomenal score, especially
at the start of the movie with menacing look at the camera by Alex!
Brilliant acting and also directing by one of the best directors of all
time!
P.S. get a subtitles, even if you are English spoken person!
Very recommended movie.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: I've reconsidered my previous review..., 7 December 2008
Author:
planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
WARNING: ONLY AN INSANE AND IRRESPONSIBLE PARENT WOULD LET THEIR KIDS
SEE THIS FILM!! SERIOUSLY!
I originally gave this film a very low score but have reconsidered it
after having read the Anthony Burgess novel and then seen the movie
again. The Burgess novel is brilliant but necessarily violent given the
subject matter. I still think that Stanley Kubrick really lost his way
in this film because he increased the level of violence and especially
nudity--making the film, at time, almost like a sex film. This was just
gratuitous and seemed highly reminiscent of NATURAL BORN KILLERS--a
film that was just too graphic and needlessly trivialized violence.
However, despite Kubrick's overindulgence, the film is pretty good and
reasonably close to the novel--and I appreciated this greatly. Plus, I
liked Malcolm McDowell's nice performance.
First, let's talk about the overindulgence that keep me from seeing
this as a brilliant film (despite popular opinion--after all, it's #49
on the IMDb top 250). The book never had such graphic rape scenes and
that much sex. In Kubrick's vision, the story is more about sex than
violence much of the time--completely missing the point of Burgess'
novel. Adding rapes and making many of the scenes so very graphic just
seemed unnecessary and make this an adults-only film that easily earned
the X rating (today it clearly would be an NC-17 film). Plus, Kubrick's
need for over-indulgence made the film seem more like a Ken Russell
film--just unnecessarily crude with statues of Jesus with an erect
penis, the character Alex beating to death a woman with a giant penis
and testicles statue (the original way she dies in the book was much
better--funny and ironic) and many, many scenes of graphic non-violent
nudity that were not even in the book. Oddly, despite the many
depravities, Kubrick chose not to include an attempt by one of Alex's
roommates to sexually abuse him--an odd omission considering everything
else.
Now if you can manage to watch the film and ignore how over the top it
is compared to the book, you will be happy that most of the scenes in
the book are still there (though, as I think, with a few unnecessary
additions). Plus, much of the spirit of Burgess' excellent novel is
present--along with Alex's clever narration. On the very positive side,
the movie is based on the American version of the novel not the
original British one (which is odd, as Kubrick loved the UK and didn't
think much of his home country according to most reports). In the
British version, there was a final unnecessary chapter in which, by
Alex was in his early 20s and he was essentially cured--wanting to
become a productive citizen practically overnight. While a redemption
is possible, having it happen so young and so quickly with such a
hard-core sociopath didn't make any sense at all and undid most of the
book. Leaving Alex an unrepentant and vile individual had much greater
impact.
By the way, it's never really said but I thought it was implied in both
the book and film that after Alex's attempted suicide, doctors
de-programmed him--possibly by employing psychosurgery or more
conditioning techniques. I spoke to a friend who never noticed
this--yet he LOVED the book. What did you think about Alex's
transformation following this attempt?
Overall, a very good version of the Burgess book but also way too
sexually explicit--limiting the movie's audience and possibly
encouraging rape and violence instead of being a tale about
totalitarianism and behavioral conditioning.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Disappointed, 4 September 2006
Author:
dawslu from Australia
I watched this movie a couple of days ago and was strongly
Disappointed. I went in excepting a lot (from it being on friends
favorite movie list)but got out little. Don't get me wrong i fully
understood the movie and i am not just one of those people who doesn't
get it, therefore its crap but i just though it was a boring,
psychedelic interpretation of an apocalyptic world filled with
corruption and roving gangs. Could somebody enlighten me if there is
any reason why i did not enjoy this movie.
Also i think that the horror of this film is largley hype and it is not
truly that bad. (excpet the rape scenes is pretty bad)
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: That Chaplain sticks in my throat, 30 May 2006
Author:
SnorriGodhi from the Sagas of Icelanders
One problem with this movie is that senseless violence is depicted as
glamorous. (This is obviously less of a problem after Pulp Fiction and
Sin City.) Speaking for myself, I find this to be only a minor problem.
My main problem is different: the movie raises an important issue, but
deals with it in a confused and illogical manner. The issue is whether
something like the Ludovico treatment, if feasible, would be ethical.
For those who have not yet seen the movie, the Ludovico treatment is a
(fictional) conditioning process, by which a violent criminal comes to
associate the sight of violence with strong nausea. The purpose is to
make the criminal practically unable to use violence ever again.
Presumably, the Prison Chaplain speaks for Burgess and Kubrick when he
complains that the Ludovico treatment is unethical because it robs the
patient of his free will: the patient avoids violence because he fears
nausea, not because he has changed his ethical outlook.
What the Chaplain says is well phrased, as can be seen in the
"memorable quotes" section. It is also very silly. It is silly because
it assumes that people who try to avoid nausea have lost their free
will.
Imagine a criminal who has been to jail and has abandoned crime because
he fears going back to jail: does this mean that the threat of jail
deprives people of their free will? Imagine also a man who experiences
nausea after tasting Bearnaise sauce in a restaurant: this man is
unlikely to eat Bearnaise sauce again, but can he sue the restaurant
for depriving him of his free will (as opposed to suing for food
poisoning)? If the answer to both questions is no, then a man who
abandons crime because he fears nausea has not lost his free will,
either.
On the other hand, if the answer to either question is yes, that means
that people lose their free will when they have to suffer the
consequences of their actions. So this is what the Chaplain's tirade
amounts to: there is no free will if people suffer any consequences
from their actions; and therefore there is no free will in the real
world. It sounds absurd if put in these words, but this is the only way
I can make sense of what the Chaplain says.
It might be argued that there is a qualitative difference between fear
of prison and nausea: the two emotions activate different brain
pathways, for instance. There can be reasonable disagreement on the
differences between the Ludovico treatment and prison, and there is
plenty of room for debate on this issue. The fact is that the movie
does not even begin to address the issue! The Chaplain does not explain
why he is opposed to the Ludovico treatment, but not to prison. Nothing
in the movie suggests any reason to prefer prison to the Ludovico
treatment; if anything, the Ludovico treatment is portrayed as faster
and more effective in reducing crime. This brings me back full circle
to my starting point: the movie raises an important issue, but deals
with it in a confused and illogical manner.
In spite of all this, I was entertained by the movie: there is an
interesting story and stylish cinematography, as one would expect from
Kubrick. The violence is unpleasant, but it is not gratuitous: it shows
what kind of person the main character is, and what kind of people he
hangs around with. But at the end of the movie, what remains in my
mind, and sticks in my throat, is the Chaplain's speech. I perceive it
as an insult to the intelligence of the audience. Should I be more
disturbed by the violence? I don't think so, because the violence is
fictional, while the silly ideas that the Chaplain is advocating can do
serious damage to an impressionable mind.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Not a great adaptation of the book, 26 February 2006
Author:
ChefInnocent from United States
Clockwork Orange is a great book. I love the language of the book and I
think the topics that Burgess is trying to address are interesting.
When I heard there was a movie of the book, I thought I should go see
it. Kubric forgot one very essential thing to the movie that just turns
it into a movie about a hoodlum. We never get to peer into Alex's
head-space. Without being able to "see" the world as Alex see's the
world, we miss the real points of the story. Alex doesn't get to grow,
and he never becomes a person that one can empathize with. We also miss
the arguments about whether or not society has the right to
fundamentally alter a person. Kubric has inflicted a monumental
disservice to this book.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: What Kubrick does best?, 19 January 2006
Author:
Sylvia Marciniak (sylviastel@aol.com) from United States
I have only seen this film once and yet I probably will watch it again.
It's kind of painful to watch sometimes especially those scenes in the
prison. Malcolm McDowell should be knighted by now. His role of Alex,
the criminal, becomes a three dimensional character rather than just a
caricature. Of course, the late great Stanley Kubrick provides
spectacular images and scenes with color and unforgettable music. The
movie shows a futuristic society in which the criminal like Alex can be
cured but mostly by some of the most inhumane motives. I don't approve
of Alex's crimes but I don't think cruel punishment is the way to
redeem and cure the hard criminal. Because once he goes on the outside,
he reunites with some of his victims. They return the crime. So crime
begets crime, victim becomes criminal and the reformed criminal like
Alex becomes a victim of society. This film ponders the questions about
curing criminals. By making him a victim of crime, he becomes the
victim. The sad truth is that it does not work. Criminals like Alex
need psychotherapy, drugs, and something more than watching Nazi films
about abuse. BUt I'll definitely watch this film again. With Kubrick,
you can never get enough, boy do I miss him.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Overrated Yawnsville, 29 June 2002
Author:
purryguy from Kilmarnock, Scotland
Ok so people think of this as a bit of classic movie making; it might well
be in some respects but that doesn't stop it from being dull to watch. I
saw it at the cinema not so long ago when it was doing its re-release
revival and it looked very dated and I found it kinda lame to be honest.
It
wasn't at all shocking, more boring than shocking.
Yeh so he wore eye liner and jumped around a lot like a 5 year old, and
liked to be violent, so what? Anthony Burgess created a silly language to
go with the movie - so what? Its just stupid talk like Teletubbie talk -
it
has no intrinsic value and doesn't enlighten us in any way about
anything.
People who loved this movie I think have missed the point about what good
movie making is all about.
Kubrick was certainly a talented director and The Shining, Lolita,
Spartacus
and 2001: A Space Odyssey are classics of the genre but "A Clockwork
Orange"
is a very flawed and silly movie.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: What is all the fuss about?, 2 May 2002
Author:
John Taylor (jdtaylor@btinternet.com) from Bedfordshire, England
I really do wonder what all the fuss about with Clockwork Orange. O.k it
does have a bit of violence and a little bit of nudity and maybe it was a
bit strong for 1971 but not enough for it do get the notoriety it has. The
biggest controversy about this for me is that it got that much publicity and
perhaps Kubric deserves the praise for hyping a less than brilliant film up
banning it.
As for the movie itself , it is weird and does look good as do all Kubriks
films but i certainly wont bother watching it again.
i'm not sure if it trying make a political statement but if was it was lost
on me. The first half an hour is apalling and i almost considered turning it
off which i hardly ever do but as the film went on it got better or should i
say a little less sureal .
Malcolm McDowell is brilliant in the film and is the only reason i stuck
with it but boy , was he an ugly young man!Age has treated him
well.
5 out of 10.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Didn't blow my mind, seemed average but the idea was good., 18 June 2000
Author:
overcast22 from United States
I have to admit the concept of a criminal being reformed and then being
attacked by his own victims is a great idea. But the movie which I was
expecting to be incredibly intense, was actually soft. In the rape scenes I
didn't feel sad I just waited for it to end. Kubrick could have milked the
crippled mans loss but the whole scene was too fast, I mean Alex plays
psychological games with his "brothers" but when it comes to the rape it's
just a thing that he feels like doing. It seemed more like fun than lust And
some "ultra violence" that turned out to be, it was nothing. I could
understand why he would want to attack his victims, but the old man was the
only one that worked. And the government was made to look too ridiculous, at
least do it with subtlety, might as well have painted I'm stupid on all
their heads.
In short, the idea is pure beauty but it could have been done
better.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Deserves to be an icon, 16 April 2000
Author:
Spleen from Canberra, Australia
This is the one moment in Kubrick's career when he overdid the `found' music
thing. He makes the most liberal use of Beethoven, Elgar, Purcell, Rossini,
Dvorak, Rimsky-Korsakov ... have I left anyone out? -although I must say
that his use of music is often as cunning as ever: at its first appearance
the use of Rimsky-Korsakov's `Scheherezade' struck me as being a cheap
device, but it turned out a moment later to offer a sly remark on Alex's
fantasy. But `Pomp and Circumstance'? Too obvious.
That's my quibble out of the way. When I saw it `A Clockwork Orange' did
everything to justify its reputation as a masterpiece, although, curiously,
very little to justify its reputation as a sick excursion into the old
ultra-violence. In fact it struck me as the product of a more civilised
age. (Whether or not it WAS the product of a more civilised age, I wouldn't
know: I wasn't alive back then.) Note how we are asked, as if it's no big
deal, to feel sorry for Alex. After committing terrible crimes he is
altered so as to be physically incapable of committing any more, but this
isn't enough for the people whom Alex has wronged. They want to see him
suffer. Not to any particular end; they simply want suffering for its own
sake. I wonder how many people these days would notice that there's
anything wrong with this. We're starting to think, once again, that the
purpose of the criminal courts is to exact revenge - just look at all the
`vitcim's rights' activists about.
Not that Kubrick's film has a message to offer them, or anyone else. In
many scenes every character present has a point and nobody is exactly right.
Look at the scene where Alex is being paraded before the press as a triumph
of the Ludivico technique, and the priest objects that all that has happened
is that Alex has been robbed of his free will (just as he was when he was
locked up). The priest is almost right, just as the minister is almost
right when he responds that hit doesn't matter, so long as the crime rate
drops; but you'll notice that the reason the priest advances is a silly one:
that Alex is behaving himself now only in response to a crude system of
reward and punishment. The claim that Alex has no power to make decisions,
and the claim that he acts out of a fear of immediate punishment, can't BOTH
be right; besides, the irony invisible to the priest, but obvious to us, is
that his own fire-and-brimstone preaching is no more than an earlier version
of the Ludivico technique, with this difference - it doesn't work. Still,
although we think little of the priest, and although he's wrong, we know
he's on to something. So is the prison guard whose reactions we see
throughout the scene. He doesn't take to the new technology at first, but
when he sees that Alex is subject to fits of naseau - when he sees that his
native cruelty will be indulged after all - he's all for
it.
No doubt about it - a film of marvellous complexity, and, two or three
shocks of violence aside, it's a delight to watch.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Overrated, 2 April 1999
Author:
Cacciato from Baltimore, Maryland
A Clockwork Orange, hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, is
nothing more than an attempt to shock the audience. While I acknowledge the
story idea is excellent, it is executed rather poorly by the otherwise
flawless Stanley Kubrick. Moreover, Malcolm McDowell's acting performance
is unmoving... I realize I'm watching this sick guy, but I stop caring about
midway through the movie. Don't get me wrong, I am not easily offended.
But I do recognize when a movie is simply trying to offend the audience for
the sake of offending, as this movie does over and over and over again.
It's a movie worth watching because of the brilliant story idea, but don't expect
to get anything else out of this movie.
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful: the message is humanitarian but the movie is itself sick just like other Kubrick movies, 16 September 2005
Author:
shutterbug_iconium from Türkiye
This is Stanley Kubrick! His work of art raises the question but never
provides a clear-cut answer! Kubrick is someone who sees progress as an
illusion.According to him people are doomed to repeat their own
mistakes.So it is about a sick rapist violent delinquent teenager
"Alex" who is conditioned against sex and violence in a Pavlovian
method.The moral question of the film is that Alex is now "good", after
such a an aversion therapy but his ability to choose this has been
taken away from him; his "goodness" is as artificial as the clockwork
orange of the title. You see the message of the movie is really great.
It questions human's power of free-will.It shows us that it doesn2t
matter to be good or evil without having a full-power of free-will.Coz
the free-will is what makes us different from the other creatures. Well
it is just as sick as any other Kubrick movie like "The Shining" or
Full Metal Jacket" maybe this is the most over-rated one but this is
Kubrick! NO NEED TO MAKE SO MANY COMMENTS! Other than abundant nudity
the only deficiency I could find in the movie was the the coincidences.
Alex's accidental reunion with the husband of his victim and his
old-friends.One coincidence after another! Thiscorrupts the unique
message of the movie! If you can't handle abundant nudity don't see
this movie! But if you liked Kubrick's other movies it is a must!
This movie is disgusting. The fast paced sex scene was probably
entertaining for pubescent teenage boys but totally unnecessary. The
movie is only famous because it is an attention grabber. The rapes in
the movie were excessive and more offensive that pornography itself. I
mean they rape a woman in front of her husband. Movies are supposed to
be a form of entertainment, how is watching the worst things imaginable
entertaining. Kubrick seems like he is trying to offend people and then
people get angry when others get offended. I mean what do you expect of
course people will try to ban filth like this People only like this
movie because it goes way over the line.
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful: As great as it is, the movie's scenes of blatant depravity detracts what can be gained from viewing it, 1 September 2002
Author:
dcmarkham from Orlando, FL
As a true film buff, I can accept the fact that some of the greatest
movies
ever made can also be extremely difficult to watch -- whether from its
content and/or the emotional response it generates. Most movies like this
usually receive my adolation and praise, even if it may take me time to
recover from the first viewing
But in my opinion, A Clockwork Orange takes the grand prize as the most
disturbing movie I've ever seen, and it does not get much easier with
repeat
viewing. The movie's brilliance in directing and storytelling makes it
impossible to dismiss critically, yet the film disturbs me to the core. I
would almost hope that I am not alone in this opinion -- to truly 'enjoy'
this movie you'd have to be pretty damn callous to hideous imagery,
especially when it comes to rape and excessive exploitation of the female
body.
If there's one very big dislike I have against Stanley Kubrick, it is way
in
which he treats the naked female body onscreen. It becomes impersonal,
cold, devalued -- cheapened and readily exploitable. Think of these
examples -- A Clockwork Orange: 5 gangsters rip the clothes off and rape a
young woman to a classical waltz; the milk bar with naked women statues
and
dispensers; Alex's daydream of being in Roman times; the high-speed
menage-a-trois; the naked, stoic 'temptress' onstage approaching Alex; and
the 'humorous' winter-wonderland end-scene slow-motion daydream of public
exhibitionism. That's just A Clockwork Orange. Throw in the naked woman
in
the tub in The Shining, along with scenes totalling a full one-third of
the
running time of Eyes Wide Shut and you should have a pretty good idea of
the
devaluation of the female body I'm referring to.
I think of Spartacus, Full Metal Jacket, 2001, Dr. Strangelove, even Barry
Lyndon, and I just want to praise Kubrick forever. The man is a cinematic
genius. But, because of how adversely A Clockwork Orange affects me, I
must
dismiss it and can't recommend it to anyone. The more sensitive you are
to
what you see onscreen, the more this movie will deeply, deeply disturb
you.
I've seen it three times now, my first time being over 12 years ago, and
it's no easier to watch now than then. And sadly, because it is so
disturbing, I am deprived of enjoying the greatness that the movie really
does contain.
I read the book by Anthony Burgess because the story is truly brilliant.
I
was surprised to find out that the book's final chapter was purposely left
out of the film. Also, I was surprised to find that the author disliked
the
film, as he alludes in the book's introduction. He feels that "A
Clockwork
Orange" has become to him what "The Nutcracker" was to Tchaikovsky -- what
he considers as one of his least important works has become his most
famous
and recognized.
Ever wonder what is meant by "a clockwork orange"? Mr. Burgess explains
the
metaphor in the book's introduction. An orange is sweet, refreshing, and
juicy -- fulfilling and delicious. But it is organic and cannot provide
this sweetness forever -- it will eventually expire and rot. Man cannot
make an organic object function like an inorganic object, or something
man-made, or 'clockwork'. The term 'clockwork orange' is therefore an
oxymoron and a paradox -- it infers that man has converted something
organic
into a controllable, inorganic process. The experiment Alex goes through,
by robbing him of free-will, effectively creates 'clockwork oranges' out
of
human beings -- he is forced to be sweet, gentle, and moral all the time.
Final thoughts: I am LDS (or 'Mormon'), and it's noteworthy to mention
something about the beliefs of the LDS religion as it pertains to this
concept... It is believed that in pre-earth life, Lucifer proposed that
everyone who comes to earth be forced to do good, so that everyone will be
worthy to return to God's presence after death, therefore 'no souls will
be
lost' -- however, he wanted the credit for this plan. Jesus wanted each
person to have complete free-agency in order to learn from their own
decisions, and he voluteered himself to be the one who must live a perfect
life as THE example as well as be the atoning sacrifice -- and all glory
go
to God, not to himself. To have mankind robbed of its free-agency is the
Devil's original plan and ultimate goal. So, the movie and the book asks
this supreme question: What's more evil -- a person who focusses all his
thoughts and energy and actions on doing bad, or forcing this person to
only
think and feel and do good?
My answer: Skip the movie and read the book -- it's a far more edifying
experience. And you also get to know what happens in the final
chapter!
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Talk about over rated, 27 August 2002
Author:
blaisepascal
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I am utterly shocked at how bad this movie was. I'm tired and don't feel
like going very in depth, but here's why this movie is horrible. And there
will be spoilers.
We have a main character we hate because he enjoys raping and killing
innocent people.
We are then supposed to sympathize with him, which we don't, because we hate
him. This goes on for a VERY long time. Horrible things happen to him, but
we don't really care, because he's a bad person.
The movie is extremely long and drawn out. It climaxes so many times that
it's very anti-climatic by the ending.
We are supposed to get a sense of irony out of Alex going from a sociopath
to someone who is constantly being beaten and tortured while he can't use
the very thing that got him in the situation, violence, to help himself. We
do not get this sense of irony because the movie is CONTRIVED, some examples
being: how Alex just happens to run into everyone he ever did wrong one day
after getting out of jail (the bum, his droogs, the cripple), or how after
Alex luckily is not recognized by the cripple, he goes on to sing the SONG
HE SANG WHILE BEATING HIM AND RAPING HIS WIFE while in the cripple's house,
as if he were the most idiotic person in the world, which he is obviously
not.
The fight scenes are silly and anything but "ultra violent".
The atmosphere of the movie is redeeming and there is some cult/shock value.
I give it a 4/10.
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful: What the heck was that?!, 11 January 2009
Author:
Dimitri T from United States
I have never seen this film until last night. Everyone says it's
absolutely amazing and terrifying. I expected this to make my skin
crawl. A Clockwork Orange has to be one of the worst films I have ever
had to watch. The first twenty minutes were okay because it was not
boring, then holy crap, the rest of the movie was flat out dreadful! I
could not believe that this film got all great reviews. Do critics
enjoy boring, non-psychological crap from the 70's? I guess so! There
was honestly no point what so ever to this disgusting film. The story
line was terrible, the acting was below horrid, and the fact that this
movie is a cult classic makes me sick to my stomach. Terrible, terrible
film.
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Explicit savagery as implicit satire, 14 October 2007
Author:
moonspinner55 from redlands, ca
Delinquent youth in the not-so-distant future of Britain is captured
after a bout of rape and murder and becomes part of a rehabilitation
experiment set up by the government; changed, presumably for the
better, he's sent back to the streets, possibly unprepared for what
awaits him. Cannily-made apocalypse-comedy by director-screenwriter
Stanley Kubrick, who is often very subtle about where he leans in
regards to this material (he's a tricky filmmaker who doesn't at all
mind changing the rules on this scenario, playing his audience for a
fool in the process). Kubrick, who is as much the star here as leading
actor Malcolm McDowell, is alternately decadent, dazzling, pretentious
and juvenile, and some of his gimmicks and sexual jabs aren't as
pointed as they're meant to be. The film doesn't attempt the solve the
sometimes confounding cinematic connection between (and the curious
lure of) violence and sex--and I'm not a big fan of the queasy mixed
with the satirically sensational--yet after a few reels of this stuff,
you're ready for Kubrick to change gears (and, in the third act, he
does). Adapted from the cult book by Anthony Burgess, Kubrick lets the
meaning of the story's title slip away within this medium--yet nothing
is carelessly done, out of reach or out of bounds for Kubrick. He's
meticulously menacing, and those who respond gleefully to the film are
most likely subjects he would have eventually studied. ** from ****
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful: An Empty Vessel, A Waste Of Time, 2 August 2006
Author:
thegonzojournalist from Australia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I had looked forward to seeing 'A Clockwork Orange' for a long time
before my opportunity to see it came. It's one of those films like
'Pulp Fiction' or 'Fight Club' that young men like me have been trained
to look forward to. Unlike 'Pulp Fiction' or 'Fight Club' I did not
find it stimulating, thought-provoking, revolutionarily groundbreaking
or, for that matter, remotely enjoyable on any level. The reform scenes
sickened me, as did the rape scene, the dialogue, the costumes and even
some of the sets. I have never seen eye to eye with Kubrick's visions
but this films is far and away my most heavily disliked film of all
time. I do not pan it with a complete lack of stars as I found Malcolm
McDowell's performance to be one of the most unique I have ever seen
and that deserves credit, but I can say without a doubt that 'A
Clockwork Orange' will be far displaced from my viewing screens for a
good few years until I am up to the challenge once more.
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Intellectual... or just confusing?, 26 March 2002
Author:
Mike P from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I often enjoy movies that comment on society and the nature of man, and I
loved other Kubrick flicks like Full Metal Jacket and The Shining, with
Dr.
Strangelove being possibly my favorite movie of all time. I was anxious to
see this one, having heard it praised as a true masterpiece, and I must
admit I was quite disappointed.
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ****
A lot of people who praise this movie say that it raises the question of
whether Alex is truly reformed after his treatment or not. Frankly, I
don't
see how that's a question at all... to me, he was obviously not the least
bit reformed, and only restraining himself because of the "punishment" he
would receive if he acted out.
Another point often brought up is the disturbing, shocking, nature of the
film, and the effect is has on the viewer, but frankly, by today's (2002)
standards, the violence is hardly anything special, and the sex only a bit
less so. Silly, pointless movies like "The Cell" have disturbed me a lot
more than this one.
Many particular elements of the movie didn't sit well with me. The
"sickness" that violence or sex induces in Alex during the second half of
the film is really quite silly, it mostly consists of him holding his head
and burping repeatedly. Even Alex himself describes it as, to paraphrase,
"the feeling that something horrible is going to happen to me". So... this
punishment makes you paranoid? That's it? I imagine the scene where he's
locked into a room and forced to listen to Beethoven (which induces the
same
sickness) was supposed to make you feel badly for him, but the ridiculous
nature of this sickness made it more comical than anything to me. I kept
wondering why he doesn't just stuff something in his ears, or break the
door
down (it looks like a very flimsy door). I realize that you can similarly
question any movie, but I wouldn't have noticed these things if I hadn't
been, by that point, pretty bored.
Some elements of the movie particularly baffled me. There are many things
that flat out SCREAM "Look, I'm symbolic for something!", but for the life
of me I can't figure out what. Why does Alex's mother (and later the
psychiatrist) have purple hair? Why does the same elderly mother wear
outfits of red leather and thigh high boots? Why does the gang that Alex's
group fight in the beginning wear Army uniforms? Why is there such a
strong
homosexual innuendo (Alex's teacher grabbing his crotch early on, the
chaplain making a pass at him, the old man at the end living alone with a
young man, etc) throughout the film?
One thing that confused me in particular, and this is an element most
viewers will miss, is that the movie often uses Russian words. I notice
only
because I know Russian, as the words are easy to figure out through
context.
Alex and his friends go to a "Moloko" (Russian for 'milk') bar. Alex
repeatedly uses "Malchik" (Russian for 'boy') to describe young men. Same
with "Devochka" (Russian for 'girl') to describe the women. Near the end,
Alex talks about eating "Lomtiks" (Russian for 'slice' or 'piece', usually
in reference to food) of bread. As this movie is made during the height of
the Cold War, is this some sort of attempt to associate Alex's mindless
sex
and violence with Russian culture?
I can see no real message to this movie, besides that the treatment that
Alex was given obviously doesn't work. But I fail to see any sort of point
to that message, as this treatment obviously doesn't exist. If the message
is against psychiatric rehabilitation in general, as opposed to
incarceration, I don't think it makes the point very well, considering
that
the few years Alex spends in prison don't even seem all that bad, and
certainly don't change him. He says that he endures horrible beatings from
the guards, all we ever see him do in prison is sit around, fantasize
about
sex/violence and quote the bible to please the chaplain. If the film was
supposed to comment on how ineffective rehabilitation in general is, I
don't
see why there's an attempt in the second half of the movie to make Alex a
sort-of sympathetic character. Shouldn't it show him as the monster he
still
is?
I talked about this movie with a friend earlier, and he pointed out to me
that at the time this film was released, the violence and sex was probably
most shocking, and that there was a heavy movement towards psychiatric
rehabilitation of prisoners at the time. If that's true, then this is
simply
a reactionary period piece, dealing with one very particular
issue.
Don't get me wrong, this is by no means a very bad movie. But I can't
really
say it's a very good movie either, and certainly doesn't compare with
other
Kubrick films that I've seen. This is by no means a classic, as it fails
on
the one crucial test: it does NOT, at least for me, stand the test of
time.
I give this movie a 7/10 for the first half of the film (up to the part
where Alex goes to prison), which is surreal and often darkly hilarious,
and
3/10 for the rest of it, which I found boring, lacking in coherence, and,
frankly, often quite silly and overdone. That averages out to 5, which is,
I
think, the right score for this movie.
NOTE: I have NOT read the book, but if I can't understand this movie
without
reading the book first, it is, IMO, simply another flaw of the
film.
4 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Injustice, 14 January 2007
Author:
yum_cha_militia from Canada
Oh my. I watched the film about a fortnight after I read the book.
Amazing? Oh I was amazed indeed. Other than some nice photography
shots, the film lack intensely. I place the book on my top 5 without a
doubt. The film however...I'm not one to compare a book to it's film
because they are two different mediums and are not meant for
comparison, however for any of you who desire to see this film I
suggest you step back with your hands out and get the book instead.
Enough satisfaction will be found there. Horrible cinematography, BAD
ACTING...holy crap! Alex is the sociopath with no emotion...NOT
EVERYONE ELSE. And excessive nudity. I have no problem with nudity, if
it is done tastefully and necessarily. This film did none of the above.
Loved the eye lashes though ;)
4 out of 9 people found the following review useful: An example of the director's frustrated gifts, 22 May 2006
Author:
Andrei Pavlov from Archangel, Russia
My opinion: the movie has got a very solid potential to be one of the
most powerful sci-fi drama, but instead, it turns into a nasty piece of
cinema. Couldn't this movie get along without that phallic statuette
with which a lonely cat woman was killed? Couldn't be those disgusting
human-like furniture be avoided? Couldn't the sex/rape/beat scenes be
less showcasing? Sure it could. Those scenes don't make the movie
better, but ruin it (at least for me). I have an impression that the
director did not control himself and did not know where to stop. A real
artist must have that feeling inside himself. "Mad Max" is art, while
this movie is not.
I can easily guess, that my opinion is not in the general stream but I
have to point it out. I bought this movie on DVD (I trusted IMDb rating
too much those days) and I think I will have to throw it away, while
there are too many scenes which I want to skip. I repeat: it has very
strong potential. If the initial material had been professionally cut,
the movie would be marvellous sci-fi drama (like "Solyaris"). But it
gets into a ditch with those dirty and low elements. Camera-work
doesn't save it. Besides, anyone can use classical music. It is not a
"plus". Use your own beautifully composed and that will be a "boost".
To finish it all with a slash, I had the same unpleasant experience
when watched "Caligula". Also a dirty movie but with great potential.
Sorry to say, but it is a raw product: 2 out of 10. Thanks for
attention.
4 out of 9 people found the following review useful: over-rated and average, 19 March 2004
Author:
rebeljenn from Bath, England
I think that this film is one of the most over-rated films of all time. I
would rate it below average - extra points go to the originality and art.
I
feel that the film lacks coherence, and I had a difficult time actually
being interested throughout the film. I am not entirely sure what Kubrick
was trying to achieve here, but in my personal opinion, I think this film
was over-rated. I think the reason why it is so popular is that it
questions
life, and it focuses on taboo topics. There's the element of "shock value"
and the fact that no one else would have dared to make a film like
this.
Overall, I have seen much better films and I don't know what all the hype
is
about.
8 out of 17 people found the following review useful: Worst movie ever, 12 July 2009
Author:
real_kurvos from Sweden
If you who read this are one of those who hated this movie, I really
feel your pain. If you are one of those who thinks this is a
masterpiece, then you don't know what a good movie is. I have never
seen a movie this bad ever in my entire life. The actors are really,
really bad - and even though the main character plays a villain, he
seems more like a sissy retarded wimp. All I can remember from this so
called "movie" is pain... I suffered through it all the time. I would
rather get whipped 100 times than watch this horrible piece of s**t
ever again. People ONLY love it because of it's satire of society,
which makes no sense. For someone who knows how you actually make a
movie, this is a joke. I can actually tell you about the ONLY time I
watched it - it was when I was studying the art of film making. In
class, the teacher told us we should watch it. Afterwards, our teacher
said she actually likes the movie (like most people unfortunately do),
but still, she told us this is NOT HOW YOU MAKE A MOVIE. That says it
all. And just for the record - this is the only movie that have
actually managed to make me feel like a brainless weirdo who should go
and bite my hands off, while I dance like a idiot.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Yuck, 30 November 2009
Author:
Glock_Boy from Flyover Country
OK, so we all know it was bad. Violence for violence sake. Some folks
bathe themselves in it. Some think themselves highly elite to watch
rape and call it art. It's a poignant "social commentary on the state
of affairs in America"..."a cinematic masterpiece". Please! Call it
what it is: Awful, nonsensical, disgusting, gross, low-browed,
unintelligent entertainment for the very weakest of minds in our
society.
They will call us dumb for not understanding the greatness of this
film. I for one will wear that like a badge of honor.
Kubrick seriously dropped the ball with this one.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Works like Clockwork, 19 October 2008
Author:
tobyjenn from United Kingdom
A Clockwork Orange is wrong in so many ways. Violence, Incorrect Sexual
Encounters and Highly strong language in the wrong hands, would usually
combine to shoot the director in the face and drag the actors back to
drama school.
However, what we have here is (in my opinion) the greatest film ever,
superbly created by Stanley Kubrick and brilliantly carried by the ever
impressive Malcolm Mcdowell.
Kubrick's vision seems appropriate still today, despite it's aging and
with a world mad about sex, hooked on violence and demanding of their
freedom, these themes are related to from not only then, but now still.
When a film ages this brilliantly it just doesn't seem real. What makes
this fact even more surprising is that the whole film has a psychedelic
feel and the language is a little complex at times. Usually psychedelic
films which can sometimes be difficult to understand get discarded,
yet, despite the lengthy ban, we see A Clockwork Orange triumph.
A brilliantly shot twisting tale of freedom, expression and sexual
desires, given such drive by Kubrick and such life by Mcdowell, this
film should be hated, but instead is loved...
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: * * * out of 4, 15 November 2007
Author:
Bleeding-Skull from Review Land
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Alex, a teenage hooligan in a near-future Britain, gets jailed by the
police. There he volunteers as guinea pig for a new aversion therapy
proposed by the government to make room in prisons for political
prisoners. "Cured" of his hooliganism and released, he is rejected by
his friends and relatives. Eventually nearly dying, he becomes a major
embarrassment for the government, who arrange to cure him of his cure.
A pivotal moment is when he and his gang break into an author's home:
the book he is writing (called "A Clockwork Orange") is a plea against
the use of aversion therapy, on the grounds that it turns people into
Clockwork Oranges (Orang is Malay for "Man"): they are not being good
from choice (sentiments later echoed by the prison chaplain). The film
reflects this: many bad scenes in a Clockwork Orange are accompanied by
jolly music; if we are to experience them as we should, we have to do
it consciously, by realising they are bad, and not because the director
tells us so through the use of music and images.
Pretty good Stanley Kubrick Movie, Too bad, the droogs should have
showed up more.
Note: This should have been an NC-17.
Rated R for Extreme Graphic Violence, Nudity, Profanity and Rape.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Orange crush!, 25 December 2006
Author:
tlmmtibet from Peru
Kubrick and all his talent in service to the frantic,a misfit called
Alex Delarge(giant MacDowell!)leads a band of punks with the common
sense in the life to make crimes with no feeling of guilty nor mercy,
but this "freaky" is busted by the policemen,and caged at the Ludovico
Prison,the methods of re-adaptation were cruel and absurdest,cuffed in
a chair,Alex is compelled to watch the greatest horrors in all the
human history specially all the nazi genocide,this therapy seemed to
scare Alex,but after his best,nothing can be changed from the bottom of
his soul,it's sealed his doom. A clear criticism to the actual
society,Kubrick uses the classical music in a shining way,showing
humor,violence in an atypical history, maybe we wanted an ending with
more "punch" to our bodies!but Kubrick could turn his madness in
mystery,but in spite its mistakes "ACO" is a movie to not let to see,be
strong,that is the main condition.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Mungo Jerry, 9 September 2006
Author:
Larry Burke from Ireland
McDowell's performance alone makes this a good film. However (and maybe
it's been mentioned elsewhere), the idea of using classical music and
mentioning fictional pop groups so as not to date the piece is
scuppered... the blonde in the record shop clearly seems to leaf
through a Mungo Jerry Record ! How did that slip through? I think I
also caught sight of a poster in the record shop saying 'you need
Bread'.. If Peter Osgood had been in the shop, they couldn't have dated
the film more. How did a master filmmaker like Kubrick manage to make
such a terrible gaff? The film is no longer a near future nightmare,
it's a distant flower power memory.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Stanley Kubrick's best movie!, 9 July 2006
Author:
DisgorgedMenstrualSludge from Hell
This is called one of Stanley Kubrick's best films and in my opinion,
definitely deserves to be. A Clockwork Orange stands right above The
Shining and Spartacus as one of Kubrick's greatest and definitely
reaches my top five favorites. It begins with a group of four hoodlums
whose idea of a good time is to go around, causing crime and assault.
One night they plan to break into a health farm and perform the usual
"ultraviolence", but their leader, Alex, ends up killing the woman
inside and is left by his buddies for the police. He is arrested and
sentenced to fourteen years in prison. After studying the bible in his
spare time, he is offered to partake in an experiment that is suppose
to cure violent criminals. This movie is violent and disturbing at
times, but never in a way that makes you dislike it. It is definitely a
rare kind of classic and a must see for Kubrick fans.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: insane but suddenly sane., 13 October 2005
Author:
benjajamim from Chile
When I saw Stalney Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange", my breath was taken
away. First, the opening scenes of the gang are very strong and gave me
an idea of how ultra-violence worked. Second, i found myself starring
outside the limits of my TV screen for a second. A mixture of
Beehtoven's finest music, Kubrick's finest novel choosing and, last but
not least, Kubrick's magic, unreal but breathtaking touch were hitting
my eyes, maybe too much of a good-strong, picture for my eyes and my
brain. Malcolm McDowell gives us an excellent interpretation of the
rare, crazy Ludwig Van lover Alex. This is a classic and probably the
best movie I've ever seen, nonetheless I wouldn't recommend this movie
to any person unless I know they are old or mature enough to see it.
The ultra-violence is nothing to be censored or rated, but yes the
raping scenes. And, last but not least, this movie was so well made
that it gives us the sensation of being as lost as Alex in his life.
Sci-Fi and Drama are mixed with a Kubrick touch, i mean... how better
could it get?
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: I've never ever seen such an entertaining film., 1 October 2005
Author:
heavenly_perverse from United Kingdom
When I first saw clips of this film on a TV show, there was something
that automatically intrigued me, although from the content of what I
saw, I was somewhat apprehensive about watching it. But I am so very
glad I did. This film is a true reflection on modern society, and the
kind of corruption that goes on in it. Malcom McDowell plays the role
brilliantly, I don't think the film could have been nearly as
convincing had he not been playing the role of Alex. This film is quite
warped, but it makes you look at modern life in a totally different
way. Some of the violence can be disturbing at times, but I think this
really adds to the atmosphere that Kubrick was trying to create. It
took me watching the film quite a few times to properly understand the
ending of the film, but each time I did, I fell in love more and more
with it. The effects are simple in it, but it all adds to the
atmosphere, and all the music used in it was superbly chosen, it all
really adds tension and a sense of drama and mystery.
This film doesn't mess about, its message is very clear and direct, and
I think there is where the genius of Kubrick lies. It's probably not a
film for everyones taste, but if you look past the violence on the
surface, it makes the meaning of the plot even more outstanding.
There isn't much else to say, other than watch it, and make your own
mind up about it!
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Clockwork Lemon?, 21 September 2005
Author:
BRAKisBack from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
The flawed genius of Stanley Kubrick.
There is no doubt that this film was cutting-edge when made.
The censors must have had quite a time deciding how much sex, violence
and colorful language the film's audience were going to get. But it
isn't so shocking now.
This is my summary of the film.
Typical Kubrick: wonderful story, brilliant acting (as a result of
ingenious casting) and clever cinematography. And don't forget the
twisted, wacky, dark, funny script.
Untypical Kubrick: lame ending. So unfulfilling that I'd venture to say
it is his most over-rated film. Still, as with Spielberg, a 'bad'
Kubrick film is still better than most other 'good' films made.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: S t A r B u C k S, 10 March 2005
Author:
richard-gonzales from United States
The Starbucks Coffee Company up in Seattle Washington was established
the year this sweet movie was made. BUT since it was filmed no where
near Seattle where the Starbucks headquarters is currently located, we
see no Starbucks coffee houses anywhere in the movie, making this
comment completely irrelevant to the movie, but then again isn't life
kind of irrelevant to people that are already dead and turning into
dust? If i offended anyone living or now presently dead, forgive my
ignorance and enjoy the wonderful beverages that starbucks has to
offer. oh and A Clockwork Orange is awesome cuz the guy who did the
production design also did it for Star Wars episode 4.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Jon Monsarrat review: painfully violent, even tho I "get it", 3 May 2002
Author:
Jon Monsarrat (jonmon) from United States
OK, let me start by saying I "get it". The film draws us to hate the
protagonist so much that we as audience members actually start thinking
violent thoughts and wanting to beat him up. So we become like him.
There are indeed some interesting themes in the film, and it's quite
intellectual.
Except it didn't work in my case -- I was just sickened. I spotted the
trap and didn't end up wanting to beat up and dismember the
protagonist. So much pathological violence. So much misery.
It's weird, because I'm an action movie buff. I like it when stuff
blows up, but I'm talking about cartoony action like Jackie Chan or
Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this film, the pain was very real and
inescapable.
I think if you're a film school type with an appreciation for the
acting, the cinematography, the deep themes, maybe you could ignore the
violence. No, you really couldn't. I'd be a little disturbed by anyone
who said that straight out. I guess everyone who likes this film must
like it despite the violence? Even "Reservoir Dogs" wasn't this bad
(gorey, but the characters didn't revel in the pain).
I get it, but highly recommend against it.
Who should see this film:
-- arty types with a healthy (unhealthy?) resistance to violence
and nightmares
Kubrick often set out to create controversial films. I'll give it a 3
out of 10.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: I'm upset, 8 August 2001
Author:
Christopher Mercurio from United States
Dear IMDB,
I am very upset. I saw a review of an IMDB user for the movie Clockwork
Orange. The person said thank god that pervert is dead. They meant Stanley
Kubrick. That is un called for. Alistairmuir is there name. They said they
were from Trumpton. I think they should be thrown off IMDB.
Having waited such a long time to see this film, it really was a bit of a
disappointment.
That would be a bit strong perhaps, it was good without ever getting to the
levels of being anything special; although that is perhaps due to it being a
victim of its own hype and being as dated as it now is.
Burgess' brilliant book was largely turned ho hum by one of the most
over-rated directors of all time, and the main redeeming factor was the
soundtrack and the performances of the supporting actors to the ever
irritating Malcolm McDowell, who is now a part of that annoying band of
celebrities who are famous for being famous, having done nothing any good
since.
Worth seeing to judge for yourself, and the soundtrack is
excellent.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: One big miscue..., 7 August 1999
Author:
Rob Deschenes from Toronto, Ont.
Brilliantly done and set movie about Alex DeLarge and friends who prey on
anything they disdain. Once Alex's friends leave him to the police, he tries
an experimental project in hopes of leaving jail. This type of movie was
right up Kubrick's aisle and he shows it. Thus if you ever knew Kubrick, you
never brought this movie up. To the general public now, it would either be
too "screwed up" or too boring. But back at CLOCKWORK ORANGE's release, it
revolutionized everyone's view on sex and violence. Its impact was so huge,
it inspired people to practice what was seen. Everyone played the role
exceptionally well with Malcolm McDowell being the best. Everything else was
utterly tasteless or of no interest whatsoever.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Classic!!!, 25 January 2009
Author:
irie-fire from Australia
Stanley Kubrick films aren't always the best of quality to get through
the unforgettable scenes of the shinning one must endure long and
endless scenes of pointlessness and one might pick up a copy of Barry
Lydon and endure a 3 hour movie of medieval boringness and Stanley
Kubrick self indulgence. But one see a Clock Work Orange one expriences
many themes such as Sex,Violence,Prosecution,Beethoven and Synthesizer
scores this movie is the exceptional it is based on the book A
CLOCKWORK ORANGE by anthony Burgess. If you enjoyed Full Metal
Jacked,Lolita or The Shining you probably will enjoy this fine piece of
cinema.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Disappointed, 13 June 2007
Author:
hawkinsd9 from United Kingdom
After hearing about A Clockwork Orange from my friends older brother, I
was keen to see it as it had been banned, being young I thought it
would be cool.
It wasn't until last week when I actually go to see it, some 6 years
later.
What a disappointment. It was hyped up to me so much, I was expecting
an amazing film, however I was left feeling as though I had missed the
point.
It seems to be one of those 'Cult' films that beard strokers say they
like just to belong in their little clubs.
Unforgettable film, but not for the right reasons.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: not that violent, 4 October 2006
Author:
gandalf_a_1999 from Australia
Not really wanting to see this I went ahead anyway after reading a few
comments here.
One reviewer wrote the treatment was so graphic he turned away. Having
seen far too many horror movies and the like it was just a few violent
images he was forced to watch, along with some experimental drugs. I
was expecting something a bit more along the lines of electro therapy,
how watching violence could cure anyone I cant see, strong drugs may
work more effectively.
By todays standard I found this movie tame. Its also far too long. It
certainly wasn't futuristic, maybe 1990 at best.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Appreciated for many of the wrong reasons, 14 February 2006
Author:
EvilSpaceApe from the Forbidden Zone
In light of the disturbing number of invective-laced replies, over on
the discussion boards, to any post that DARES to criticize any aspect
of this film, this seems to me the preferable forum in which to offer a
handful of personal observations based on my somewhat less than
positive response to Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Anthony Burgess's
"A Clockwork Orange", a film I believe enjoys a gratuitously inflated
reputation; a film of some value, but not the masterpiece so many have
hailed it as.
Kubrick sticks to the source novel rather closely here. Except when it
suits him, of course. Specific instances of alterations, additions, and
subtractions have been oft-cited, so I'll forbear to enumerate them
here. My point is that such changes as he saw fit to effect, seem to me
decidedly NOT improvements upon Burgess, though Kubrick may have felt
some of them were, rather than simply ways to avoid censorship. It
seems likely some were made to allow for greater audience sympathy with
Alex (and less for his victims); Lord knows an audience can sympathize
with a guy who rapes women and kicks winos--but not one who runs over
"odd squealing things" the way--in the book, but not in the movie--
Alex and his droogs do on their mad midnight joyride.
The film is uneven, and that, if nothing else, should give people a
problem. To me, the script breaks down, roughly, into five acts... ACT
I: From the opening, chilling shot of Alex and droogs in the milk bar,
through the killing of the Cat Lady, this is the longest and easily the
most impressively sustained 'act'. Here, Kubrick keeps things moving
and consistently entertaining, through use of camera placement/angles,
editing, music choices which--though not necessarily as clever or apt
as some have claimed--are good and lively, sets, etc. Not to mention
the fearless performance of Malcolm McDowell as Alex. I dislike the
sped-up orgy sequence (which reminds me overmuch of "Gilligan's
Island"-type slapstick)--indeed much of the humor makes me wince, not
smile (think Mrs. DeLarge's false teeth)--but nevertheless it's the
first 45 minutes that make the film at all interesting for me. I
believe it IS, contrary to many people's defensive protests, a kind of
celebration of Alex's demonic energy--a perverse paean, if you will, to
his hedonistic and ultra-violent instincts.
It's later, when Kubrick must deal with the violence done TO Alex--his
"treatment" and later comeuppance at the hands of former victims--that
I find the film bogs down, and never quite recovers. ACT II: Some of
the prison scenes (courtyard, library especially) have an almost
perfunctory feel; and the scenes back in (ACT IV) Alex's home and the
writer's house seem drawn out as if to pad the running time, which was
hardly necessary. (And Patrick Magee's excessively histrionic display
during his later scenes scarcely helps matters, to my mind.)
In between, the crucial ACT III, consisting of the Ludovico treatment
and demonstration scene, I find comes close to realizing what Burgess
probably had in mind, and to Act I in terms of sheer cinematic power.
I've concluded that Kubrick's decision to leave most of what's on
screen during the treatment to our imagination, allowing MM's
marvelously expressive facial performance (and impressive screams of
terror) to fill the blanks in for us, was indeed correct. During the
demonstration scene following, I find some of the spectators' reactions
too broadly played, but subtlety cannot have been what the director was
after here (or anywhere else, for that matter).
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
That leaves ACT V, commencing with Alex's recovery in hospital from his
near-fatal plunge, and concluding with the strange final image of the
"cured" Alex, once again enjoying erotic visions to Ludwig van. I'm NOT
going to take Kubrick to task for not filming a chapter he didn't even
know existed; I'm of two minds myself as to Burgess's decision to
include it. What I WILL take issue with is changing the way Alex
envisions his being cured. In the film, he's copulating with a stacked
female to upper-class onlookers' applause; in the novel, a more violent
picture takes form in Alex's mind, "carving the whole litso of the
creeching world with my cutthroat britva." I doubt that even Kubrick
could have brought himself to film as black an ending as THAT, and risk
jeopardizing the sympathy for Alex he'd been careful to build up during
the last hour. So much, I guess, for the vaunted boldness and
uncomprisingness of his vision.
The Ape's verdict: "A Clockwork Orange" is more fruitfully viewed and
appreciated as something closer to the "pop art fresco" it's been
labeled (or to elevated exploitation piece, for that matter) than to
social commentary, philosophical treatise, or art cinema. (In a
parallel instance, "The Shining"--to my mind SK's arguable
masterpiece--gains when considered as a lavishly mounted, epic-scale
take on the traditional tale-told-around-the-campfire, rather than as a
study in isolation and insanity.) By ascribing all means of social,
moral, and political relevance to Alex's treatment at the hands of the
State during the film's second half (wherein the film's purported
themes ostensibly lie), many of its ardent fans have done a disservice
to Kubrick's most interesting and notable achievement—the juggling act
he performs with our emotional responses to on-screen violence during
the first act, his daring to seem to celebrate acts that our
upbringings and our consciences tell us we must find reprehensible—a
disservice from which the film's inflated reputation may not,
ironically, recover. Such a fate tends to befall films appreciated for
the wrong reasons, and "Orange", I fear, will be no exception.
I would hope my comments might constitute a very small step in another
direction. But I doubt it.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: 9 times outta 10 the book is better than the movie, 5 January 2006
Author:
billnyeonrye from United States
I think I might have liked the movie more if I hadn't read the book
first. The book is one of the most brilliantly written pieces of
literature of all time and the movie leaves out a lot of the depth and
complexity that was originally part of both the characters and the
plot. The fact the last chapter was left out, and several key pieces of
the story, Such as Alex killing a man in jail, and the origin of the
title, were left out really bothered me. It also bothered me how
certain scenes were changed, and changing them added nothing to the
movie. For example, in the movie when Alex fights with Georgie and Dim,
it appears that it a complete sneak attack, when in the book Georgie
and Dim are the ones that actually initiate the fight. Overall I was
fairly disappointed with the movie, but if you ever have the chance,
read the book. It's amazing
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: WOW! WARNING!!!!!!! SPOILERS!!!!!!, 27 August 2004
Author:
(callanvass@hotmail.com) from victoria b.c canada
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
WOW! what a movie for me i was utterly amazed this a wonderful movie that
has beautiful glossy direction great story telling great plot and overall
just great movie making at it's finest this is a true classic in my opinion
and it deserves every bit of praise it gets SPOILERS!!!!!! SPOILERS!! it has
LOTS of graphic violence brutal beatings rape and lots more now i agree what
Alex did was wrong and sickening but i just couldn't hate him he is so
likable so energetic so witty so likable that i just couldn't help but like
him and feel for him when he gets beaten up pulverized and harrased. i
thought the script was excellent and Stanley Kubrick did a great job of
Directing. the acting is Oscar worthy Malcom McDowell did indeed give an
Oscar Worthy performance here he is a wondeful actor no Qualm's here yes he
was bizarre but amazing ! anyway an AMAZING movie that is A MUST WATCH
PERIOD!!!!! ***** out of 5 SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!! brutal scene where he
tries to kill himself by jumping out the window
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: It needs winding up!., 21 October 2002
Author:
barada from England
Quite how this peice of film ever gained a reputation is beyond me!!?.
After Kubrick's withdrawal of it from Britain, it has been hailed as a
masterpiece, but by today's standards, look's nothing but a second rate, no
budget movie with little or no story to it.
The portrayals of violence are nothing to get concerned about, it is a movie
afterall, not a reality tv show as alot of people feel movies are at times.
Just because it was made in 1971, doesn't make it anymore worthwile, it's a
bad film, simple as that!.
Watch Kubrick's "The Shining" for a good movie, this one is best left
alone....
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Perhaps the Most Overrated Film of Alltime, 14 June 2002
Author:
verbalcheese from Wherever, Idaho
A Clockwork Orange is a pretentious mess that never adds up to anything
worthwhile. It is immature, vulgar, childish, and inane. You're just
missing
the point, you might be saying. Of course I'm missing the point! This
ridiculous film doesn't make any sense to me. Of course, I could relate to
the main character when he was being tortured, for that was how I felt
throughout the duration of the stupid film.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: I'm not sure why it's so overrated, 21 October 2001
Author:
Jacob Johnston (aracauna) from Rome, GA
I'm not sure how Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" ended up such an
overrated
movie. It's mind-boggingly juvenile and I could find no apparent reason to
justify the constant violence and sex in the movie. The story was weak to
begin with and I think it may have gotten its original appeal from the
shock
value it created. The problem is that 30 years of escalating violence
later,
the shock value is lost and you end up with a movie that seems more like a
half-hearted retelling of the fantasy life of the average geeky adolescent
boy. Of course, the movie does have the Kubrick name attached to it so
that
could also explain some of the hype since so many of his other films were
truly excellent. In the end, after all of the hype, "A Clockwork Orange"
is
a huge disappointment.
I rented this movie due to IMDb's high appraise of it. I unfortunately
was
not impressed. I did not like the plot in the least bit. Although highly
graphic in nature, I was not bothered by that aspect of it. It just
overall
sucked. This is one of the few movies I disagree with the IMDb users
about.
5/10.
3 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Not Enjoyable at All, 20 June 2003
Author:
tony-clifton from Edmonton, Canada
It disturbs me that a lot of these 10/10 reviews rave on about the
"ultraviolence" and sex. Now I do not have a problem with art - I have no
problem with realistic portrayal either - but to extol the art of a film
because it is violent or has sexual content, debases the people who do so
into carnal savages.
Is it so wrong that in the 21st Century, with all the misery and
destruction, that we learn to elevate our culture and society to have some
self-respect and compassion? Evidently when someone gleefully watches "A
Clockwork Orange" delving delightfully in its violence, that being a better
person isn't a virtue worth striving for for that person.
On to the movie review: Malcolm McDowell plays one of the most hateable
characters I've ever watched - and one can only naturally congratulate
Malcolm for his acting talent. However, the rest of the film is only
average. Perhaps in the 70s it may have been brilliant for the
cinematography but I find the themes very basic. There's certainly nothing
extraordinary about this film at all. Stories like "1984" or "Metropolis"
would be considered brilliant in conception and vision, but "A Clockwork
Orange" has nary a thought that would cause one to pause more than a second
of afterthought. The concept of removing one's free will to do evil was
very poorly conveyed and it never once caused me to ponder
it.
I just get this feeling that there is really nothing great about this film
at all, and so all these animalistic fans of violence-for-the-sake-of-violence
make up all these so-called qualities for this film just to pad their
reviews so it's not so obvious how so lacking in substance this film really
is. A film like "Brazil" for instance, covers the themes of "A Clockwork
Orange" so brilliantly that one thinks about how it relates to society. "A
Clockwork Orange" does nothing to relate to the real world since it poorly
relates anything except for some brute violence. Whoopie-doo.
In fact the only thing that makes fans of this film rave on about this film
is the violence and the fact that it was banned. Yawn. Let's move on shall
we? 4/10
3 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Yet another overrated Kubrick film..., 9 July 2000
Author:
Laner from United States
I really think all the Kubrick-worshippers read far too much into his films
than intended. Yes, I "got" this movie - I just don't think it's really
that groundbreaking, important, or thought-provoking. Malcolm McDowell's
performance is great, and the cinematogrophy is interesting. Other than
that, there's not that much to gain from watching this
movie.
4 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Overrated, pointless (today) and silly, 6 May 2003
Author:
Danila Medvedev
Everyone seems to like this movie so much. But I honestly think that
people
just like to put their own thoughts and ideas into this film and imagine
that was Kubrick's genius.
The points of the movie might have been revelations 30 years ago, but now
there is nothing original and relevant in this film. There is really no
message in this movie. An invitation to think? May be, but do you really
need an invitation for that?
The quality of the filmmaking itself is crappy, honestly. The acting is
uneven and sometimes extremely unrealistic. Nothing special about
camerawork, sets, sound or music (of course, it's Bethoveen, but they
could
have put any classic music there, so Kubrick doesn't get any credit). And
the movie is tooooooooo sloooooooow for the modern tastes.
One thing was quite good - directing. Too bad that Kubrick's talent was
wasted, because all the components were crap.
And everything is extremely silly, from the opening shots, to the use of
Russian words without any apparent purpose, to the manners of the people,
to
overacting by practically everyone (I felt embarrassed for practically
every
character :]).
9 out of 20 people found the following review useful: Painful, flat-out nightmarish garbage. One of the worst movies ever made., 17 July 2009
Author:
kingiamright from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I can't believe that so many people love this movie. Well then again
it's considered a cult classic, thus "anything goes", right? Wrong.
This is the story of a rapist and murderer and OH how COLORFUL and
bizarre the sets are, and the different colors of hair etc, how unique.
This movie was so painful I got the most horrible leg cramp I have ever
had while watching it, and the thought to "snuff it", as "Alex" says, I
could relate to. It celebrates this murderer, and shows a positively
nightmarish world where EVERYONE is full of such extreme, violent
madness and wanting to either kill or incarcerate. I found this movie
both terrifying to watch (which I oddly, did not, when I was younger;
in fact, I only remembered Alex's prowess with women well --one brief
scene. But watching it, I remembered quickly the scene where he beats,
with his "Droogs" (oh, yes -- one interesting thing about this movie is
the language created; it's appealing, but it doesn't excuse the
behavior of the characters, even if a cool band was named The Droogs,
or The Ramones named their great instrumental after the car Alex and
his 'droogs' drove, the Durango 95) -- anyways, early on, they beat to
near death an old, innocent old man; a "hobo"; Alex also murders one
woman who owns the most ridiculous "art work" of a man's genitals; he
rapes and kills her. He also rapes another woman, who dies from it
eventually, and he cripples the wife's man. There is no sense to this,
or this movie.It is not society to blame for his actions, he and his
friends, are simply SADISTS. When in prison, reading the bible, he
fantasizes about whipping Jesus Christ; that enough for you of his
character?
One thing that's odd is that sex gets mixed in with these brutal acts
--I don't mean the rape, I mean, he enjoys sex, that's natural, but
when he gets "cured" through this technique, he gets nauseas at the
thought of touching a beautiful, sexy woman. WHAT does any of this
mean? Nothing, except that Kubrik found a way to make a story about a
rapist and murderer and add strange artwork and 'futuristic' things, to
make it seem like a fantasy, and thus "okay" in some manner, and also,
he makes sure we LOVE Alex, and sympathize with the Pooooor fellow.
Sorry, I can sympathize with anyone convicted of doing something which
harmed no-one, but I Cannot sympathize with the story of a rapist and
murderer.
This movie is pure GARBAGE.
I understand how viewers watching this can be swayed, by their wanting
to be free of society's restraints, and be able to live freely, and the
admiration one has about someone's ability to rebel against the norm,
the "establishment", against forced religion for example; to rebel and
not be broken by society, not tamed, to conform, but Alex is a rapist
and a murderer! He's NO HERO! His actions are not a rebellious response
to society, but sheer sadism.
What a HORRIBLE movie this is. By the film having a sympathetic view of
Alex, it thus glorifies his abominable actions, and it also
desensitizes viewers by casting it in a "future world", although the
actions are horrible REGARDLESS.
Those who already love it may not be swayed by my opinions here. Those
who hate it may agree with me, I don't know. I just know it made me
sick, and I would not only not recommend this to anyone, but I would
advise them against seeing it. Pure, sick, vile, nightmarish,
horrifying trash. Worthless garbage.
And flat-out painful to see; I spent most of the move totally cringing,
in horror.
Probably the worst movie I have ever seen in my life.
11 out of 24 people found the following review useful: Was Kubrick On Crack?, 24 November 2000
Author:
bill_b4 from Red Springs, North Carolina, USA
What a waste of time! I don't know what was more frustrating, a ridiculous
plot that made little sense and seemed to go nowhere tortuously slow, the
difficult-to-understand cockney accents, or the retarded cinematography.
Yikes! How can this movie be in the IMDB top 250? Be forewarned, this movie
SUCKS! There is a scene in the movie where a woman is bludgeoned with a
large ceramic statue of a penis, and at the end, I felt as if I'd been
similarly beat. I would bet that Stanley Kubrick probably smoked a phallic
shaped crack vile for the inspiration to make this movie...nothing else
makes sense! It oughta come with sub-titles, and while they're at it, make
another movie.
13 out of 28 people found the following review useful: What????, 15 August 2007
Author:
JagsFanJay from United States
I truly don't understand why so many people hold this piece of crap in
such high regard. I think the premise of the film is o.k. and there is
enough material there to really make a quality film, but what was
presented, is virtually unwatchable. Here we are shown, what is
supposed to be violent street hooligans, but what I saw was wimpy
looking, makeup wearing, nerds who dress in matching jumpsuits and sing
show tunes while committing violent acts. What am I missing?
For me to admire such a piece of art, I would have to find this
believable and I certainly don't. Even if I were tripping on acid, I
wouldn't find this movie believable or enjoyable.
0 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Good but the book is a lot better, 3 April 2007
Author:
Jebus Hillin from United States
This movie was some ride, with its soft core porn scenes, and intense
violence. This is in the book, but I didn't imagine as much nudity in
the book as there was in the movie. The freaky milk bar was not at all
as I imagined with the weird boob dispensers, no,no,no. Other than that
good, but not amazing as others said it was. Good strong acting and
good direction, but something about made me not love it. In all, read
the effing book. Look up the nadsat words if you must, just read the
book.
I wish the ending was used like the one in the Resucked edition of the
book. It has a happy one, a good one. In all not a bad movie, but not
the amazing movie everyone made it out to be.
0 out of 3 people found the following review useful: I did not like the main character., 25 October 2005
Author:
Dhaval Vyas (vogolsong@yahoo.com) from Dallastown, Pennsylvania, United States
One of the most enjoyable aspects of a movie are its characters. The
characters of a movie bring joy and life to a film. Many characters in
movies have become household names in the United States; Luke
Skywalker, Don Corleone, Michael Myers, etc, etc. One of the main
things I did not like about 'A Clockwork Orange' was its main
character, and that was what ruined the movie. In fact, I think this
movie did not have any likable characters, which makes it even harder
to watch.
Stanley Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' has become a cult-classic. I
remember in high school, this film was very well known and liked by a
lot of people. At the same time, I realized that it was liked because
of how grotesque and violent the story was, and not famous for the
messages it was trying to convey. The film is based on a book with the
same name by Anthony Burgess. I think both the book and movie are
vastly overrated. The book was slightly better than the movie, but it
still did not impress me that much.
One of the main problems with the story is that we have so sympathize
with a rapist and a murderer. This is hard to do regardless of what
punishments he receives. The basic problem is that we have to feel
sorry for a character whose main solutions in solving problems is
through violent means. Sorry, I cannot like somebody like that
regardless if his free will is taken away. Let me ask a question to
those people who are in favor of this film. Would you still be
adulation of Kubrick's overrated movie if it had starred somebody
similar to Jeffry Dahmer, Adolf Hitler, or any other real-life killer?
Think about it and let me know the answer.
1 out of 5 people found the following review useful: It Disappoints me..., 3 February 2008
Author:
vikramsamal from India
Recently saw A Clockwork Orange and I have to say I was disappointed in
the end..I understand its art and all but to be a thriller it lacks the
pace and perhaps the same movie within 100 minutes could have made a
better impact on me..I had heard so much about it and a classic and all
but seriously except Malcom Mcdowell's intriguing and terrific acting
and vague imagery I cant write home anything else.For me its highly
overrated.. Stanley Kubrick's other films like the shining and full
metal jacket just enthralled me and the most important thing missing as
per me in Clockwork is the thrill I suppose but i quite liked the
ending..
PS: Read the book it ll clarify more doubts and at least make u
understand the meaning of the title..
1 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Kubrick's Only Vice, 4 November 2006
Author:
Faisal_Flamingo (faauda@gmail.com) from Riyadh City
Many people like this movie, maybe they do have their reasons .. well,
I like Kubrick and he is one of the greatest directors but this movie
is the black sheep in his career. It is too violent and too disgusting;
no wonder it was banned in the USA and other countries. I didn't even
like Malcolm McDowell performance which was an OK at its best. I
wouldn't say this movie is thoughtless but it is less thoughtful than
most of Kubrick's movies .. to be honest the music was wonderful
especially Beethoven's, there is good cinematography and there is some
sign of brilliance in the picture, I mean visually but unfortunately
all of that didn't do the movie any good.. in short, the movie is
horrible and it celebrates the violence .. I wouldn't recommend the
movie to anybody even my enemy(s) ..
so, save your time and money .. do yourself a favor and skip it. Mark
my words: you wouldn't miss much.
1 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Most over-rated film Evvvvvvvvvvver!!, 16 July 2002
Author:
y2jswalls
This film has got to be the most over-rated film I have seen. First off,
this film is way too drawn out. Kubrick could have cut 30 or maybe even
upwards of 50 minutes off this film and presented it as
some
short-film, at some sundance arts film festival or what-not.
What is everyone talking about? I am pretty open minded when it comes to
viewing new and old movies, but I just couldn't stand to watch this movie.
True I did not grow up in that generation, at the time the movie came out,
but I have asked people who have, and they say that it really wasn't that
great. So I am not the only Jericho-Holic out there with this same
opinion.
This movie really has to be appreciated for what it really
is.
2 hours and 11 minutes of your life,
that you will NEVER, EVVVVVVVVVVER, GET BACK, AGAIN!!!
1 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Is it worth it??, 10 November 2000
Author:
moviewiz-4 from New Zealand, Indonesia
I don't see any interesting in this story. Simply too much violence and the
background music accompany the movie all way make this looks like a cult,
drug-used story telling.
It seems that the movie can be done better with no background music which
are too low and not alive. The story of the man when he turned into a new
leaf doesn't tell the plot in more details.
The final part is very rare, hard to understand and no suitable
ending.
2 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Disappointing at best, 21 July 2004
Author:
blank_tyler87 from United States
Before I am harshly attacked verbally for this review, let me begin by
stating that I think Kubrick has done some brilliant work. I absolutely
loved "Space Oddyssey", "Lolita", and "The Shining", but something
about this one didn't sit right. The plot sounds like an interesting
idea: the leader of a terrible violent gang is arrested and forced to
partake in a new form of criminal therapy. The end result is that he
becomes ill at the very thought of a violent or sexual action, and as a
side-effect suffers the same effect upon hearing Beethoven's music. So
why would such an excellent and creative idea turn up such bad results?
The "ultra-violence" is indeed disturbing, but to be honest I couldn't
care less about any of these characters. Malcolm MacDowell does a
mediocre job playing the main character and hence I found it hard to
even care about the story. I found the movie shocking and disturbing,
but not good. Disturbing and graphic movies I've enjoyed before such as
"Se7en" or "Reservoir Dogs" managed to create characters I was
interested in and could care about. However the below-average
performance of Alex completely negated any and all chances of enjoying
this film. If I didn't feel the need to sit through it all and not form
a full opinion until the end, I would've turned the film off before
falling asleep from complete boredom with the characters.
2 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Avoid., 19 March 2004
Author:
Maedhros35 from Netherlands
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
-- This comment contains minor spoilers --
This is a movie I would not recommend even to my worst enemy. It is a
horrible picture, containing too much random violence and rape committed by
four no-goods in white pyjamas, than is good for anyone too
watch.
The only fun moment is when the main character, being brainwashed into a
non-violent state of mind, is being bashed by his former friends.
There may be some "hidden message" in this movie about society and blah, but
the message (not too well brought) is completely drowned.
It is not even a waste of your time, it is worse than that. Avoid at all
cost.
2 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Why, oh, why..., 5 June 1999
Author:
Brian Wolters from Cabot, Arkansas
Why does a director feel that he needs to be as realistic as possible with
sex scenes? The nudity and the "sculpture" ruined this film for me. It
really wasn't needed to further the story. If you get past those things,
you
will find a good film about poetic justice and brainwashing. If it is ever
shown on regular TV, see it. Otherwise, it is immoral garbage. I give this
film a D+
3 out of 9 people found the following review useful: A film everybody should see, 23 October 2001
Author:
Niklas Lundqvist from Hässelby, Sweden
In "A Clockwork Orange" we get to see the life from the eyes of the sadistic
young man, Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell). Together with his buddies he
goes out at night and has fun, which means raping women, fighting with other
gangs, assaulting innocents, etc etc. One night he is betrayed by his own
and caught by the police. He is sent to jail, but after a few years he is
offered a way out, all he has to do is participate in a little experiment...
This is supposed to make him a good man, but will it really work without any
dangerous side-effects?
This is one of Stanley Kubrick´s most famous movies, and also the most
provocative. In the beginning I thought, "Come on, are we supposed to
forgive this Alex and feel for him later on, after all evil things he is
doing now? I can never have feelings for such a b*****d." But Kubrick and
McDowell actually pull this off, with their great directing and acting
respectively.
The movie takes place in the near future, but it more feels like it takes
place in the seventies or something. It´s not quite enough to throw in some
daft furniture and clothing. The futuristic music succeeds better with
setting the tone, this is probably one of the better soundtracks I´ve heard.
The script contains some corny dialogue, and the movie is probably not as
provocative as it was when it was released. But it still has a very strong
plot, with an interesting message: can people change? It´s not as good as
Kubrick´s best movies (The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, 2001), but it´s
pretty close. A film everybody should see.
* * * *
6 out of 15 people found the following review useful: A disappointment in the world of cinema., 5 September 2008
Author:
jethianpriestphoenix from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I personally thought the film was not good at all, yes it was standard
Kubrick, however I don't see how he became so famous. This film had a
truly terrible storyline and the acting was dreadful. This film had no
real highlights and when it offered them it made them to over the top
and just really stupid. Malcolm was not frightening in any way, nor was
this film. The direction of this film should have at least got somebody
with talent when he chose the lead for this film. But quite frankly it
would have been an insult to anybody to even offer them this part. What
a truly disappointing experience of cinematic viewing. A true waste of
two hours and seventeen minutes. This film is in the same league as
Pulp Fiction, The Black Dahlia and The Last House on the Left, just a
waste of time.
1 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Not good , and hasn't aged well either ., 16 July 2009
Author:
mikelcat from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Thie film is a mystery in my opinion , although the concept of a
futuristic society trying to repair their violent youth through therapy
of a kind had the potential to be interesting , the blatant nature of
the decadence isn't impressive in my opinion .Malcolm McDowell is a
excellent actor and does all he can and the film does hold your
attention .However you don't care about anyone on the screen and that
really says it all , there is some entertainment here but not the big
deal thats made of this film. Kubrick must have laughed all the way to
the bank . Full Metal Jacket is a quality film , but the maturity of
Kubrick by that time is evident . Still worth seeing , but don't expect
too much .
1 out of 6 people found the following review useful: A single idea, buried under surface activity, 1 March 2008
Author:
T Y from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I've never been a big fan of this movie. I'm indifferent to the
violence which I find unconvincing and comical. Instead I find the
movie to be so ridiculously streamlined that for all it's
outrageousness, just ends up feeling like a children's story,
underscoring its moral over and over. Kubrick has reduced the whole
production to a schematic argument with no real detail. There's just
nothing else to consider in the movie except a singular, remedial idea
about free will. Two hours and 16 minutes is way too much time to be
this ideoogically barren. The first part proceeds rapidly enough, but
the obvious developments after the Ludovico treatment drag
unmercifully. How could Kubrick make 2001, which is teeming with ideas,
and then go on to make this?
Its provocations are way over the top as unrefined minds prefer.
Patrick McGeehan's grotesque hamming is the most unsubtle thing in a
very unsubtle movie. I suspect guys talk themselves into this being a
masterpiece in their horny, rebellious teens, then spend the rest of
their lives never thinking about it again; continuing to defend their
initial position and premature rave. There's nothing going on in this
movie. it's like watching a juggler with one ball. Kubrick further
undermines his art and the shock of the violence by getting too much
titillation out of it; his rape victims are always attractive women
with supermodel figures and enormous, spherical breasts. How many
nitwits would be raving about this movie is even one of the chicks was
out of shape?
1 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Brilliant - but why???, 27 March 2000
Author:
Chris Docker (eyeforfilm) from Scotland, United Kingdom
Re-release of the sicko-psycho-cult movie that would have had people
spitting on Kubrick's grave had he died then instead of years after
withdrawing it. Scenes of pure cinematic brilliance combined with moral
bankruptcy that can maybe be blamed on the author of the book who was better
at painting problems (or exacerbating them if we are to believe critics)
than making any responsible social comment on them.
1 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Unwatchable Crap, 17 April 1999
Author:
badgirl9
This movie is pure junk. It was recomended to because of my love of 'The
Rocky Horror Picture Show'. It might be because I'm only
15 years old but I do know a bad movie when I see one. When Seperates this
from other movies about rapist psychos is that there is no point to this
movie. I do enjoy Psycho movies like 'The Shining', 'Psycho' and 'Scream'
But this one is just plain stupid. How could this of been nominated for
best
movie? The oscars have a horrible way of picking the best movies and they
still need to shape up. In my opion 'Clockwork Orange' should be nominated
for worst movie at the razzies. 1/10
13 out of 30 people found the following review useful: sympathy for a rapist? I don't think so, 15 August 2007
Author:
losell6 from Canada
Imagine a movie where you're asked to identify with a pedophile,
sympathize with him, even. Suppose that the whole film was mostly
graphic scenes of beating and raping children..the sadist is singing
during the torture.
What's wrong? Having trouble with that idea? Good. So am I.
Any point the film attempts to make gets drowned out with nothing but
violence from beginning to end. Oh, but the film is about so much more,
like the "controversial" theme, which asks you to focus on the bizarre
idea that some psychopath losing his freedom to choose for himself is
much more oppressive than the torture he's inflicted on his victims,
who have lost a far more profound sense of freedom? Having trouble
seeing such a movie as "art"? It's okay if the victims are adult women,
though, right? Or how about a film where we argue over the rights of a
KKK criminal who "accidentally" killed someone? Do you get it now? Know
anyone who thinks criminals should be allowed to continue their
violence because it's uh..free will, man? There is no such thing as
absolute free will in any society anyway.
This film was like any other exploitative film. It's all been done
before.
15 out of 34 people found the following review useful: Possibly the worst movie of all time, 25 December 2003
Author:
chopper-9 from Florida, USA
I am actually a kubrick fan. I loved the book too. The movie however is
terrible. Words cannot begin to express how much I hate this movie. From
the
terrible zoom lens shots to the shoddy production design and bad
photography. The script misses key elements from the book. Characters
disappear without a trace and one of the defining scenes where Alex plies
some old ladies with alcohol in exchange for an alibi is inexplicably
absent
from the movie. It is mysoginistic trash. The book describes the sexy
costume the girl wears who is to be a temptation to Alex after his
conditioning and Kubrick uses the opportunity to show yet another pair of
bare breasts. A scene where a young girl has been kidnapped by a gang is
replaced with an unnecessary rape scene. Every woman is a victim in this
movie. This is definately one for women haters. To be avoided at all
cost.
21 out of 46 people found the following review useful: Alex is given experimental drugs that cause him pain when he tries to commit a violent crime, but his recovery is questionable, since it isn't through his own free will., 20 April 2005
Author:
mikaa-1 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I absolutely despised A Clockwork Orange. I have never watched any
movie that upset me as much as this movie did. The rape scenes made me
wish I wasn't a woman. Women were shown as being completely powerless
against Alex.
Men can watch the rape scenes in A Clockwork Orange with the security
of knowing this will never happen to them. To men this is only
entertainment.
Only female nudity was exploited in this movie. In the one scene where
Alex is naked, his private parts are shielded by a table.
At the end of the movie, it was infuriating to realize that Alex would
get away with everything he had done, and continue to torture people in
the future. The press caused the public to sympathize with Alex. The
old man Alex beat so viciously that he had to use a wheelchair was
locked up for political reasons. The press was responsible for
unleashing Alex upon society. Personally, the only ending I would have
found appropriate would be one in which Alex was executed for his
violent crimes.
0 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Please, NO Tarantino remake., 13 November 2009
Author:
ptb-8 from Australia
In the 37 years since I saw A CLOCKWORK ORANGE I have always staunchly
offended this stupid movie. I loathed it then and after seeing it again
recently I loathe it even more. Why? it is BORING. It is OBVIOUS. It is
a 20 minute idea that takes 2hrs 20 minutes to crawl through the
projector initiating the sort of visual atrocity that these days,
sadly, Tarantino and Roth get good reviews for. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is
and always will be a terrible film; a vicious misuse of character,
slyly pathetically trying to present a poncy vandal murderer as some
witty ant-hero (yawn) and using classic music and songs as a defiant
act of cine vandalism. An absolute no brainer to simply invert dignity
and humanity and then bash it all together with stark sets and
overalls. It is so unimaginative. And ugly. and did I say BORING.... it
just goes on and on .. and even in slow motion! for hours. A CLOCKWORK
ORANGE only has a future if remade as A CLOCKWORK CHUCKY and adds Bart
Simpson rolling it all into a dumb pop satire of silly-Chucky doll
grimace and Simpson's awareness. In 2011 when A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is 40
years old it will just again look as wasteful and bereft of creativity
as it always did. Hopeless. What a con it was and still is. A CLOCKWORK
ORANGE is really just Tarantion's version of SINGIN IN THE RAIN before
we knew the vandalism his films would celebrate. Thanks Stanley! For
nothing.
0 out of 5 people found the following review useful: After a number of attempts I finally gave up on this film, 21 October 2009
Author:
John Schofield from England
I thought this film had been banned in Britain after its release but
just today I found out that it hadn't been banned at all. Anyway I
didn't watch this film until about 8 years ago and unfortunately I fell
asleep and missed the majority of the film. I have since tried on a
number of occasions to watch it all and have only managed to watch it
in its entirety twice. I have come to the conclusion that this film is
just not for me. I always try to find something positive in any film I
watch but I could not find anything in this film to admire. The whole
experience was in the absence of a more appropriate word, boring. I
have no doubt that the cast and crew were well intentioned and believed
they had done a reasonable job at the time but in my opinion the film
is 136 minutes of self indulgent rubbish and it appears today to be
very dated. I might have reacted differently if I had watched it at the
time of its release but somehow I doubt it. I know I am in the minority
who just don't like this film but that has never bothered me. There are
a handful of films which I have seen which fall into my own category of
'a waste of time and money' and this is one of them. I cannot recommend
anyone watch this film but I suggest they do, so you can make up your
own mind up about it but please don't get tangled up with the enormous
amount of positive or negative hype which has always surrounded this
film.
1 out of 7 people found the following review useful: I don't think this is a good film, but I fear I'm in the minority., 26 April 2005
Author:
the81kid from Aberystwyth, Wales, United Kingdom
I'm afraid I'm one of those few people who just doesn't 'get' this
film. There are two things in this film I like: Malcolm McDowell, who
is an excellent and really under-used actor, and the music. Apart from
these two I found the film silly, unbelievable, and the main 'theme'
(does forcing people to be good actually make them good?) lost to me.
Of course, I fear I am in the minority here, but I don't base my
opinions on what the majority thinks. I'm going to go out on a limb and
say I think Stanley Kubrick was unique, but not a very good director.
2001, Barry Lyndon and Full Metal Jacket are very interesting and
different, but not very good. He always appears a bit aloof and cold in
directing, not letting the audience feel to strongly about the
characters. Much like A Clockwork Orange.
Just thought I'd share my thoughts on this film. I know many will
disagree with me, but A Clockwork Orange is too random and subjective a
film for me to consider good film-making.
2 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Not as great as all the hype suggests, 21 October 2000
Author:
eugeneramirez (eugene@eugeneramirez.com) from San Antonio, TX
"A Clockwork Orange," is a movie that defied its time. But it is nowhere
near brilliant or one of the best movies ever made.
The movie was ground breaking, but i feel that Kubrick fans are bringing
in
a little too much bias into their comments.
If you step back and look at it objectively it is not all that it is
cracked
up to be, It was great to see, but it is not one of the best movies ever
made.
5 out of 15 people found the following review useful: It was a good movie, but I didn't enjoy it, 29 October 2003
Author:
Kristine (kristinedrama14@msn.com) from Chicago, Illinois
OK, my sister lent me this movie saying that it was definatly one of the
best films of all time. And I even saw on IMDB that it's in the top 100. So,
I figure that I'd give it a shot. When the movie started I thought it was
ok. But there were a couple things I didn't understand. But I got past it.
In the middle of the movie when they capture Malcom's character, Alex, I
thought "Is this the end?" To tell the truth I was bored. It kept going on
and on. By the end of the movie, I felt dazed.
I called my sister up and asked her it's not that great. She said give it
another shot. I did. And then another one.
I don't know, maybe I don't like the fact that Mr. Kubrick wanted us to feel
sorry for an evil killer. Either that or I'm not an artist. But it was
brillently made. I'll give Mr. K that.
3/10
But I still didn't like it.
9 out of 23 people found the following review useful: I am reminded of the Emperor's Clothes..., 6 March 2001
Author:
Leona Smykal-Hiller (thehillers@thehillers.com) from Milwaukie, Oregon
After reading the reviews of the 250+ opinions of this film I am reminded
of
the Emperor's Clothes... and after reviewing this film again I can clearly
state he has none. This film is Gratuitous in it's Violence of a
Physical,
Sexual and Mental type the 70's spawned. Kubrick is NOT God he is a
director who pushed the envelope with great success. Best thing I can say
about A Clockwork Orange is that its disturbing... the Worst is that it's
an
over rated waste of celluloid.
11 out of 27 people found the following review useful: Disturbing Absurdity, 9 December 2004
Author:
Marie Clements from Australia
This film was based on a novel written by Anthony Burgess. Burgess is
quite a cynical kind of satirist. Bearing that in mind, I have say,
that it was the greatest load of tripe I have ever experienced. The
movie was irrational,illogical and nonsensical. It was a celebration of
anarchy and of humanism. In Burgess/Kubrick's opinion,to think outside
the normal boundaries and restrains that have been placed upon us as
society and our own conscience would constitute narrow-mindedness. To
be free to explore all forms of indulgence and wickedness is to
be,"enlightened". Therefore,the average human-bean,"like you and me",
wouldn't have the capacity nor the intelligence to comprehend unless
they were as broad minded us those who cast off their
restrains,e.g,"Easy Rider", another movie of its kind. As far as
promiscuity goes, it was as vile as,"Cabaret" (Of course, I could never
agree with such nonsense)
Although there were unspoken suggestions and hints that Alex was the
poor victim of societies narrow-mindedness, it wasn't until the end of
the movie that audiences were made to discover that Alex didn't need
curing. Not only did he resort back to his usually self but that it was
wrong of us to think otherwise.
0 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Stop worshiping this film and open your eyes., 13 November 2009
Author:
Marcus from United Kingdom
The sheeple who pray an the feet of Kubrick don't so much appreciate
this film but treat it like some kind of mystical prophecy.
They seem to be blinded by mutual admiration at their insight for
seeing this films "divine" inner message.
This film is not the great and wonderful revelation they pretend it to
be, it is nothing more than a mediocre 'B' movie about a sickeningly
violent thug who enjoys nothing more than torturing people to death.
I must agree that this film has an interesting idea and with a far
better writer it might have been entertaining.
If you watch this be careful not to join the masses that delude
themselves about this film, they hold themselves as intellectuals for
spouting the mantra that this movie has deep hidden messages that are
there if you look hard enough.
Don't let the armchair psychologists fool you, this film is below
average at best and that's giving it more credit than I think it
deserves.
1/10
8 out of 22 people found the following review useful: Most OVERRATED Movie of ALL-TIME, 26 February 2005
Author:
Sensei_Rebel from NYC
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange was done in really poor taste. I was looking forward
to this, everyone was raving about it. The worst thing about it is that
you remember certain bits of awfulness for ages and ages afterwards.
The movie has nothing (I really mean it). Every thing about the movie
is slow. It simply suck. One of the worst pointless movies I have ever
seen. I fail to see why this movie seems to be regarded as fresh and
groundbreaking. I must be honest and tell that I had a hard time just
staying awake, thanks to dull characters and dark photography. The
final 20min though do get better with a little suspense but by this
time do we really care about what happens in the end? There are no
fitting words to aptly describe how truly horrendous this crap was. I
saw a commercial advertising this movie--- and that's when the laughter
started. Just the commercial alone was enough to make me almost pee my
pants laughing. This movie is so empty and vacuous it's hard even to
comment. 90% of this film consists of people standing around talking, a
lot of it shot outdoors in such darkness that you can't see much of
anything. I was recommended this film by a friend who went on to tell
me how "brilliant" and "fantastic" it was. Yeah, right. This is one of
the worst adaptations of a book to ever be seen on film. I find it
ironic that a film considered by some as 'stylish' is devoid of
suspense, or any kind of visual flair... The directorial style seems to
be simply point the camera and shoot. If you care one iota about plot,
consistent and or logical character motivation, and pacing, avoid this
never-ending series of outrageous vignettes masquerading as a movie.
The idea of the movie is not bad in fact, but extremely bad acting and
just simply horrible realization overcomes any possible good. I was
desperate to watch a movie that day ... I didn't have anything else to
watch ... but I preferred to stop in the middle and go stare at the
wall. I about fell over laughing while reading the previous review!!
Clearly a family member of the director, a cast member or the director
himself wrote that overly detailed ALL HYPE review! In short-- DON'T
WASTE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON PIECE OF CRAP MOVIES LIKE THIS ONE!
DON'T be fooled by the HYPE MACHINE reviews!!!
8 out of 22 people found the following review useful: Kubricks worst film, 18 February 2005
Author:
asd from Andorra
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is without a doubt the worst Stanley Kubrick film I have ever
seen. I am a big Kubrick fan, and amongst my favorite films of his are
The Shinings, Full Metal Jacket and Barry Lyndon. Maybe the film is
ruined already because I actually read the book first.
One of the main reasons Kubrick totally missed the ball with this
movie, is because he forgot to include the last chapter of the book.
This is the chapter where Alex grows up and becomes a man. This is like
watching The Usual Suspects, but then switching it off 5 minutes before
the end - you lose the entire point of the whole film.
Besides this major flub, the film is a poor rendition of the book. Like
a lot of Kubrick films, it has a totally unrealistic feel to it. He
composes the shots more like paintings than movie scenes - like in
Barry Lyndon. People forget that Kubrick was initially a still
photographer before he became a director, and I think it shows a lot in
his work.
When I read the book, the world that Alex and his droogs lived in did
not seem anything like the "futuristic" world Kubrick presents
(complete with 1972 VW Beetles and 70's styled trucks). Instead of
ultra-violence, we see much more of ultra-cheese. Which idiot made up
the idea that Dim should repeat every word everyone says? That didn't
happen in the book.
Kubrick has took the book and butchered it. Some reviews on here make
it seem like Kubrick was the genius who came up with the concept, the
idea for this great story. He just took a great story, snipped the
ending, and made a rather silly movie that glorifies violence. I
understand that this is a very "in" film to like, and there are
probably many idiots who idol Alex and his droogs.
Overall, very poor work from Kubrick. Verges on downright cheese at
times. Especially the shots of Alex with fangs in his mouth for no
apparent reason. I give it 1 star.
Those are the choices Kubrick gives us. And the one thing common to either
pole is misogyny. Yes, this film has brilliant techniques. That technical
skill is placed in the service of a truly evil viewpoint. A
stomach-turning experience.
8 out of 22 people found the following review useful: Disappointing and twisted, 12 August 1998
Author:
dadams from Texas
After seeing the fanfare, reviews and awards surrounding this film, I had
great expectations for this movie. It was a major disappointment. Despite
some good artistic efforts by the director and the fairly good performances
by the actors, there is something inherently sick and twisted in a movie
that tries to conjure up sympathy for a rapist and murderer.
9 out of 24 people found the following review useful: Overrated., 21 October 2006
Author:
krytycal from United States
I never thought a movie could be more overrated than Fargo. Tonight,
after throwing away two hours of my life, I stand corrected. This is
the most overrated movie in history. I don't mind wasting time with
mediocre movies because I don't expect them to be good. However, what
really bothers me is that this piece of garbage is ranked 60 on IMDb
when there are so many underrated superior movies out there in
practically every aspect. Anyone who thinks this movie is a master
piece of cinematography is just trying too hard to be artsy and
intellectual. I honestly can't think of any positive aspect of this
movie, poor acting, horrible setting, poor camera job, over-used
nudity. Seriously, what was the director smoking when he came up with
this thing? If you want to see a violent movie with a strong message,
go watch American History X, don't waste your time with this crap.
9 out of 24 people found the following review useful: I can't understand how this made the top 250!, 6 July 2002
Author:
Colin from Hamilton, Ontario
I rented this after quite some time of being told it was an amazing movie.
Even my mother (who is now over 50) said that it was a good movie. After
having my intelligence insulted for the first 30 minutes of the movie I
considered turning it off. But stupidly I thought maybe there was a
chance
that the movie would turn around and have quite a finish. Well it did, it
went on to be one of the most pointless garish displays of violence I have
ever seen.
Now I have watched violence before,Bruce Willis's "Last Man Standing" has
the longest blood bath I have ever scene, but I expect that kind of movie
when I turn it on. I have never heard anyone categorize those types of
movies as "Classics." Yet for some reason people insist on putting this
movie in that category.
If you really want your intelligence insulted here is the perfect double
header for you.....One The most expensive "Flop" ever made...and the Most
Insulting movie ever made....
Ishtar (1987) & Clockwork Orange (1971)
Enjoy
10 out of 26 people found the following review useful: Rape, ultra violence, Beethoven (???) call it what you want, this is just plain sick., 8 March 2003
Author:
silverzero from Dungarvan, Ireland
An epic, a masterpiece?????? No, all "A Clockwork Orange" is is sadistic
porn. How can anyone say that Stanley Kubrick was a genius. He made either
painfully boring films ("2001: A Space Oddessy, Barry Lyndon) or sickly
psychotic ones (The Shining). "A Clockwork Orange" is as unenjoyable and
dislikeable as films come and you can't help but feel guilty watching it
(and rightfully so).
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most overrated and twisted movies of all
time. If you want to see Malcom McDowell fully nude or brutal gang rapes and
torture then watch this. If on the other hand you are normal, then stay away
from A Clockwork Orange at all costs.
10 out of 26 people found the following review useful: Frustrating slow plot., 25 September 1999
Author:
LaurieB from USA
First of all, it was too long. It took an hour to establish that Alex is a
raping, torturing, murdering sicko. What's his excuse - Mommy didn't buy him
that red tricycle he wanted? After an hour, we're still trying to figure out
what this movie is about. Then suddenly, the movie begins to develop a PLOT.
Our hero/villain suffers the consequences of his actions and then some.
Having listened to his innocent victims scream in agony recently, we're now
supposed to pity him. Boohoo, poor convict :P Someone mentioned the movie
being political. Yes, for about ten seconds.
I admit the directing was done well, and the scenery, costumes and music
added to the kooky nature of this film.
I'm guessing this is the film industry's weak attempt at making a
philosophical movie that a teenager wouldn't sleep through. Hopefully the
British teenagers enjoyed it more. As for my companions and I, one stopped
waiting for the plot to begin and dozed off, another found something else to
do, and I completely wasted two hours of my life.
Rating: 1/10
13 out of 32 people found the following review useful: Worst Movie Ever Made, 13 October 2007
Author:
(mfmoore-1) from United States
I knew what I was getting into with Kubrick, and I've either strongly
liked or disliked every movie he's made.
This was a whole other experience.
This film was total garbage. To enjoy any aspect of this film you have
to completely walk away from the concept that films should be enjoyed.
If when you pick up a movie, rather than popcorn, you prefer to buy a
bag of broken stained glass from a orphanage window to eat while you
watch it...than this is probably the show for you and ignore my post.
As for me, I like popcorn. And I like movies that are enjoyable on some
level. Inspite of what appears to be a ton of movie critics want to
tell you, this movie is not enjoyable, educational, or even deep.
First and foremost, it is long. Really long. Ridiculously long for as
little as it ties to accomplish. And just when you think "my god, this
film has been on for a week and half, surely it has to be over soon,"
it keeps going. Of the six people who came to my house to watch this
movie, I was the only one that didn't walk out.
Most of the aspects of why this film sucks have already been discussed
at length. I will tell you why I hated it most.
It wasn't the violence, I can handle that. I found it poorly
incorporated (which was remarkable as it is the primary focus of the
entire film).
It wasn't the artsiness. I can usually enjoy that in films.
What bothered me most was after I watched this film, I read a ton of
reviews and internet analysis of this movie thinking that there has to
be more to this than what meets the eye.
There wasn't. I actually got it.
There was little depth to what this movie was trying to say other than
the kiddie pool deep discussion of the definition of morality,
conformity, and behavior that a 4th grader could have picked up on.
I am not anti-violence. I am not anti-creative. I am anti-worthless.
And this movie is worthless in every level I can relate to you.
The only people who will like this movie are those stuck up, smarter
than thou, I am so much deeper than you that I urne to find stuff the
rest of the world hates, snobbish pricks who have no friends and
probably work at the video store you rented this from.
13 out of 32 people found the following review useful: s%#t-sandwich, 29 July 2002
Author:
animusband from USA
Anthony Burgess wrote a wonderful novel. In fact, it is one of my
favorites.
This movie is such an awful misrepresentation of that book that I have to
choke back vomit whenever it is mentioned. When I think of how this movie
goes about representing the text, the word "rape" comes to mind. Haughty
over-acting, obtuse direction, and an overwhelming sense of "we're smarter
than you are," make this movie an abomination... not a classic.
13 out of 32 people found the following review useful: read the book..., 25 May 2002
Author:
uberbrodie from Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Kubrick got it all wrong. the main problems with the movie were the
tempo,
the art direction, and most of all Kubrick's twisted obsessions and
interpretations. He may have been bound into the futuristic sixties-mod
style, but it does not fit the book or subject matter. The movie drags on
and on and on at a snails pace, completely against the flow of action in
the
book. And then there's Kubrick's own personal perversion. He, if you've
seen moer of his work, loves nudes. everywhere you look in this movie
there's nude paintings, and statues, and various impressionistic nudes and
classical nudes and
Watch it at Amazon
Buy it at Amazon Rent it at Blockbuster.comDiscuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsIMDb user comments for
A Clockwork Orange (1971) More at IMDbPro »
Great Movie, but he is not a God., 4 June 2000
Author: p-ah
I like Stanley Kubricks movies too, including this one, but I feel sorry for all of you out there who praise him like a God, and the best director of all time. Go and see a shrink. Seek help. The funny thing is that if Mr. Kubrick had put his name on a lousy movie, you would still say that the movie was great.
I hope that some well known person does that sometime. Would be fun to see the reaction of all his fans. He he he.
Why is Kubrick a better director than Bergman, Lang and many others. Ranking people is insane. Read some books about the theme, and you'll know what I mean. Wake up!
Clockwork Lemon, 31 May 2000
Author: g2skate from California
This movie brings light to the age old moral:
Never brainwash a troubled youth who enjoys ultra-violence, murder, classical music, and rape into becoming a good citizen incapable of defending himself because his old enemies will come after him, and he will eventually end up just the same as he was before.
This movie was truly moving and emotional.
possibly the most powerful, thought-provoking film of all-time, 26 May 2000
Author: mjs3p from washington, DC
In my opinion, A Clockwork Orange is Kubrick's best film, and may be the best film of all time. The opening shot that tracks backward from a close-up of Alex is only rivaled by the opening shot of A Touch of Evil. Kubrick takes the use of color to new heights, constantly using orange and blues (a color scheme he returned to in Eyes Wide Shut). Certain images from the movie are ingrained in my mind--such as the close-up of the handicapped writer's face while he is going insane.
The movie successfully addresses so many issues that are pertinent to society, including the nature of the criminal mind, retribution, and political exploitation. However, I think that the central theme is the role of free will and is exemplified by the argument made by the prison chaplain after Alex has undergone the treatment--Is he really human if he has no free will to make a decision? Kubrick would argue that he is half-human, half-machine, as the title of the movie indicates (Clockwork referring to a machine and orange referring to the organic, living fruit).
Finally, how could you write about this movie and not mention the music--the beautiful works of "Ludwig van" often serving as a wonderful contrast to the violent images on the screen. The music adds to Alex's character so much--how many "droogs" would you expect to listen to Beethoven? A Clockwork Orange succeeds at every level, and it would be impossible to ever analyze it completely.
Spectacular, 26 May 2000
Author: RaptorChic (adibillaba@aol.com) from California, USA
This movie has two out of things that make a perfect movie : violence sex. Even though it doesn't have drugs in it, just those two things that it has make it perfect. It's fun and has good music. PERFECT. I still can't figure out what the name of it have anything to do with the movie or if it's even supposed to. If you know, feel free to e-mail me.
Why Kubrick is dead?, 24 May 2000
Author: Dani from Girona, Catalonia
A Clockwork Orange is definitively a film which has something diferent from the other films. The Kubrick signature is in it, so this is a certificate of a Masterpiece. Many people and critics have criticized it, saying that is an eulogy of the violence. I don't think so. It's only a story, incredibly well narrated, filmed and acted. A Clockwork Orange isn't more violent than other films that we can see on the cinema or the TV. Nobody can watch this film, see the end, turn off the TV and go to sleep, like nothing had happened. You have to think about it... and watch it again, again and again. One of the greatest films ever made (like any Kubrick's one), and i'll give you the chance of watching it again, so you can criticize it then.
Old question in new light, 21 May 2000
Author: neerajr from NJ
Kubrick focuses on an old question about the role of society in meting out justice. There is a story associated with Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Angulimaal is a robber and a murderer. He robs travelers and kills them. He then keeps their finger as a token count. Buddha reforms him. He converts into a monk. He vows never to take up violence again. On one of his visits to a village, he is recognized and stoned to death by angry villagers. For sentimental value, the story ends with him dying in Buddha's lap telling him that he didn't violate his vow. The anti-hero of Clockwork Orange is a violent youth who is captured and reformed and rendered incapable of violence. He is recognized and almost dies at the hands of those he had brutalized. The ancient question remains : if the criminal is reformed, would his victims accept him? Or would there be a role reversal with him becoming a victim and the endless cycle repeats. The political angle is funny. Kubrick displays sex, violence and rape in this brilliantly directed movie which would keep cheap audience away from his future works.
Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven, 18 May 2000
Author: kev3w8 (kev3w8@aol.com) from usa
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This masterpiece is the greatest transformation from novel to film I have ever seen and probably ever see. Notorious for its controversy and initial x rating it stands as one of the greatest films in cinematic history. Although its controversy has worn off it still is shocking and moving and will change you for ever. Its about a gang of kids who get there kicks off of stealing violence and rape. Until the leader Alex is betrayed by his "droogs" and is caught for a crime by the police. He then spends his time in jail till a new experiment for changing young trouble makers like himself. He then becomes a changed man and is sent back into the real world. SPOILER ALERT. He then finds out his parents don't want him any more and have gotten a new son to replace him and that his friends are now cops and still hate him. He then winds up in one of his victims houses and then commits suicide. Although this review blows I hope you learn one thing that a clock work orange is the greatest movie ever and Stanley kubrick is a genius and that I spent no time writing this review.
Vidi well brother , vidi well ! !, 10 May 2000
Author: hedgyo from Lisburn, Northern Ireland
It was a cold , dark night.My friends and I had gathered in a shed , we had decided to sleep out.After working for hours we finally had a computer set up to run THE DVD.It was three o'clock in the morning and bitterly cold.My friends snuggled in their sleeping bags.I turned out the light and put THE DVD into the drive.Silence fell as the screen went red and blue , the music for the funeral of Queen Mary began as did the greatest film ever made.Two hours ang seventeen minutes later the masterpiece ended - its imprint in my mind will never end.I was 14 when I first saw A Clockwork Orange , I am still 14! After reading the book and seeing countless documentaries on the film the only thing that remained was to see the film.Alex and his droogs dance , laugh , fight and have fun.I had the same fun watching the film.In my eyes this is the greatest film ever made.I think that everyone should see it.A Clockwork Orange is an amazing powerful look at morality , youth , violence and sex.The music works briliantly to give the film a real push , it helps emphysise the "funhouse" element of the film.The last thing I wish to say brothers (and sisters) is this "watch this film and enjoy it!!!!!"
A brilliant piece of Kubrick's Work, 10 May 2000
Author: demagogue5
When Anthony Burgess wrote this story, it was named a great novel. When Stanley Kubrick directed the film, it was named a great film. But compared to some recent films these days, this film beats out a good number of them, hands down. The geniuses of Kubrick and Burgess put together created one of the most brilliant pieces of American film ever. The sketchy scenes and completely odd use of language is what makes this story the most unique I have ever come across. I'm just glad Kubrick made this story so profound and memorable (like his other films) before he passed on.
Psychological Myth-Dystopian Vision, 4 May 2000
Author: iF.... (vertraeumen@mindspring.com) from U.S.A.
`Alex's adventures are a kind of psychological myth. Our subconscious finds release in Alex, just as it finds release in dreams. It resents Alex being stifled and repressed by authority, however much our conscious mind recognizes the necessity of doing this.' - Stanley Kubrick 1971.
I read the novel when I was only in 3rd grade by my own free will. People would stare at me as if I was crazy or something whenever I would walk into stores and I had the book in my hand. I never clearly understood the book, probably due to the British dialect and the complex plot. But there were two words that stood out from the book 1. Droogs 2. Korova Milkbar. I remember I used to call my friends droogs for a while, and the Korova Milkbar fascinated me because I used to see pictures of it in books and it was something I've never seen before. The pictures I saw were so bizarre and psychedelic yet at the same time beautiful.
After seeing the movie I felt in love with it. It's the tale of Alex and his `droogs' whose motifs are violence and sexual pleasures from rape. Alex is a rude young man who is respected by his droogs because he is intimidating. Alex threatens them so much they can't take no more and frame him. Alex is sent to prison and is sentenced for 13 years. Alex tries to behave so that he can leave prison on parole. He studies the bible and learns that it is not entirely holy due to its repelling content. Murder, sex, violence, betrayal are some themes he finds within the `holy' bible. Alex later hears of a program the government is trying to conduct with a random inmate. The experiment will result in an individual never to perform any sort of violent crime ever again. Alex is chosen for this experiment. The process consists of strapping the person into a chair while they are shown images on a screen of extreme violence. For Alex this is heaven for him because that is what he did before going to prison. He saw beauty in violence. As days with the experiment pass by, Alex starts to feel the effects of the experiment. He starts to be disgusted by what he sees onscreen. The experiment is a success. Alex is then released a free man. He comes across all the people he made harm too and they claim their revenge on him.
This is without a doubt a very powerful tale of an `eye-popping dystopian vision' of the ultra violent, with an intelligent mix of classical music with the blend of violence. A tale that makes us feel sorry for the horrendous person that is truly Alex behind the government experiment. This is another film from Kubrick, the cinematic genius who made a masterpiece every time he picked up the camera.
The most unique film I've seen., 4 May 2000
Author: egdelarge from Wisconsin
A Clockwork Orange is a bizarre journey into a futuristic, corrupt city, and into the mind of Alex, the main character. He leads a gang of thugs in all-night orgies of rape and ultraviolence. While imprisoned, he undergoes a new aversion therapy called the Ludivico technique, meant to make him sick whenever he tries to act on a violent or sexual urge. This film is a political and social satire. The government in this film is foolish, unethical, and oppressive. Many of the violent scenes are humorous, because Kubrick wants us to laugh at the awful truth about our society. It sounds terrible, but he wants us to realize how truly "silly" it is that society can allow itself to sink so low. A Clockwork Orange is unique because it is disturbing and beautiful simultaneously. Stanley Kubrick does a great job challenging the viewer to look beyond the violent, gruesome surface into its deeper meaning.
A Clockwork Illness, 29 April 2000
Author: (albechri) from bandung, Indonesia
The movie is so good that makes your brain want to explode. It's truly a milestone of it's time and undoubtedly inspires many movies in the future. I prefer saying it is truly a surrealist movie. And being a surrealist movie, it is common to disturb our logic and senses. Like clockwork, Kubrick has our mind set up to ring at his own time sets like an alarm. It's depressing to be an alarm... RRRIIIIIIIIIIIINNNGGGGG.........!
A Clockwork Orange`s welcome return, 22 March 2000
Author: paul ponsonby from Portsmouth, England
A Clockwork orange has finaly made it to British screens. Will it stir up the same controversial issues as it did back in 1971?.Probably not,The violence now seems tame to our de-sensitised generation.But the the film remains a powerfull masterpiece about crime and punishment,the choice between being good or evil and what happens to man`s soul when that choice is taken away by underhand government tactics.Our anti-hero Alex (Malcolm macdowel)Is captured after a series of brutal beating`s and rapes.After serving 2 yrs of his sentence he applys to be a guinnea pig for the ludovico technique (a brainwashing device to repel him against violence).The technique is a success and Alex is sent to face the world.There he runs into his victims and is beaten.He is then used as a political pawn in a bid to upseat the government.But is in turn used by the government to win back popular opinion.Alex must be seen to be CURED. The film has a lot of black humour and is visually stylish.Some would say dated but in my humble opinion is one of the films many endearments.The dialogue is superb(an invention of author Anthony burgess).An excellent film adaptation by Stanley Kubrik and remains among his greatest work along side 2001:a space odessy.
FINALLY GET TO VIDDY THIS, 20 March 2000
Author: kevin c from London, England
And so finally I get to see this film on the big screen. Visually it is superb, and the first half contains some of the great cinematic images and/or scenes. Although McDowall is excellent, you cannot say that for the rest of the cast. The film also drags in the 2nd half, and doesn't offer the most earth shattering argument about the state and violence. In many ways it recreates the Burgess novel faithfully. However the book portrays Alex as much more intelligent, and the government therapy is more prolonged and sinister. This is not Kubrick's finest, but it is one of the key films of the 1970s.
One of the most controversial films of all time...but one of the best., 19 March 2000
Author: ~PL~
Clockwork Orange is a perfect film in many ways. I guess it has the best overall a movie can have. It is about 4 guys who have three hobbies: beating up people, raping girls and listening to Betowen's music. This gang has a leader, played by Malcolm MacDowell, who goes to prison after the rape and murder of an old millionnaire's wife. But he is used as a ''laboratory rat''. Scientists make weird experiments on him. The goal of these experiments is to stop Malcolm MasDowell's addiction to violence, rape, coarse language and Betowen's music. But when MacDowell realizes that he gets sick when he sees violence or when he listens to Betowen's music, he knows he can easily get in deep trouble. And people who saw him on the newspapers for the rape and murder of the young girl remember him and know his new handicap. They beat him up, and he has to hide if he doesn't want to get killed. The closest place to hide is the millionnaire's house, where he killed the millionnaire's wife. This film is different from other movies about violence. It shows violence in an almost funny way, and the meaning of it is that there would be no world if there was no violence, we simply don't have to abuse...The satire is even bigger in this film than the huge one in Dr.Strangelove. I don't know if this is Kubrick's best, but it is surely a movie to remember and to put in my favorites' list. I give it 93%.
A mixed bag - but mostly enjoyable, 18 March 2000
Author: David Lonsdale (davlons@hotmail.com) from Stevenage, England.
I have had to wait 27 years (yes!) for this film to be re-released here in the UK. It was withdrawn by Kubrick, but premiered here last night.
Ruminations - I saw the film twice in 1972 - have not seen it since, but still certain scenes stand out and make my spine tingle. The opening scene and macabre music; the surreal Korova Milk Bar setting - very atmospheric.
It seems to be a film of two distinct halfs. At first it moves quickly then it slows down considerably. It was much longer and more drawn-out than expected (137 minutes is long, even by today's standards).
Overall: pretty good, but admittedly somewhat dated. This adds to its appeal, I think - the tacky, kitche decor - but the vague post-psychedelic feel it has is great. My favourite scene was Alex wandering through the Melodia "discotique" - the LP's in racks, the psychedelic decor, the wonderful (Ode to Joy) music - excellent.
We waited a long time for it to be re-released in the UK, but it WAS worth it. It was real horror show.
"Amazing how real violence never seems real-real until you viddy it on the screen", 17 March 2000
Author: The_Movie_Cat from England
The impact and notoriety of A Clockwork Orange can scarcely be imagined outside Britain.
Whereas the film has been freely available across the continent, and has perhaps subsequently lost it's power, it's release in Britain after twenty-seven years has given a build-up and expectation that I doubt no film could truly satiate. While the movie has been screened through myriads of smoke-hazed student bedrooms on fourth-generation pirate videos for the last two decades, I still can't help feeling it's wide re-release will leave many feeling disappointed.
Removed from this country by Kubrick himself, allegedly through fears of "copycat" violence, the director insisted that the film would be released in Britain over his dead body. Rather an ill-fitting tribute, then, that the film should finally be aired after his death. And yet what a great tribute, for A Clockwork Orange is also a work that touches genius (though occasionally scrapes mudanity) and is arguably his finest.
For nearly thirty years all Britain has had to remember this film is the very few pop art references that bleed into the mainstream culture. The odd Blur video that sees them dressed as "Droogs", or an old creaky episode of "Doctor Who", based on the movie, which sees the Master trying his own version of the Ludovico technique (a "Keller Machine") to rid evil from prisoners. But now we finally get to see what all the fuss is really about.
To be honest, time and the ban have robbed this film of much of its potency. The violence, outrageous at it's inception, is now tame by modern standards, and heavily choreographed. While it's vision of a future society is achieved on a remarkably small budget, there are times when that most crass of decades, the seventies, seeps through any sense of credibility. Camp in places, a whole plethora of "light entertainment" stalwarts make this distracting viewing in its home country. Dalziel out of comedy-drama detective show "Dalziel and Pascoe" rubs shoulders with the parrot-seducing wacky employment officer from "The Young Ones", and Coronation Street's "Fred Elliot", while the star of unfunny sitcom "The 10%ers" takes a bow. Okay, it's perhaps possible to believe the denizens of the future will indulge in severe retro-kitsch, though Alex playing Beethoven on an old eight-track machine is a little disconcerting. Elsewhere, a prison guard resembles and acts like Hitler, all stomping and shouting, reducing the fabric of the film to farce. The lowest ebb of this dating is Alex and his droogs joyriding through country lanes. Whereas Pulp Fiction had Bruce Willis in a taxi cab to a filmed backdrop as a touch of post-modern lo-fi, here the "racing scenery" played in the background of what is very obviously a stage produced sniggers from a more "sophisto" audience of the 90s.
Often, though, it is brilliant. Direction is flawless, and iconography and design are exceptional. The language uttered by the central characters is a bizarre concoction of pidgin, fabricated Russian, almost-Shakespearean English and common slang. A typical utterance, pre-gang fight is: "How art thou, thou globby bottle of cheap, stinking chip oil? Come and get one in the yarbles, if you have any yarbles, you eunuch jelly thou".
In fact, it is the first half an hour or so that is the film's highlight. While the violence is extremely tame by latter standards, it is the context with which it is presented that still gives it its capacity to shock. Scenes of rape are juxtaposed with the music of Beethoven or Gene Kelly, while overlaid is the indifferent, casual, semi-monotone of an outstanding McDowell. It is this combining of images that lends the film its greatest highs. A Nazi rally marching to the lightest strings of Beethoven is a remarkable cinematic achievement, though having a fantasy sequence where Alex whips Jesus seems to be over-egging the pudding somewhat.
Yet after this startling opening the film starts to drag as Alex is incarcerated and the comedy is stepped up. Jailed for murder (in one of the film's most symbolic moments he fights the owner of a health farm with a statue of a giant phallus. She, in turn, fights back with a bust of Beethoven; sexual desire vs. culture), Alex is given the option of freedom. The basic idea is that he undergoes a sophisticated Pavlovian treatment, whereby images are displayed while he is conditioned to act in revulsion. Cured of violent impulses, or at least the desire to act them out, he is released back into society. The jail's Priest stands up and makes a speech on the ethical viewpoints of free will. This is another (minor) flaw in the film: the overstatement and unsubtle usage of moral debate. Allegory is jettisoned as characters take centre stage and siloquoise about the issues in a literal manner (the tramp particularly) before being silenced or beaten into submission.
Alex's reintegration into society mirrors the beginning of the film, though lacks its verve through contrivance. No spoilers here, though his choice of bathtub song does stretch the boundaries of credulity a little. Then comes the worst scene in the entire film, where a nurse is seen retreating from a curtained bed after intercourse, her chest exposed. It adds nothing to the film and performs no function other than used as light relief or titillation. This casts doubt over the whole of the preceding work; has Kubrick been using nudity in the film to make a serious social satire or is the sight of bare breasts and defiled women merely a cause for arousal, or to laugh at, and to applaud?
The picture is still one of the twenty or thirty greatest films ever made, and, because it has something to say, one of the ten most important. As for science fiction, I would place this amongst the three greatest of the genre (alongside Planet of the Apes and, ironically, Kubrick's 2001). But, with a film that has been forbidden fruit for so long, there is an inevitable sense of disappointment.
A tricky little bugger, 12 March 2000
Author: MarcelQ (marcelq@yahoo.com) from Stevens Point, Wisconsin
A Clockwork Orange is a tricky little film. It's isn't among my top ten films, but it's still a good film. It isn't as good a satire as Dr. Strangelove, nor is as full of wonder as 2001, but it probably Kubrick's most peculiar film.
Whenever I hear someone who says they love this movie, I ask them why. If they say because of the violence, my heart sinks. I want to tell them that's not the point, and if that's the reason you like this movie, than you have no business watching it.
This movie isn't Kubrick's best, but it isn't a narcissistic piece of showmanship as some have suggested. It is a puzzling and interesting piece of work.
Definitely my favorite Kubrick film., 8 March 2000
Author: dawg-17 (dawg@eagle.cc.ukans.edu) from Lawrence
I can understand why some people dislike this movie, but that is the point. You aren't supposed to like what Alex is doing you are supposed to hate him. Kubrick does a great job of taking a character the audience is supposed to hate and turning him into someone they feel sorry for in the end.
My favorite movie!, 24 February 2000
Author: shaun98 from Milwaukee WI
I will never forget the first time I watched this one. I felt quite numb afterwards. This is, after all, Kubrick's most controversial film, originally rated X for its candid, uncompromising scenes of rape and violence.
The part that stands out the most is the infamous "Singin' in the Rain" bit. Yes, THAT scene. I had to rewind the tape to make sure I actually saw THAT!!! I also love the scene with the "cat lady". An extremely powerful, nightmarish setpiece, it lingers in your mind forever afterward. The opening shot is one of the best in cinematic history, effectively establishing an eerie, menacing tone for what follows.
Malcolm McDowell is great here. This is the one he'll be remembered for decades from now. He deserved an Oscar, but the people who give these awards are just too timid. If I were in charge, I'd give it Best Picture, Director, etc. Come to think of it, it's surprising it was nominated for anything at all. (On the other hand, those New York critics were remarkably forward-thinking!)
Even after nearly thirty years, its power has not diminished. Believe me, I know. Judging from the comments posted, even some 21st-century viewers will still condemn the film the same way conservatives did in the 1970's. To be honest, it took me a while to decide this is my favorite, and it's not a decision I came to lightly.
Rating: **** (out of ****)
137 min/Released by Warner Bros.
Nothing Less Of Brilliant, 10 February 2000
Author: James M. Gullard (teenspirit@home.com) from Baltimore, Maryland
This is surely one of the best movies ever! Some might disagree and call me a pervert (I'm 14!), but this is one of my favorite movies of all time. Beautifully put together and brilliantly written, acted, and most of all directed. The screenplay is disturbing and funny at the same time. During the raping at the beginning, it is disturbing to watch, however, the singing of "Singing In The Rain" adds a little comedy to this upsetting scene. Also funny is some of the dialogue. My favorite quotes: "No time for the old in-out love, just came to read the meter" and "Eggiwegs, I'd like...to smash them." Simply put, brilliant.
Not a clockwork movie, 17 January 2000
Author: Angeneer from Athens, Greece
The effort of Kubrick to embed symbolism in every detail is obvious from the beginning. About the brutality and sex, while in 1971 this might have been a shocking movie, nowadays it is nothing special. What is interesting though is the way these scenes are presented, with the environment (sound, face expressions, scenery) contradicting with what is actually happening, trying to disorient the viewer and make him think if in his actual life he pays attention to the bare event or to the package that goes with it. What a contradiction is Beethoven's 9th with murder and rape, as even the protagonist admits in the film. In general this is a movie worked out in detail, but I think so much importance is given in the depth of particular scenes that the flow of the film is affected and it loses its coherency, making it difficult for a not determined viewer to sit and watch. This of course doesn't remove from The Clockwork Orange the masterpiece status, but suggests that the unprepared pay attention to the inner meaning of this film.
need a summary? my comments are almost a line......, 16 January 2000
Author: Iossif Serafimidis (iossifs@gmail.com) from Athens, Greece
It's almost virtual reality! I mean, when the emotions caused by a movie are that strong then I'm positive the film is more than just "perfect". Don't like to say more; if you've not seen it yet, it's your fault!!! CONGRATULATIONS once again Mr Kubrick.
Vs. 2001: Free Will, 11 January 2000
Author: markrbehnke from Austin
A Clockwork Orange is all about free will. In a way I think it is an answer to or companion to 2001.
All the characters, human and machine, in 2001 followed the most logical course of action never letting emotion or personal interests get involved. The humans were not noticeably different from HAL. They all saw something happen, analysed it, decided what to do, then followed through without any noticeable emotion or interest. The actors were very boring and mechanical for a reason.
A Clockwork Orange is the exact opposite in that no one acted out of any logical necessity. Characters were alive. They had wants, needs, and desires. When the state tried to treat Alex's violence by conditioning him to resist his own free will it back fired. They learned, or more precisely they should have learned, that not being able to do bad is not the same as being good.
The Prison Chaplin made two short speeches on the necessity of free will, and how the treatment would not help to make Alex a better person. In the end I though he was the one major character who cared about Alex as a person.
PS Notice also that Kubrick planted a copy of the 2001 soundtrack on prominent display at the record store!
A Parable for the Sinister Reason of Man, 10 January 2000
Author: Shannon Box (sbox@gvtc.com) from Canyon Lake, Texas
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
[WARNING: This May Contain Spoilers.]
This film looks to the future in all of its '70's splendor. Of course the future in the eyes of the artists of the '70's was sufficiently bleaker than actual events would allow. This is kind of a common ground from forward looking films of the time. It doesn't take away from the moral of the story.
The narrator is indeed a very bad boy. It is hard to have any positive feelings for him. However, Kubrick does an interesting thing halfway through the film. By illustrating the regimen of the supposed benevolence of society, Kubrick rehabilitates the main character just enough to challenge society itself.
The evil of the individual is replaced by the blind evil of misguided social experimentation on the perpetrator. The viewer is left disgusted with both entities. This is a clever film and a controversial one at the same time. I find it slightly overrated and give it an 8 out of 10 for its brashness.
Kubrick Manipulates the Audience, 10 January 2000
Author: gambitj from Dubuque, Iowa
This film should be noted as one of Kubrick's masterpieces not only because of its great performances, fantastic script, and intriguing camera angles, but also because Kubrick is able to manipulate the minds of the audience who view the film. Stanley Kubrick shows us a young criminal committing various acts of horrendous crime. However, rather than show the young lad as a monster, Kubrick goes to great lengths to let us inside the character's head, and feel sympathetic towards him. Kubrick has a great power of being able to present a murderer as a character we feel sorry for. This is a great film.
A well made film that follows the original story almost to the letter., 6 January 2000
Author: Gerald S. Hybarger (Gerry-11) from San Jose, United States
Kubrick's adaptation of Anthony Burgess' novel to the big screen was one of the best in the business. It followed the story almost to the letter, with very little change from the original writen story. The actor who played Alex the central figure of the story (Malcome Mcdowell) portrayed him with a very accurate vengence. This movie will go down in history as one of the all time best and will remain in my top ten best list forever.
Stanley Kubrick's last great film!, 31 December 1999
Author: andy-227 from Sterling Heights, Michigan
One of the things that has always amazed me about Stanley Kubrick is his ability to show something amazing, beautiful, or sick, without the aid of special effects or visual pyrotechnics. He sees the world through the camera lens for what it really is. One of the greatest examples of which is his scathing satire, "A Clockwork Orange". Here, we see a world not too other worldly from our own. It's riddled with derilict buildings, wicked gangs, and a government that can do nothing to change it all. The most frightening aspect of the film is the examination and study of the main character, Alex. He is a vicious, violent criminal who kills, robs, and rapes. In the rape scene while singing 'Singin' in the Rain', he wears a long, protruding 'Pinnochio' nose, as an example of a man with no conscience. His parents do nothing to raise him, and he doesn't go to school. Later, he attacks his own gang members, gleefully slashing the hand of one of them. Here, all the details of a criminal have been laid out. Now comes the second half of the film. Instead of keeping him in prison, he is given a treatment making him sick every time he sees or is exposed to violence, sex, and his true love, Beethoven. He is cured, or so it is said. After being released back into the world, those he did harm to now have a chance of retaliation. After it's all over, the drugs wear off, and he becomes his old self again, revealing he never was cured to begin with. What makes this film so stunning and so powerful is that it doesn't go over the top or exaggerate. It merely looks on at the real world, and foreshadows things to come. It's actually really creepy. But Kubrick tells the story through the eyes of the criminal, making it somewhat easier to watch, even though we should be terrified and disgusted. Kubrick's choice of music is superb, so good that I bought the soundtrack and frequently listen to it. Ultimately, "A Clockwork Orange" satirizes the world we live in today, and leaves us not only with an anti-violence message, but pops a difficult question upon the audience, which would you rather? A criminal, or a 'clockwork orange', a criminal crippled within reflex mechanisms?
despite the ultraviolence, one of the most thought provoking films ever made., 24 December 1999
Author: richie-29 from New York, NY
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Warning, spoilers ahead:
If Kubrick's previous film, 2001, is meant to show humanity reaching for new heights in space, then A Clockwork Orange reveals that we still have a long way to go on Earth. The homeless man's monologue delivered before Alex and his droogs mercilessly beat him seems to indicate this. Despite the all the rape and ultraviolence depicted in the film, A Clockwork Orange has a decidedly anti-violence message, despite all the acts depicted onscreen. It shows how violence permiates our society, as it seen in the torture treatment of Alex, which allows society to assault and abuse him without any means of defending himself. Another good example of this is the writer, Mr. Alexander. He speaks out against the totalitarian government in power and now has a good chance of overthrowing it when Alex, a victim of the government's policies, shows up at his doorstep. However, when he discovers that Alex is the one who raped and murdered his wife and left him crippled, he plots to force him to commit suicide, As a result, Mr. Alexander is in jail, and the government is still in power, and more popular than ever, all because he succumbed to the urges of hatred and revenge.
Kubrick's second best, 23 December 1999
Author: danielldb from Belo Horizonte, Brazil
You know, I've never made a top 10 list of my favorite movies ever. Maybe because I'm just 15 and I haven't seen so many classics and masterpieces yet. But I really liked the ones I saw, such as "Psycho", "Casablanca", "Rear Window", "Gone With the Wind", among others, but in special Stanley Kubrick's films. I think he is a genius since I saw "Eyes Wide Shut" this year, so I decided to rent some other celebrated films of him. First, it was "The Shining". I thought it was a very scary and impressing horror movie, one of the best things ever made on the genre. After that I saw "2001: A Space Odyssey". This one just fascinated me. If I make a top 10 list, I think "2001" will be on the top. It is the best sci-fi ever and one of the most beautiful studies about the human beings. But I can't forget "A Clockwork Orange", that is for sure one of the most disturbing and impressing films ever made.
"A Clockwork Orange" is not for everyone, first of all- as many other Kubrick's movies. It is really strong- violent, with some strong sexuality, rapes, etc. But the main reason for what I call it 'strong' is the theme. It is about a futuristic society, where the violence is everywhere and it seems to have no order. A young man, named Alex, leads a group of disorders- his 'droogs'- whose main interest is the 'ultra violence'. They drug themselves, break in houses, rape women, violent men. In addition, Alex loves Beethoven. Some day, in the middle of a house break-in, his 'droogs' betray him and he is caught by the police. He is taken to prison, but there he hears about a treatment which can cure disorders. He persuades and is persuaded to be part of the treatment. It is all very strange and shocking, but the doctors claim to have cured him. He tries to start a normal life again, but... was he really cured?
Only Stanley Kubrick could have done a masterpiece like this one. Everything is perfect, from the soundtrack to the acting. It is used symbolic elements and some words that can seem very strange, but there is a vocabulary for them in the credits. They are very interesting in fact- pay attention. Kubrick cares for each detail and uses a dark humor to tell the story, that is somehow tragic in some moments- the victims' payback. Funny (darkly funny) in others- the ending. Shocking in others- see, for example, the scene where Alex sings 'Singing in the Rain' while he rapes a woman. The movie was even banned in some countries, but this is just stupid.
Overall, "A Clockwork Orange" will certainly be on my top 10 list when I make it. It is weird. It is scary. It is impressing. It is disturbing. It is unforgettable!
What an amazing film, 13 December 1999
Author: force159 (force159@aol.com) from The U.S. of A
Not one other film in the 70's demanded so much from its audience. Often thought to be a violent exploitation film, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is perfection in film-making. It contains not only an important message, but warned our nation and other nations of the future it would be facing, a future of violence and mayhem, and it did not cause many of the violent events, it predicted
the best of the best, 30 November 1999
Author: johnnycrunch (residentusa@yahoo.com) from athens, ga
Remember this is just one persons opinion! I feel that this is one of the best movies ever made by the best director ever. Anyone who is shocked by this movie only proves the greatness of what Kubrick was able to do with a camera, not always the best actors around, and an original storyline. I would like to point out that Burgess, ( the author ) basically wrote a story about one theory of one possible future for our society. Kubrick took this and built layer upon layer of depth to the main character, and has the viewer making a decision; Is this man a hero or a victim? He is capable of both good and bad. Also ask yourself these questions: Do you really SEE anyone get murdered or raped ? It's only implied. It's all about choice. Kubrick, the Master, leaves it up to you.
Lucid, violent and exquisite, 30 November 1999
Author: Afracious from England
This controversial film from the early seventies is still profound and effective today. Malcolm McDowell gives a good performance as Alex De Large, a sadistic and violent ruffian who leads his gang of Droogs from one violent episode to the other until he is caught. He is then sent to an institution for a radical treatment to cure him. This is a very stylish and quintessentially English film. The sets are lucid and impressive, the electro music and the classical Beethoven is good, and if you are English you will recognise most of the actors. It is a who's-who of English actors on show. It is a provoking, violent, well-made and memorable film. Essential viewing.
Cult classic., 24 November 1999
Author: Brian A. Cagayat from San Diego, California
"A Clockwork Orange" can be the scariest film you've ever seen, because one day our society may end up like the one seen in the film--a place where ordinary people are afraid to walk outside even in the daytime, where innocent young women can be taken from the streets and raped, where the government itself doesn't seem the perfect solution. Sound familiar? Perhaps in twenty years, you'll be staring into the blue eyes of Alex while he asks you in his Nadsat slang if you value your life.
Possibly Stanley Kubrick's best film after "2001"--but who can put Kubrick's films into any particular ranking when they're all so excellent? "A Clockwork Orange" is not a "cool" film in any sense. It's not sick or offensive or bad. It's a social commentary on life, and the book on which the film is based is even better--though the film is perfect because of its visual look of the near future. "A Clockwork Orange" is already a cult classic--and future generations will watch it and hopefully learn from it.
Brilliant, Macabre Masterpiece, 10 November 1999
Author: Greek521 from Savannah, GA
Stanley Kubrick is at the top of a very short list of candidates for the greatest director of all time, followed by Scorsese, Hitchcock and Coppola, and A Clockwork Orange is his best film. It is a bizarre and brilliant film that makes a statement on many subjects ranging from teen violence to police brutality to government corruption. One of the highlights is the adapted score assembled by Kubrick and matching the film's often disturbing images perfectly and with great irony. McDowell's performance is a gem and this film packs a major punch. It ranks #3 on my all time list behind The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. It is most probably a greater film than those but not as personal to this writer.
great film...Kubrick's best, 9 November 1999
Author: hoov-2 from Boston, MA
A great film, one of the best satires on modern violence that has ever been filmed. This is the best film that Kubrick has ever made. When I first saw this film I was blown away by the cinematography. It is a visually stunning film with surreal elements. I see this movie at least once or twice a year, and I am always amazed at some of the visual elements and devices that Kubrick uses. Stanley Kubrick did most of the camera work for this film himself, mostly using a small hand held camera that allowed him to follow along almost as another character in the movie. You are drawn into the film and come to identify with the bad guys. In the end of the film, you forget who the real bad guys are.
Posta B D-sturbing, 8 November 1999
Author: batzi8m1 from Watsonville, California
Art and Language shape the people. Or that at least seems to be the theme of the Burgess book, as far as I was able to read it. And in the background of the Moloko Milk Bar we have the language of the 70's in psychedelic script listing the plusses in Moloko+ (psylocybin, mescaline, LSD...) It's no surprise then that Alec's antagonists are the drunken wino and the wine sipping liberal. Well well well me droogie. The 'orrorshow seems to somehow feel 'orrible. What a concept. And here I thought rape and murder were supposed to be titillating and amusing. Nothing is real.... To put it in historical perspective, the same year saw a film by Sam Peckinpah - Straw Dogs. Both show a society grown used to horror, and the effect on the populace. And what do we do about it? Brainwashing? Fight horror with horror? Kill them all and let god sort out the guilty?
Possibly my favorite movie, 3 November 1999
Author: (bopdd@aol.com)
If anybody ever tells you that they don't like A Clockwork Orange, they probably suck. Not only is the acting so superb that you practically forget they are actors, but Kubrick's camera use is utterly brilliant. I have never witnessed such genius filmaking, with the camera shots, the mesmerizing and absorbing music, and the creepy flow of the film. Anybody who says that there is no point is completely missing the point. Is it right to take away free will, even if that free will is rape and violence? And when everybody gets their revenge on Alex, he is helpless. But what makes the people getting revenge any better than Alex, when they have violent impulses inside them as well. And lets of course not forget the whole political aspect to the movie, as well as the "what goes around comes around" theme that is very true to life. Kubrick is a master of the camera, and this film is art in its most obscure form.
Harrowing & breathtaking at the same time, 30 October 1999
Author: perfectionist27 (perfectionist27@aol.com) from U.S.A.
Rarely have I seen a film, especially one that was deemed controversial since its release, that would just overtake all five senses and make me eradicate its shortcomings; instead, it would allow me to carp it as a really formidable piece of work that it ought to be, especially after seeing the picture for the very first time. Such is the case with 1971's "A Clockwork Orange", a sometimes darkly funny and sinister view of a nearly futuristic society gone to the deep end, as told by the cheeky and calm narrator/main character, Alex(portrayed masterfully by Malcolm McDowell). Its director, Stanley Kubrick ,had done a grand job at creating this netherworld with the appropriate lighting and space effects, not to mention, the brutal moodiness around it. Mind you, one must be warned not to view it as a run of the mill weekend fare rented from the local video place, to capture the whole essence of what is being said(as often Kubrick's films usually are required to be seen more than once)- I may have be one of few to understand its nature from the start(and that's only because I read the Anthony Burgess novella beforehand)but again, one doesn't have to know, say, aversion therapy to see it. If you have an open mind to movies that are merely produced as "screen paintings" with something to tell as an added plus, in lieu of the "quickie quotas" made that are filled with the usual scatological humor or mindless blood and gore, then you need not look any further. "A Clockwork Orange" truly represents to be a compelling example from the former category.
Brings a smile to the face and a scream to the mouth, 25 October 1999
Author: Plan 114 from St. Louis, Missouri
Besides being one of the most looked upon movies, infamous or not, the plot spins so gracefully because your not hurtled in something that you have to think about. Oh my brothers Stanley has done it. He has brought marvoulous acting from Malcom Mcdowell and a list of b-movies actors all give 100% balls to the walls action. Even if you aren't intrested see it for the opening credits, the soundtrack is absoulutly marvoulous.
Real meaning of A Clockwork Orange, 17 October 1999
Author: jtamburi (jtamburi@us.oracle.com)
I just watched this film last night, and when I had finished, I thought I had figured out the meaning of this film. I.e., the messages that Burgess was trying to get across. But then I started reading reviews of the film on the IMDB and was shocked to see what other readers thought of the film's message! I was shocked to see how differently I view the world compared to my fellow citizens.
But anyhow, here is my take:
The first thing I realized after viewing the film was how there was no point during the entire movie that I actually sympathized with the "protagonist". This was an unusual experience for me, and the only other movie I can think of which triggered the same reaction from me was "kids". Sure, there were a couple of times I sympathized with Malcolm McDowell, the actor. For instance, when he had his eyelids forced open or when he was forced underwater for an unbelievable length of time while being beaten. But I never sympathized for the character, Alex. In fact, I rather enjoyed this trough scene, and as a viewer I couldn't wait until he received his just deserts. I was eager to see him finally repay his debt to society, and was ultimately dismayed that he never got the opportunity to do so properly.
While reading reviews, some reviewers likened Alex's "treatment" with getting "brainwashed", and being "dehumanized". But I saw neither of these to be the case. Reviewers also claimed that Alex's treatment caused a loss of his "free will", which I also argue against. Let's examine these accusations:
First of all, Alex was clearly not brainwashed, and I thought Burgess went out of his way to demonstrate this. Brainwashing is when the person's own thoughts are intentionally muddled and replaced by new thoughts. George Orwell's 1984 demonstrates brainwashing through propaganda really well. But in Alex's case, it was very clear that his desires did not change after the treatment. He was the same old Alex -- just that he had a permanent "restraining bolt" in place. Kind of like mental handcuffs. (Remember when the naked woman came out on stage? Alex wanted to rape her senseless. His handcuffs prevented it).
Many reviewers claim he was "dehumanized". I must ask these people: was Alex "human" when he was terrorizing society every night? Or was he animalistic? Before the treatment, we was unable to sit still long enough to experience real human emotion, such as parental detachment and loss of friendships. Afterwards, he was free to explore these emotions -- he was free to explore sides of his own personality that were previously unknown to him. People who question my use of the word "free" should understand that he is no more "free" that you and I are.
Did Alex loose his free will? No, of course not. He could choose to experience all the same things he could before. Just that this time he feels the consequences of his actions -- immediately. The idea is that Alex would eventually not want to be evil anymore. But he never reached this stage of the movie, as his narration proved. Most people's "free will" is similarly limited also. But my free will is limited by conscience -- Alex's was not. The question this raises is -- would this have always been the case for Alex? Who knows?
In conclusion, Alex's treatment was in fact, a complete success. He was just beginning to learn that his actions have consequences. He was learning "tough love". What he really needed at that point in is life was a true friend, not a droog, who could help him learn his true humanity for the first time in is life. Someone who could teach him that in order to be loved, he must treat others with kindness and compassion. This last paragraph looks like I'm sympathizing with Alex, which is contrary to what I stated above. But this is not true. I'm sympathizing with Alex's potential - a potential which was never fulfilled.
And the reason it was never fulfilled was because politicians, in their infinite wisdom, caved into public opinion (fueled by the media), and removed his handcuffs. The implication is that all was lost, and he's back to square one, and now less human than ever.
terrifying yet entertaining, 10 October 1999
Author: RuffRydr from Langley
When I first saw A Clockwork Orange, I thought this movie was really horrible until I saw it again and I saw how well Kubrick had adapted the film from Burgess's book. Malcolm McDowell's madeup accent helps to accentuate the dialogue and makes the movie funny. The scene where he breaks into the woman's house with the sculpture was hilarious. Overall, this is arguably Kubrick's best film.
This is a very interesting movie., 9 October 1999
Author: Rosemea D.S. MacPherson from US
Malcolm McDowell (Mr. Magoo) "Alex DeLarge" the young man, supposed to be fifteen years old, according to the book, speaking Nadsat as slang (Russified English) is the key character in the movie. He is the leader of a gang of four juvenile delinquents. It appears that they are extremely bored. They committed heinous crimes. He went to prison and decided to go though "aversion therapy," in order to get released earlier, and after the therapy he becomes excessively passive. After being used by an anti-government group which caused him to try to commit suicide, and much criticism in the press he is restored back to what he was. Watching both processes is very interesting. The first time I watched this movie, is somewhat historical in our household. My husband and I were vacationing abroad and we found ourselves with nothing to do on Saturday night than to go to a movie. My husband had already watched A Clockwork Orange. Well, the censors in the country that will remain nameless decided to add little black balls to covering the genitals and breasts of the naked women in the movie. Those little black balls kept jumping up and down during the "Billy Boy" scene. The entire theater was laughing and we all got severely distracted. We have a good laugh every time we remember those scenes and the jumping black balls!
My favorite scenes: Alex and his sexy eye lashes in one eye only. Alex singing "Singing in the Rain." As I understand McDowell improvised that scene, Mr. Kubrick liked it so much that he had to go all over to get the license for the "Singing in the Rain" to be part of the movie. The Minister of the Interior hand feeding Alex after he has been cured (back to normal) with Alex milking the act for all the fun he can get out of it. My favorite quotes: Alex: " Oh bliss! Bliss and heaven! Oh, it was gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh." Minister: "Goodness comes from within, goodness is choosing. When a man can not chose he ceases to be a man." I love the music because it has two of my favorite composers: Ludwig van Beethoven and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This is a very interesting movie.
Read the book., 6 October 1999
Author: (jarretc@pacbell.net) from San Francisco
I always liked this film, but everything I liked about it really comes from the book...and MUCH more besides. As a noted critic pointed out many years ago, how pretentious is it to make a film called "A Clockwork Orange" without ever revealing just what the title refers to? What IS a clockwork orange? Well, as it turns out, it's the central metaphor of the work, though evidently Kubrick didn't consider it important. That, and the fact that the film was based on the truncated first American edition of the novel (the omission of the final chapter changes the tone of the book completely) render it seriously flawed when considered alongside its source.
THIS IS THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE!!!!!, 4 October 1999
Author: fullmoon-3 from michigan, USA
Welly Welly Welly Well...Stanley Kubrick was an astonishing film maker and I have been ever since I saw this movie about 5 years ago. This movie is THE greatest film ever made.
The story starts we see Alex DeLarge(Malcolm McDowell)and his three droogs sitting in a milk bar(the Korova),and that evil eye they zoom in on gave me the chills the first 5 or 6 time I saw the movie and then it wore off each time I saw it after that. The story never lets up in the whole movie Alex is a legendary character. This will always be my favorite movie.
I give this Movie ***** out of ****
A dark, ironic tale of an ultraviolent future., 1 October 1999
Author: Sean Finnigan (punctate@hotmail.com) from Saskatoon, Canada
This movie is a must see there is nothing in Hollywood like A Clockwork Orange. This is my favorite movie by the legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. This film is a brilliant commentary on youth crime and government attempts to stop it. Alex is a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven. Him and his Droogies go around creating a real horror show. Alex arrested for murder and his Droogies abandoned him. There is a scene where Alex's is reading the Bible and picturing himself doing all bad things that people did in the Bible stories. This would mean the character of Alex is very drawn to violence he enjoys committing it. Would it possibly for someone to become cured so that individual would not commit another act of violence ever again? The rest of the movie will show you if it is possibly. Malcolm McDowell performance as the infamous young troublemaker is fantastic and brilliant. The remix's of Beethoven's ninth symphony are great and work well with the action on the screen. The slang and dialogue is excellent I would compare it to Shakespeare. A powerful and compelling story that is entertaining no matter how many times you see it. 10/10 A dark, ironic tale of an ultraviolent future.
One of Stanley Kubrick's finest, 25 September 1999
Author: Kyle-51 (fredykrugr@aol.com) from Eden Prairie, MN
If you haven't seen this movie, your are missing out on a work of art. Not just the story, nor how it was way ahead of its time, but beneath everything on the surface. Such as, Alex and his droogs going around for ultra-violence and society taking it's revenge out on him, there was not a single gun in the whole movie. And the youth's interest in music, instead progressing to the levels of harder rock, it instead was classical music. There are many other things that made it great like the near-future foreshadowing, the contrast from a life of total anarchy to total tyranny. This film made the AFI's 100 years 100 movies list at #46, and was nominated for best picture, but lost to "The French Connection."
If you like Kubrick, this is a must see. But, in order to get the full essence of "A Clockwork Orange", you have to see it for yourself.
The creepiest, most violent black-comedy ever., 9 September 1999
Author: Charles Saint-Pierre from Montreal, Canada
Stanley Kubrick is without a doubt one of the best directors of all-time. His classic movies span from 1957 with "Paths of glory" up until today and his movies are still greatly appreciated. Among his classics are "Paths of glory", "2001: a space odyssey", "Full metal jacket", and my personal favorite, "Dr. Strangelove". In all of these movies, you can see the desire that Kubrick has to depict violence as it really is. Well in "A clockwork orange", he depicted it better than any director did in any other movie. In this true classic, you can see what Kubrick was all about: Showing events as violent as they really are.
The story revolves around a teenage boy named Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and his three "droogs" whose night-time pleasures are murder and rape. The movie begins with the four "droogs" drinking a drugged milk in some kind of a bar for milk. They then leave the bar and just for the fun of it, decide to kill an old beggar. They then rob a car, pull up to someone's house, and after having been able to enter, they rape and kill the woman and cripple her husband. After a second attempt at rape and murder, Alex's friends backstab him and turn him over to the cops. It is then that he is sent to prison where he will volunteer for a special treatment which consists in taking out all the taste of violence out of a person.
After having successfully passed the treatment, he is set free. But when he gets back into the world, everything has changed and Alex suddenly begins having great problems. Ultraviolent and a little sick, this futuristic black-comedy is probably the first movie people think of when they think of Kubrick. It may not be for all tastes, but it's still a classic and any movie-buff should imperatively watch it.
The truth, from the eye of the beholder., 7 September 1999
Author: Federico Rojas (federico1979@hotmail.com)
By the way, he is not crazy.
We live in this sick world of opposites, where people have accepted THIS WAY of life, and there is a young man, Alex Delarge ( portrayed by Malcom McDowell, who was very good in his job), who is driven by the ideas of anarchy and libertinage. Poor guy, he doesn´t know that here or there nobody is your friend, and he sees himself alone in this world. Violence, rape, murder, all of those are common things to his brain, his world and his soul are entirelly clean, his is what he is and nothing else.
And when people look at you, and you happen to be purple with yellow dots, you are deffinetely different. He is different and the people who surround him notice that. Now, he has to be normal. To whom´s eyes? Everybody else´s eyes.
Classic ultra-violence combined with classic pieces creates a perfect movie-going experience., 6 September 1999
Author: Benny (zerocool_122@hotmail.com) from Walnut, California
The story begins with the perfect ensemble of characters engaging in various ultra-violent activities intoned with the classical pieces of Rossini and Beethoven. Alexander de Large (McDowell) is the paradigm of the abnormal teen in society. Scorning the ills of society and also scorning the advancements and successes of society by traveling the cityscape to ravage unsuspecting victims with the aid of his three "droogs". Their adventures begin the Korova milkbar where they are constantly drinking the old"moloko plus". This is just merely milk laced with drugs that they find pleasing and advantageous when performing the old ultra-violent acts. Subsequently, Alex is betrayed by his treacherous droogs and shipped off to prison to reform. He does not wish to remain in such a decadent facility as that to be constantlyl "tolchoked" by brutal guards. He then partakes in an experiment that will allow him to leave the custody of the state in a fortnight. The rest of the movie deals with Alex's ascension back into society and his later trials and tribulations as a result of the "treatment"
An arcane look through a sick man's eyes, 6 September 1999
Author: 1984-2 from Toronto, Canada
when I think of a movie that impacted my life I think of A Clockwork Orange, not only did it introduce me to the brilliant films of Stanley Kubrick such as 2001:Space Odyssey but it opened my mind to the world of brilliantly disturbed movies created by the creative minds of today and from the past such as Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho or vertigo. Though the movie contains scenes containing rape and ultra violence, the genius of the film is about the story, I highly recommend this movie and award the film a 9.5/10.
A masterpiece, 2 September 1999
Author: GOB-2 from Salem, Va
I've always been a fan of thought provoking movies. Needless to say I am a big fan of Kubrick's Clockwork Orange. It is a terrifying piece that seems all too real. I would not recommend it for the kids, but if you're looking for deep, thought provoking drama, this is it.
A Cinematic Masterpiece, 31 August 1999
Author: Matthew Molnar (mattmolnar@home.com) from Winnipeg, Canada
This is an amazing film. Though much is cut from the film itself (as opposed to what is written in the book), Kubrick is able to bring the story to life and it loses very little of the intensity and moralism of the novel by Anthony Burgess. Malcolm McDowell gives a stellar performance as Alex, taking the audience on the journey through the mind of a young man who's done "all the wrong things". The scenery perfectly complements the film, and the music is some of the most amazing I've ever heard, actually properly fitting the action taking place on screen. The first chord of the theme is struck and you're immediately catapulted into another world. All in all, this is one of the greatest movies of all time. I give it a full 10.
Visually exciting, thematically reprehensible, 29 August 1999
Author: shez-2 from Cambridge, England
It entailed a great amount of effort on my part to finally see this film. It remains unobtainable here in Britain though I've heard strong rumours that a re-release is imminent. I ordered the video from Amazon.com after having traded in my VCR for a model compatible with NTSC format tapes as well as PAL (the standard format here in the UK.) Was it worth it? Sadly no.
I'm afraid I have to agree with Roger Ebert (for probably the first time ever) when he describes ACO as "...an ideological mess...a paranoid right-wing fantasy masquerading as an Orwellian warning..."
Kubrick kicks Burgess's intentions into touch early on and turns the entire film into a vindication of Alex. All authority figures are portrayed as obnoxious, faceless caricatures. Without exception, each of Alex's 'victims' are more 'unpleasant' than they are in the book, presumably in an attempt to justify their treatment: the cat-lady is changed from a frail old lady into a rich-bitch yoga freak; Alex's brutal rape of two 10-year girls is turned into a high-speed orgy with two willing teenage participants. The misogyny rampant throughout the film is especially shocking; Kubrick's obsession with displaying nubile, large-bosomed girls in various forms of undress would appear to suggest that his key influences were not, as previously thought, Max Ophuls and Sergei Eisenstein, but rather Russ Meyer and Benny Hill.
Leaving aside its dubious morality, I would agree that there is much to admire in the film. Malcolm McDowell gives a dynamic performance (despite being 10 years too old for the role) and should have got the Oscar. The camera-work and use of music is as good as anything that Kubrick has ever done. However, I have tried and, so far, failed to fathom why this film is as highly regarded as it is. Most of its most ardent admirers do however appear to be young males. Why should this be? Perhaps, rather like the men who claim to buy Playboy magazine for the John Updike short story, it allows them an opportunity to revel in sex and violence with the comforting pretence that they're viewing 'a social satire by a major film-maker.'
one of his best, 29 August 1999
Author: Kate
Dr. Strangelove is one of my favorite pictures ever made. It taught me to love Stanley Kubrick, which is why I rented A Clockwork Orange. It is one of the most disturbing, frightening, intelligent, and incredible movies I have ever seen. It was absolutely chilling. I give it an A. It's one of Kubrick's best.
Try it: if you don't like it, you don't. If you like it, you'll love it, 25 August 1999
Author: Sally (aksally3@aol.com) from Richmond, Virginia
A couple months ago, a Stanley Kubrick film festival was on TCM, so I decided to tape his movies-me being a great fan of him. The first one I watched happened to be A Clockwork Orange, and I immediately became a fan. Granted, this movie is certainly not for everyone (especially the faint of heart), but everything in the movie is highly notable, including the direction, performances, camera views, music, script, and the novel it was based on. The movie begins with the adventures and times of Alex DeLarge, a vicious teenage monster, and his three droogs: Pete, Georgie, and Dim. His main interests are Beethoven, rape, and ultraviolence (especially the old surprise visit). On one unfortunate outing, the millicents (police) catch him as the rest of his gang flees. He's thrown in staja (State Jail), but soon sees an opportunity for early release if he consents to be a test subject for a new technique for treating criminals. He does, and is virtually reduced to a machine, or 'clockwork orange'. He is robbed of his ability to choose, and in turn ceases to be a man. There's quite a bit more of a twist near the end of the movie, so I won't spoil it for you.
I would recommend this movie to anyone over 18, any movie buffs, aspiring filmmakers, or Kubrick fans. Along with Full Metal Jacket, I think this is his best work.
One of the best., 24 August 1999
Author: B.Pico from MA
A clockwork orange is a great film.It is one of the best movies ever made.It is a great movie in all standards:Plot,everything.And even though it was released over 25 years ago it is still controversial.But in a way it is still one of the best movies ever.
THE GREATEST FILM ART HAS EVER SEEN, 21 August 1999
Author: movEbuf from Vermont, USA
Yes you may say I am over-rating this movie but I'm not at all. I know most of you think lowly of it because of the violence and sex, but one should not hold that against it. It is pure Genious and that's the truth... I love the music Walter (now Wendy hehe) Carlose is just pure genious too. I own the soundtrack and listen to it all the time, IT NEVER GETS OLD just like the movie... Do yourself a favor and see it today.
carmine (13 year old male)
My favourite Kubrick, 18 August 1999
Author: Cygnus X from Budapest, Hungary
Based on Anthony Burgess' excellent novel, A Clockwork Orange is a masterpiece. A dark vision of the future, with ultra-violent youth ruling the streets and people being afraid to leave their houses after dark. Alex, a leader of such a gang gets caught after committing an "accidental" murder, and after two years of prison sentence, he is chosen to be reformed by a new method called Ludovico's technique, which is claimed to turn bad people into good people.
I think every director runs a risk when adapting a great novel, but the way Stanley Kubrick did it seems to be THE way. He kept the best scenes of the story, created a semi-dreamlike visual environment, added an terrific soundtrack, chose the suitable actors (nearly everybody who had more than two lines was memorable), and ran the whole thing with his usual precision. The only weaker point was the sex scene between Alex and the two devotchkas from the record store (but it would be a bit difficult to adopt the violent scene from the book with Alex of 15 and the girls like 10).
I don't know which movie should I consider as Kubrick's best, but this one is definitely my favourite. The first time I saw it, I just couldn't believe the soundtrack. Though it owes much to the novel, it transcends to an audio/visual experience only a movie can give you. I think Kubrick made the right decision which scenes to include. I'm glad he completely omitted the last chapter of the book. Also, this films features probably the most menacing last line in movie history.
Finally, there seems to be a common misunderstanding: many people seem to think that Ludovico's technique turned Alex into a good person, as promised. Wrong. Alex' body was conditioned to react to violence with sickness, but our humble narrator's personality hardly changed at all.
A great film, not one for the kiddies though!, 17 August 1999
Author: tilly-7 from Manchester, England
A clockwork orange was a deep psychological insight into the world of Alex. Beneath all the violence and rape it was a great storyline and had some fine acting. a great scene is the house scene where alex sings "singing in the rain" whilst beating up and raping a woman and her old husband. A great film but like i say, not one for the kids - mind you i'm only 14 and i didn't think it was that bad.
Brilliant and disturbing; suprisingly relevant, 15 August 1999
Author: Arkaan Semere (alistair72@hotmail.com)
A Clockwork Orange has got to be one of the most disturbing films ever produced. The story is simple enough, but it's presentation is clever. We are manipulated to understand Alex's (Malcom McDowall, in the year's best performance) point of view (and indeed Kubrick's). It is stylized to a very high degree, with the William Tell overture to the sex scene a very nice touch. The violence is harsh, but it is also stylized, like a choreographed dance. The "Singin in the Rain" rape scene was one of the most memorable images in film history. The juxtaposition of joy and brutality remains absolutely unforgettable.
I don't think this is Kubrick's best, and it ranks fourth for me, but it is an amazing movie of surprising depth.
Never be too sure ..., 13 August 1999
Author: A. van Hengel (a.vanhengel@wxs.nl) from Leiden, The Netherlands
There are millions of comments to make on this movie. Thus quite some people already commented. I will subsequently just emphasize the big-brother warning it seeks to give.
Pure democracy without any saveguard of the individual (fundamental human) rights, is nothing more than plain tyranny of the majority, which in the end always leads to situations as in Hitlers Dritte Reich, or the current situation in e.g. Kosovo. All because the vox populi really is all but the best considered opinion.
crazy and unforgettable, 12 August 1999
Author: jean-42 from Japan
I think this is a quite unique and very interesting film.Some ugly qualities of human are displayed and they all can be true.Violent scenes are horrible and terrifying but I can't forget that eye of Alex and the song "Singin'in the Rain".How can man sing that song kicking and beating someone?
Oh heaven, oh bliss..., 12 August 1999
Author: Travis (nyello@aol.com) from Pennsylvania
My parents forbade me from seeing this movie at a very early age (it is the only movie I'm not allowed to see), so I was always under the impression that it was a gratuitous orgy of sex and violence. It wasn't until one of my friends loaned me his copy that I realized neither of them could have actually seen it. To deny me a film like this, but to recommend such trash as "I Spit on Your Grave" and "From Dusk Till Dawn" is a sin. This is the most brilliant film I have ever seen. I had always enjoyed Kubrick's work, but it wasn't until the infamous "Singin' in the Rain" scene that I realized just how incredibly deep and meticulous Kubrick's direction is. Certainly not for every taste, this film balances carefully choreographed violence with deep philosophical, theological and satirical commentary that left me speechless and opened my still young eyes to the wonderful world of cinema as an art form.
FREEDOM!!, 10 August 1999
Author: Lemon-8 from BARCELONA, SPAIN
I've heard a lot of people talking about this fantastic film, and they think it's an apology to violence, but it's not, they only get the superficial part of the film. Kubrick was talking about freedom of a person to choose between good and bad. Like Mickey and Mallory from "Natural Born Killers", Alex knows what is good and bad, but he doesn't care, he does what he wants, and in fact, he is the most human character in all the film, because he can choose.
A very good movie, 9 August 1999
Author: Febos from Vancouver, Canada
Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece A Clockwork Orange is a truly great movie. Kubrick's use of constant nudity is a little "over done" but the plot and meaning of the movie is magnificent He tells the strange story of a young mans journey from a street gang raper to a brainwashed law binding citizen. Or is he? This movie grabs your attention and want let you go. I great movie but not for the light hearted.
The greatest, 8 August 1999
Author: gemmabean from New York, NY
I wake up thanking Kubrick for this film. It says so much about honesty and cultural values and it does it with the voice of the "deviant" ...the voice that we are never supposed to hear, much less sympathize with or appreciate. McDowell did an excellent job as Alex. The music and cinematography make it a masterpiece. Viddy well me brothers.
A great film, 7 August 1999
Author: bates-5 from florida
This indeed was a great film, and I did not find it sick like everyone else was saying. I saw this movie on the dvd, but before i was like cautious about it because i thought it was going to be very graphic,like blood, graphic rape,etc. There was basically no violence, there was more sex. I thought it was well handled, it wand't a porn flick. This movie was very interesting, and i recommend it. The ending i didn't quite get, because his smile made it seem like he was crazy again, but then he says, "I was cured alright" but very good.
Shock value galore., 6 August 1999
Author: Michael Bregman from Eeek! This is weird, but ok.
The movie is very shocking, but when you take away the shock value stuff, it's still good. But the thing is YOU DON'T take away the shock value and it's a very nice movie that will change your life forever (well, maybe not).
Very stylish in it's own sick way, this movie will grip you from beginning to end.
The movie also has a message, but it almost gets lost in all the mayhem, much like what happened to "Natural Born Killers". But who cares?..
A disturbing yet brilliant look at violence in our society., 6 August 1999
Author: Verbal-39 from Galway, Ireland
Kubrick has pulled off one of his finest achievements. He has provided us with a reason to give up violence and live peacefully. And that reason is Alexander DeLarge. He is everything you would fear as you walk down a dark street at night yet you really feel for him when he is tortured with all that terapy. Kubrick's art direction and use of shadows shows the boys as scary, dark demons. Never before has a film had such a portrayal of the dark side of life. Unfortunetaly because of the two copycat murders, the brilliant movie was banned in England and Ireland. Banned by Kubrick himself because it had failed its purpose. Instead of pushing us away from violence it inspired it. A masterpiece
It is one of the most brilliant masterpieces in todays world, 4 August 1999
Author: Matthew (cidfinalf8@aol.com) from USA
A Clockwork Orange to me is one of the greatest masterpeices in our time. At some times this movie can be disturbing and sickish to watch. But you have to see beyond the sickness of it and see the true story of a criminal turn good. It was excellently shot by Stanley Kubrick, especially the scenes where Alex{the protagonist} is going through his transformation from bad to good. Malcolm McDowell does a frighteningly good job in this movie too. If you have never seen this movie before then I would definenty rent it and watch it. Its well worth the money to watch.
i was cured all right, 30 July 1999
Author: vladimir deeznuts
the problem people have with this movie is their either looking for a glorification of violence, or an apology for one. this film delivers neither.
some of the scenes in this movie are far more violent than any action-packed rambo movie, but only two people die throughout the film...it's the intensity of the violence that makes people say "ick."
the intensity and the awkward ambiguity...alex is the definitive anti-hero - should we root for him or not? this dialectic confusion is common in kubrick's works: killer's kiss, eyes wide shut, fear and desire...and a clockwork orange.
i for one am very glad kubrick left out the 21st chapter, which was a cop-out and distorts the meaning of the book...this is it's pure form.
An astonishing look at society as a machine., 28 July 1999
Author: MadCat-5 from US
I was shocked the first time I saw this movie, but I'm quite certain thats intended. The entire movie intends to show how involuntary our actions in life really are, from the clicking heels of the prison guards, to the predictable family "interaction" to the cold, politically motivated people who take him in. In my opinion, as well as many others, it tries to portray that what society often describes as "evil" is simply breaking the pre-defined mold. The ultra-violence and sex can be repulsive to some, but they are a necessity to really instill the idea that these are the only people in the movie who are actually ALIVE. Plus, the reversal of attacks later in the movie show the ability to live, the capacity for evil, is in everyone, only suppressed by brainwashing forced upon them by society. Everyone is brainwashed; quite an astounding realization for a movie, and excellently executed.
brilliant, 28 July 1999
Author: kiyotei from San Diego
Gotta love it. The violence was a little much at times - but it was important to show how twisted the people in this film are supposed to be. I found myself actually feeling sorry for Malcom McDowell at the end of this film (even though he gets what he deserves). The choice of music and slow/fast motion photography is excellent. Can't wait to visit a milk-bar with my droogs!
A stroke of sheer genius., 25 July 1999
Author: TomServo-17 from Connecticut
Most films today are not particularly good. Every once in a while a film comes along that can be called satisfactory and on a very, very rare occasion pretty good. How I long for the days when a film such as A Clockwork Orange could come along and shock a viewer into agreeing with the characters on screen. The most recent example of this that I can think of is the South Park movie. Perhaps I've seen this film too many times to comment very well on it, but I'll try anyway.
Stanley Kubrick can do things no other director can. He can trick you into thinking. The first time I saw this movie I was thinking and didn't even know it! Truly, this is the first film that ever really made me think. Some people think that this movie is just rape, assault, and murder. Nothing could be further from the truth. This movie has an anti-government theme, and there are few things I respect more than anti-government themes. Well, what else can I say about this movie that hasn't been said a thousand times before? I really liked it, and I think it's a shame that Eyes Wide Shut will be Stanley Kubrick's last movie. But, that's just me.
a cinematic masterpiece, 19 July 1999
Author: Lil' Mac
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most disturbing experiences that i have ever witnessed ,the scenes of rape , murder, beatings are very realistic and i give a standing ovation to the late Stanley Kubrick . I recommend this film to anyone that does not have a weak stomach , this movie may start off slow but when it gets going you are in for one hell of a ride the performance of Malcolm Macdowell is very believable and well portrayed as well as the whole cast the direction is wonderful A Clockwork Orange is a cinematic masterpiece!
An intelligent political satire that's still relevant today., 19 July 1999
Author: Steve MacDougall from Canada
The story of a menace to society who is rightly jailed. While in jail his human rights are violated when they brainwash him against violence. In an attempt to make amends for violating the criminal's rights he's eventually treated like a king, while the rights of his victims are ignored (the victim poses a threat to the criminal and is put away where he can do no harm to the criminal who's now free because his rights were violated).
I suspect the original tale was meant to take place in a future somewhat distant from our own, but it sounds suspiciously like the way criminals are treated now.
The brilliance of the move is the contrast between graphic violence and absurd outrageous humour, along with a superb soundtrack that almost gives the film a farcical Monty Python quality. Only Stanley Kubrick could find humour in such disturbing events.
Be prepared for what you're going to get., 18 July 1999
Author: Susie-7 from Surrey, British Columbia
It may seem strange that I'm writing a comment here, as I never watched the entire film. I started watching the film and ended up feeling quite ill after a half hour. I do intend one day to sit down and try watching this film again, because I am sure that, characteristic of Kubrick's work (as well as consistent with the other reviews contained on this site), there is an important message to be had. My problem was that a friend grabbed the video out of her parents' collection; we had no clue whatsoever as to what this movie was about, and I was caught off guard. If I'm going to handle being deeply disturbed for an entire film, I need to be prepared for it. That is my point: if you are going to watch this film for the first time, please realise what you're going to get. This is not like "2001" or "The Shining", where I don't think it matters if a person knows what to expect or not. I do understand that part of the impact of a film comes from being caught off guard; if a person is too prepared for what is to come, the punch may lose all its force. However, the point has no impact at all if a person can't stomach watching the movie long enough to get it. So don't let your movie experience be ruined like mine: know what you're in for.
For those people who think that people who enjoy movies like this are sick and deranged, I think it's important to consider how the word "enjoy" is being used. I don't use it myself when it comes to disturbing movies; I think Schindler's List is the best movie ever made, but I would not say I enjoyed it, in the sense of deriving pleasure from viewing it. But others will use the word "enjoy" to describe their experiences of such films, and that shouldn't be taken as them "enjoying" murder, rape, genocide, or whatever other despicable act may be occurring on the screen. I enjoy psychology, but that's not to say I enjoy others experiencing depression, schizophrenia, psychopathy, or anything else; it is a matter of enjoying the intellectual stimulation as well as the hope that out of studying such things something good will come, and I think this applies to movies. To watch Schindler's List may give some empathy for victims of the Holocaust that they never had before, and I'm sure in watching this film there's some profound understanding of what humans are capable of given certain circumstances. There is nothing sick about discovering such things, as long as one doesn't emulate them. Too often people seem to confuse what happens on the screen with real life, and assume that anyone who watches violent films is bound for violence themselves. I don't know how much violence on the screen motivates others' violence, but a movie like A Clockwork Orange does not glorify it. As long as violence is depicted in a responsible way, I think it may even be beneficial for it to be viewed, lest we forget how rotten people can be. Anyone who maintains that it is movies like this that lead to so much of the violence in our society needs to take a little look at history and stop pointing the fingers at people who've never committed a truly violent act in their lives but who happen to enjoy films that are violent.
Okay, that got rather political. But this movie does have political and sociological implications- that much was clear from my brief viewing of it. It is important to note that this movie was not meant as a blueprint of how to behave, and anyone who thinks it is has problems that are going to arise without the movie. So for all those people who call fans of this movie depraved: why not focus your energy on something that really matters, like getting guns off the street or children out of abusive homes or abusive parents and spouses into counseling, and leave movie fans alone.
Good film, better novel, 15 July 1999
Author: emgasu from Buenos Aires, Argentina
A pity Anthony Burgess released the novel -if it wasn't for that, Kubrick's film could have looked better. The bitter politic view of the author is somehow shadowed by the excess of violence, which is by no means the heart of the novel. It seems that Kubrick had his own view and he imposed it over the original.
A stunning masterpiece, 12 July 1999
Author: KennyF from New York
Kubrick's stunning masterpiece of irony, satire, language, prophecy, imagery, and music. The title says it all: we are creatures of flesh (like the pulpy orange), but we are little more than clocklike machines able to be programmed into unison. This is a movie of unforgettable language and visual images. The way Kubrick was able to define the space on screen with his sets and the way he lit them were the key aspects of his cinematic genius. The sex and violence (sometimes in combination) are shocking and may strike some as excessive (especially in the depiction of women), but they are used to make a point about society.
MY ALLTIME FAVORITE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 10 July 1999
Author: Sushiman from GA
This is my all-time favorite movie, folks, and why? Because it is just mesmerising to watch. Very hypnotic, and equally entertaining. It is one of few films that are actually perfect.
But the main reason is is that it made me want to be a filmmaker. I first saw it when I was 15 years old and it was like nothing I had ever seen. Well at least it helped me make a career desicion!
Exciting! Cult classic!, 10 July 1999
Author: snlash from USA
I loved this movie! Malcolm McDowall did a terrific job of acting, that leaves an impressions on you for years!! Contrary to other reviews I have seen, The rape and violence scenes seemed very erotic to me, and very central to the storyline. I highly recommend this movie to all people who are not faint at heart and definitely 18 or older.
good sick twisted fun, 8 July 1999
Author: crazyj from frederick, Maryland
This movie is excellent, other than 2001 and Full Metal Jacket definitely Kubrick's finest. Malcom McDowell is brilliant as Alex, the main character. I highly recommend this film to anyone.
It's all right, It's only human....everyones perverted, 8 July 1999
Author: The Jeff
That's gross!!! Too much violence!!!! Anyone who could possibly enjoy this is sick!!! These are some of the most common things heard when you bring up this film. Why? What is it about reality that scares so many people? This movie is by far one of the most intense and truthful movies ever created. It seems that some are often blinded by the mutiple showings of violence and sex...so as to say the movie is sick. Never has there been a movie that is more truthful and insightful into the human mind. too many people deny the basic human instincts and feelings that are necessary to living. This isn't just a made up kind of thing...burgess was showing a great knowledge of real life when he wrote this. Who out there hasn't thought about just busting out and doing whatever they want to do before...or just saying ph**k it, i'm gonna live for myself, no rules. If you say yeah, i've never thought that then your lying to yourself. This film is one of the best beacuse it deals with the most intense REAL emotions...If ever there was a movie that everyone must see it's this...it'll make you see things a bit different, maybe for the best.
There can be NO true genius without a touch of Insanity.
Probably the most twisted film ever made.., 8 July 1999
Author: Steven J. Juon (OHHLA) from Omaha, NE
Sick? Insane? Twisted? Genius. All of the following words describe the Stanley Kubrick directed film "Clockwork Orange," the same film which introduced Malcolm McDowell to the world - for that +alone+ the film viewing public can be grateful. His portrayal of the hoodlum Alexander DeLarge (a young man whose principle interests are rap, ultraviolence, and Beethoven) is both powerful and disturbing. Simple minded Congresspersons and civil servants would like to no doubt blame the sick sad world we live in on films such as these; when in fact films like this are the magnifying glass through which society's ills are exposed to harsh light. Alex's own corrections officer is confounded - he has a good home, two parents, something of a brain on his head - why is he such a terror? There's no easy answer; and that rings just as true when you ask why Columbine High or why Oklahoma City. There's no one source, no one reason, and sometimes bad actions really can't be quantified. The film's solution to the Alex "problem" is both horrific and draconian: cure the ill by making the patient ill from the cure.
This film is great on many levels - social commentary, cinematogrophy, even the choice of soundtrack will strike a chord that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. To not see this film once in your life, even as disturbing as it may be, is to do yourself a grave injustice.
The violence is a mechanism to get the deeper meanings across, 7 July 1999
Author: John A. from Urbana, Il
This is not some flick with random violence and a simple message. Make no mistake, the violence is horrifying. It's meant that way. It's meant to be a reflection on how society was progressing in the future, where for some ultraviolence is a way of life.
This movie can be divided into thirds. The first third delves into the madness of violence, and the horror a few ultraviolent individuals can produce in a society. The second third is about reformation and the price of reformation - can a society take away an individual's right to free will to protect itself? The final third is again a commentary on violence - this time that the violence is inherent in our society, that we are ALL products, and instigators, of violence. We're not supposed to feel sorry for Alex! We're supposed to feel happy that he's getting what he deserves!! But that's the mastery of the film - in the end our lust for revenge is no different that Alex's ultraviolence, and the "treatment" eventually blows up in the government's and societies' and in our (the audience's) face. Alex ends up the same as always, just much richer and with immunity from the consequences of his actions.
This film is violent. It is disturbing. It questions the lines between justice and revenge, beauty and horror, societies' greater need and an individual's basic human rights. It does so against a backdrop that is at once soothing (Beethoven's ninth) and horrifying (the ultraviolence). A Clockwork Orange is brilliant, but to appreciate its full impact, one has to get over the brutality of the film. The deeper meanings will be lost to anyone who can't.
Stellar, 6 July 1999
Author: TegSkywalker from Illinois, USA
I think this movie is genuine. The events are truly stunning and on top of all, the theme music is stellar. It adds a mood that is unmatched and gives feeling. Great movie overall
Anthony Burgess at his best, 4 July 1999
Author: JerryP-2 from Papillion NE
Sure, Stanley Kubrick directed it, but Anthony Burgess wrote the original. Once you get past the violence and some of the improbable "science," this is an exquisite rendition of Burgess' commentary on the social tinkering and resultant disintegration of British culture and its likely outcome. Probably the best scene is the demonstration of the "socially acceptable" version of Alex DeLarge and the (presumably) C of E cleric's objection that "we've taken away his free will." The alternatives of dealing with the sociopathic Alex are left unsaid.
This film has meaning and content far beyond mere entertainment.
Multi-faceted and brilliant., 29 June 1999
Author: Teotihuacan from Melbourne, Australia
A Clockwork Orange is an incredibly structured and complex film, a fact which is overlooked by many blinded by the sex and violence. Burgess and Kubrick set out to provide a commentary not only on the nature of violence and crime, but on the very nature of free will. It's an ambitious plan, yet one that this film covers completely. It's a shame that, given Kubrick's penchant for thought provoking and at times esoteric films, this is possibly the most instantly accessible to the majority, simply due to the violent element. To view the film on this level is to be blinded to the inner complexities of this stunning film, and is selling it and it's creators short. As Kubrick himself said, the viewer both fears and sympathises with Alex, because he is all too frighteningly easy to identify with. Like all Burgess' work, brilliant and compelling. Like all Kubrick's, classic, cinematically flawless, thought provoking and almost all other complimentary terms you could use to label a film. 10/10.
Beethoven Would Be Proud, 25 June 1999
Author: KaRoVa from Philly
I remember being 3 years old & picking up the box - being drawn to it by the artwork on the box. 12 years later,in May of this year...I was looking 4 a movie to stimulate my mind as well as be wowed. The movie had been mentioned to me many times. I remember how I was full of wonder when I saw the box - so I bought it - it was the best move I ever made. As soon as I saw the 1st scene of Alex...I was blown away. The music perfectly fitted into each scene. Also because of this movie, I've became obsessed with Beethoven. Classical music showed its true purpose in this film. Insanity was perfectly displayed in motion.
The sickness of the human mind and the manipulation of it by the government......ah ha ha ha ha, 24 June 1999
Author: Kittycoo from Philadelphia, Pa - USA
The film has some rather disturbing scenes of rape and violence but here it is rather potential to truly illustrate the sick mind of the character "Alex".
Ah, hence crime and punishment our shown for our viewing pleasure with a twist of government manipulation. Ah the plot thickens along with another twist of excellent musical scores.
I think Alex should have been raped by the big muscular weight lifter to really drive a point;therefore, having him suffer all the aspects of his evil doings in return.
Ah that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Madness....I like it, 17 June 1999
Author: Mike (rkoegel@earthlink.net) from Selbyside - St. Paul, MN USA
The movie is a gem, and it has real genuine terror. The movie's protagonist Alex isn't supernatural, he's a human monster. From attacking people to rape to home invasion to prison, Alex does what he wants, when he wants. When released in 1971 most people considered it too strong for most stomachs, too ahead for it's time. The background pieces are wonderful and the cinematography is lovely. Every year on Halloween I dress up as Alex even with the eye lash. Definitely Stanley Kubrick's best movie.
R.I.P. Mr. Kubrick.
Interesting Idea -- Average Movie, 15 June 1999
Author: PlateOShrimp from Harrisburg, Pa
"A Clockwork Orange" isn't an easy movie to digest. The term "ultraviolence" is used a lot by the characters, and it says A LOT about this movie. It's disturbing almost the whole way through.
Anybody with a clue of cinema knows the set-up: Four hooligans with a love of raping and killing goon their way through the nights, only to have one get caught during an attempted robbery. Once caught, he opts for a quicker (yet experimental) rehabilitation that make him sick to his stomach at the mere thought of violence. I'll say no more about this process for the few out there who aren't sure what it is.
Violent movies have never bothered me, but violent movies about characters with no motive for what they do DOES bother me, and this one is right up there. The violent scenes disgusted me, but I continued to watch in an effort to be an objective viewer and be able to give a complete review.
Surprisingly, this movie gets more recognition for its characters and the supposed "coolness" of them (unnecessary violence constitutes stupidity in my book).
Underneath, however, is an interesting premise that could have kept this movie together if some of the more graphic scenes were tamed. The rehab method described earlier is a brainwashing of sorts; It doesn't give him a choice to decide between right and wrong -- Instead, he can't engage in violence, as if a switch has been thrown.
The obvious question raised is that of a person who is unable to commit heinous crimes, and how he can function as a human being if he can't make decisions and pay the consequences, good or bad. Live and learn, as they say.
When the treatment is done, it's sort of a hollow ending. One less criminal off the street, for sure, but less of a human being. A person who is unable to learn from his mistakes, because he's not free to make them.
A better movie would have concentrated on the obvious moral question and taken it a little further. Instead, the man is free, his friends are thuggish cops and his lesson MAY or MAY NOT have been learned. The viewer really isn't sure what to make of it.
With some fine-tuning and a little more class, this could have been a great movie. But, most of the time, I was too busy feeling sick to my stomach to care. And when I did care, the movie only scratches the surface of what it could been.
Brilliant and Effective Masterpiece by Kubrick, 15 June 1999
Author: Anatoly Shirov (shirov@infocom.com) from Kherer
A Clockwork Orange was Stanley Kubricks second greatest film, and is in my personal opinion the 7th greatest film ever made, one-upped by Citizen Kane, The Godfather, 2001, 8 1/2, Fargo, and La Dolce Vita. Its one of the few i have a copy of in my personal collection. It mixes images, sound, and emotion in a masterfull way that when combined with fanastic cinematography, editing, and direction, reveals a spectacular work. Worth seeing by any cinema lover.
Bizarre, yet brilliant., 11 June 1999
Author: Brian Blueskye (brianblu23@aol.com) from Mentor, OH
This movie I will admit, I watched out of rumors about it. I heard it's supposed to make you see wierd stuff when you are stoned, and it's supposed to be one of the most bizarre movies ever. I watched it out of curiosity. The movie does seem to point out an important point that no one realizes. Alex went to prison, with somewhat of a mental illness, and he was getting an ego trip on power and control with his little gang. When he went to prison, he acted as if he really did want to better himself, he did with the treatment program. He then went back into society, treating him as if he's still the old Alex. It shows how criminals are treated today, they go into society with their rehabbed story, and no one believes them, and chews them up, and spits them out. It's a great way of showing that. It also shows how insane one person can be. It's brilliant, but yet bizzare. Plus the Beethoven and that other crap got on my nerves after awhile, how much can a movie have ?
Simply the Best, 9 June 1999
Author: Delbert Botts
If I had to rank top 5 movies, it would be: #5 Sunset Blvd, #4 The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, #3 Gone with the Wind, #2 The Empire Strikes Back, and #1 EASILY is A Clockwork Orange. This movie is a social commentary on one level, a hilarious comedy on another (and there are times I do laugh), a horror film in the classic sense, and a coming of age film. The book is awesome, both the English and the American versions. The movie does something rare; it surpasses the written word in painting a picture of Alex's life. It also has one of the best dance numbers ever filmed; I can't watch Singing in the Rain without thinking of Alex
The Masterpiece, 8 June 1999
Author: great_sphinx_42 from The Poppy Field, OZ 69666
I have seen a lot of movies in my day, but few have changed my life. This movie-called "THE movie" by those who know me-is quite simply the masterpiece. Just like one of my fellow reviewers said, my life, or at least as it pertains to movies, was changed when I saw this film. It is among the top 3 most profound movies I've ever seen. I watched it five times in the first two days I had the video in my possession. I own the video now, and the book, and the score, and a poster. I wrote a paper about Kubrick, with the focus heavily on "A Clockwork Orange." I can't even begin to state the cinematic importance of this movie. You must see it for yourself. Stanley Kubrick was a man before his time, a film-maker with the sort of vision and technique and talent that all artists hope and pray for in their endeavors, no matter the forum. "A Clockwork Orange" is just one of his masterworks. With only 13 films, he changed the practice of film-making forever. May all be well with your eternity, Stanley, and thanks forever for sharing with us your beautiful, bitter soul.
A Few Things I Forgot To Mention, 8 June 1999
Author: great_sphinx_42 from The Poppy Field, OZ 69666
I want to add a few things to what I said in my first post. First of all, as I understand it Stanley Kubrick didn't even know that there was 21 chapters in Anthony Burgess' book. For various reasons (some of them conflicting) the American version had only 20 chapters, leaving out Alex's self-determined change for the better. Only in the latest American printing is the 21st chapter included. Anthony Burgess himself said at one point that Kubrick didn't know about it. And the book is excellent as well, by the way, and Burgess does deserve recognition for the book that is his own personal masterpiece, even if he didn't think so. May Kubrick and Burgess *both* be remembered for the definitive thesis on freedom and human nature that is "A Clockwork Orange."
A philosophical film, 6 June 1999
Author: Mike Sh. (michaelshannon123@comcast.net) from Lowell MA
At first glance, this film may seem like a sick deranged piece of trash shamelessly designed to appeal to our most prurient tastes. Indeed, one of the most disturbing things about this film is that since the viewer is looking through Alex's eyes, there is sometimes a tendency for the viewer to relish the violence as much as Alex does - to laugh along with him as he commits his mayhem. (Yikes!)
Two questions come out of this: Why is Alex made as repulsive as he is? And why is the violence portrayed in such a shockingly graphic manner? (In the book, Alex is loathsome enough, but the brutality is cloaked somewhat in the "nadsat" or teen language, based largely on Slavic roots, that Alex uses to tell his story.) The answer to both of these questions is, I think, that Kubrick (and Burgess) wanted to make the point that no one deserves the inhuman conditioning that Alex went through - not even the cruelest most bestial slime (like Alex). Thus, despite the shocking sensationalistic sex and violence, it can honestly be said that this film is... a philosophical work.
Very Good Movie., 5 June 1999
Author: Amelia-6 from USA
This movie was Awesome. I could have done without some of the nudity but it was needed to get the whole effect. This movie is not for the weak minded. The ones who watch something and suddenly they have to go out and do it or think its cool. Because what happens is not cool but it makes for a good story line. Certainly one you have to see.
Greatest Film?, 3 June 1999
Author: Fasman (luv_arts@swbell.net) from Dallas, TEXAS
If it was suggested to me that this was the greatest film of all time, I'd be hard pressed to argue. In addition, it seems to predict the violence occurring with today's youth and yet most of them have probably never heard, much less seen A Clockwork Orange. I wonder what effect it would have on them?
A movie that does justice to the book., 30 May 1999
Author: JerBear-2 from Ouachita National Forest
Another masterpiece by a bona fide genius. Kubrick leads us down the garden path (a dark and foreboding futuristic one)with our feelings and emotions about the main character. Is he funny? Is he cute? Is he sad? Or is he a sadistic sociopath that deserves far worse than what happens to him? And more importantly, is that the point of the movie? If you don't find this film disturbing, you've been watching too many "Itchy and Scratchy" cartoons.
As far as the film making, one of the things that has always amazed me is that the film creates a world of it's own with very few outrageous set designs or special effects. We never even see the car they drive.
This movie is like "Brazil", you have to watch it more than once to truly appreciate it.
One of Kubrick's many masterpieces, 24 May 1999
Author: Mr.White-10 from Conn.
A Clockwork Orange is definitely one of Kubrick's best films. Like 2001, the classical music works perfectly with the film itself. ACO is insightful, eerie, disturbing, and original. All in all, a perfect film made the great genius Stanley Kubrick (R.I.P).
If you felt bored or comfortable you didn't get it., 12 May 1999
Author: lucia-8
This film is meant to make the viewer uncomfortable, to think, to be repulsed by Alex, to feel sympathy for him, to feel tricked and betrayed by Kubrick - by the film itself, for allowing it to manipulate your feelings about violence, about retribution, about Alex and his kind. Just as the social workers toy with Alex, Kubrick toys with the viewer, first throwing violent scenes all involving helpless victims at the unsuspecting moviegoer, then later turning Alex himself into the helpless victim. As the film progresses, Kubrick continues to challenge any conclusions one may come to: viewers appalled at the behavior modification techniques used to "cure" Alex can conclude the solution is as awful as the crime. If you agree Alex should be reformed at any cost, then at the film's end, one of its many jokes is played on you. I heard rave reviews of the film after it came out in the early 70's, but didn't see it until 15 years later. After having wanted to see it for so long, I was disturbed at first by the repulsive violence and let down at my own dismay about the film. It wasn't until I taped it, and viewed it over and over, that I understood and experienced what Kubrick was intending. Repeated viewings also gave me a chance to appreciate each element of Kubrick's impeccable and always entertaining filmmaking. Anyone who is reacting mostly to the film's violence, either disgusted by it or unimpressed because it doesn't match the realism or intensity of violence on film today, hasn't really gotten it yet. Try watching again.
From the Master!, 13 April 1999
Author: Tom-275 from Norfolk, VA
Only Kubrick could have pulled this movie off. Others have tried similar films; "Natural Born Killers" leaps to mind, and it wasn't all bad, but Stone is the apprentice compared to Kubrick. I realize that some people will automatically turn away from this film due to its violent content. I've never understood why people are so squeamish about seeing play-pretend violence being acted out (excuse me, its not real!) but to each his own. If you're one of those people, well, you've missed out on one of the best films ever made. Kubrick's ability to etch both images and sounds into the viewers mind is probably without comparison. While some fans of the Burgess novel may have been upset at some of the liberties taken, (just like Stephen King fans were with "The Shining"), you can't dispute the product is outstanding.
A+, 9 April 1999
Author: Noah Dorsey (nd_4@hotmail.com)
One of my top ten favorite movies. If you like this, you should see Vinyl. Vinyl was also based on the novel, but was made in 1965.
A Good Film, 6 April 1999
Author: Chet!
Reading some of the comments made by other users of the film, it is clear that very few have read Anthony Burgess's original novel, on which the film was based. I would advise anyone who enjoyed the film to read the book as it is brilliantly executed. Anyway, although I'm not one of those "books are better than films" brigade, I feel there are some points which need to be stressed. Many people give all the credit for this film to the late Stanley Kubrick. However, at least 70% of the film is Burgesses creation. Kubrick's visual genius was an integral part of this movie, for example, the Droogs costumes are of his specification, not Burgess's, as was his modification of the storyline, the hilarious scene where Alex describes what he sees on the cards to the immensely patronising woman was completely different in the book. Despite this, Burgess devised the entire plot, and the Russian based teen language "Nadsat". All I'm saying is that perhaps Kubrick has been given too much credit for Burgess's masterpiece.
Kubrick didn't ask to be overrated did he?, 6 April 1999
Author: martelli from hemel, england
Oh dear, oh deary,deary me.... Ageing like a vintage Lambrusco Bianco, this turgid offering doesn't even have the decency to come in after 90 minutes. 1970's future-world-views can often be embarrassing (Rollerball anybody?) and this beauty truly flies the flag of naff. A stab at getting political in the later stages is as sad as seeing the Mighty Darth sitting in his y-fronts (yes, it really happens). Over-rated doesn't even touch it. That reminds me, I must see Thin Red Line again.....
Enter Stanley Kubrick's world, and never return!, 31 March 1999
Author: Baphomet-3 from Dublin, Ireland
Only Stanley Kubrick could translate the brilliant and highly relevant "A clockwork orange" to film, and of all his films, I will remember him most from this. Violent, controversial and problematic, "A clockwork orange" concerns the issue of moral choice. The film centers around Alex, the narrator and main character, who lives as a full time thug in a bleak future world, spoiled by political corruption and decadence. He and his "droogs" (he and his companions speak in a form of slang) while away each evening thrill-seeking, raping, stealing and assaulting, until... Well, unfortunately for the benefit of those who have not seen "A clockwork orange", I can't reveal any more... Well, Malcolm McDowell is Excellent, Walter Carlos' music direction is excellent, and Stanley Kubrick... Well, let's just say: Why are people cloning sheep? Clone Stanley Kubrick! Cinema needs him now more than ever! Rest in peace, brother.
Look at this movie my fellow droogs!, 30 March 1999
Author: Haplo-4 from Västerås, Sweden
This is a piece of art, and it will be one of the all time classics that folk will remember long in the future. McDowell is perfect as the "gentleman" murderer, robber and drug-user. When this movie came it was really controversial, perhaps not for the nudity displayed, but for the well directed violence - but all that just adds to it's glory. The one sad thing about it was that gangs in England and USA started using the language used and by that put coal under the movie-violence question. I think that this is the second best movie made by Kubrik - "Full Metal Jacket" being number one. There is an other thing about this movie I'd like to point out and that is the music that is used. For the most part it is classics like Beethoven and Mozart which really added to the sensation and without it the movie would be just half as good.
A Gen-X Fairytale, several decades early, 28 March 1999
Author: JonB-2 from Los Angeles, CA
Oh, my droogies, a horrorshow peek at the old ultraviolence to which our humble near future is heir...
Once again, Kubrick took a novel and adapted it with utter faith to the screen, while simultaneously creating a visual style that was utterly unique. On top of it all, he gives us the character of Alex -- thug, rapist, delinquent, unrepentent little s**t -- and makes us like him, even as he attacks, injures, rapes and kills...
This film (and the novel), you see, really isn't about Alex and his Droogies. It's about us -- our attitudes toward crime and punishment, and our weird ambivalence and denial. We love to claim to want to see justice done, but never make us admit that all we really want is revenge. We can't admit that -- it would just make us the same as the criminals. However, the "Ludovicko technique" seen in the film, the Pavlovian reprogramming of criminals, really would be the ultimate solution to crime. Turning the violent into little clockwork oranges -- objects that look organic on the outside but are mechanical on the inside -- would solve a lot of problems. However, it's a concept that'll never fly. Not because it's cruel to the criminals, altough lipservice is paid to that idea. No -- it's because it denies society the opportunity to smack the doo-doo out of the nasty little thugs. But, see the comments on hypocrisy, above...
And all of this is in the movie implicitly, never explicit. (The high point: when Alex encounters his former gang mates, now "reformed," working as policemen -- and behaving exactly the same as before.)
The formula of crime and punishment is really a perpetuating loop, not a one-way track, but the punishers can never admit to their own criminal behavior. This equation is hiding in the structure of the film, which is a classic fairy tale -- hero journeys outward and passes three obstacles (or gate keepers or trolls or whatever), then journeys back in a diminished state, and encounters the same three whatevers for some instant karma. The concept was the genius of Anthony Burgess, but the faithful execution (pardon the expression) was pure Kubrick...
Final notes: the film is funny, stuffed with little in-jokes (keep your eyes open in the record store for some self-references, as well as a collection of names that actually became bands later) and the use of music and wide-angle lenses has no equal in cinema. The opening shot is one of the more memorable images in film, the closing shot is a subtle "up yours" to Ken Russell, and everything in between will stick with you forever...
The book is better, 28 March 1999
Author: Austin Bussey (bnitsua)
I originally saw A Clockwork Orange, being a fan of Stanley Kubrick. After seeing it, I read the book, which makes the film disappointing. The film making of the movie was great, as all Kubrick films are and Malcolm McDowell was good as Alex, but the movie lacks a lot that the book had. I doubt even if it had all of the things the book did, it would still have been as great as the book was. I would say A Clockwork Orange is a book that was not meant for film and should be recognized as a great book, if anything.
A missunderstood movie and an equally misunderstood man, 27 March 1999
Author: Matt Meehan (meehan1@home.com) from Baltimore, Maryland
This movie is not intended to congratulate criminals, or encourage violent crimes in anyway. It's intent was to show that we have to make our decisions ourself, no other human-being can. The main reason why it is misunderstood is because it excludes the 21st chapter that is in the book. This chapter tells of Alex's redemption, and his need to settle down. Alex wrong. Plain and simple, Anthony Burgess would never condone rape, for his wife was raped. But Alex realizes this at the end when he can think for himself and a "treatment", as it were, was not thinking for him. In other words, if you had a disability would you want someone taking care of you constantly, always making a fuss. No it's disconcerting, as humans we want to learn for ourself and be self-sufficient. That's what this is about. Alex got his punishment in jail, and out of jail, but in the end the human brain prevailed and he recognized the err of his ways. I strongly suggest to anyone confused after the movie to go read the book. This will help you to understand the reasoning of it being taken from Alex's perspective. In closing I would like give my condolences to Christiane Kubrick on the loss of her husband. He was a genius and his legacy is left in films like this one. And to Stanley, wherever you are, Good luck, God-speed, and Good bye. You will be missed.
As close to perfection as possible, 20 March 1999
Author: gamer from Berkeley, CA, USA
I first saw this masterpiece when I was 13, just 2 years ago. I had heard from numerous sources that it was one of the greatest films of all time, and decided to see for myself.
Right from the opening screen, with the genius music and bold use of color, I knew I'd found a great film. I have seen it dozens of times now, it remaining one of my all-time favorites. The people who say that it is too violent, too graphic, and too disturbing need to look past that, to see a truly elegant piece on human nature.
Above all, the soundtrack is what really makes this film shine. I am a big fan of classical music, and Kubrick really knew how to make mood music a powerful force in a film. From the slow-motion, no-sound scene with Rossini in the background to the frantic one-shot sex scenes with the William Tell Overture to the gang fight to Beethoven throughout the whole wondrous thing, the music is the true outlet of feeling. This film will never get old. And I'll never get tired of it.
Runs Like Clockwork, 16 March 1999
Author: Jeremy Phillips (avenger_fan@hotmail.com) from London, UK
A Clockwork Orange has achieved something of a reputation since it was first released 27 years ago. It was withdrawn shortly after its first screening in the UK amid reports that gangs were copying the violence featured in the film, and to this day it is still unofficially banned in this country. Possessing a copy alone is a criminal offence. This is a great shame, because it really is superb film.
It tells the story of Alex, the leader of vicious street gang the Droogs. His idea of a good time is a bit of `the old ultra-violence' accompanied by Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. When he kills a woman whilst attempting to rape her, his gang deserts him and he is prosecuted for murder. Faced with the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison, he jumps at the chance to be a test subject for a new method of rehabilitation which could see him a free man in days. But at what cost?
Although it was very violent for its day (1971), A Clockwork Orange is not nearly as disturbing or explicit as Crash or Natural Born Killers, often because here the music is incongruous enough to make the scene more surreal. For example, a man is kicked to within an inch of his life as Alex sings `Singin' In The Rain'. The point of the film is highly subversive, that the government is even more brutal than Alex himself, but this was lost on many people who could not see past the adult content of the film in the first place. It is a brilliantly produced piece of work, with the design particularly outstanding: the fact that the concrete and rural locations are not dressed at all to match the sterile futurism of the sets e.g. the Korova milk-bar, with its total lack of colour.
This is, in short, an outstanding film, far outstripping Kubrick's other alleged `masterpieces', like the totally unfunny Dr. Strangelove or the exercise in utter tediousness that is The Shining. Now that this genius of the silver screen has passed on leaving Eyes Wide Shut as his legacy to critics and fans alike, it seems that his incandescent brilliance in this film will never be contested. Let us hope that Warner Bros. do the decent thing and ignore those narrow-minded idiots who cannot understand it by fulfilling Kubrick's wishes, and finally giving the film the British release it so richly deserves.
Oddly Cool, 15 March 1999
Author: HtThHtr from Alma, Arkansas
This movie is, by far, one of the best I've ever seen. You never REALLY know what's going to happen because if has no REAL plot, they just take you places and somehow make a great movie out of it. The scene where he's in the hospital and talking to the therapist is CLASSIC! And the part where the minister is feeding Alex is equally as funny.
Kubrick's Vision of the Future, 8 March 1999
Author: 2nd City from Chester, VA
Kubrick's vision of the future of society was as stunning in i's accuracy as it was in its irony. He was able to foresee the time when the criminals were excused for their crime since they were products of poverty or disfunctional families or an uncaring society or any other excuse that would gain sympathy. The populace would try to protect itself, in this case with a bodyguard, instead of try to discover and eliminate the root causes of crime. Then, just as we are becoming comfortable with the punishment of one of society's worst components, the roles are reversed and the criminal becomes the victim set upon by a vicious, malevolent law enforcement and correctional system. (Anyone remember a recent murder trial?)
This film is one which needs to be viewed over and over to peal off layers like an onion. After the shock value is relieved, from an initial or second viewing, additional understanding of Kubrick's precis can be obtained.
This is Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, 8 March 1999
Author: Joe Bauer (ebauer@neo.lrun.com) from Canton, Ohio
The news of Stanley Kubricks death was just announced yesterday and Eyes Wide Shut will be his last film, most likely one of the main films he'll be remembered by. But films such as Spartacus, 2001, and The Shining are the ones people should remember him for. And A Clockwork Orange should be the film that always remains his masterpiece. The film is still disturbing for today's society, over 25 years after it was released it still has the impact most films can't let out as well as Kubrick did here. The direction is incredible, the acting is great, and the screenplay is wonderful. This is one of my favorite films of all time and I hope most people remember him for his older works, even though I'm sure Eyes Wide Shut will be very good, nothing can come close to this. One of the only films that you can label as being perfect.
I had more courage seeing this movie when I was 16 than now at 43., 7 March 1999
Author: Beryl D. Robinson from New York, New York
I remember in 1971, when I was 16, my boyfriend took me to see this movie. I laughed through most of it, not seeing the violence, just dealing with the obnoxiousness of Alex. It was so weird and cleverly masked with beautiful classical music, I ignored the violence. I sort of cheered when Alex's friend's gave him is "just desserts" by kicking his ass after he had done the same to them in the past. The end of the movie showed what I've always believed: "No one gets away with anything, if they do something with malicious intent".
Now at 43, I have to see it again, come back to IMDB and do another review. I will tell you right now: I will not see this movie at night. I don't think my nerves can deal with violence so frivolously as I did back in time. Remember, gang violence, teenage violence was a great minimum in the 70's. The Love Generation was still around and we did not think of anything but "loving our brother and sister". So Clockwork Orange was an unbelievable story for the 70's. Now look where we are at in the 90's: A Clockwork Orange.
See you later with Part II of my adult review of "A Clockwork Orange".
Kubrick's Best Movie !!!, 24 February 1999
Author: Lívio Carlos Maynard (liviomaynard@uol.com.br)
This is one of the most original movies ever... A complete example of Kubrick's genius, an inspirated moment of the greatest genius of movie history. A reflection and a satyr of a futuristic society, showing the adventures of Alex, a Ultra-Violent young man, that feels the bitter taste of vengeance. If you already watched it, do it again... O, My Brother and only Friend. If you haven't... waste no time !
A masterpiece, 21 February 1999
Author: vladvosb from England
Stunning filmography and brilliant acting (especially from Malcolm McDowell) make this movie an all time classic. I would definitely recommend you watch this film - unfortunately the director won't release it in the UK...
One of my favorite films, 17 February 1999
Author: Melly-2 from Kassel, Germany
I've read only two novels which scared me a lot. The first was "1984" and the second "A Clockwork Orange". But while the two movie versions of "1984" lack a little, "A Clockwork Orange" is a true masterpiece. How can I compare these two movies? Both films deals with controlling human beings and both heroes were victims of a higher power. I would even say "A Clockwork Orange" scares me more than "1984".
masterpiece, 14 February 1999
Author: nineinch from Canada
all people who find this movie disturbing are just squeamish.it's a true masterpiece by the best Stanley's Kubrick. The movie runs about 2h30 so don't tell it's disturbing! the only scene could be disturbing it's the rape scene but this took 5 minutes? the movie it's about 2h30 so ..if you like drama and psychologic movies rent this one! it is definitely very interesting.you must like Alex!
Unquestionable, 5 February 1999
Author: TLHarlot from Ventura
The best. Malcolm MacDowell is the best. Stanley Kubrick is the best. The score, the effects, the layout, all the best. Anyone bearing bad will for this acknowledgedly stellar film should watch it with their eyelids taped back until they see the truth in the film. It's beautiful, and Kubrick is a perennial creator of beauty. Comparable only to other Kubrick works.
A modern day masterpiece which leaves you with disturbing after-thoughts. Kubrick is the master !, 5 February 1999
Author: Andy Hillberg (sideshowpunk@hotmail.com) from Bristol, England
Well first of all, I felt that it was completely blown out of all proportion in regard to how violent it was. For many years all I have ever heard about this film was how bad it was and how much it could warp your soul, this opinion was given to me from both people in general and from the media. Some people just don't have a clue, I wish they could look at a film for its quality not simply the images put forward onto the screen. I have seen a hell of a lot worse, and why it is still banned over here in England I don't know.
I agree that it was a little disturbing, well what Kubrick films aren't. But in its day it was a landmark film that broke all of the rules, and quite honestly I like to see films like that, at least you can guarantee originality.
Like very few films it leaves you thinking about the film for up to a couple of days afterwards, not many films can pull that off.
As a very big fan of Kubrick, British films and the controversial cinema, you can only imagine how much I was hooked to it from start to finish. And after finishing watching it, A Clockwork Orange automatically became one of my most favourite films of all time, and I have seen one hell of a lot of films.
If you haven't yet seen this film I strongly urge you to see it and to come up with you own conclusion, like I did and how the director wants you to.
Disturbing, 3 February 1999
Author: Jeff (spoonjef@aol.com) from L.A. CA
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most disturbing, yet interesting pieces of film ever to come out of the mind of Stanley Kubrick. Here he shows us a society that is overrun with street punks, and they pretty much rule the night. As we go along with Alex and his Droogs on their nightly missions that include rape, gang fights, home invasion and car stealing we are repelled by the violence and horror that these men cause, but at the same time we are pulled in by the charm that Alex seems to generate. When he is caught and sent to prison, we sympathize with him. Then when his free will is taken away, we sympathize with him even more. Very strange considering this was a man who liked rape and violence. Kubrick's main theme in the movie is free will. Once free will is taken away, you are no longer a man. When Alex regains his free will at the end, we revel in his victory. What an image to show the return of Alex's free will. Him and a naked woman writhing around in a tub while people dressed in early 19th century clap and the end of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony plays. If nothing else, Kubrick sure knows how to pick images.
Am I sick for liking this film?, 3 February 1999
Author: Kris Earle from Boston, MA
A number of people hail 2001 as the best Kubrick movie, but this one is my favorite. It's sick, twisted, bizarre but also highly original, entertaining and brilliant. The whole deal is you hate Alex, then you like him (or sympathize with him if "like" is too risky a term), then you should hate him again, but you really can't. All the characters are quirky and unique. There are some harsh scenes that are incredibly violent, but as the doctor states "violence is a horrible thing.... & for it to make you sick means you're getting better;" Keep an open mind and check it out - there are a hell of a lot of funny scenes --- and don't feel awful for liking this flick - it's really rather good. 10 for 10.
"Eggiweggs - I'd like to SMASH-EM!"
Good book, good movie, 1 February 1999
Author: JudyBlue
Stanley Kubrick has made a career out of doing novel-based movies that are later disavowed by their authors. His repertoire includes 'Lolita', 'The Shining', and Anthony Burgess' 'A clockwork orange'. As a catholic, Burgess could not accept the fact that this film is the clean adaption of what he himself wrote. That between his sugarcoated words he had hidden images of very brutal violence and terror. Still, for those of us who aren't inhibited by religion, this film sports the same weighty blow as the novel. It seamlessly transfers Burgess' experimental use of language to the big screen, and actor Malcolm McDowell is incredible as Alex, combining his hideously evil grin with the adolescent need for fun. Lovers of the novel will not be disappointed by Kubrick's adaption, as it goes just as far in the search for free will as Burgess did, and as it keeps the nuances that made the book so fantastic in the first place.
Liberal pap, 28 January 1999
Author: Daniel L. Newhouse from Urbana, Illinois
Liberal pap obviously written by someone more concerned with the rights of criminals than their victims. The extreme violence would be fine if this movie accomplished something with it - but this movie is simply obscene and uninteresting.
The Scariest Movie I Have Ever Seen, 27 January 1999
Author: Mia Wall from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
A Clockwork Orange is one of the strangest movies I have seen in my entire life. I was shocked, freaked-out, scared and excited all at the same time. It traumatized me! To this day I still don't know what to make of it, but I know that it is one of the best movies ever made. It's amazing! Malcolm MacDowell's performance is a gift and Stanley Kubrick's directing is pure genius. The cast, the setting, the dialogue, they're all perfect. You HAVE to see this film!
A 20 year old movie that still strikes true. Nearly perfect., 26 January 1999
Author: Mark Severin (meseverin@worldnet.att.net) from www.deepfriedhappymice.com
Perhaps the most famous set of false eyelashes in film history. Stanley Kubrick's blackest of comedies, he had the good sense to omit the last chapter of Anthony Burgess' book, leaving the edge on Burgess' savage attack on modern society.
Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is the leader of a small gang of hoodlums who repeatedly rob, rape, and steal their way across an unnamed and futuristic state. When a robbery culminates in murder, Alex's gang betray him to the police. He is found guilty, and sent to prison. There he volunteers for a mind-washing program in order to be released. Once released he is set upon by his former mates and victims. But the mind-washing has rendered him not just pliable, but helpless.
Filled with beautiful set-piece scenes, the violence of the film, while not terribly explicit by today's standards, is still shocking. The soundtrack by Walter (later Wendy) Carlos is especially effective at making the violence especially repugnant. Part what drives this reaction is that Alex, while a thoroughly corrupt person, becomes even more repugnant once deprived of his own will. His love of Beethoven is crushed and the one redeeming facet of this thoroughly unlikable person is removed.
But the film also succeeds in getting us to root for Alex. Better a willful evil than a slavish good. In the end we cheer his minor triumph. Free will exposes us to evil, but lack of it is not worth the price.
Most original and well put-together films I've seen., 26 January 1999
Author: Carnegie from Phoenix, Arizona
The reason I am such a fan of this film is simply that it has everything I and many other people enjoy in a film. It contains a more than satisfying amount of violence (The fight scene in the old theatre rocked), the story line was more than engaging, the acting was superb (How about McDowell's improv skills with the "Singin' in the Rain" rape scene), and the dialogue added a lot to the movie as well. It may be a bit hard to follow for first-timers, but I feel it simply forces you to focus on the characters and there dilemmas (one of the best parts of the finished product). I agree that this film may not be for everyone, but those who like it will have no choice but to love it.
By Far, 25 January 1999
Author: George H from New York
This movie is by far one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces. Every viewing reveals layers that were not present with first viewing. Whether it is the choreography or the camera movement, it all blends into magnificence.
Prophetic, challenging and a pleasure to the eye, 24 January 1999
Author: robert from Stonet Creek, Ontario, Canada
Clockwork Orange is a prime example of why Kubrick is considered one of the best directors ever (my own personal favourite). Having said this, it's definitely not for everyone. Although not terribly graphic by today's standards, it has a psychological potency matched by few films since. There is also a rather prophetic feel to it in its view of future (now present) gang violence that some may find a little too close to the mark to be comfortable with.
Like most Kubrick films, CWO is an intellectually challenging film that leaves the audience feeling a sense of puzzlement as to the meaning of many of its elements. If you only enjoy movies that play down to your level, you will not enjoy it. However, if you like to be challenged to reach upward a little and struggle a bit, even long after the closing credits, you will find it a treat.
Artistically, it has a great deal of that Kubrick style that leaves the viewer with the same feeling that you get after listening to a great piece of music or studying a fine painting. No one does it like Stanley.
This was a great movie even if it was hard to watch sometimes, 19 January 1999
Author: anonymous
THis is a story of a boy named Alex who is a "droog" in a gang. Every night they go out for "a bit of the old ultra-violence" and rape. One night Alex kills a cat woman with a sculpure and when he is escaping from the police his droogs attack him with a bottle of milk and he is left lying on the ground bleeding for the police to arrest him. When he is sent to jail he signs up for the experiment to shorten his jail sentence. This will make him sick at the feeling of rape or violence. They show him videos of rape and violence and hold his eyes open. They play Beethoven's 9th symphony which also makes him sick when he hears that. He is released from jail but that's when the real trouble starts!!!
one of my all time favorites, 17 January 1999
Author: Jay Lewis from Memphis, TN
This is a movie that makes you really stop and think. It is true that it is a good movie in itself, but there is also a philosophical element in this movie. It's about choices and free will and existentialism. Does man have the right to take away another man's free will? If man ceases to have free will, does he cease to be a man? Then he is merely a clockwork orange, pleasing to the eye (orange), and yet perfect, a puppet of god or the devil that is as predictable as clockwork. This movie has the potential to change your way of thinking. "A Clockwork Orange" and perhaps "The Truman Show" are the greatest movies ever made if one judges on the basis of how deep the movie is. This is one of only two or three movies that I would give a ten out of ten.
The best movie ever made, 15 January 1999
Author: Lennart Bakker (lance@zap.a2000.nl) from Amsterdam, Holland
This one is so good. I really love it. The opening scene got me immediately, then I thought this one is gonna be good. The music in the movie is so brilliant. The ninth symphony, second movement will never be the same again. It always reminds me offthe wonderful bedroom of Alex. The statue of Jesus Christ, the views on the bed, the mirrors, everything. Those mirrors were the reason why I now got mirrors on my closet myself. I read one comment about the language, that is Russian, and I think that is a public secret. The message of the movie is very appealing to me, being a future psych. But the terrific dialogues, the terrific story, the scenario Kubrick made out of the book, (thereby leaving the last chapter away, think that is good), really really make this movie more than worth seeing.
Naughty,naughty,naughty..., 15 January 1999
Author: Raven (lunastar81@aol.com) from NY
One of the greatest films of all time. Malcolm McDowell is THE MAN in this film. He's portrayed in this film as a psychotic degenerate, and yet we all wind up feeling sorry for him midway through the film.Why? Because he gives one of the greatest performances by any actor ever in this film, that's why. We all fall in love with the charismatic, cunning, Beethoven-obsessed sex fiend. A young man we'd all love to bring home to mother.
Una patada en los yarboclos!, 7 January 1999
Author: Raul Fuentes from Guadalajara
A Clockwork Orange, another Kubrick Masterpiece, is the history of Alex, the young ultra-violent guy who is going to learn that life is not that simple and pretty as he thinks. Every move he makes, every thing he does, everything is going to rerurn for Alex in the wrong way.
This may be an educational, sci-fi, dramatic, comic, powerful film. The film has all we can expect for an excellent picture. Great direction, great actors, great photography, great storyline.
It was filmed 28 years ago, but, hey! this film is one of those that time doesn't make the difference.
Vidy this and vidy well.....
Real horror-show!, 27 December 1998
Author: TeaBunny from NYC, USA
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES EVER. Mesmerizing, poetic, brilliant. A classic.
Don't Believe your Friends, 24 December 1998
Author: Tony Smith (catfisherman@hotmail.com) from Goldsboro, North Carolina, USA
I watched "A Clockwork Orange" for the first time an all I can say is "brilliant"! I had some friends that told me this movie was stupid and pointless, so I had to see it for myself. To me, the movie was a commentary on retribution. Alex angered his gang with his condescending, arrogant attitude. They in turn, got him sent to prison to suffer (retribution for being a jerk). The people in prison wanted him to suffer through the "experiment" (retribution for his crimes). When he got out, all of the people he had wronged wanted their revenge. All in all, I thought it to be an excellent film and one worth watching (If you can handle the violence and nudity).
I think it was an amazing movie into the minds of adolescents, 21 December 1998
Author: core Hersc from Thornhill Ontario
I think it was a great movie , It showed an understanding about what goes through the minds of some adolescents, Stanley Kubrick , and Malcolm Macdowal did an excellent job displaying it.
Read the book, oh my brothers!, 5 December 1998
Author: anonymous from Mexico
Amazing movie, great screenplay, so real ultra-violence you will be inside the screen. Kubrick captured the essence of Anthony's novel but missed the last chapter. Alex was cured all right and got new droogs to hang out with, but soon he matures and becomes sucked by society just as his old droogie Georgie boy. So read the book you movie lovers and find an even greater satisfaction than that left by Kubrick's masterpiece.
Oscar snubbed!!!, 3 December 1998
Author: Dave Martin from Kansas
The French Connection was certainly a great movie, a cinemtaic experience and certainly worthy of an Academy Award for Best Picture. However, how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can leave this movie off the list of nominees is an insult to filmmaking. The reason I can fathom is that most of Hollywood was too shocked by the movie's graphic scenes to be entertained. All the same, it is utterly wrong and a pathetic snub. This movie is, in my opinion, the greatest movie that did not win Best Picture.
Crash course, 29 November 1998
Author: Varlaam from Toronto, Canada
Hey, droogs, when you're trying to wrap your yahzick around bolshy great words like "malenky" and "malchick" without spilling too much red, red kroovy from a burst blood vessel, guess what, that's Russian you're speaking. Just when you were enjoying all that ultraviolence, real horrorshow, and the old in-out, you were really hitting the books. Subversive, isn't it?
The current Penguin edition of Anthony Burgess's novel now makes it clear that your humble narrator's arresting way of speaking is actually Russian (right down to "horrorshow"), but in olden times you had to figure that out for yourself, assuming that you ever did.
"Clockwork" may well be a director's Meisterwerk, a stylistic pièce de résistance, but it is at least partially a succès de scandale. I still feel that Kubrick was irresponsible not to include the final chapter of Burgess's novel. Perhaps the film would not still be banned in the Mother Country if he had. It may well have required someone of Kubrick's ingenuity to handle the abrupt change in mood at that point -- assuming that he had shot the ending straight without putting his own ironic twist on it, which is doubtful. And of course this paragraph is predicated on a fairly literal reading of Burgess, but Burgess edited Joyce, so perhaps Burgess should never be taken at face value either.
For all its brilliance, the film needs to be taken cum grano salis. Investigate the book, and draw your own conclusions. (You will even find the explanation for the film's title there.)
Afterthought, since reviewing the other comments: When I first saw this film 20 years or so ago, it was unspeakably violent and physically repellent to watch. This was before the modern wave of crime and horror films. "Bonnie and Clyde" and "The Wild Bunch" may have opened the floodgates for cinematic violence, but "A Clockwork Orange" was in an entire other class. It disturbs me that I can now watch this film without revulsion, and that's not due to overexposure to the film itself which I've only seen a couple of times, but rather to mass culture as a whole.
Excellent movie, despite the debauchery, 20 November 1998
Author: Hayden Nebus (pimpydaddy@hotmail.com) from New Jersey, USA
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most ingenious movies I have ever seen. All the violence and nudity and rape isn't senseless, it is there to emphasise the point of the movie. I would have to say that A Clockwork Orange is one of the few movies that lives up to the book. Stanley Kubrick really captured the essence of Alex, the main character, with his choice of cheerful, happy music. In using the music he captured the joy that Alex was getting from his ultraviolence. To quote the book, "I lay on the bed and cried'ahaahh' with the bliss of it. To enjoy this movie you must look past the debauchery and see the message of the story.
A film before its time..., 16 November 1998
Author: kris11 from West Lafayette, IN
This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Not only does it have an ingenious plot, outrageous props, and some of the best acting by unknown actors, it is very tastefully done. Stanley Kubrick is a master of direction and he does wonders with this film. The costumes and music add much to this twisted story of the brainwashing of a monster. Everything about this movie is ingenious and unforgettable. I own a copy of it and continuously watch it. It is just that entertaining!
This movie does contain some graphic and highly disturbing scenes, so watch with caution...
... a hugely original and stylish film that is compelling and very shocking., 5 November 1998
Author: anonymous from Nottingham
A Clockwork Orange is a powerful and disturbing film that never seems to even attempt to condemn the violence it shows. It is extremely stylish in its look and sound with outrageous costumes and sets and a sinister electronic soundtrack often based on works of Beethoven. Malcolm MacDowell gives an extraordinary performance as Alex, the film's protagonist. For the first half of the film Alex is cold and unfeeling but once he has been imprisoned and given a shocking new conditioning therapy, he becomes a sympathetic character, someone whose life has been destroyed by a cruel justice system. The scene in which Alex goes back to his home after his release and is thrown out by his parents is actually quite moving as you really feel for the character however cruel and heartless he has been earlier in the film. The scene in which Alex is actually given the conditioning therapy and forced to watch scenes of extreme violence is one of the most terrifying and disturbing scenes ever made. Kubrick injects A Clockwork Orange with moments of very dark humour throughout. This adds to the shocking nature of the violence as most scenes of violence are actually played for laughs, however sick they are. The only bad thing about Kubrick's film is that he changes the ending from the original one in Anthony Burgess' novel. The original gives the message that the only thing that will reform a criminal is if he wants to change himself. Kubrick seems to be saying that someone like Alex cannot change at all and the evil inside him is always there. Overall,a hugely original and stylish film that is compelling and very shocking. A Clockwork Orange will not be to everyone's taste but watch it with an open mind and you will see what is possibly one of the best films of the last 30 years.
Can you guess where I got my name?, 28 October 1998
Author: clokwork from Iowa State University
Twisted, obscenely violent movie based on a great book. About as disturbing as a movie can get. If the "Singing in the Rain" scene doesn't make you want to vomit, you are severely disturbed. Lots of original camera and lighting tricks, cool electronic score of Beethoven music. Look for references to Kubric's other films.
It's hard to make a film better that this, 23 October 1998
Author: JerBear-2 from Ouachita National Forest
It's a look into the future with just a twist on the attitudes of the present, a hard twist. There's no far out futuristic and improbable new world, just the same one we have today with new drugs, but the same problems. The amazing creation here is not a dazzling vision of the future, but the insight into a mind that has moved light-years from what we consider socially acceptable and is at the same time likeable and sympathetic, regardless of his visciousness and lack of a conscience. He's not even aware that such a thing exists, let alone how it could possibly benefit him to have one. The moral question posed here, however, is how far can society stretch its morals in order to impose bureaucratic enforced standards on the masses. The characters are well rounded and there are some truly memorable scenes. I can still speak much of Alex's pseudo Russian-English dialect even after 27 years. Now that's a movie that has an effect on you. I recommend that all you starry-eyed vetches viddy the book.
Too complex for the average viewer to appreciate it, 22 October 1998
Author: cukiman
I previously thought that the greatest movie of all times was "Braveheart", how wrong I was. I had seen "Clockwork" before, but I didn't quite understand it, as I was too young to get the point. The movie consists of two halves, the first part is the bizarre, disturbing, ultra-violent, sexual and complex part of a routine day in Alex DeLarge's life. This part is really hard to understand, it is very complex, it has elements like the 5 Jesuses hugged and dancing. This shot alone is enough to write a thesis about it. Then the second part is really what the movie is about, but people seem to remember better the first part and this part is the one that has made this movie an all-time cult classic. The music chosen for the movie is also perfect, I couldn't picture the movie with another song. The casting is perfect, Alex couldn't have been played better than by Malcolm McDowell, with his funny-evil expressions, that give a double meaning to every scene. The best thing of this movie is the story itself, teaching us that we have a choice (this is what the bible is all about), whether to be violent or not, so then they show us what would happen if we weren't violent and Kubrick somehow lets us see that this is not the answer, that we need violence as a choice, really makes you think. But I think this movie isn't pro-violence because it shows you that if you are violent you will eventually get caught or get some kind of payback, so I would define it as pro-choice. When you see this movie you do not get a Hollywood, commercial movie, you get a piece of art, and movie-making today is lacking this. What people call weird I say it's art and that's why this is without a doubt the greatest picture of all time. All of those "Traispotting" fans MUST see this movie, because I think that its based on "A Clockwork Orange". Amen.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, 8 October 1998
Author: biff johnsson (elgato@ameritech.net) from chicago, illinois
THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE. PERIOD. BOTTOM LINE.
Alex and his Ludwig Van, 3 October 1998
Author: kubrik#2 from San Antonio, Tx
I think it's sad how people turn this off after Alex's "Karaoke" to 'singing in the rain'. If people would watch the end the complaints wouldn't be nearly as high as they are. It's a masterpiece
A surreal journey into a nightmarish future, 30 September 1998
Author: Immy
Undoubtedly one of the best films of the 70's. Set in the closer-than-you-think future "Clockwork" tells the brooding and sometimes brutal story of Alex (a tour- de-force by Malcolm McDowell) the ring leader of a group of thugs who think nothing of wreaking havoc for the sheer heck of it. The story takes a drastic turn when Alex is set up by his cohorts to take the rap for what would have been their biggest haul. Once incarcerated, he submits to an experimental form of rehabilitation that changes his behavior to that of a model citizen--or does it? Transcending conventional sci-fi, "ACO" comes off more as a commentary on the slow decay of "civilized" society (the moral subtexts are too numerous to mention), with many unforgettable images. To fully appreciate the film's message, you should watch it more than once, if only to comprehend the futuristic lingo of Alex and hs "droogs." Add a wonderful score featuring the likes of Beethoven and and you get a classic film in more ways than one.
WOW!, 15 September 1998
Author: Andrew van Buuren (andrewvb@camtech.net.au) from Adelaide, Australia
After hearing about this movie for years I finally saw it, and all I can say is WOW! What a statement this movie makes about the human mind and the human spirit. How could anyone ever think they could tackle this issue in a few hours of reel time. How could anyone actually achieve this? I am amazed. It makes you think!
A triumph in artistic vision and poetic meaning, 5 September 1998
Author: S.Kaiju from California
I'm still very young in my film career, but as far as it stands now, A Clockwork Orange is the best example to me of what a live action film can accomplish. It sets standards that haven't been touched ever since. The film establishes a rhythmic style carried through the whole film. The director is as the top of his form, Stanley Kubrick, the only live action director I call a genius anymore. In wake of most people not understanding the complexity of its art, I'm still after over a dozen viewings in awe of his achievement (and Burgesse's...I'm a huge fan of the novel as well.) We have entertainment, beauty, direction, music, choreography, acting, writing , ideas, and all together art working in unison throughout this incredibly fast paced two hour movie. I lost faith in Hollywood for the most part. There is a very small margin of art being produced (or having been produced for that matter) but A Clockwork Orange (and the philosophical-poetic virtuoso 2001) reaffirms that watching the movies is worth sifting through all this popcorn trash and finding life affirming beauty and art. Let us rejoice in the glory that is A Clockwork Orange bellowing in the face of all that is tyrannical, commercial, exploitative, dumb, pretentious, meaningless waste. Amen, good night.
my all-time favourite film, 5 August 1998
Author: Trafford from adelaide, australia
I absolutely loved this film. Kubrick's use of colour impressed me the most, and his innovation used in the slow-mo and 'fast-mo' scenes. the acting is superb and the conversion from book to screenplay is quite loyal while being drastic in parts with the changes. also the music accomponying all the scenes works beautifully. what can i say? it is my all-time favourite film.
The art of killing, 2 August 1998
Author: Raptor-6 from Canada
From what I heard of this film it was going to be very violent. I found that it wasn't as violent as people claimed it to be. Maybe I didn't find it as violent because I've seen so many violent movies. One thing I found different was that this movie showed killing as an art. It also had nice little musical numbers like Alex singing "singing in the rain". Another thing a found neat in this movie were the words Alex and his friends used giving you a bit more reason to pay closer attention to what they say in this. There are still some words I don't know the meaning of . He used odd words like Guliver and Yarbles. Anyway I can see why this won a few Acadamy awards. Also I found that Malcom gave a very convincing performance of getting physically sick when he was exposed to anything that is considered wrong.
my favorite movie, 30 July 1998
Author: Kramer36 from California
Talk about a cinematic experience!! Stanley "the genius" Kubrick took advantage of every directorial technique available. The dialogue, the outstanding performance by Malcom McDowell, the music, the sets and cinematography, and the story development are all top-notch. This movie should go down in history as the movie Stanley Kubrick along with Strangelove, 2001, Barry Lyndon. Malcom McDowell should have received a nomination. His performance was the key element in this movie. The viewers feel sorry for the "hero" in his downs. This was the film that made me adore the ninth. The slang in this film surpasses any dialogue i have ever heard in any other movie. My final point: anyone who has seen a movie should see this.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Philosophicaly pathetic, 21 September 2009
Author: (adolescente.frustrado@hotmail.com)
I watched this movie some months ago on TV, but then I bought it on Blu-Ray for I felt it was worth having. The first time I really enjoyed it and the second time I also did, but for different reasons. I won't be saying much about the good things. There are hundreds and hundreds of reviews doing that. But I just have to state that the futuristic soundtrack suits it perfectly and was one of my favourite elements. It is a very entertaining movie and, as a story, it is great. But as a philosophical study and an ethical statement it is ridiculous. This is what happened: those videos changed Alex's perceptions on crime, making him loath violence; but then a preach comes up and says that the treatment is inhumane and that Alex doesn't have the freedom of choice. Humankind has always had the tendency to find everything controversial, so it wasn't surprising that it would become a problem sooner or later. Well, I refuse to believe that feeling a pain in our head when about to hit someone is worse than spending 14 years in prison. In fact, that treatment is genius because when one submits to it, one can change his entire behaviour in a way that he wouldn't feel anymore pain, i.e. not indulging in violence. And what if it's bad for the criminal? Now, I am not conservative and I am not that tough on crime, but isn't punishment the objective? You tell me what you prefer: to loathe violence outdoors or to have freedom of choice in prison?
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Very much overrated, but still a good film, 7 September 2009
Author: Cameron Richardson from United Kingdom
Finally I have got round to watching this film. For years I have heard it revered as one of the most shocking and greatest films ever made. Upon watching it, I feel that both these claims are grossly overstated, but it is in itself a good film.
My reasons for not regarding it as one of the best film ever made are more than niggling points; they are in my opinion quite serious problems with the film. One point is the fact that I found the first 20-30 minutes of the film almost quite amateur; with a terrible, wooden fight scene in a theatre as a particular point of reference. At this point, I was having fun, with the bizarre language used by the main characters, but was not by any means blown away by anything. However, once this chapter finally ends, a heavier plot is introduced, and the fun element is almost completely removed, only cropping up in the odd comedy relief moment. This change in tone lead the film to explore some controversial topics whilst continuing to tell the story of the main character. This chapter takes up a large portion of the film, and creates an arc in the main character. It is this part that is technically very well done, but is the least enjoyable part of the film. The final chapter is where everything gets very confused; it tries to retain the depressed tone, perhaps even build on it, but also features situations that excel the comedy value of the light first chapter. This makes the film very hard to follow in the sense that you aren't sure whether to laugh at or feel sorry for the main character. Turning points towards the end where characters meet up again all feel very contrived, and when we see the main character meet with an old victim, it is done in a very lazy way; as though the writers became stuck as how to make them meet again. The final scenes once again pick up, making the tone more comprehensible, and the plot more believable Acting is all fine, with main characters played excellently, and all supporting cast at least doing the job.
The overall look of the film is very interesting as well, with the "futuristic" look of the early '70's, and the odd costumes the "droogs" wear.
Although this may read as a bad review, I give this film 8/10. I have chosen to dwell on my personal gripes with the film, as any and almost every review will point out the over-mentioned good points to the film, overlooking any flaws, as happens with so many films regarded as classics. At the end of the day, all films have flaws.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A deep look towards Crime, 5 September 2009
Author: João Pedro Tomás (joaoped@msn.com) from Faro, Portugal
Hollywood had always been in the center of a crime scene. From 30s gangster movies, from 40s war movies and 50s noirs (not to mention horror movies) they were capable of producing crime as it is. There were times where those movies were an influence to criminals; there were times that those crime movies really scared people in their real lives.
But what is this obsession with crime that fill all fiction works, from books to theater, ending in cinema? Why does humanity need to be enjoyed with the hurting of another human being (even if it's played by an actor) or with big robberies which doesn't do nothing good, except for a small recession in our economy?
The answer may be found in Clockwork Orange. Or no, it depends on how you see it. This magnificent novel by Anthony Burgess is dystopian yet very real portrayal of our society and how we see crime... by our own eyes. Brilliantly adapted by Stanley Kubrick, who even add to the movie his directing credit - slow paced scenes, excellent camera work and a top notch soundtrack (Wendy Carlos first steps into electronic music with her amazing analog synthesizer (moog)) capable of scaring the viewer in his/her seat.
The plot focus on Alex - who is by the way, played amazingly by Malcolm McDowell, an irreverent youth, much like his character - a criminal with nothing else to do. Rape, robbery or even manslaughter fill his afternoons. He lives with his parents, whom are not happy with his living-- eventually, something happens (you must watch this movie in order to catch all this details!) and he's sent to prison. And now, the most important deal with Clockwork Orange happens: a new treatment is in order - Ludovico technique. Something similar to some kind of aversion therapy. Alex accepts to be treated in this situation - not only he is a different kind of prisoner (much more intelligent and with more possibilities of redemption) he also doesn't have much of a choice, as you can guess...
Which brings us to the final part of the film. This is half American/half British, which you can guess too, because it couldn't be entirely Hollywood's a wish to treat Crime this way - a genre that always brought millions to the Studios' profits.
The Ludovico technique was a milestone. But would he be really cured? Would people - who were victims of Alex's erratic behavior - really forgive him? Would he be capable of live a normal life without his past surrounding his present?
This is a very powerful movie about redemption, choosing life and living it. A truly watchable experience for those you had erratic behaviors in the past or for those who plan to do it in the future. This isn't just that. It's a perfect movie which let us focus very deeply on the lead character, think about him and put ourselves in is position -- it's a dystopian masterpiece which all humanity should watch. Because this isn't a movie about good vs evil. This is a movie about reality, emotions, and, most of all, human behaviors.
For those of you who only like to read the first and last phrases of IMDb reviews, mostly because you don't have the patience, here goes:
Clockwork Orange is a movie about redemption, in resume. The original Shawshank Redemption.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Cult Film Masterpiece, 13 August 2009
Author: harry-austin from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Kubrick has been renowned for movies that have been viewed as highly controversial, the most notorious being A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Lolita (1962). What makes the movie appear so controversial to watch is how the worst crimes committed by Alex and his gang or 'drogues' as he calls them are conveyed. For example, while Alex and his masked companions break and entry into a couples home, the cripple the husband by kicking him in the Dr Martens boots(a fashion icon from this time)while then moving on to cutting the wife's jumpsuit off with scissors while Alex happily sings 'I'm Singing in the Rain'. He then rapes her of which we o not see. As well as this, the movies most energetic fight scene is done in an almost elegant style, via the use of classical music, of which is used for Alex's love of Beethoven.
A Clockwork Orange vividly captures violence, rape, and sex in an almost disturbing way yet you still remain glued to the screen, it was groundbreaking because of the taboos broken and how far you can go in term so what is simply suitable to be shown in cinema.
An absolute masterpiece.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
wow, 11 August 2009
Author: noneabve1947 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This was my favorite movie until i recently shuffled things up. If i could put two as number one this would be there. The only reason Network is tops is because of certain speeches by Peter Finch and Ned Beaty.
But i digress. ACO is one of the most awesomely filmed things i've ever seen...and the interplay with the music is perfect. I should had a clue watching Kubric's previous film, 2001, with the "Blue Danube Waltz", but this is better. Plus you get the whole idea of what is a "free man". As the prison "charlie" says, the man has no choice after his brainwashing. Real food for thought these days.
Oh, and by the way, Mr. Alexander's assistant near the end is Dave Prowse, who would seven years later be under that Darth Vader costume in Star Wars (voice by James Earl Jones).
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Artistic, powerful, intriguing, gripping main performance and an increasingly relevant message, 10 April 2009
Author: Chrisgb-91 from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Kubrick is so immensely clever when it comes to film-making isn't he? A Clockwork Orange pours out his talent as a director. He is well known for his perfectionism and this, combined with his shining vision for films has contributed to a masterful stroke in thought-provoking cinema.
Most of you know the plot so I went spend a lot of time slaving over it. It's futuristic Britain, law and order has almost vanished and different gangs of thugs roam the country wreaking havoc wherever they go. The film begins by focusing on one of these gangs, which is led by the films central character, Alex DeLarge (played by the awesome Malcolm McDowell). He and his fellow "Droogs" (russian for 'Buddies') roam their town causing all kinds of chaos: beating the elderly, robbing their victims, breaking into houses and raping women. All these activities playing a part in their pleasure of indulging in a bit of the old "ultra-violence". However, a mutiny arises within the group and Alex is left stranded by his Droogs during a house robbery which has left a women dead. The police arrive as Alex is recovering from a bottle smash to the face. Whilst in prison, he longs for freedom and his opportunity comes when a new method is introduced. The newly elected government wants to crack down on crime and by trying to do this, they conjure a method which involves transforming current convicts into law-abiding, good citizens. Sounds good? it may do but the description is only scratching the surface as we are taken into a dark world of state control and brain-washing techniques.
The debate raised within the film in terms of criminals being brain-washing tests the minds of the audience. They are criminals, murderers after all, as in the case of Alex. However, during the scenes of the experiments, you can't help but feel it still isn't right. Depending on your stance towards reform, the images on screen pluck all sorts of feelings from within you. The message of state control over individuals is resounding. The film is 30 odd years ahead of its time and I believe this to be a testament to the poignancy of the film and also the cleverness of the author of the book, Anthony Burgess. The scenes of "ultra-violence" are also becoming more and more common in modern life. The scenes are so disturbing, not because of the brute force but because of the sheer pleasure the characters are taking out of the rape and violence as they destroy lives ("I'm singing' in the rain!"). The lack of a soul, remorse or any human feeling. The performances from all the actors are of near perfection to the vision of Kubrick and the state of Britain which the film is trying to portray. Its future Britain and I think the lack of a blockbuster budget has greatly benefited the film. Instead of building extravagant futuristic sets as seen in Bladerunner and Back to the Future II, the film uses the oddly designed concrete gems from 1960's Britian (notice the sarcasm). This approach not only greatly adds to the realism of the film but also the overall bleakness and reality. The film is also artistically ground-breaking. From the glorious set-designs and costumes, to the use of beautiful classical music being played over the top of images of violence and rape. This juxtaposition works fantastically well, stirring the emotions and thoughts inside us at a constant rate. The language used in the film is not only amusing but also strangely effecting. It's nonsensical language but we still understand every word. It's twisted and subversive and it has a profound effect on the audience. The use of music is also of artistic excellence with a superb blend of electronic noises to Beethovens beauty. The camera work is, at times, breath-taking. The intense angles, slow pans and editing techniques all contribute to the films art. I still adore the opening shot in which Alex and his fellow Droogies are in the milk bar, the zoom out being perfectly executed whilst being accompanied to the futuristic music and surrounded by set- design which is different and mind-dazzlingly brilliant. Jonathon Ross (not known for being the best film critic admittedly) described the film as "mind-searingly brilliant" and I couldn't agree more...
Not only is the film superb, we also have one of the best acting performances seen in British film, and arguably of all film. Malcom McDowell throws everything into his portrayal of the devilish Alex DeLarge. Alex is wrong, twisted and darkly close to being the true devil. However McDowell manages to somehow draw in feelings of sorrow towards him as he goes through the torment of experimentation and its aftermath. As an actor, he had to go through a hell of a lot. Being stuck in a straight-jacket whilst having his eye-lids locked which had to be constantly moistened by water eye drops (resulting in his eye being scratched and temporarily blinded), being held under water for what seemed an eternity, raping a women whilst seemingly being overjoyed and singing his heart out and other moments where his acting credentials were being harshly tested. He passed every single one and pulled off a magnificent performance, shaping the intriguing character that is Alex.
A film of artistic brilliance, poignant messages on anarchy and crime soaring, state control over individuals and of the human soul, the film holds so many qualities that it really does boggle the mind. It's too much to take in on one viewing and after each one, you realise just how powerful, relevant and bewildering that A Clockwork Orange really is, coming from a film-maker whose vision is always played out on screen to near perfection, the sign of a truly great director whose come out on top with this legendary film.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Disturbingly Beautiful, 6 April 2009
Author: VIPMafia (ragingbull1@live.com.au) from Australia
To inform you, I gave A Clockwork Orange a view about a year ago, I didn't like it. In fact I only watched twenty minutes, my view towards all the sex and violence turned me off the movie completely. I just recently gave it a watch again, looking into the movie seeing the message it sends and how music and words can be so vital. A Clockwork Orange is beautiful. A fantastic movie that has all important key society elements transferred and directed by the famous Stanley Kubrick. Like 2001, the movie is set in the future and Kubrick along with the fantastic performance by Malcolm McDowell gives us a imaginative look on punishment and science. A Clockwork Orange is something very special, the sets, the acting, the violence and the disturbing scenes make it all into one fine movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Great Movie to Get High To, 30 January 2009
Author: Hoffmanpmj from United States
Me and my bros rolled a FAT ASS joint and then Kenny was like, "dude John hasn't seen A Clockwork Orange and we should make him watch it tonight!" So even though we was blazed as hell we put my pirated movie file onto the flash drive, and put that junk in my X box. The movie opens in the coolest way possible: With drinking milk! I love milk; builds strong bones, ya know? Then there's the horrible, disturbing, grotesque rape scene that nearly made me do myself in! So disturbing were the copping-a-feels and in-out-out's that we nearly turned that off; that is NOT cool scenes to get high to. But then the movie that followed left me with a compelling question: is removing one's ability to commit violence really a correcting behavior? IT TOTALLY TRIPPED ME OUT! So then Nick asked me if I was straight to drive to 711 for some slurrppaaayyzzz and some Marlboro's. So I'm Outtie, Me Droogs!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Influenced on many film makers today!A masterpiece!, 28 January 2009
Author: axismladen from Croatia
What to say about Clockwork Orange?There isn't really so much to say because it's reputation speak's for it self.And i can say that it's justified on that matter.This movie is just great.It's excellent.Direction and production are at maximum in this film.I wont even speak about acting.Malcolm McDowell portrayed one of the most sealed character's in the history of movies in this film.If you watch new Batman,The Dark Knight you can clearly see that Heath,even though his acting was superb,based his way of acting The Joker on Malcolm McDowell's Alex.Don't get me wrong,i'm not saying that McDowell acted Alex better then Heath Ledger did the Joker,he probably didn't but Alex from Clockwork orange is a cult character.McDowell had no one to look by when he was acting in this movie while Heath did.Even though he looked after McDowell,it don't means that it made it easier for him.It just helped him in the way of imagination because he didn't have to figure out the entire character's behavior for him self.Enough about McDowell and his character,let's talk about Kubrick.Stanley Kubrick is one of the best,most admirable director's ever.Not only that he made one masterpiece but he made them plenty.Too bad he died,i'm sure he had many more trick's in his hat to show which would come in handy to the other director's and entire Hollywood.
He was a true master.There are classic movies and there are classic figures of film makers.He is between those on the top.There is nothing bad in his movies.For example...If you take a look at his other movies an especially Full Metal Jacket you will see that no matter what the story is,he never takes the political sides.His movies and him self are independent!!!Period!!!That's why his movies are for everyone.No matter are you English,Scotish,Irish,American,Russian,French,Croatian,Serbian or anyone else,his movies will not insult your nation's history in any way.
I wont say anything else except that Clockwork Orange is a masterpiece that will be loved through generation's.A work of a master director.Watch it under any price.No matter what anyone says he/she can't explain the originality and brilliance of this movie.No word's can't!An if someone says to you that it's a bad movie,don't listen to him because he is lying!!!!!!!!!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Through A Glass Darkly, 5 January 2009
Author: nineinchsin from United States
The film, A Clockwork Orange, was received by many as a grand exposition in the promotion of violence. Yet, what does that say about the press? In all seriousness, the film uses the premise of exploitation in order to question society's ideas of right and wrong. What lengths will humanity go to in order to create systemic peace benefiting a single establishment? (In the film's case, the English government). It is shocking and terrible. However, it is more real than one can imagine.
Malcolm McDowell's portrayal of Alex DeLarge and his violent Droogs may be seen as the "old-school" Devil's Rejects. Bear in mind, far more substance pierces this film than the graphic tendencies may make apparent. A Clockwork Orange is in one word...classic. It is a great philisophic, political, and tantalizing picture. My bowler hat is off to Mr. Kubrick and Mr. Burgess.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Dense: visually, metaphorically, cinematically, 11 December 2008
Author: gwinter-5 from United States
One of my all time favorite films, I have watched Clockwork Orange more than a dozen times, and will watch it a dozen more. Every time I watch it I find something new. Every single scene is packed with multiple layers and meaning: watch it just for the lighting, or the sound track, the camera angles, or speed (slow-mo to high). Watch it as purely political fable, science fiction, horror story, comedy, or even love story (between Alex and Beethoven). Watch it for character development. Watch it purely for its art historical view (from the Renaissance through 19th century Romanticism to post modern, modern, pop, and kitsch (Velvet paintings?). Watch it for the costuming. Watch it for its take on architecture even, for chrissakes. Themes range from government control to free will, religious zealotry, Pavlovian conditioning, the welfare state, youth versus old age, political and police state corruption, education, linguistic evolution, penal reform, depression era economics (boarders anyone?), gang psychology, sexuality (rape, homosexuality, menage a trois, voyeurism), and even Biblical interpretation. There are so many cultural references and cross linkages it's mind boggling.
The film is even more amazing when you discover it was made in less than a year, was low budget, and filmed almost entirely on location.
A testament to collaborative genius: Beethoven, Kubrick, Burgess, and Malcolm McDowell. I defy you to find a movie where every single frame can be stopped, analyzed, and discussed on every possible cinematic level.
It's well known that Kubrick would take dozens of takes and solicited comments and recommendations from everyone on the set including the security guys. In this way, he packed the film with so many details and irony that it's nearly impossible to absorb them all in one sitting. It's enlightening to discover that Kubrick was a still photographer before becoming a film maker. Thus, he was used to thinking and blocking out each scene as a static frame rife with meaning before adding time and action for the fourth dimension.
Oh, and did I mention? it's damn good entertainment.
Watch and be warned.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Crazy...Funny...Disturbing...Super-Entertaining, 28 November 2008
Author: omarstphn from India
Im singing in the rain Just singing in the rain What a glorious feeling I'm happy again...
Follow the adventures of Alex DeLarge, a young boy, who likes nothing more than Moloko Drencrum, Ultra-Violence,the old in-out and the great Ludwig Van.
The movie is based on the book of the same title by Antony Burgess. A graphic novel 'Clockwork Orange'. Clockwork - mechanical, something being forced to function a certain way. Orange - the word orange here has 2 meanings. One meaning the fruit, natural,juicy with life. And 'Orang' , Malaysian for man hence the word orangutan (man of the jungle).
I am sure those of you who have not seen the movie or read the book have no idea what I am talking about.
This movie is great the first time you watch it. But to really see the brilliance of Stanley Kubrick you may have to see it several times. And you will. Its the kind of movie that gets better each time you watch it. Malcolm McDowell's acting is amazing. The movie has an element of dark humor almost occult-like(not a real phrase). Alex DeLarge is like a cross between Charles Manson and Charles Chaplin.
This movie is crazy. Vidi well my brothers,Vidi well....
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
incredible, 13 November 2008
Author: jwilkerson999 from United States
I had been curious about this film because it had attained so much critical acclaim and because I wanted to see if it matched up to its reputation.
I was instantly captivated by the witty writing of this movie. The dialogue throughout the story is extremely riveting as it utilized chiaroscuro to mix the light and frivolous with the dark and twisted.
Alex's character is certainly an ambiguous figure as one has a hard time not liking him by the end of the movie despite his obscurely twisted motives. He conveyed a nightmare of a youth whose intentions were anything but moral. Without any sense of righteousness, Alex epitomizes the horrors of savage youth. He is every parent's worst nightmare, yet he manages to intrigue every sense in viewing of this film.
This was an extremely powerful movie. I will have to watch it at least two more times before I grasp all the minute details that contribute to the message. See this movie you and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
"a bit of the old ultra-violence. ", 9 November 2008
Author: colt_89 from New Zealand
The acting from Malcolm McDowell is generally spot on, but I felt a lot of the rest of the cast were mediocre actors. Particularly Alex's "Drooges", I'm not sure which one it was, but the entire time he was apart of the film he would just sit there and giggle, and it really felt to me quite forced so it bothered me, but I could get past that. But at later parts the same actor was mediocre, who just seemed to be read lines and giggle like a little school girl. It wasn't just him, though which I felt wasn't too great in the acting aspect, some of the other people let down, though it was generally minor things, when they gather, its more clustered.
Whenever I read about this film, people always talk about how "graphic" they though this film was, or how disgusted they were about all the nudity, and sexuality everywhere. There is undoubtedly quite a lot of those things, for example, a lot of nude art, rape, sex and nudity, even a penis shaped ice block. Though people may see this as perverted and exploitive, I see it as very necessary, without it being this "graphic" it would not be at all disturbing in any sort of aspect, it would just be "Oh, rape.. interesting.". It also feels like it's an intention to show that the times have changed from the older days, and now the world has become quite a different one, so by emphasizing on that aspect you get a grasp of that intention. With that all said, I don't think it is that graphic, it's not like you will want to cover your eyes or look away, but it's enough to get the point across, and it's the content that is what "does it".
From the opening scene right until the end, this is quite obviously a different and stylised film. Though that's not an entirely bad thing, just at times, it felt to me Kubrick was trying too hard to stylise it. But a lot of it is very interesting and great, but again, as I said, just it clusters a bit and begins to become a bit over the top, defeating the point, or the intention. Now this may be contributed to the novel, and Kubrick was just trying to keep faithful in every detail, but since I haven't read the novel, I won't go there.
The film really stresses over certain aspects of psychology, that one must be able to choose to remain "human". It is quite affective throughout, using the "Ludovico technique", which is where they forcibly keep your eyes open and make you view disturbing videos, while your on some sort of drug which makes you feel like your dying, or makes you want to die, to some extent, thus making you not want to commit crimes, etc. Despite building this up quite a lot, I felt that in the end, they didn't go too far with it, I'm not saying the ending was "bad", but they could have done more, or thats how I felt.
Despite my criticisms of this film, I still enjoyed it, and it is still a good film, but it does have it's fair share of mediocrities, which seem to be less talked about when it comes to this film in particular. I haven't thought long and hard about this film, but I did try talk about as much as I could.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Brilliant story and cinematography, 28 October 2008
Author: Disfigurator from Latvia
In four words: I am blown away!
In few sentences: I saw this movie about a week ago and it has not leaved my mind yet – still I remember that sense of humor packed in this masterpiece titled A Clockwork Orange, as well as English + Russian jargon and brilliant work of Kubrick and the story too, of course.
In fact, I have only seen two of Kubrick’s films – first one was The Shining and I immediately fell in love how this master treats the lighting, camera angles, camera in general, actors and crew – pure eye-candy! An as well as in Shining – here we have brilliant story packed with Kubrik’s talent – deadly orgasmic combination of pleasures of cinematography and story-telling. In fact – the only thing that reminded me about the age of this film was the outfit of characters and sound design. But in all of the rest planes – one with classicism in heart could create this movie just yesterday.
This movie sure does generate the urge to see more films from Kubrick, if not all of them. Also it generates the urge to read the novel!
Very beautiful movie, will seek the moment to watch it again!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's most chilling study of human evil, 6 October 2008
Author: Max_cinefilo89 from Italy
For the entirety of his career, Stanley Kubrick was interested in one universal theme: mankind's decay, both mental and physical. This led to some of the most intense and frightening depictions of pure insanity, as seen in The Shining or Full Metal Jacket, but none as powerful and consistently relevant as the shocking A Clockwork Orange.
The notorious trailer consisted of quick glimpses of some key scenes, with words such as "funny", "exciting" and "Beethoven" written on them. Only the third word is spot-on - the rest is, at best, an example of bitter irony. How come? Because the only one who could possibly find the events of this film funny or exciting is the deranged protagonist, Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell). Actually, "deranged" is the wrong adjective to use with him: "paradoxical" is better. And what's so paradoxical about this young man? Well, he's intelligent and cheerful, with a soft spot for "the divine work of Ludwig Van", as he calls Beethoven, and enjoys hanging out with his friends (or "droogs"). The problem is, his idea of spending time is best summed up by an expression he uses in the chilling opening sequence, where the camera catches his insane stare and goes backwards to reveal the bizarre pub he's visiting: "a bit of the old ultra-violence". He's never perfectly happy unless he can beat, rape or (in one extreme case) kill someone. Everything appears to change when he's sent to jail for murder and undergoes a treatment that makes him completely incapable to commit violent or perverted acts ever again. However, this "cure" is a double-edged sword, as it also means he can't defend himself when his victims come back for revenge.
It's the second section that constitutes the real heart of A Clockwork Orange. Much has been said about the film's use of on-screen violence and how it supposedly affected people upon its original release in 1971 (protests led to it being banned in England until the director's death) , and while it must have been a shock back then, most of the incriminated scenes look rather tame today (see Bonnie and Clyde for a similar argument). The notable exception is the famous brainwash sequence, which will probably never lose its sheer emotional power. That's because it represents Kubrick's real concern: the loss of free will, which will eventually turn all of us into mindless drones and lead to nothing but tragedy (the latrine shootout in Full Metal Jacket derives from this). The film was shot so that it would appear to be set in a not-so-distant future, but in a time where the media manipulate unsuspecting viewers and listeners every day, it is clear that the director saw it happening and tried to warn us. The use of violence was an inevitable part of this: the stronger the message, the more effective the reception.
This strength comes not only from the haunting images and the terrifying irony (Alex sings "Singin' In The Rain", the ultimate feel-good tune, while raping a woman), but also and most prominently from the groundbreaking central performance: McDowell, almost a complete unknown at the time (not to mention pushing 30, while Alex is supposed to be something like ten years younger), seized the opportunity and delivered a portrait of absolute, unmatched evil, so powerful it is sadly obvious why he hasn't done anything as astounding since. Anthony Hopkins may have won an Oscar for playing a serial killer, but it was McDowell who forever raised the bar for cinematic inhumanity.
Overall, A Clockwork Orange is like any other film by Kubrick: it has to be seen multiple times before its full significance can be grasped, it will upset and infuriate some, and it's an experience like few others. For its unprecedented boldness as to content and delivery, it is also the great director's best picture.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Got poisoning from this mad descriptions..., 19 June 2008
Author: snaky_capricorn (snaky_capricorn@yahoo.co.jp) from Japan
The young boy Alex always takes a role of "bad" action. At first, he and his fellows commit robbery and something again and again, but later he and his fellows split, and he is framed. One day, being arrested by the police, he makes use of the new plan of rehabilitation...
This movie is a kind of drama, novel-based, thought-provoking, award-winning movie that contains a lot of sexual and violent description. Some dirty images with clear classical music make "different" scene, and the director want watchers to have a "different point of view" in this movie. However, since the description is so strong, you maybe become uncomfortable after you watch it.
Alex is always tired of real world, and wants to make use of others. But he also has a very weak mind, so he started to step into the collapse. The other people want to make use of him too, and every thing is going to be failure. The Beethoven's No.9 sometimes sounds comical, violent, sentimental, or just heartless in this movie... One of the most cynical movies.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
The Products of Violence, 19 April 2008
Author: BroadswordCallinDannyBoy from Boston, MA
The products of violence are not always easily identified. They seem to be easily identified when people point out the obvious, but that is hardly ever the whole story.
At first Alec is a very unlikeable character. A low-level punk who manages to commit atrocious acts of violence with his band of "droogs" and even keeps them in line with an iron fist. On top of that he doesn't go to school and chronically lies about his activities and whereabouts. Thus, it can be said that all he does is obstruct people within his own society. The finger of blame seems to be pointing at the one and only problem at this point - the problem is Alec and without him society would be better off. After one night of vandalism and mayhem, that inadvertently ends with a woman's murder, Alec is betrayed by his own gang and left for the arriving police.
The cure for Alec's recklessness seems to be on its way as he is sent to prison. At this point it is where many stories of this type end - the anti-hero recognizes what he did and now he realizes that he must pay for it. Kubrick takes his story further by introducing a new type of program meant to rehabilitate criminals. Alec volunteers with the hope that it'll work and he'll be not only out of prison, but assured that he will never go back in. Yet it is during and after this experience that Alec is given at least the same amount of abuse that he unleashed earlier onto people. Being rendered in capable of aggression Alec is left as a hapless victim for a society bent on violence as a way of solving its problems. Even his "treatment session" involves duress.
It is the film's ultimate irony that the violence that Alec unleashed earlier is what has seemed to prevented him from harm until he is no longer able to unleash it.
The film is quite long, but this is not a film to watch once and plainly understand. Kubrick was a master of subtlety and upon repeated viewings new things can still be discovered about his films and his complex themes better understood. --- 10/10
Rated R for violent content including rape. Ages 16+
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's forbidden fruit... a cinematic gem, 13 March 2008
Author: Graham Greene from United Kingdom
Trapped somewhere between the rigid, socio-political, part allegorical anti-violence parable that forms the core of Anthony Burgess's original, watershed tome and the screaming pop-art exuberance, come visceral bleakness of Kubrick's vision, we find A Clockwork Orange; grimacing away behind a false eyelash whilst calmly sipping at a glass of milky moloko plus. Whilst this works primarily as an exercise in the continuation of Kubrick's "2001" (sci-fi) stylisations; with large chunks of the author's innovatively defined arguments augmented by the inclusion of eclectic visual iconography - traversing the decades to give us the antique, the kitsch, the camp and the graphically futuristic - the core humanitarian debate that initially inspired the author can still be seen as a reflection in the eyes of those wildly caricatured performances. The film, and of course to a greater extent, the book, can be seen as an interpretation of the ultimate 60's social dilemma (spared on by World War II, Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, the Kennedy assassination, etc), being that 'if man cannot choose freely between animalistic violence and the power of rational thought, does he in effect, cease to be a man?' Kubrick and Burgess choose as the focal point of their story a youthful and remorseless street punk, who seems incapable of possessing any feeling divorced from his own self-serving point of view and yet, somehow, through the insightful (and all too relevant) depth of the film's moral debate (and, of course, the central performance from the great Malcolm McDowell), manages to become a tragic and deeply sympathetic creature; able to present both the pros and cons of a central treatise that is, after all, so essential to the film's success.
This would be the main bone-of-contention when the film was initially released, with many critics claiming that Kubrick was somehow glorifying violence, rape and anti-social activity, by presenting this portrait of a dystopian, teenage rebellion, through the eyes of a goose-stepping, twelve-stepping, totalitarian, who not only shows wit, intelligence and charm throughout his escapades, but also narrates said exploits to the audience in a way that somehow makes us his droog-like co-conspirators. There's also the point of Kubrick's direction, which is here giddy, exciting, unhinged and certainly not what you would expect from a seasoned filmmaker in his early 40's. The whole visual and ideological aesthetic of the film makes the action seem like the ultimate rush of adrenalin, with the film cutting between operatic slow motion, high-speed camp, lethargic zooms, hand-held confusion, fish-eye-lenses, severely anachronistic stock-footage, rear-projection and musical montage; all of which is referenced directly from Toshio Matsumoto's classic pop-art masterpiece, Funeral Parade of Roses (1968).
Understandably, the film - as with the book - unfolds in an alien landscape that is a reflection of the present day, but also something much more prophetic; with the director allowing the drama to play out against a backdrop of dilapidated 70's production design juxtaposed alongside surreal interiors that are here adorned with plastic flowers, gaudy coloured wall-paper, naked milk-dispensing mannequins and groovy coloured lighting. This jars against the stylistic realisation of Kubrick's previous films - the cold and stark space stations of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), or the black and white majesty of Strangelove's war-room - with the film, instead, attempting to visualise the absurdity of Burgess's polemic and the stark, stylised, theatrical nature of its text. Certain aspect of Kubrick's realisation of the film could perhaps seem a little dated; with the high-speed sex scene and the costume design in particular, making the whole thing look like something more akin to "Carry on Kubrick" than the regal flair familiar from something like Barry Lyndon (1975) or The Shining (1980). However, for me, the film's power lies in its boundless energy, dangerous charisma and unpredictable atmosphere, which sees it shift uncontrollably from moments of dark comedy to punishing brutality.
Of course, it's not particularly violent in a gory sense, but more foreboding, menacing and threatening in a lingering sort of way; much like the fact that The Shining, as a horror film, isn't all that terrifying, but more suggestive. Like the majority of Kubrick's work, A Clockwork Orange is incredibly bleak and crushingly austere, with the examination of these characters and situations presented in a highly clinical fashion like insects beneath a microscope. For me, it's one of the masterpiece works of the 1970's, fusing Kubrick's jaw-dropping stylisations with Burgess's landmark look at man's capacity for violence (which sadly, seems more relevant now than it ever did before), whilst also offering great cinematography, editing, production design, iconography, music, and the performances from everyone involved (including a number of now highly recognisable British TV veterans). If you are thinking of seeing this film without having read the book, then I urge you to seek out Burgess's original text beforehand. The images that the book creates within our mind are far more staggering and psychologically lingering than anything Kubrick could create, despite the fact that the two disparate texts still manage to complement each other perfectly. A Clockwork Orange remains a bold and imaginative film that presents an interesting and all too pertinent social dilemma in a way that makes for great and entirely thought-provoking entertainment.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
I Was Cured Alright....., 20 February 2008
Author: urntcookin045 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I really do feel it should have taken home the best picture Oscar in 1971.Truely a masterpiece. Anyway, the real reason i'm posting this comment is for two distinct reasons.
#1) Before I saw the movie I read the book. As soon as i finished the book(which i read in about 24 hours,after periodic breaks. Also my favorite book of all time) I borrowed the DVD of the film from a friend and watched it. At First I didn't know what to think.The questions that crossed threw my mind were "Was this film even worthy of all this hype?" or "Was that just the greatest movie i've ever seen?" The truth is folks, this is one of the better films ever made,I certainly agree this is Kubricks best film. It one of those movies that is so strange and different that you cant help but to love it. The only real flaw that I found in the film that i didn't like was all the perverted photos and art in the film(which is prob. the strangest part of the film, though I understand its purpose, i felt some of it was a little senseless.
#2) The Ending. This film ends on one the greatest "What the hell just happened?" final scenes of all time. You really can't tell 100% whether or not Alex would continue his old ways or change because of his experiences. The final quote of the film "I was cured alright", not to mention the tone in which Alex says it, leads me to believe that he would continue his old ways(though it the book it is apparent in the final chapter that we wants to change).
This Film is absolutely amazing. Without a doubt in my top 5 favorites of all time. I really enjoyed the book a lot more than the film, but there no question that A ClockWork Orange is one of the better films of all time.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
"Funny how the colours of the real world only seem really real on a screen", 9 January 2008
Author: nora_nettlerash from Ruritania
A Clockwork Orange, like many "cult" films, is a bit of a problem for film buffs. Whether it's good or bad tends to get lost under its iconic, pseudo-hip status. Fans quote its quirky dialogue, delight in the overt violence and sexuality and marvel over its philosophical message-making, but if that were all there was to it Clockwork Orange would be a pretty poor film.
Clockwork Orange is perhaps the most extreme example of the Kubrick technical style – a kind of formal method which instantly distinguishes his films. And bizarrely, it's all based around the game of chess. While he had by now dropped all the actual references to the game which peppered his earliest films, Kubrick had begun directing as if he were playing chess. Look at the camera movements. With a few exceptions, the camera only moves as if it was a chess piece – forwards, backwards, left and right. The actors also move like opposing chess pieces, more often than not directly towards the camera or across the shot.
Kubrick was always meticulous and extravagant in conveying an idea and an atmosphere not just through performances but through set and costume design, sound, music and lighting. In the first part of Clockwork Orange (the first half-hour or so, up until Alex is arrested) every aspect of every shot expresses the collision between formal sophistication and crude roughness. So we have violent youngsters wearing bowler hats, the mural with penises grafittied onto it, classical music played on synthesisers and so on. It's a world full of images we recognise, but is at the same time as deliberately outlandish as possible. Compare this to the next section of the film, in the prison, where everything becomes realistic and contemporary, although the atmosphere is equally unnerving.
Clockwork Orange also represents the peak of the growing musical dimension of Kubrick's films. It is what the director Michael Powell referred to as a composed film – one where the images play out like a piece of music. As I've hinted at above it's structured in contrasting "movements" which reference and counterpoint each other, like a classical symphony. However there's also the musical element to individual scenes. The scene, fifteen or so minutes in, in which Alex returns to his bedroom to listen to Beethoven's 9th is one of the best examples in cinema of image and music working together – the quick zoom onto the Beethoven poster as the piece begins, then the prowling downward scan in the following shot, followed by the staccato cuts of details of the dancing Jesuses ornament are simply perfect.
A Clockwork Orange, like all of Kubrick's later films, is incredibly elaborate and painstaking in the way it is constructed. It's not quite the classic it's reputed to be, and the statement it makes about free will isn't really all that profound. It is entertaining though, and in spite of what I said in the first paragraph, you can't help but like that memorable, poetic Nadsat dialogue.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Beethoven in Clockwork Orange originally written to Pedro from the UK, 9 January 2008
Author: myrockintoe from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I recently watched a Clockwork Orange and then read your review on it. Let me tell you first, it is people like you that kept geniuses in poverty.
The reason that I was looking through reviews in the first place was to find the significance of Beethoven in the movie and book--yes, if you did not know before, let me inform you now that A Clockwork Orange was original a novel by Anthony Burgess and we students all know about tedious readings such as this one where every word is filled with much more significance than it seems. The first thing that you wrote in your review that indicated that you were merely writing this to compensate for something like intelligence or ingenuity was when you wrote "Many scenes are quite revolting - and bizarrely they are even found revolting by some of the people who rate the movie highly!" and then indicated that revolting scenes had the purpose neither to educate or entertain.
I see the grotesqueness of the movie with one of two possible purposes. To educate or to provoke emotion and thought. Many of artists have created things not to inspire beauty but to inspire ugliness. For instance, Berlioz's famous fifth movement of his Symphony Fantastique. Throughout the piece he is warping a single theme. In the fifth movement it has warped into ugliness--he pairs bassoons with tubas, has the strings play below the bridge. He is making the instrumentalists play ugliness to provoke a sense of ugliness. People criticized this, but let me ask, why does all art have to inspire beauty? Why should it not inspire other adjectives. This movie does exactly that, it doesn't inspire beauty as you want it to--which is why you call it revolting--it inspires grotesqueness.
Let me now introduce myself a little further. I am a music major at Smith College, sister school to Yale University. Beethoven is by far one the most brilliant men to walk the earth. My speculations as to why he and his music were so important in this film, I might say this because you did not answer the question that I sought to answer, are as follows.
Some say that Beethoven single handedly brought in the Romantic period of music--a period where composers composed abstract ideas. Take Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique. This is pure romanticism. He wrote an entire symphony--and a gorgeous one at that--based of being high on opium and the feelings and emotions that the experience evoked. If Beethoven had not happened, I question whether such beauties as Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Bizet's Carmen or Copland's Rodeo would have been able to happen either. Perhaps you are starting to see Beethoven's significance to the musical world now.
Beethoven's ninth and last symphony is considered an Ode to a Revolution. Mind you while writing this masterpiece he was completely deaf. Now don't mistake me, I am not writing this because I am entirely in love with Beethoven or his ninth. Out of all his symphonies I love his sixth the greatest and I must say that I am a Mozartian at heart. But any true music buff will acknowledge the amazing significance that Beethoven had on this world. Therefore, playing his ninth continually throughout A Clockwork Orange cannot be random or meaningless.
In the scene of Alex's demonstration, static rennaissance music is playing in the background. This leads me to believe that Beethoven's ninth, being a revolutionary piece, stands for the natural tendencies and urges--violence and sex--of humanity. For when it is playing, Alex is thinking about or actually preforming acts of violence and sex. Another time it is played is when other people are preforming acts of violence or torture. The renaissance music earlier is maybe to indicate the old, common ways of music--using the preBach ways of writing music.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick = master, 18 November 2007
Author: ensor_ostende-1 from France
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I've seen this movie twice, as well for Barry Lyndon (2 times), 2001 (something like 10 times), Path of Glory (one time), Lolita (2 times), EWS (3 times), Shining (one time), FMJ (5 times) and Dr. Strangelove (5 or 10 times) ; my conclusion is simple... Kubrick = master.
I admire his art of making every single (and simple) frame a masterpiece, no matter the subject, if is in B&W or colour or else.
A Clockwork Orange, although made in 1971, it's subject is (as in french is said) d'actualité : violence travels time and space, so this movie teaches this and also, violence doesn't comes from the least expected place.
10 over 10, for all Kubrick's work
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A disturbing, yet poignant film that only Kubrick could of directed., 16 November 2007
Author: Estefan Ellison from Canada
Stanley Kubrick was a filmmaker who continually tried to both shock and amaze his audience, but most importantly he wanted people to come back again and again to unlock the layers of secrets hidden beneath his films. Plenty has been told regarding the impact of his A Clockwork Orange upon its original release, yet even looking at the film in it's own terms, it's easy to see why it's regarded as such a masterpiece. Kubrick adapted Anthony Burgess's equally brilliant book rather faithfully, but still giving the film his own mark. His films have been criticised for being cold and heartless, yet it's almost necessary for A Clockwork Orange to be filmed in such a style. Kubrick portrays his near-future as bleak and lacking the Utopian feel that most science-fiction writers were predicting. Reading the headlines in today's newspaper, the futuristic world depicted in A Clockwork Orange has unfortunately come true. This goes both for the portrayal of youthful aggression as well as the government's attempts to rid the world of it.
Teenage violence at its worst is personified in the lead character of A Clockwork Orange, Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell). Alex is a parent's worst nightmare: He is cruel, violent, cold-blooded, but filled with intelligence, which he unfortunately does not put to better use. Alex romps around town with his gang of "droogs", raping and hurting innocent individuals just for the fun of it. One of the most disturbing (of many) sequences in the film is the scene in which is rapes a writer's wife while dancing and skipping along to "Singin' in the Rain." A seemingly innocent song about love is used in a means completely the opposite of its original intention, thus why it's such a disturbing part of the film. What's even worse is Alex knows that what he is doing is wrong, but his lack of conscience causes him to not care what society thinks of him and his ideas of fun. Kubrick's uncanny ability to seemingly combine beautiful classical music to a montage of horrifying comes into play in A Clockwork Orange, with Alex's admiration towards the works of "Ludwig van." Beethoven Ninth Symphony is turned from a wonderful piece of music to something particularly saddening as we learn how much this sadistic rapist obsesses over it and "As I slooshied, I knew such lovely pictures!" These so-called "lovely pictures" which contain such R-rated material as rape, violence and blood pouring out of Alex's fangs would probably scare Beethoven due to the way Kubrick so perfectly edits the images together.
Yet, there comes an interesting turn-around when Alex is arrested and sent to prison. Soon afterwards, the tone of the film completely changes as Alex begins to play nice and the film becomes far less disturbing and chaotic than the first act was. Alex wants to get back out into the world as quickly as possible and when he hears of a technique that will help him do so, he jumps to the chance. He is soon put in the Ludovico Technique, involving him being strapped to a chair, his eyes made un-shutable and forced to watch horrible acts of violence on a cinema screen. When Alex's beloved Ninth Symphony begins playing over images of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, it is then that the effects take hold. Even Alex of all people realises that he is an amateur compared to the atrocities the Nazis performed during the Holocaust. This leads to an effect more cruel than the Technique's creators possibly imagined: Not only is Alex drained of violence, but also of his love of fabulous music. Maybe Beethoven heaves a sigh of relief, but us the viewer is oddly starting to feel sorry for Alex. He may be unable to commit violent acts, but he is also unable to choose whether he wants to or not.
Stanley Kubrick launches on these themes perfectly as only he can. Other filmmakers would probably none too subtly through these into the viewer's face, but not Kubrick. Like many of his other films, he allows to slowly tear apart the film throughout multiple viewings and even let us interpret the film's views ourselves without him interfering. He just sits, stroking his beard and thinking "yes, that seems about right. What else do you have to say regarding the film?" Malcolm McDowell's performance also brings us into Alex's world, carefully pronouncing each word that Burgess created for his book so as not to make any mistake. Each subsequent viewing, we learn a new meaning for "nadsat" and see that it is more than just the way Alex communicates, but also a part of his rebellion against the world he tolerates so much of. Stanley Kubrick not only created a masterpiece worthy of plenty of conversation, but also a look at our world currently operates and ways we can resolve these problems without the need of brainwashing techniques.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Clockwork Orange Movie Review, 28 October 2007
Author: joel massie (GoneWithTheTwins) from www.GoneWithTheTwins.com
One of the most shocking, revolting, outrageous and yet wildly imaginative films ever made, Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange brings to life Anthony Burgess' fevered novel accurately and in such a visually arresting manner that this 1971 classic was nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award, despite its abrasive subject matter and controversial "X" rating upon its initial release.
It is a nearly indefinable futuristic Britain, where local gangs rule the streets while drinking down vellocet (milk spiked with drugs) and seeking out violent entertainment. Alex de Large (Malcolm McDowell) is the leader of his gang of "droogs" who wile away the days beating up bums, fighting with other gangs, and breaking into houses to steal and rape, an extracurricular activity known as "ultraviolence." When Alex's droogs betray him, he is captured by the police and given the option to undergo a series of tests and a psychological corrective experiment (dubbed the Ludovico Treatment) to try and cure his wicked ways. But what the brainwashing does is effectively prevent him from making choices and using free will. His newly feeble condition leaves them at the mercy of those he wronged during his terrorizing days of ultraviolence.
A jarring amount of nudity, violence, and disturbing situations make A Clockwork Orange a difficult yet highly rewarding film to watch. Gratuitous but arguably necessary to paint a vibrant scene of futuristic and satirically current hysteria, the violence and sexual assault is provided in a contrasting context to the tortures Alex must suffer for his misdeeds. Alex chooses violence as a rebellious act against conformism and values its evil above inertia. Almost operatic in nature, a musical accompaniment of blaring Beethoven augments nearly every scene, creating a lighthearted Elizabethan tone to intensify the vulgarity on display. The soundtrack is phenomenal and perfectly matched to each scene to evoke various emotions, and frenetic, time-altered editing oftentimes accompanies these wondrous scenes.
The film is filled with breathtaking and uniquely memorable moments including Alex confined to a chair with metal prongs prying his eyes open, a dolly shot toward the group of droogs sipping spiked milk, and the slow-motion scene in which Alex kicks Georgie into a canal and gracefully replaces Dim's outstretched hand with a glistening knife.
The most impressive aspect of the film is one of the same critically acclaimed aspects used in Anthony Burgess' chilling novel, and that is the invented language "Nadsat" used throughout by all of the droogs. A creative blend of Russian, English, slang and completely made-up verbiage, Alex narrates using this language, and despite the numerous unfamiliar and foreign phrases, audiences still universally understand it. A brilliant mix of double-edged words and humorous adjectives (e.g. "the old in and out" equals "sex") his speech is more complex in the novel, but perfectly honed and never overused in the film.
The designs of Alex and his group were a huge success and have immortalized the bowler hat. Bloody eyeballs adorned the sleeves of their crisp white clothing, and their thick lower false eyelashes are a strikingly bizarre look. The entire artistic design of the film is so outlandish that words don't do it justice.
Kubrick's brilliant interpretation of the novel houses multitudes of subliminal messages and commentary on society in a glaringly visual way that couldn't have been achieved by anyone else.
A Clockwork Orange is an incredible journey into the fiery genius of Stanley Kubrick and perhaps the best film of his career. Visually stunning and an intense morality play involving the freedom of choice and the state's influence on civilian lives, the film may be science fiction on the outside, but it is pure classic on the inside.
- Mike Massie
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A classic indeed, 27 October 2007
Author: Rautus from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Stanley Kubrick has done some really great and classic films like Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey , The Shining and A Clockwork Orange is definitely one of them. The film has an appeal to it that makes it such a classic film since it has violence, rape, comedy, satire, irony, drama and a main character that is so interesting you can't help but love the film. The acting is great especially from Malcolm McDowell who does a great job as the main character Alex. The film is narrated by Alex has he tells his story of what happened to him with his gang and what happened after, Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is a young man who is the leader of a gang he calls Droogs that like ultra violence and rape, Alex also likes listening to Beethoven music. They also like spending time at a Milk Bar when they're not doing any ultra violence or rape, the Milk contains drugs which makes them ready for more. Alex also shows his Droogs who's boss and after a discuss of a new idea Alex beats the two up but afterwards he lets them tell him there new idea to rob someone, they go to the cat lady's house and Alex sneaks in and after accidentally killing her with an ornament he unlocks the door and just as the police are arriving they whack him over the face with a milk bottle and leave him for the police.
Alex is sent to prison and after a while in there he hears about a new treatment being used that stops people from going to prison again, the warden allows him to leave so Alex is then transferred there where he soon is taught that violence and rape is bad by watching videos of certain things and the medicine makes him feel bad when these things happen, Alex can no longer hurt anyone or rape anyone because if he does he will feel a terrible feeling. Alex can only do good after only doing evil, he's a Clockwork orange.
A Clockwork Orange is a great classic by Stanley Kubrick that should be seen. Check this out. 10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
This is one of the best Kubrick films I have seen yet., 20 October 2007
Author: BobStage from Ontario, Canada
"A Clockwork Orange" was always a book and a movie that were both forbidden due to extreme violence and coarse matter. Like any young guy, I acquired an interest to see it one day.
So now, as a teen, I can say that I have read the book, and also seen the movie. The book is one of the best novels I have read yet. It is amazing how foresighted and smart Anthony Burgess was in making such a book. Then, who decides to make it a movie? Stanley Kubrick. I had seen some of his other films, and I was eager to see "A Clockwork Orange".
The film is a very good film, most especially thanks to the talented Malcolm MacDowell, the directing skills of Kubrick, and the story itself.
Malcolm gives such an amazing act as the villainous youth Alex de Large, who is a youth in a futuristic England, where hoods and teens rule the night streets with a savage immorality. Rape, violence, and rebellion are the order of the day, and Alex loves it. Then he is apprehended by the police, and his journey leads him to a dreadful new experiment. I would have to say that I could not imagine anyone apart from Ewan Macgregor (TRAINSPOTTING) that could even match to the stunning, Oscar-worthy performance of MacDowell.
Kubrick is a very good director, who ranks alongside Oliver Stone and Martin Scorsese as my three favourite directors. His films inspire thought, interest, and entertainment. His methods of direction truly pay off in this adaptation to "A Clockwork Orange". It's a pity that he was soon to be despised as a reclusive pervert from this film. He did an amazing job, and I admire him for it.
Finally, the last but not least credit must go to the cleverness of the original creator of "A Clockwork Orange". Burgess' novel is wonderful, and for the most part, the movie takes the ideas of the novel correctly. One error would have to be the cutting of Burgess' original novel, but that is not Kubrick's fault, as the American version of the novel is made that way. It would have been nice to see the original ending in the novel, but this is a minor complaint.
This movie really appeals to youth, and it is a great movie to see. If I had to pick the best films of Kubrick's career, I would hail "Eyes Wide Shut", "Barry Lyndon", and "A Clockwork Orange" as the best films he ever made. Thank you Kubrick, thank you MacDowell, and thank you Burgess, for the genius that is "A Clockwork Orange".
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
One Of The Most Powerful Films, 7 October 2007
Author: (Pulpthatsfiction) from Minnesota
First We all Know that Stanly is one of the best directors, but I had not seen one of his films. When I first heard about this movie I thought this would be bad. Then I heard how good this film was and watch the trailer and then I knew I had too see it. It took me awhile too find this movie but I found it. I was shock to how good this film was and I'm glad to give this film a 10. first this film has great acting and the camera work is great. I'm shock that this film won no Oscars but at least it got nominated . This is one of the most powerful film I have seen since platoon. I would highly recommend This film too anyone .
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Iconic, mesmerising, intoxicating, beautiful... Kubrick's unique masterpiece is one of the greatest cinematic works of the 20th Century, 27 August 2007
Author: galileo3 from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Number 1 - 1971
Top 10 - 1970s
Top 50 - All Time
This satirical sci-fi masterpiece featuring the charismatic and psychopathic delinquent Alex de Large (in a tour de force performance by Malcolm McDowell) whose prime interests are classical music rape and ultra violence. A Clockwork Orange features disturbing and violent imagery to facilitate social commentary issues ranging from psychiatry, youth gangs, and other topics in a futuristic dystopian Britain. The film is visually enticing, acoustically beautiful and magnificently directed by Kubrick who should have been awarded a Best Director Oscar for his simple yet bravura direction of the film.
A Clockwork Orange can be assessed on so many different levels. There are several reasons why this film is awarded a five star rating, so many reasons why it reigns on many critics' top lists and even today more than three decades later, it is an undeniably popular film with a cult status.
I find it to be an extremely bizarre film made by an eccentric director. I appreciate and savour the film's fine elements such as the beautiful soundtrack featuring Beethoven's 9th Symphony over disturbing rape scenes and other scenes of various vulgarities. The film's direction, sets and costumes create a feeling of a dystopia, which is what England is supposed to be; a country where the government maintains a firm grasp over its citizens.
Kubrick's creation of Alex de Large, played with ruthless efficiency by Malcolm McDowell is an obscene cinematic creation. One of the most sadistic, violent, twisted , disturbed characters in motion picture history; yet Kubrick presents Alex, his protégé in this film, in such a manner that although Alex commits such atrocities, Stanley Kubrick manages to maintain a feeling of a strange compassion towards him; no not compassion that is the wrong word; rather we do not hate the character because he is the hero of the film, or rather the Anti-hero.
The film which is a perfect exercise in beautiful, visual film-making is firstly a great impact on the psyche and on an emotional level the film gets under you skin - just for that the film is a masterpiece. A theme in the film is a question of morality and the definitions of good and evil; can good be manufactured or reinforced through psychological therapy? For example after the aversion therapy, Alex behaves like a good member of society, but not by choice; his "goodness" is involuntary and mechanical, like that of the title: A clockwork orange. In prison, the chaplain criticises the Ludovico Technique, saying that true goodness must come from within. Another theme is the abuse of one's liberties – both by Alex and by those using him for their various ends. The film is also severely critical of behavioural psychology as propounded by Watson and Skinner, a perspective that human behaviour is entirely moulded by social/environmental factors. Such theories were popular from the 1940s to the 1960s. Burgess disapproved of behaviourism calling Skinner's most popular book 'Beyond Freedom and Dignity' as "one of the most dangerous book ever written". Skinner argued that behaviour modification is the key to an ideal society. The Ludovico treatment used on Alex is reminiscent of the Project MK-ULTRA, the covert CIA mind-control and chemical interrogation research program, run by the Office of Scientific Intelligence. The program began in the early 1950s, continuing at least through the late 1960s, and it used United States citizens as its test subjects. The published evidence indicates that Project MK-ULTRA involved the surreptitious use of many types of drugs, as well as other methods, to manipulate individual mental states and to alter brain function.
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most cinematically pounding, visually enthralling landmarks in cinema and one of Kubrick's finest achievements.
10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Oh my brothers...what a film!, 27 August 2007
Author: Skippy001 from USA
Twenty-five years on from its release, A Clockwork Orange has lost none of its power to shock and outrage. In this near-future setting the outlets for teenage enthusiasm are few and far between. Disenchanted, youths form ritualistic gangs, fight battles and engage in vandalism. Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) is the leader of just such a group, marked out by their preferences for phallic masks and boiler suits.
His select followers (known as droogs) are Dim (Warren Clark), Georgie (James Marcus) and Pete (Michael Tarn). On a typical evening they'll stop by the Korova for some milk-plus, to sharpen them up, before venturing into the urban jungle. On this particular night they don't have to travel far for a spot of "ultraviolence"; a rival gang are about to force a bit of the "old in-out" on a helpless young devotchka (girl). For the pure love of violence they decimate their rivals.
The element which elevates A Clockwork Orange above similar films is its bizarre juxtaposition of music (often classical) with violence. Images and sound pull in different directions, stimulating conflicting emotions (as Kubrick no doubt intended). On top of this, the profusion of erotic symbols forms a not very subtle subtext, taking in everything from the objet d'art murder weapon to the feverish coupling of medical staff. Kubrick filters all of this through camera trickery (slow-motion, unusual angles, fish-eye lens etc), heightening rather than subduing emotion. It's easy to see why A Clockwork Orange has divided critics - it's extremely graphic and unsettling...but its still a masterpiece film that deserves praise and admiration.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Beethoven and ultra violence. Yes... of course its about our "clockwork orange"., 20 May 2007
Author: Cristian from Colombia
Stanley Kubrick is one of the most important directors of all movies history. He makes controversy since his "Dr Strangelove" to its confuse "Eyes Wide Shut", and films that we never going to forget like "Lolita", "Full Metal Jacket" (I Have not seen this yet) and famous horror classic "The Shining". But, without a doubt, "A Clockwork Orange" can be called as its most important masterpiece. "A Clockwork Orange" is one of the most important critiques to any powerful division of the world. Home, politic, religion and morality are the central critiqued topics. All of this deceived by one of the most unforgettable and hated characters of movies of all time: Alex de Large.
"A Clockwork Orange", based on Anthony Burgess, told us the story of Alex. He is a young guy like any of its age. Well, only that he don't like go to school, and instead of that, he decided go with his "droogs" for milk-plus and at the same time to reserve forces for a night of ultra-violence, steal, rape and murder. But all change when Alex friends are unlawful with him. All is going to change? With a unforgettable Malcolm Mc Doweell as Alex, this futuristic propose of Kubrick is one of the most important works that i (Maybe every one) have ever seen. If don't is the "most important" critique of society (For me, the best movie that critiques society and world in every sense is Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Salò o le 120 giornati di Sodoma") is one of the best that you'll ever find. Alex, is that sarcastic character who embodies all a society. A dirty, unlawful and unmoral society. A society that in all its division, has and own interest (Politics and religion). An abusive and vengeful society. A society where only the strongest survives. The weakest lives wretchedly. And a society that think itself that is changed for good ... but maybe its the same ... maybe worst.
*Sorry for the mistakes ... well, if there any.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A clockwork ourang, 14 May 2007
Author: brenn g from Argentina
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Based on the 1962 book by Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange cannot be described as anything but a masterpiece of the science fiction and drama genres.
Set in a futuristic London which resembles the old USSR, the film directed by genius (and detail-obsessive) Stanley Kubrick -director of 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Shining, among others- shows a gang of teenagers whose only aim in life is ultra-violence. Alex DeLarge, the main character, portrayed brilliantly by Malcolm McDowell, is the leader of this gang: a charming fifteen year old boy with a great passion for music, especially Beethoven.
Throughout the film, Alex and his droogs (friends in Nadsat- their teen slang, influenced by Russian) are shown raping, hurting and stealing without any sense of guilt or morality. What strikes most to the viewers about the film is that it gives a violent atmosphere while showing almost no blood. Moreover, nobody can avoid feeling sympathetic towards Alex, no matter how strong his lack of ethical issues is.
After quarreling with part of the gang, Alex is set a trap which leads him to jail, accused of murder. There, he takes part of a special reconditioning treatment, in order to shorten his sentence. Submitted to brainwashing, the boy goes out to the streets again, transformed into a different person… but is he in reality?
There is no scene in the film which cannot be referred to as controversial: cruel fights shown in slow camera, with classical music backgrounds (who can forget the Singin' in the Rain scene!); a rape filmed in an aesthetically beautiful way; fast camera sex; concentration camps and Beethoven appearing on screen at the same time. When the film was released in 1971, it was rated either X or R, for strong explicit sexual content and rape, perverse nudity, brutal violence, and some language. Then again, most films nowadays show at least as much.
However, there are few films that deal with the topic of freedom of choice as A Clockwork Orange does. Is it right for a man to be good when he is not choosing to be so? Also starring Patrick Magee and Michael Bates, the film lasts 136 minutes and is a must-see of the cinema. After 36 years the film not only still holds us in grasp, but also speaks volumes about our current culture.
If I should critic anything about the film, however, it would be the fact that it does not show the last chapter of the book. Nevertheless, Kubrick had adapted it from the American version, which already lacks that final chapter, in which Alex grows and experiences a change, no longer finding pleasure in ultra-violence. Although in the introduction of the 1996 edition of the novel it is said that Kubrick found the end of the original edition too blandly optimistic and unrealistic, it shows a very different interpretation of the "unruly youth", which deserves to be known.
Therefore, not only the film is a must-see, but viewers should feel compelled to read the end of the book after it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
hard to understand at first., 10 April 2007
Author: ivanmatthews77-1 from United States
This is one of the strangest movies I have ever seen. The wacky twisted world created in Stanly Kubrick's A Clock Work Orange is so bizarre at first I really didn't know what to think. After I watched it a couple more times and did some research, I realized what a great film it is. First off it is a really great adaptation of the book which is written in a thick British dialect so it is extremely hard to understand. The story takes the unruliness of adolescent boys and how to deal with them. The film is shot really well. There are a lot of dark shots and contrast is used really well. I may never be able to listen to Beethoven again. Thought this movie is extremely violent and crazy. I think it is an excellent film. It takes a few viewings to really appreciate it, but the pay off is really great.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Brutal, shocking and ingenious., 25 March 2007
Author: SkullyD from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I will warn you. "A Clockwork Orange" makes no apologies. It's violence is brutal, it's nudity graphic. But even more provocative is the fact that the film makes you care about a character who is essentially the villain of the story. Alex DeLarge, played with aplomb by Malcom MacDonald, is a spoiled, heartless, immoral bastard. Alex enjoys making other people suffer. He shows no remorse as he beats and old drunk, rapes a writer's wife or violently bludgeons a woman to death with a ceramic phallus. He seems disappointed in being sent to prison, but never sorry. When Alex undergoes behavioral conditioning is when we really begin to feel sorry for him. He's forced to watch scenes of sex and violence which, thanks to drugs, make him feel sick. He develops a physical aversion to both of his favorite pastimes, but there is no inner change. Alex is released from prison following his treatment and finds that he is no longer welcome. his parents have rented his room to a stranger, his old gang have become police officers who beat and nearly drown him and he is plagued by suicidal thoughts. Eventually, Alex attempts suicide. He lives. To avoid embarrassment, the government undoes his conditioning and bargains with him to keep his mouth shut. In the end, we're left to wonder who the real villain is; Alex, or the system which has spawned him. The film offers no pontification of this question. The viewer must decide; is "badness" a choice or an inborn quality? And ultimately the question becomes: Is man basically good or basically evil?
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
This is a great, yet very weird movie., 1 March 2007
Author: xsdeuce from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange is a movie staring Malcolm McDowell. It is a British film that supposivily takes place in the far future. It is very preverted,yet has one amazing screen-play. I have seen it in 8th grade, 9th grade, and have not understood it until 10th grade, but it is truly one of a kind.
It is based on a book titled none other than "A Clockwork Orange" written by Anthony Burgess. He was told he has 6 months to live, and he ended up living for 24 years! This movie is about a young "hoolagan" and his buddies. They go around rapping women and other things. Finally one ends up getting caught. going to jail, and experiencing therapy which will make him less preverted. The therapy works, yet in the end of the movie it basically states "it is best to be yourself" and he goes back to being the preverted mind that he is.
The movie is explaining ways which the government works, and how to bend the rules. Took me 3 times to watch before i understood that.
I love this movie and I could watch it 4,000 more times. Would i show my kids it. NO. would i recommend it to you? Most Definitely.
So if you are in high school, i sugjest you get off your behind and go rent A Clockwork Orange. Ya know, don't rent it.BUY IT. its a keeper.
Thanks pals. -Eric Ari
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Wonderfully Sardonic, 18 February 2007
Author: Carly (evil_pickle_666@yahoo.com) from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I love this movie. The first time I saw it was November of this year in fact. I saw it at my best friends house. I had read the book for English class (I was actually surprised my teacher let me due to the fact that it was the eighth grade) I had read the book three times over after that and couldn't get enough of it. I got my best friend into it, and we like to quote it all the time. I really liked how they used quotes directly from the book in the movie. Some of the scenes though, Stanley Kubrick left out that I thought was necessary, for instance, the scene when he was raping the two 10 year old girls I thought had to be there because it showed how sick he was. Though there were some parts in there that weren't in the original book like when ALex was singing 'Singin in the Rain' as he was beating up the old man. That was rather sardonic yet entertaining. Overall I thought it was excellent and I would recommend it to anyone.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's best, 15 February 2007
Author: ozgur aytac from Canada
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clock Work Orange directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1971. The movie is great example of amazing art style cinema and Kubrick shows his visionary point of view as an artist.
Movie takes place near future in Britain. Main character anti-hero Alex is a teenage gang leader. Alex and his gang members are stealing, beating and raping their victims everyday. When Alex is jailed by cops he volunteers for the experimental cure program. And he does not know that treatment is painful brainwash until it is too late. He is cured and he is ready for the new life which will be more painful than his treatment. And ironically rapist and murderer hooligan Alex become a victim of the movie
In the movie, Kubrick delivers his messages in a perfect way by using symbolism in every frame. For instance, Alex kills his victim by using sculpture of the penis, He and his friends drink milk all the time and so on
Amazing storytelling, strange camera angles and movements make the movie totally different than other movies. Moreover, violence is so intense and realistic that creates disturbing feel its audience. Such as, using eyeball clams, rape and beating scenes are painful to watch
Kubrick creates very cold atmosphere by using his camera style. And the futuristic retro designs also give a moody ambiance its audience.
Political system as cruel as it can be moreover, Fascist government uses its power to control feelings. In that point, movie is asking its audience which is worst? His crime or the punishment he is given.
Another great thing about the movie is its character changing. These extreme characters changing create more trouble for our victim Alex.
I believe that Malcolm McDowell gives one of the most powerful performances in the history of cinema. Unfortunately, he did not get the attention which he deserved it.
Soundtrack of the A Clock Work Orange is as good as it can be. Whenever I hear Beethoven or singing in the rain I picture the scenes from the movie.
A Clock Work Orange is a masterpiece. In addition, Kubrick's powerful film making style proves his art vision. I came up with two questions. Is Stanley Kubrick the greatest director of all time? And, is A Clock Work Orange best Kubrick movie? I believe that he is the greatest and yes A Clock Work Orange is the best Kubrick movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Karma=Commupence????, 10 February 2007
Author: will feather from United Kingdom
Malcolm McDowell plays the optimum role in the film. His cruel intent eyes. and his hook smile, bring upon a vindictive character that all will fear. Although the cool, controlled motions of his character bring about an icon that most men would like to experience once in a lifetime, his leadership ways are so sincere. He is both feared and revered. He is an ugly Churchill. Taking into account the other end of the spectrum, women find him dominating, yet attractive and at the same time very repulsive. He is both feared and loathed. He is an ugly Bruce Willis.
The film also highlights the idea that abiding by the law and conforming to religion, is the correct way that people should live. Being filmed in 1971, religions that were of the minority at the time, were not taken into account and were dismissed entirely. Yet who is to decide that this is right? There is that edge that Christianity is the only root.
Throughout the film Beethoven's 'ninth symphony' can be interpreted in a rainbow of ways. There is the fear of being unable to predict what is around the corner, but it also has that definitive feel of defiance and dominance. It is so consistent throughout the film, it creates an equilibrium level. Furthermore the use of William Tell brings an accelerated pulse to the consented sexual notions in the film.
The use of Russian language and the combined idiolect of the characters bring about some amount of social understanding and status hierarchy. The understanding however, is shot right back down when the filmography is taken into account. Stanley Kubrick uses wide shots on a technicolour camera then extreme close ups on the characters, whereby the appearance means nothing and their facial expressions and eyes show their emotions.
Guilt is a key theme that runs throughout the film, recognised fully at the end, unfortunately however sometimes not recognised at all. None of the characters feel guilt, it is in actual fact the audience that feel it. It is the pressures that the Government put people under to bring a shortcut to legislation and the revival of criminals. One thing that the audience should not feel guilty about however, is thoroughly enjoying the film, as it is a work of art in its own right.
And lets face it, Karma is a key concept, and if believed we should all treat our friends better and take into account how much they are worth....BKWF
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
amazing film, but..., 10 February 2007
Author: almightynicco from Denmark
PLEASE read the book.
It's by Anthony Burgess, and it knocks the spots off sappy imitators. The slang-lingo Nadsat is the language they're speaking throughout the whole movie..
the entire book is written this way.
You'll be gavoreeting real horrorshow after giving this libro a serious viddy, my very fine droogs....
Don't cheat yourself out of a fantabulous read.
And yes, Kubrick is a genius... the film is spectacular.
And I don't think Malcolm McDowell has ever been able to top this performance over the course of his expansive career... but I can't blame him.
And it should definitely be listed as one of the top 10 films of all time.
There, that's gotta be 10 lines...
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
One of the greatest films ever, 8 February 2007
Author: Alex Hobart from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
From start to finish Stanley Kubricks' 'A Clockwork Orange' entrances the viewer with incredible sets, astonishing music and a brilliant script Malcolm McDowell puts on his best performance as the anti hero protagonist Alex DeLarge. McDowell truly captures the charm, evil, unique and mesmerising character which the viewer will fall deeply in love with.
The sets of this unmissable film are the greatest i have ever seen, which ooze with colour and unique obscenity. Every time i watch my Clockwork Orange DVD i enjoy the use of shadows, mirrors and pictures throughout. Kubrick's unique vision of Anthony Burgess' classic novel remains as provocative and powerful as when it was banned 36 years ago.
The violence portrayed is disturbing and show the depth of Alex's evil. In the first 10 minutes of the picture the viewer sees some of the most disturbing violence seen on screen. This evil is accompanied by his love for music especially for Beethoven's ninth symphony.
Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange is far more then a controversial masterpiece. It is a unique study of language, visual interpretation, the power of music and of course the universal question of free will.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Greatest movie ever., 22 January 2007
Author: Korovabar from Rotterdam, Netherlands
A clockwork Orange is a brilliant masterpiece of Stanley Kubrick: in my honest opinion, the best movie he ever made. The Shining en 2001: A Space Oddesey were fabulous movies, but ACO rises all above them. To tell you the truth, I have never been so impressed by a movie as this one. I now am going to explain the reason for that right know, at least, I'll try to.
What many people say, is true: The first time you watch this movie, you really think "What the ****"????? and you'll prefer to throw this movie away. Then again, it's not a movie to rent at a dull Friday night with a bunch of friends. No my droogs, this is a very controversial movie, so brutal and cruel yet filled with so many messages and looks at the future, you really have to think while watching this movie, and have to stay serious. The movie has very funny pieces in it, but then again, it's far from a comedy. It's a dramatic, criminal, violent, and also a very crazy movie. But with crazy I mean it the good way crazy. This movie is about a teenager (16-18)named Alex, who's life is all violence, sex and Beethoven. Every night he sits at the Korova Milk Bar, drinking drug milk with his 'droogs' (buddies or friends) Dim, Pete and Georgie. Dressed very odd, they walk and drive to town, raping and beating the **** out of innocent people. Just for fun. But when they are breaking into a woman's house, the other droogs take revenge on Alex for being to bossy and too violent against them (pushing Dim into the water, slapping him etc. etc.). Alex is caught by the police and has to go to jail for 14 years. For 2 years he sits in this prison, when he hears of a new technique that will cure him and make him a free man in 14 days. He agrees...
Thus so far the story line: I don't want to tell too much of it, for many people still have to watch this movie.
Why do I give it a 10?? This movie is harsh, violent and almost pornographic sometimes, but those are just a few scenes. The real moral of this movie, the plot, the idea behind this whole story is the work of a genius. Also, they can make a movie look so good without any SF and the actor's are doing a great job, especially Alex. Also, the set is very strange, yet awesome: you can't place this movie in a certain time period or year. This movie still plays on in my head after 2 years, still let me think about this strange world and I'm still a great fan of Alex and his droogs. Cheers.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A mind-boggling film, 2 December 2006
Author: xiayun from United States
I'm not even sure how to start reviewing this one of the kind film. I had seen 5 Kubrick's films previously (The Killing, Paths of Glory, Dr. Strangelove, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut), and the uniqueness of each endeavor is so palpable. His film is divisive because he is not afraid to push the envelop, and A Clockwork Orange is more vivid in that regard than any others. From its jaw-dropping opening shot (I was like, "oh my goodness, this is going to be weird"), the first act went on a mind-boggling journey of sex, violence, and unlawfulness. The extreme sadistic behavior is presented with Beethoven's classical music on the background; it truly has to be seen to be believed.
The story got progressively weaker in the second and third acts, but it showed the other extreme of trying to eliminate the "criminal impulse", the dark side of human mind, by developing a negative Pavlovian response to illegal activities through medical and psychological treatments. It demonstrated the danger of dehumanization and proposed the important question of, as a society, how much we are willing to trade our freedom for a "quieter", more secure life. Alex turned from a chilling villain to a somewhat sympathetic victim; a lot of his acts are despicable, but somehow we could identify with him throughout the movie, even if we don't want to admit.
The film touches some serious subjects, so it could easily feel heavy-handed with a lesser director, but Kubrick's style, full of memorable images, just completely absorbed me in until toward the end. It's both a satire and drama and deserves the status fans have given.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Thrilling and Attracting, 26 November 2006
Author: mwuttke-1 from Germany
After having watched the film for several times, I must say that "A Clockwork Orange" is truly a masterpiece and has not lost any attraction ever since. Why? Because Kubrick managed to connect his "style" and the controversial topic of Anthony Burgess novel "A Clockwork Orange" and turned it into a nightmarish and futuristic thriller. When I watched it for the first time, I was completely stoked and could not believe that it was made back in the 1970s, because for me it could easily keep up with a lot of today's films.
Especially the language of "Alex and his droogs", "Nadsat", a mix of old Russian and English got me right from the first scene of the film and has not let loose ever since I have watched it for the first time either...
Some people argue that the violence used in "A Clockwork Orange" might be too "violent" and too graphic, but I think that the violence only contributes to Kubrick's main goal of connecting the strong language and strong violence, in order to create the notion of a strong apocalyptic future, where the individual is completely dispatched from any kind of values, confronted with a society based on the material status and only functions (especially in Alex' case) as society's cue ball.
Almost like our current world! Almost?
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Society as a person., 20 November 2006
Author: Allison Pitts from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
The most enigmatic villain/ protagonist/ hero graces the screen and shocks us into amazement and revulsion. From the start, one feels as if one is watching a snuff film: the gritty, slarkly brutal beatings and the rape set to the tune that implied the joy of being in love creating a world that you thought you understood. Then one is taken into the home of what had thus far been painted as an untouchable and distant figure. Allowed to see inside the room and presumably the mind of this man, who, the viewer is shocked to see, still lives with his parents. Humanizing seems an incorrect word to use here when you consider that everything that Alex did and that we can assume that he would do is all inherently human, human nature being more akin to that of a beast than any of us would like to let on. We can all identify with Alex in one way or another, because Alex is the unbridled product of society set loose upon itself.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A strange film indeed,oh my brothers! But good!, 10 November 2006
Author: SmileysWorld from United States
It goes without saying that Stanley Kubrick had unique visions when it came to film making,steering clear of any traditional styles and clichés.What struck me about A Clockwork Orange was it's unique dialog and unique musical soundtrack.Who would've ever thought we would see or hear Singin' in the Rain or Beethoven's 5th in such a way as it is here?The plot of this film is to say the least,bizarre.It all takes on the appearance of a strange English dream,yet something about it is very appealing.Despite it's strangeness,you are compelled to keep watching.It's one of those rare films that makes it difficult to tell anyone about it or give away any of the plot line.You just have to see it for yourself,and that qualifies it for greatness.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Oh My Brothers!, 10 November 2006
Author: Taran_Cross from United States
This is possibly one of my favorite movies of all time. This is by far the best Kubrick film ever, the brilliance of this movie is three fold; first, the performance by Malcolm McDowell, second the music, and third the political message presented by the movie. McDowell's take on the character Alex is so excellent because he makes you love him. Even when he's doing the most despicable and deplorable acts you can't help cheering him on, and wanting him to do these things to women, and innocents. You love this sociopath and want to hang out with him and go indulge in a little of the old ultraviolence with him. Every time he says my brothers you can't help being taken in by his charismatic and bad ass personality. The scariest part of this movie is when it's over and your sitting there and you realize that you love the character Alex, and you wonder what that says about you as a person. Second the integration of Ludwig van into the movie is what makes it a masterpiece. Beethoven almost becomes a character in and of himself in the film, like he's speaking to you through those eyes as the 9th is playing. also the scene where Alex singing singin' in the rain while raping the wife is so powerful, and it's amplified by the choice of such a happy go lucky song. After watching the movie so many times it's impossible to tell if I love this movie because of my love of Beethoven or if I love Beethoven more because of this movie. They become unified in your mind so that you cannot hear the 9th without thinking about Alex and this movie. You love Alex because as he is a rogue and utter miscreant, but the music he loves isn't hardcore rock, or death metal (even though they didn't exist in 1971) it's classical, and Lugwin van! That more than anything makes you love this character because of his complexity. Lastly, the political message of the movie. How the 'treatment' that Alex is given turns him not into a good man, but rather into a mechanical apparatus that has no real choice. I also love the irony that is not lost on the audience of the Priest saying that Alex has no choice, and is not really being good. But Alex is really the best Christian, because Christianity does not say that people should be good men for the sake of being righteous, but rather because of a threat of punishment if you perform bad acts, this is paralleled to the sickness that Alex experiences, which is his personal hell. The political implication of this are far-reaching and reflect many political writings on control, mainly, to me, Michael Foucault and the idea of biopower. Where in, after much conditioning the agent will control himself because of fear of a threat that may not even be present, much like the mind police in 1984, the fear of possible punishment controls the agent, as it does Alex. For while the drug has left his system the effects of the conditioning make him feel as if he is sick, he is within the panopticon. This is one of the greatest movies of all time, and reflects the artistic brilliance of it's creator. It is one that all generations should experience, whether you are a baby boomer, or if you are a member of generation x like myself. I tip my hat to the genius Stanley Kubrick, possibly the greatest writer/director ever, and this is his shining jewel that blinds with it's magnificence
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Viddy viddy viddy well!, 30 October 2006
Author: SeanJoyce from United States
****The bulk of of this "comment" was aimed at trying to shed some light to a user on A Clockwork Orange's critical and commercial appeal.
As of this writing, I'd say that A Clockwork Orange is my 3rd favorite film in the Kubrick oeuvre (from what I've seen so far.) I'll try to give a brief explanation as to why A Clockwork Orange is so adored by cinephiles and it has attained such a high place in the cinematic pantheon.
Visually, aside from 2001: A Space Odyssey (which I detested), it is Kubrick's most impressive film. The aura created through the unique look of Alex and his droogs, the gaudy British clothes and the palette of colors that surface throughout the film make the whole package appeasing to the eyes.
Kubrick is renowned for his usage of classical music in his films, and here he litters his movie throughout with an eclectic mix of recognizable and catchy music. People dig that; it's enchanting in a hip and cool way.
Despite it's surrealism, A Clockwork Orange carries a message at it's center that is actually incredibly simple to understand. In other words, while it may confound you, it really shouldn't; it's an easy to follow film when it comes down to it.
At its center, A Clockwork Orange raises the question of the importance of free will. Would society be better off, much safer and more orderly if man were stripped of his will to choose? And what makes a man? Is he really a human being if he lacks this fundamental principle, the defining characteristic of what it means to be human? To establish this, Kubrick simply set the story in a futuristic Britian, with almost cartoonish like characters; they're caricatures of real life. The characters we come to associate with are larger-than-life, and somewhat satirized accounts of real life people....Ex. Alex and his droogs represent street gangs. The Hitler-like guard (no doubt a spin on the actual person) represents tyrannic oppression...it's all an exaggerated analogy for real life situations. We see a torn-environment where hooligans run rampant and the law is powerless. Alex is a product of this environment. He commits a murder and goes to jail. The "curing" device rids man of the will to do harm, rendering everybody docile and obedient. There is no murder and violence after everybody is "cured". Society is thriving, but do we cease to be human beings without the all-important free will?
That is essentially A Clockwork Orange (at least I hope so!) It's commercial praise stems from it's immense enjoyment factor...people are enthralled by A Clockwork Orange. They dig the British lingo, the classical music, and it's anti-establishmentarianism. The punk look of the droogs caused a massive cult movement. The violence, while off-putting, carries a strong entertainment factor. It's just a different film and a wholly satisfying cinematic experience. It was controversial and extremely shocking; there really had never been anything quite like it before. If you didn't like it, that's fine. My dear friend Arthicus at this website utterly despises it, but his taste in movies is sublime, so you're not an idiot if you don't like it. But try to watch it with an open mind, or give it the old second viddy.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Great movie. Has aged like fine wine, 26 October 2006
Author: dean2900 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I prefer escapism but I do occasionally enjoy a movie that has a a point to make and A Clockwork Orange is one of my all-time favorites.
I am not a big fan of 20001, but love Dr Strangelove, and even one of the few people that appreciated Eyes Wide Shut.
The story is narrated by Malcom McDowell as a young thug who him and his cronies like to terrorize, mug, rape, and abuse people for their sadistic entertainment.
One of Alex's rape victim dies and he is put in jail.
Alex volunteers for a "brainwashing" experiment which will have him back in society in no time.
The brainwashing requires his eyes to be help open by metal pins and for him to watch constant violence while being given drugs to be make him ill. The operant conditioning works and Alex is not capable of harming his fellow man.
However, once he is released from Prsion, many people including his only cronies do harm Alex who is defenseless to protect himself.
The movies asks the question "What measures are considered moral in order to make society safe." The movie has done a great job of turning Alex into a hate villain from the first Act into a sympathetic character that people can relate to by the third act.
The leaves out the last chapter of the book and shows that Alex has reverted back to his old self after bring tortured by his previous victims and pals. In the book, the final chapter showed him becoming a productive member of society. I like the ending of the movie better because it is a bit more cynical and basically shows that you cannot change what person is inside.
The movie is loaded with Sex and Violence but nothing to the point of artless garbage such as Hostel. This movie was made for adults and for people who want to think about the theme's presented.
The movie was filmed in an a not often used 1.66 to 1 ratio and objects in the center of the picture look perfect while objects on the edges look distorted. This is a interesting technique used by Kubrick.
I will admit the one part I don't understand is that Alex's mother has a different hair color in every scene of the movie. She has orange hair, green hair, blonde hair, etc. It is not critical to the plot but there must me something I am is-sing on that part.
This is one of two movies (out of 1000s) that I have rated 10/10.
Dean
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
BRILLIANT!!! But read the book first if you want to understand it the first time through, 24 October 2006
Author: johnmichael-2 from United States
Okay, so many of the 10-star reviewers said they didn't like this movie the first time they watched it, but that they loved after repeated rewatchings. I'm telling you, if you want to understand it and LOVE it the first time through, read the book first! It's one of the best books of all time (just like the movie is one of the best movies of all time), and you'll get a head start on sorting out all the themes.
Then watch the movie. See what Kubrick lends to Burgess's masterpiece. See the juxtaposition of classical music (actually much of it is from the Romantic Era, not the Classical Era) against ultra violence. See Malcolm McDowell's amazing act (and the amazing acting of pretty much everyone else in the cast). See his amazing turnaround(s), and marvel at the most disturbing happy ending of all times. Then leave the movie screen, unable to think of "Singing in the Rain" and "William Tell Overture" in the same way ever again.
I won't go into great details to explain the plot, as you can find it on other reviews in this site. However, I will go on a bit farther to name random thinks I loved. Firstly: "Singing in the Rain" was more appropriate and more effective in this movie than it was in its own movie. Secondly, the humiliation scene was simply amazing, and very sad. Thirdly, the scene where ALex leaves his parents' house after they gave his room to a tenant made me cry and cry and cry and cry. Fourthly, the threesome played to the "William Tell Overture" is the BEST bit of fast motion in a movie. . . EVER!! Fifthly, everything else in the movie was amazing.
Yes, so read the book first, and then watch the movie, and you'll enjoy them both immensely. Read the book also if you want to know the meaning of "A Clockwork Orange", because the movie never really explains it. Oh, and look past the violence and sex. My parents refused to watch it because of it, my sister walked out after the first ten minutes, and my brother wasn't able to see past it. But I was, and I marveled at what I found underneath. This isn't a light entertainment film, nor is it a glorification of violence. But to see that, you need a brain--scratch that, a functional brain that isn't allergic to a good workout. Then you're set. Enjoy the greatest masterpiece of film-making!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Singin' in the Rain, 15 October 2006
Author: booyatom from Canada
I saw this film recently. "Legendary", "cult classic", "extreme violence", "agonizingly crude scenes"; all these were but a few terms used in reference to it. I was quite uneasy before seeing it, worrying that I might not appreciate it enough. Or maybe I wouldn't "get it". I had heard that this film contained very important social messages which viewers were not allowed not to grasp. So with all this hype, I rented A Clockwork Orange and learned what classics are all about.
The first thing that people who approach classics warily must learn is that these films are deemed so because they are highly accessible and let you go filled with ideas you did not have going in. Classics are not work, they impress you with their looks and their styles, their stories and the innovative ways in which they are told.
One could interpret Kubrick's classic anyhow desired. One could say the film's message is you cannot "cure" someone from what is inherent, in this case, a sociopath. Or, one could say the message of the film is you reap what you sow; you can never escape the mistakes of your past because they will end up coming back at you in any way, shape or form. Of course, there are a plethora of other social messages in this film.
Independent of the derived messages of the story, the film is brilliantly constructed. First and foremost, the main character's evolution throughout the film is admirably conveyed by both Malcolm McDowell and Kubrick. McDowell presents us with an absolutely ruthless Alex Delarge whom everybody fears, regardless of his stature; for all we know, he's eighty feet tall with that demonic look in his eyes. The actor shows, through his character, all the signs of a true sociopath, as seen when Alex gives us his first rendition of "Singin' in the Rain". In this early scene, we literally witness our main character (or as he deems himself, "your narrator") break into a married couple's residence, beat the man and rape the woman, all this while singing the aforementioned song. In stark contrast, after the controversial treatment he undergoes sets him free, he is not at all the same person, and only a great actor can genuinely convey that. In addition, what really got to me was when they put him in that restraining chair and they forced his eyes open. There was no cinema magic involved there, they were actually doing that to McDowell, yet he remained totally in character, albeit the physical discomfort.
Now with regards to what Kubrick does in order to bring life to Alex's evolution throughout the film. There's a certain quality great directors have when making their great films and I believe it is that they immerse themselves so completely, heart and soul, into their works that all throughout them, there is a reigning atmosphere which screams that they are creations of artists. A Clockwork Orange bears these qualities. Unlike bad directors (whomever they may be), great ones do not dissociate themselves from their films, undertaking the shooting as a purely technical process riddled with time constraints and budget concerns. The first part of ACO (that is, until Alex is captured) is dominated by the classical music that Alex loves. Even during the beatings and the rapes, the background music is always happy, feel-good music. This is a means Kubrick uses to show what a sociopathic monster Alex is. Killing is fun, rape is a blast. This is Kubrick's message for the first part of the film. Consider this: Kubrick could just as easily have played heavy, dramatic music, or nothing at all, through all this. But he didn't. The reigning atmosphere here is surreal: the attacks are surreal, the homes are surreal and the characters are surreal. It is as if Kubrick is Alex during the film.
A classic comes down to these pretty basic components: great acting, great directing, a score that improves the action instead of hindering it, great writing and all the offshoots of these. Don't break your heads over what we call classics. They are just damn good films.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Disturbing, powerful and stunningly stylish, 15 October 2006
Author: Ben_hanson111 from United Kingdom
Whatever you say about the film's message or moral core, A Clockwork Orange is sensational entertainment. There is no need to search for meaning. Alex is a fantastic protagonist, someone morally reprehensible but very complex, oozing menace and character. His exploits throughly explore this and also how he adapts to survive. The effect hardship has on him show his depth.
This film is Kubrick through and through. Visually stunning, full of futuristic design and cinematography reminiscent of 2001. I view it as pure entertainment, full of dark humour, violence and nudity. Yet it has to be treated seriously. The tone of A Clocwork Orange is very haunting with a chilling soundtrack. It has an endless ability to send shivers down my spine. Alex's narration is very important as it tells you exactly how his complex mind works. The film throws up many fascinating, enthralling and even comical scenarios for Alex which are expertly depicted by Kubrick for maximum impact and suspense. That makes for a great film.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
What is the point of this movie? Sedition, 11 September 2006
Author: dantown from United States
This was a shocking movie 34 years ago. FYI-it's no longer 34 years ago. Just thought y'all should know that. The photography of this movie is absolutely excellent. This movie is a picaresque novel about one Alex the Droog. He is outside the Establishment and embroiled in the establishment-which spits him out its maw. It is supposed to cheer and encourage any young man to throw over the old farty bastards and establish a new order. And now we have the Clintons, and their hippie camp-followers . This was the movie which was supposed to set Malcolm McDowell's career on a high flight into the stratosphere. I find that a serious bad thing, because Malcolm didn't make it as a star. Malcolm is a genuine star, with acting qualities we all recognize. This movie really shocked me and caused mental damage-because I didn't have the mental discipline, or artistic maturity to absorb it. Oh well. I was a teenager and I will survive. This is a gigantically artistic movie for its time. It is elegant in its editing. It is powerful: The colors and angles and script and direction all coalesce into an intense anti-establishment statement which stand as art even today. It is a creature of 1972. It is not so bad, considering the year 1972.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Truly Amazing, 5 August 2006
Author: Mike Murphy from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" is a truly amazing film. Alex is a young man who lives a life of ease. He skips school, parties hardy, and has a good night out with his "droogies" causing mayhem. Alex loves a good night that involves rape, ultra-violence, and Beethoven. He and his entourage, eventually, cause so much mayhem that in the process of having fun, Alex murders a woman. On the way out his posse leaves him behind and he goes to jail for murder. When an inspector comes to the jail he chooses Alex for a test of a new project that can cure criminals of their crime and leave them free of crime for the rest of their days and can do it within a year. Alex is very excited and eager to begin the project.
The project involves Alex strapped to a chair with his eyes forced open watching films of extreme ultra-violence, including disturbing WWII violence, and films of terror, including graphic rape. Alex is stunned and sickened by the footage and is cured. Or is he? Returning home, he has the hope of returning to his home but when he finds someone else renting out his room he tries to pick a fight but the thought of violence almost makes him vomit and he runs away to find himself get caught with people who he has tortured in the past when he was king of the streets. He seeks refuge in a rich writers home who, unknown to Alex, is a man who's wife was raped by Alex and died a few days later. Alex later realizes it when he calls government people over to "help Alex" but the end up helping the man get his revenge by playing Alex's favorite-turned-least-favorite artist, Ludwig van Beethoven. The song drives Alex mad and leads him to attempt suicide. He, somehow, doesn't die and and put in a public hospital where the best caretakers nurse him back to health.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Arguably Kubrick's best work, Definitely his most notorious, 3 August 2006
Author: edantheman from Not-so-great Britain
The word 'masterpiece' is one used to death by so many critics and film-lovers today, but 'A Clockwork Orange' is a work of art totally deserving of that label that so few possess. Although, this being a Stanley Kubrick film, I can't bring myself to say that this is his best work. He gave us cool-as-ice film noir with 'The Killing', wartime terror with 'Paths of Glory', epic entertainment with 'Spartacus' (though not really a Kubrick film, if you get my drift), controversy (Kubrick's middle name!) with 'Lolita', riotous and satiric (very Kubrickian) laughs with 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb', visual splendour (and humans being convincing as monkeys) with '2001: A Space Oddysey', this time a more Kubrickian epic with 'Barry Lyndon', shocks with 'The Shining' (Kubrick at his perfectionist best) and psychological torment with 'Full Metal Jacket'. It's just TOO hard to put my finger on 'one' of them.
Anyhow, back to where I began, this IS a masterpiece and more than 'just a film'. Kubrick puts his screen writing skills to the test as well as directing this time (he did co-write 'Full Metal Jacket' but he had sole credit as screenwriter this time) to create an astoundingly cinematic adaptation of Burgess's cult novel. The film's ending comes a little earlier than the book's and hits you like a billy-cane on the gulliver when it does. Now, please ignore the silly remarks about 'all kids being worse these days and they gonna keep getting worse', because our children will always be bad and so will yours and so were you. True, with the excessively bloody 18-rated 'Grand Theft Auto' series dominating the video game market, the Columbine and Virginia Tech school shootings; it has become more common for the youth to think about violence and murder, but this seems to be telling us that it's better to choose bad than be forced into good. We're all born violent, but we're all born peaceful; but we're all born with minds for making the decision.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
If the movie A Clockwork Orange is not a perfect 10 what is?, 28 June 2006
Author: theman_thefreak from United States
What is there to comment about this movie it is in my top 5 movies of all time. Malcom McDowell who played Alex is one of the great actors of the 20th century. He nailed the role of Alex which is why the movie was so successful. Malcom had even developed his own walk for the role of Alex. Not only this but the changes he had in the movie were so drastic and sudden it left your toes for whether or not you would get normal Alex or psycho Alex. thank you for reading what i have to say about this movie. I thought a few things in the movie as i look back at it now were kinda of funny like for example the name of his thugs were(Droogies).
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Wow, 28 June 2006
Author: Pneumathorax from Netherlands
I have seen ACO 2 times, and the first time I didn't really like it, because of all the violence, but the strange thing was, I just had to see it again.
After the second time, I have come to conclude that it's a great film. I especially like the music during the violence, and the shooting angles are no less than great. I don't notice such things, but I have to say, it was absolutely magnificent.
The story itself is very good. But I have read the last chapter on internet, and I think it should be included, for it makes the film more complete. I think you should see through all the violence, to look at the real message the film has. 10 out of 10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
One of my favorite works of art, 22 June 2006
Author: twin_ears from United States
I know there have been hundreds of comments posted regarding this movie, but I just had to post yet another one because people should always comment on their favorite films. A Clockwork Orange qualifies as my favorite. If you have never watched this film, please do yourself a favor and take the time to do so; it is a highly rewarding experience. I won't go into a summary of the plot or the meaning behind any of it all because that has all been discussed at length here by other reviewers. I will simply write that it is impossible to overstate how truly remarkable and unique this film is, and how simply genius the vision and talent of Stanley Kubrick was with regards to A Clockwork Orange. This has been my favorite film since I first saw it about twenty-two years ago. I certainly enjoy and appreciate other films, though no other work in the medium of film has even come close to approaching this film, in my opinion, as the best example of the medium as an art form. (How very fitting that Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the best piece of music ever written, features prominently in this film. A marriage made in Heaven!) Though usually classified in the genre 'science fiction,' this film genuinely defies categorization, so universal is its scope. Every moment of it is poetry. A priceless film and one of humanity's crowning achievements. I'd give it 100 stars out of 10 if that were mathematically possible.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Not what I expected. Unbelievable., 15 June 2006
Author: Brand_New_Username from Addison, Illinois, United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
It is a disgrace that this movie is #59 on the top 250. It's underrated. Yeah, I said it. This movie should be in the top 20, not behind The Matrix (no offence).
The first time watching this, it's not hard for one to see why this was such a controversial movie for the 1970's. Blatant nudity, brutal violence, and a few rape scenes, to name a few.
However, what really pushes this movie into cult classic, and classic period, is how Alex is completely turned around by "the cure". Being a no good, immoral punk, to a straight-laced person that literally couldn't hurt a fly, even if he tried. The way his parents reject him is very emotional. Malcolm McDowell delivers some of the best acting I've ever seen.
This film teaches a lesson to everyone: be careful what you do in the past, for they will haunt you in the future, in ways you can't even imagine. This is shown in the surprisingly emotional 40 minutes, when Alex is turned away by his parents, former friends, and people he had hurt in the past.
This is definitely a must see, and definitely one of Kubrick's best.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Clockwork Orange, 12 June 2006
Author: Zack H. (supersonicx@gmail.com) from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange is about a teenager named Alex, who, along with his three "droogs", participates in beating and raping helpless victims during the night. After being slapped around by Alex, and a night of the ol' "ultraviolence", the droogies decide to knock him out and leave him for the police to find. He agrees to participate in a new, yet controversial treatment that will shorten his jail sentence. When he is eventually let out, he becomes A Clockwork Orange, which is an object (or person in the case of the movie) which appears normal on the outside but is completely artificial or "mechanical" on the inside. He loathes violence, and can't defend himself, but his ex-droogs, and his victims are looking for revenge.
Stanley Kubrick's direction is top notch as usual, as he was a perfectionist, and in my opinion, got the best from his cast, who were, and still are, excluding Malcolm McDowell, unknowns. Malcolm McDowell's performance is truly Oscar worthy, and I'm surprised he didn't win. I really can't imagine any actor playing the part of Alex other than him. Even Kubrick said that if McDowell hadn't been available to play the part, then he probably wouldn't have done the movie. I also read somewhere during the "Ludivico Treatment" scene, one of his eyelids was scratched by the glazzy clips, also when they were filming the scene where Dim and Georgie were drowning him while beating him, he almost drowned because the breathing pipe in the water messed up. That's true commitment to a film, if you ask me. McDowell also became immensely afraid of eyedrops after filming the scene. There adds to the commitment - doing something so many times so as to become afraid of eyedrops. McDowell's performance in ACO is, in my opinion, one of the greatest, most underrated performances in movie history.
As for the question, "Is this Kubrick's best?", well, I'd say 2001 is his best, but as we all know, opinions differ. In terms of greatness, it's definitely one of his best. I think it is a must-see for any film-lover of any kind.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's Masterpiece is a Genuinely Unique, Sensational, and Brilliant Work of Art, 2 June 2006
Author: RenaissanceMan42 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
What I personally admire most about Stanley Kubrick, and about his work in his master opus A Clockwork Orange especially, is the extent to which the film maker completely disregards the cliché, invariable Hollywood motifs that are present in and ruin so many potentially enjoyable films: there is no obligatory Hollywood love story in this film; there is positively no regard for normal Hollywood decency standards, especially of the time; there is no effort made to minimalize the esoteric language used by Alex and his droogs, despite the fact that only an individual with a moderate grasp on Russian could understand the nature of the speech; and there are, as far as I have noticed, no concessions made to the mainstream, whatsoever. Kubrick relates Anthony Burgess's story in a manner arguably considerably more effective, if not just completely better, than that of the novel. Set to an absolutely glorious soundtrack, featuring Rossini, Elgar, Beethoven, and other great giants of classical music; featuring fight scenes that are so ingeniously choreographed as to be amusing as well as visually stimulating; featuring the signature camera work of Kubrick himself; featuring 'futuristic' art and other eye candy, Clockwork Orange in film form is Burgess's vision brought to life. To glorious, brilliant life. The story of the film is unique in that it combines relative simplicity and sheer genius. As the film focuses on the escapades on the young Alexander De Large (a play on words from a scene in the book that Burgess fans will remember smilingly, as Alex refers to himself as 'The Large'; no last name is actually ever given in the book) and his fortunes, the audience is able to observe in one character, many characters. First there is the revel-rousing, obviously clinically insane Alex, the leader of a gang of vicious young criminals; then, there is the scheming institutionalized Alex, who wants nothing more than to get out of prison; then there is the Alex who is a puppet of society after his treatment; and then there is Alex the victim, the treatment having gone terribly wrong. And, in the end, there is the same old Alex, the criminal, indicated subtly so to the audience in the triumphant final scene of the film when he utters a pair of lines identical to those he had spoken earlier in the film. In the end, Kubrick's Clockwork Orange is a masterpiece. It is a psychological analysis, and it is social satire; it is a showcase for beautiful music and beautiful language; it is an amusing spectacle of dark humour and sly jocularity; is a bizarre, chilling dystopian tale; and it is, very possibly, the most enjoyable film ever produced. And this can largely be contributed to Kubrick's disregard for the Hollywood mainstream. This film is as good and important to people as it is for films, as well. If you are human, and if you enjoy a good film, then Clockwork Orange will suit you just fine. Even if you've fallen desperately dependent upon the sort of mainstream nonsense that Hollywood pumps out today. Indeed, if that is your situation, you will find Kubrick's Clockwork Orange a breath of fresh air, and you will find yourself desperately desiring more films like it. Sadly, there are so few. Wnjoy this film, then, for what it's worth: a great film for the sake of being a great film. And it is truly that, if nothing else. A great film.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Chilling.....Exiting.......Brilliant, 21 May 2006
Author: jarrodarnett from Madagascar
I have seen all of Kubrick's movies and i loved each and every one of them but A Clockwork Orange is different and original from the rest. I was in way confused my first time i seen it. This is a type of movie you have to see more than once to fully understand its meaing. The movie is set in the near future where there is a struggle between power and technology. The story takes off when we see Alex a young troubled teen caught in the middle of this struggle in society. Him and his three friends go along the night causing whatever mayham then can. This is were the most disturing scenes of the film are mostly were Alex and his gang break in a writers home and make him wacth as they gang rap his wife. Alex acts as the commander of the band of rouges. One night the boys get fed up with him and set him up. Alex gets arrested and is put in prison but has a chance to shorten his term. He Voulneteers for a project by the government which is just part of the chaos in society. After that Alex is released he quickly finds out the world is in worse condition than before and he realizes he is a clockwork orange. The movie is most notorious for the portion when Alex and his friends are doing harmful acts against people and it shows how this all seems a bit fictional it could become reality.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Outrageously remarkable, 22 April 2006
Author: Peter Rhydon from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
"A Clockwork Orange" is without any doubt the most politically incorrect movie that I could have seen in my short life. Full of sex, violence and shocking and degrading images so much that it could make the screen blowing off, it appears necessary to wonder why many people (including myself) dare to talk about this Kubrick picture as a masterpiece.
"A Clockwork Orange" tells the story of Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a young delinquent who patrols the streets of a futuristic and dystopic London accompanied by his "Droogies" and their only goal is to get "a bit of the old ultra-violence". We can quickly discover Alex's only three interests: savage violence, raping and Ludwig van Beethoven. Why does he love Beethoven so much? Judging by the images that are shown, it's simply that Beethoven's music inspires violence in Alex's soul.
However, Alex's life takes a different turn when he is betrayed by his Droogies and then arrested and jailed for fourteen years for the murder of a lady in her residence. After two years of incarceration, Alex is offered to be liberated after two weeks if he agrees to give himself up to an experimental treatment which is supposed to free him from any desire for violence and brutal sexual acts.
Even if there isn't any doubt that the main theme for this film is the origins of good and evil in the human being, it could be totally normal that some people ask questions about the utility of including so many scenes of violence and sex in order for the story to make the point about the conclusions it attends to draw.
It's probably because "A Clockwork Orange" seems more to be an exercise of style and a test of tolerance rather than a simple and ordinary allegory about a dystopia that doesn't really differ from many other portrayals that we've already seen before.
Stanley Kubrick doesn't content himself by putting degrading scenes in their most natural character. He brings each time his own personal touch and transforms the vice into art.
Kubrick's favorite weapon remains the ironic use of music, just like in "2001". Rossini's services are particularly used. The brawling scene between Alex's own gang and a rival gang is particularly brutal, not to say almost humorous, and that on the strains of Rossini's "The Thieving Magpie".
The scene where Alex rapes two young girls in his room is very particular and is probably the best one in the whole movie. In fact, the scene is shot in fast-motion on the strains of the famous piece "William Tell Overture" (also played in fast-motion).
And obviously, how could we forget the famous raping scene of Mr. Alexander's (Patrick Magee) wife? How could we forget those images where Alex, wearing a Pinocchio-like mask, ill-treats his victims while singing "Singin' in the Rain" and dancing just like Gene Kelly?
In fact, Kubrick's cinematography stays simple except at the moments where offending images appear. So Kubrick's goal is to prove that it is possible to treat violence as an art. It's nothing but morally unacceptable, so why doing it? Kubrick rather seems to ask: why not doing it?
It's rather obvious that Kubrick doesn't give a damn about the commercial side of cinema. After all, his film originally received a X from MPAA and was inevitably condemned by religious authorities. It must be admitted: Kubrick didn't draw a very flattering portrait of religion in his movie. We can see four plaster Christs wearing rather prominent crotches and Alex, in his fantasies, imagines himself taking pleasure to whip Jesus carrying his cross and we can see him taking part to bloody death fights and orgies.
The society presented in "A Clockwork Orange" really is a totally absurd society where totalitarian and repressive governments can emerge anywhere, even in traditionally democratic states like England. Several characters are so much bizarre that we cannot even consider them as living caricatures. It's the case of Mr. Deltoid (Aubrey Morris) with his totally ridiculous smile who drinks water from a glass containing a denture. There also are the prison guards which look more like soldiers than civil servants. Their chief (Michael Bates) furiously look like Adolf Hitler.
The film succeeds in giving the impression of a futuristic world without ever showing any futuristic technology. Everything is based upon peculiarity. We can see Alex and his Droogies wearing totally white suits as well as bowler hats, top hats and flat caps. As for women, they dye their hair in fluorescent green, blue and pink. The architecture and design are also odd, without counting upon the fact that it's often garish and ugly.
But Malcolm McDowell's performance is all but undesirable. His character shows so much charisma that he almost hides his sadism and his own darkness. He is violent, not because of a mental disorder, nor because of an unstable family or social order, but because he chose to act that way. He also made the choice of subjecting himself to the Ludovico treatment and he made the choice of throwing himself out of the window when he's unable to bear with his new situation. But the treatment looks like an antidote to freedom. So it's a formidable battle that Alex does against society itself. And when he's searching for forgiveness, he can't find anyone ready to offer him.
It's therefore a cold, hopeless and pessimistic look that Kubrick offers here. In his case, it's just normal. He simply combined his ideas with an exercise of style that acts at the same time as some kind of test to check out what an audience is ready to bear to watch a movie. Even thirty-five years later, "A Clockwork Orange" have lost nothing of its ability to shock and cause controversy. For me, it's a shocking film but there's nothing to blame. It's outrageous and it's remarkable. Nothing else to add, O my brothers!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
"In this world of make-believe, they don't believe in me!", 5 April 2006
Author: Aluísio Parondi (nem.freud.explica@gmail.com) from Winooski, Vermont, USA
I have just seen "A Clockwork Orange" for the first time, after many years looking forward to seeing it. Looking back, it was good that I didn't watch it when I was younger, as I probably wouldn't be mature enough to handle it.
"A Clockwork Orange" is certainly one of the most cruel, bizarre and disturbing films ever made. There are some really unpleasant, ultra-violent scenes. It is disturbing because it's not gratuitous, like Larry Clark's movies (especially the outrageous "Ken Park"). Anthony Burgess and Stanley Kubrick were visionaries. ACO not only hasn't aged, but it's quite a landmark now rather than it was 40 years ago. We can see a gang like Mr. Alex de Large's (Malcolm McDowell, superb) on every corner. 21st century youth is gradually getting lost. It's such an empty, brutal state that the recent movies to portray this callow, lost youth don't even use metaphors to criticize the "society": they're raw, straight to the point (at least, most of them). "Thirteen" and "Elephant" are good examples. They may not be half strong and original as ACO, but they're sadly realistic; because we tend to think there isn't a true reason for these teenagers to behave so badly. Apparently, they have everything they need. Whether there's a solution or not, I don't know. What could it be? Brainwash? It wouldn't work. Unless it's in a large scale. High technology has made us lazier, there are lunatic clowns in power, Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff are queens and "Crash" gets the Best Picture Oscar. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I'm laughing not to cry.
Holden Caulfield, the catcher in the rye, is an idol of mine. He was no angel, but at least he tried to understand what's around him – in his eventually twisted way. But at least he tried. And he was sincere. Alex de Large is a bastard. I don't relate to him but, unfortunately, as an 18 year-old guy, I've known much more De Larges than Caulfields. I should stop digressing.
My verdict: "A Clockwork Orange" is a truly unique film, one of Kubrick's best – if not the best. Watch it by yourself. You may not find a solution, but you're going to have an unforgettable cinematic experience. 10 out of 10.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Violence opium to society, 24 March 2006
Author: Roberto from Costa Rica
Kubrick's second, just a little bit behind to 2001. Violence is violence opium to people, and it only can generate... yes you guessed it, Violence. Set Design, costume Design, Music, everything might be considered perfect. McDowell's performance is amazing, what is a shame is that he didn't get the recognition he deserved. Plus, Singin' in the Rain, has a whole new meaning for me. Metaphorically speaking the movies sends the message of Violence as a disgrace of society beautifully. Not for everyone but.. great if you have an opened mind and appreciate the real message.Kubrick sends a message for ages... "I was cured, all right", that's how you end a movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Clockwork Orange, 21 March 2006
Author: undertow456 from United States
Clockwork Orange shows a man and his insatiable love for violence. Alex is a sick and demented man who takes pleasure in others' suffering and demise, until he eventually sees the horror of his actions. He wants to be a part of a new system of reform to get out of prison early, but he slowly loses his sanity and humanity in the process. What he once loved, he now cringes at the thought of. He becomes even more twisted in his mind after becoming "reformed".
The story and the events that take place in this film make it an instant classic in the movie industry. It takes a man from the high point of his life doing whatever he wants, to the lowest part of his life in an attempt to commit suicide. A great movie for all to see and enjoy.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
For me It's the best homage to Beethoven and Mozart, 13 March 2006
Author: ajag180 from Mexico
Oh, i think that "a orange clockwork" remember us the pain of our ancients instincts. Many people say that the ultra-violence represented is the worse form to express our essence. We are a violence specie, we love to communicate, we are afraid of dark and solitude. I consider that the relation or harmony between music, the performance and the dialog is perfect. It also represents the human without any obstacle to action, without any moral code, without any influence of the society, perhaps also without conscience. Alexander is Mozart. We, the homo-sapience are staring, no without desperate a form to be a real different animal. So we must watch the movie with scorn.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
From a Fruit to a Vegetable., 11 February 2006
Author: (Cloud20) from United States
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Anthony Sharp, Warren Clarke, James Marcus, Godfrey Quigley, Michael Bates, Philip Stone, Carl Duering.
'A Clockwork Orange' is, without a doubt, one of the strangest films I have ever seen, and will ever see. It is twisted, disturbing, and ultimately haunting. It is a masterpiece that shows us a look inside the mind of an intelligent, yet disturbed youth.
The plot is about an older teen named Alex who enjoys listening to Beethoven, skipping school, and hanging out with his friends during the evening in a not too distant future. He is obsessed with sex/rape ("the old in-out") and "ultra violence" so much that he thinks about it almost all the time. During the nights, he and his "droogs" either hang out at a milk bar, terrorize bums on the street, or get into brawls. They get into a gang fight, steal a car, break into a writer's house, beat up the writer and rape his wife right in front of his eyes.
The next night, Alex accidentally kills a woman inside her home. When he leaves, his friends betray him and leave him for the police. Alex is sent to prison for years because of his crime. In prison, he hears of something that can cure people from their problems. The doctors decide to test it on Alex by flashing images onto a screen, images that Alex is obsessed with. When Alex is released, his former victims and friends plot revenge on him.
'A Clockwork Orange' is a thought-provoking piece of film that still delivers after over 30 years. It had a powerful impact on me by the film's finale. Content wise, I don't recommend it to everyone. It is extremely graphic with strong use of sexuality and nudity. If that doesn't bother you then you should see this. It really isn't as disturbing as it sounds.
Stanley Kubrick, once again, gives a wonderful direction. I love the way that he directed his movies, almost all of them are great. The soundtrack is very great with Beethoven's Ninth and the film's original score. The composer of the original score, Wendy Carlos, does an excellent job of giving a haunting score.
The words to describe Alex De Large are sick, perverted, twisted, and despicable. I'd be surprised if anyone couldn't tell that already, even after the grin he gives to the camera after the opening credits. Alex has a wide imagination, even if his thoughts are somewhat disturbing. Malcolm McDowell plays him masterfully. I really didn't expect the movie to be like this. I expected it to be some sort of Cyber-Thriller, but it turned out to be a powerful experience.
This movie was adapted from the novel by Anthony Burgess. I admit, I never read the novel, but I really understood the movie. Although it is a Science Fiction movie, it never does have what most others of that genre do: which is lasers, flying objects, and epic battles. This is much different from those, and much more original.
'A Clockwork Orange' is one of Kubrick's best films, definitely his most thought provoking. He is one of the greatest directors in the history of film, and has given magnificent movies. I can't decide if I like this or 'Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (quite possibly THE Sci-Fi film). I will never forget the impact that 'A Clockwork Orange' had on me. 5 stars out of 5.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
One of the most bizarre and unique films ever attempted, 30 January 2006
Author: Jimmy Vespa from United Kingdom
Of course it's not perfect...how could it be? Stanley Kubrick, the obsessive-compulsive auteur was the only choice (except for Ken Russell, who would have had a ball with it) to bring Anthony Burgess's brutally compelling novel to the screen, and he does a fine job. The opening shot, of a smirking, unblinking Alex, staring down the gradually retiring camera as he drinks spiked milk prior to going on a violent rampage of vagrant-beating, gang fights, joyriding, housebreaking and rape, makes sure the film grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. And what a journey it is! A CLOCKWORK ORANGE takes in everything, and I do mean everything, from high farce, black comedy, surrealism, British smut and schaedenfreude to some of the most disturbing, troubling and thought-provoking sequences ever committed to celluloid. It's a film that delights in pulling the carpet out from beneath the viewer, again and again and again. And it works on all kinds of levels, too - beneath the 'futuristic' veneer (which, for all I know, could have already looked dated in 1971) there's a virulent satire on the sheer, eyeball-coruscating ugliness of modern architecture, particularly the neo-brutalist school of characterless concrete blocks and swathes of hideous white cement that was cropping up all over Britain at the time. Then there are the 'minimalist' interiors, hideous costumes (especially on the female characters!), Godawful pieces of pop art trash...it's clear that Kubrick really HATED this stuff, and it must have been a conscious decision for him to dump the classically-minded misfit Alex (whose taste for Beethoven and the most sordid aspects of the Bible mark him out as one who abhors a shallow modernity, and rebels against it wherever possible) in the middle of a world that's so alienating and drab. A common complaint among British youths of the seventies, the nascent 'punks' in particular, was that "everything's crap" - and looking at the ghastly (and surprisingly, not TOO exaggerated) world of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, you can understand where they were coming from! I could banter about this film all day, druggies, but this is my perspective - it's one of the most vicious pieces of social satire ever created, and the legacy of the horrible world little Alex was rebelling against is still with us, decades later. Viddy well, little brothers!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick at his best !!, 25 January 2006
Author: nablaquadro from Ravenna, Italy
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Re-watching a film like "A clockwork orange" these times, we cannot avoid a comparison between the violence 40 years ago, and now. What's is changed ? Drugs, sex and madness still are the (principal) reasons of violence. Yes, but....what's about vengeance ?
When I watched it the first time I supposed "A clockwork orange" little different. I didn't imagine the redemption. What amazed me were the sadist revenges of the previous victims (and even the previous pals) against a cured, disciplined man. Their vendetta is doubly cruel, because they had the consciousness to do it.
We lived (40 years ago) in a hypocritical world.....like today.
Great Malcolm McDowell, and greater Kubrick !!!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Clockwork Man, 20 January 2006
Author: Elwood_Cooper from London, Ontario
The first time I ever saw A Clockwork Orange, it was about 11 at night, and it was on ShowCase. I had heard about this movie a lot from reading stuff on the internet, always coming across it when I was reading about something else, so curious as I am, I decided to watch it. I wasn't ready at all to see what I saw in this movie, but it's like a horrific car wreck, or a guy streaking, you just can't look away. By the time the movie was over I felt sick to my stomach, and I couldn't stop thinking about how horrible it was. But I found, the more I thought about the movie and the more I read about it, I had grown a liking to it.
I had become so fascinated with it, I went out and bought the book and read that, which was difficult because of the language, and it took a while to figure out what some of the words were referring to, but when I finished I was in love with the book.
The movie and the book are very close, with the few adjustments due to time constraints in a movie. The ending to the movie though, kind of disappointed me because the book was much more to my liking. In the end of the book, Alex ends up going back to his old ways, but now him being an adult he finds everything he use to do very juvenile, and then he decides maybe he should get a real job, find a girl and settle down. In the end of the book, he's grown out of his old ways, and I really like that aspect, and it would have been good to show in the movie.
A Clockwork Orange is a brilliant movie- it's colorful AND dark, comical AND horrific. Watch this movie with an open mind, and if you ever get the chance, read the book because it's more thrilling if you have the two mediums working together. A Clockwork Orange is my favorite movie and book and I recommend it to everyone- that is, if they are in a time of their life where they can handle it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
"real horror show", 18 January 2006
Author: GangStarr from LA
from the music score to the spectacular direction this movie really is Kubrick's master piece. the moment any one sees this film they'll know right away its a classic. sensitive viewers may have problems watching some parts of the movie but hey, times are changing and most movies will be harder to watch than this one. clockwork orange hits all the spots and even though its far from perfect it creates a genre of its own, blending in action, thriller and a bit of comedy. the first time you see it you'll be stunned by the originality and acting(especially McDowell)that it creates. go on, ignore the distasteful reviewers who loath it and the elderly that whine about it and go watch it. *****
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
moral choice, 22 December 2005
Author: oaziz2005 from United States
I used fake ID to get into this movie when it first came out. I'm 50 now. At the time, this movie made me laugh, think, and shrink back into my seat. The scenes of violence were so 'in your face' for the time, and yet so....so...eeeesh.....breathtaking??? I abhor violence, and can't believe I am using the word 'breathtaking', but damn, it really was (is) amazing how Kubrick pulled it off.
Younger folks who watch it these days may not see the big deal about the violence as it is portrayed in the movie....which is simply a testimony to the movie's worth over time. Desensitization towards violence is a core element of the movie's point, after all.
I liked (*really* liked) the main character (Alex) in the movie...he is funny, quick witted, and charming. But he is also a scumbag prick bastard, and it's easy to lose sight of that. He is easily embraced while we sit in the dark and eat our popcorn, but most of us would probably go out of our f*king minds if he lived next door to us.
I walked away from religion as a young adult, a few years before I saw this movie. I am enjoying the view from out here to this day. However, the one person who seems to 'get it' in this movie is the prison chaplain. With all of it's visuals, and fine use of music, and great acting and directing, there *is* a point to this movie, and the chaplain articulates it. It's a simple assertion, and certainly not a new one...that people are regarded as being either "good" or "bad" based on their ability (or lack of) to make the correct choice while using their own set of ethics as arbitrator. The Catholic church **HATED** this movie when it came out, and yet it articulated the foundation of their entire credo in a favorable light. LMFAO!!!! They missed the whole point!!
Bottom line is that you shouldn't. This is a fantastic movie on many levels. Enjoy.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Unforgettably brilliant., 13 December 2005
Author: TOMASBBloodhound from Lincoln, NE USA
A Clockwork Orange is an incredible experience. Few films have the ability to grab your attention quite like this one. No matter what age you were when you first saw it, the film most likely changed the way you look at cinema. I would still give a slight edge to 2001 as far as which is Kubrick's best, but it's a photo finish.
Our story centers around a mischievous young gang leader and the attempt by society to change him into a model citizen through the means of chemically squelching his violent or lusty desires. The first act shows how ruthless the young man named Alex and his "droogs" are, and some of the trouble they get into. We see how disrespectful he is toward his parents, and society in general. After a dispute over control of his gang, he finds himself solely responsible for the death of a woman. Alex is sentenced to a considerable length of time in jail, and soon he volunteers to participate in a new experiment designed to curb people's lust for sex and violence. We are never quite sure if he really wants to be "good" as he claims, or if he just wants out of jail. After two years as a model prisoner and some considerable sucking up to the prison Chaplain, Alex is cleared for the treatment. Little does he or anyone else seem to realize (except maybe the Chaplain) just how helpless the treatment will make him back in the outside world.
The film, though made with a paltry budget, is a technical wonder. Kubrick once again mixes sight and sound like the master he was. The futuristic world these characters live in looks like a fully amplified version of 1971. Tacky, but kind of beautiful. The stylized dialect these characters talk with will be ringing in your ears well after the film is over. The film contains numerous rape and assault scenes that can still be somewhat off-putting even if you've seen the film a dozen times. It's easy to see why this film was pulled from distribution in England for so many years. Even by today's standards, the violent acts may seem graphic.
The most amazing thing about the film is Malcolm McDowell. As Kubrick himself has stated, this film really couldn't have been made without him. His performance as Alex is on par with some of the best acting even done in movies. What's most amazing is how he can create such a lecherous character and then make him almost sympathetic in some scenes. Especially as he refers to the audience as his only friends once he's sent to prison. You almost feel sorry for him even though he probably deserves a much more severe punishment. Once he has been brainwashed of all his violent and sexual tendencies, Alex invokes nothing but pity. He cannot even fight off an elderly mugging victim who remembers him from years earlier. To top things off, two of his former gang members have become cops and now take pleasure in beating him up and leaving him for dead in the country. His parents don't seem to want him back, either.
After all is said and done, we learn that people just cannot live without their animal instincts and free will. The treatment was most-likely scrapped after what happened to Alex, and hopefully society was able to find a more successful way to deal with their crime problem.
The film is amazing in any way a film can be. No DVD collection is complete without it! If you haven't seen it, then for goodness sakes get to your local video store and see what you've been missing!!!!
10 of 10 stars from the Hound.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
My favorite film, 5 December 2005
Author: junglejuanz from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I first saw clips of this film as a child and like Sonny's Demise in the Godfather, I found it profoundly disturbingly violent. Let 20 years pass. Seen Eyes Wide. Watched 2001, (was finally old enough for the pace.)
Taxi Driver is a similar film in many ways. The difference, first off, is that Alexander Delarge is unquestionably an evil character, if he manages to play this part and through the role of a lifetime and brilliant acting make us love his performance, Malcolm, and at times sympathize and even identify with Alex.
This is where Alex does represent the troubled yet gifted child which had no place mere centuries ago. A futuristic symbol of industrialism's oversight of what used to be the most important part of society; family and child-rearing. Now it's all about Empires and to quote Queensryche again, "got to make a million bucks no matter who dies."
Alex separates himself through his narrative, where he admits to reveling in ultra-violence, and even fantasies about whipping Christ at his Crucifixion. Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver has angst and mental troubles, but his narrative shows he strives to be a good man.
So it is the combination of Mcdowell and Kubrick that get us past the shell and recognize the revelence of the treatment of the mentally unstable or misfits. McDowell and cast give us countless guilty pleasure with the aclairity with which Alex delivers his lines. I love the scene where his truant officer informs him that his victim has died, and Alex almost laughs in spite of the situation, unable to deny the genius with which Kubrick has told this story and captured it's black comedy on film.
Cukoo's Nest came out around the same time as well as Lucas's Thx movie, all dealing with the topic of societies ways of dealing with mental health.
When I first watched the movie, I thought he was still conditioned against the Ninth. It was on the next viewing I realized he had been un-conditioned and could once again enjoy Beethoven. No matter the character of Alex, Kubrick and Mcdowell did indeed pull off one of the best films ever.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Good, but the book is better., 30 September 2005
Author: boblover from Leeds, England
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
For those who don't know, the film 'a clockwork orange' is actually based on the book of the same title by Anthony Burgess. The film itself is effective, well made and deals with most of the issues that the book does. It does seem to have become slightly dated as time has worn on, and a lot less shocking to modern audiences, but it still manages to create controversy and has had lasting popularity. I watched this film a while after reading the book and although the actual movie is good in it's own right, compared to the book it's quite tame and uninteresting. One example of this would be the girls Alex rapes. In the film they appear to be at least 15, however in the book they are described as being around 10; personally i find that a lot more shocking. In all, this is a good film. It is well directed and well acted. However, if you are really interested in the story, i would suggest reading the book with it's ingenious use of new language and real shocking power, it makes for a very good read.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
The greatest movie ever!, 24 September 2005
Author: FlaX_686 from Portugal
Stanley Kubrick's Masterpiece, this movie recorded in 1971 in England, UK is my favorite movie, and one of the best movies ever done in film history. With a excellent perform by Malcolm McDowell gives life to a disturbed boy called Alex DeLarge. So this is a story of a young guy whose principal interests are Ultra-violence, sex and Beethoven. I like this movie because it was made in 1971 and it is very actual, so I love it. And because of the concept, the colors, and because of Kubrick! I'm a big fan of this movie so, I have got a Poster, DVD and A Clockwork Orange book by Anthony Burgess wrote in 1968, because Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange is inspired by Anthony Burgess book "A Clockwork Orange".
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Fantastic., 14 September 2005
Author: rrudder from United States
First let me say this much, I've never been a huge fan of movies that invoke a lot of thought, but this movie is an exception. The movie is amazing, not on a material level, but almost on a subconscious level. It's something about the movie that leaves you feeling as you've never felt before. Why? Because the movie is like nothing ever made before. It is a amazingly original. The music and pictures intricately connect with each other in a way that I've never seen before. Alex DeLarge is an incredibly deep and well portrayed character. He is a character that you are currently having to change your viewpoint towards. I don't know what it is, but despite Alex's violence in the beginning of the film, he is not a hated character. You feel almost an indifference to hi min his droogies, almost as if they are mere helpless products of society, with little ability to change the course of their actions. Once the story progresses, however, you start to feel sorry for him as he experiences hardships. He is eager to change, but is constantly struck back by the actions of his past. I wasn't sure what I'd think of the movie before I started watching it, as I have never read the book. The movie however is a clear cut, amazing piece of art work that is hardly rivaled by any other movie. The mood of the movie is an odd juxtaposition of good and evil, an interesting look into the fruits of irresponsible society. Escpecially relevant in today's society.
However, I must warn the movie does contain some graphic violence (including rape) and nudity. If you are sensitive to such things I wouldn't suggest watching the movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Disturbing Social Commentary that has only grown in validity, 11 September 2005
Author: Mark D. Brown from California, USA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange was shockingly violent for its day. Our nerves have, of course, been hardened by the intervening thirty years of steadily mounting physical violence in cinema. As emotionally conventional as the R-Rated "Saving Private Ryan" may be, its opening D-day sequence would not have seen the light of day if the film had been released a quarter century earlier. Hence, young viewers seeking a thrill from "A Clockwork Orange" may be bitterly disappointed by the movie's tameness compared to the offerings of today.
However, for more sensitive viewers, "A Clockwork Orange" is still shocking because of its cold lack of empathy. The events of the film are told by the main character- Alex deLong- a teen of above-average intelligence, charm, and aggression. His emotional makeup lacks empathy for others and a sense of duty to society and fellow humans. He is as ruthless as he is capricious, cruel, and selfish. Yet he is likably good-humoured.
The society he lives in is one much like the America of today (And Britain of 1970)- a trash-littered concrete jungle defaced by graffiti, decay, and a sense of hopeless acquiescence. The totality of the society's moral bankruptcy becomes fully apparent only in the latter half of the film during and after Alex's "Conversion".
****************Spoilers begin******************
The film has two phases- the first depicting Alex's cruel coldness, and the second depicting the cruel coldness of the society that made him. progression from first to second phase occurs when he is imprisoned for murdering an old woman and tries to obtain early release by agreeing to participate in a new treatment process designed to render violent offenders harmless by conditioning them to be sickened by violent thoughts and acts. In what is a fairly famous scene in cinema, he is strapped in and forced to watch violent films while given drugs that induce feelings of nausea and despair. He emerges from treatment incapable of even contemplating violent acts without becoming acutely ill and is, thus, released as "Cured"- thereby freeing up a desperately needed bed in a terribly overcrowded prison system.
Just like Alex, we see the society in which he lives actuated by calculating selfishness. It does not care that Alex is not actually cured of his pathology- they only care that he seems safe enough to release from prison- thus forestalling the day when a new prison must be constructed and staffed. Unsurprisingly, the Film universe ends up being more swift and sure in justice than the real one. Soon after Alex is released, both Alex and his society are punished for their selfish deeds- Alex is badly hurt when he is attacked and unable to defend himself. Those who made him that way are forced to de-condition him, provide medical care, and leave him at large so to limit the political fallout of their failed experiment.
***********End Spoilers*************
The use of a Russian-inspired slang by Alex and his fellow hoodlums ("droogs") is incidental to the plot of the film. It was much more important in the original Anthony Burgess novel. I am not so sure what this slang achieved in the film. It certainly doesn't facilitate viewer efforts to follow the plot, however it's not much of an inhibition and DOES remind us that Alex is different from us and there's no reason to expect him to share our sensibilities. Though he's obviously an evildoer, his life experience is so different that we can't say that his personality was, inherently, evil or merely distorted by life experience in a cold and uncaring society. Of course, that sort of relativism won't do you any good if you stood between him and his next goal!
The film is, as is standard for a Stanly Kubrick film, well photographed and tightly edited. The film has a vitality that his later films lack and should be justly thought of a one of his greatest along with Doctor Strangelove. It is an excellent introduction to Kubrick and, simply put, good entertainment provided the viewer is not put off by the "'70's" influence in the music and settings. Malcom McDowell fans should see him put in one of his best performances ever as the lead character Alex. The ironic detachment common to Kubrick serves this film particularly well since it so accurately conveys the mindset of many of the film's chief characters- Alex as well as the bureaucrats who try to reshape him for their own convenience.
To me, the film is one of the greatest films I have ever seen (in the top 25) because it is so entertaining with it's well-photographed and well-edited action, witty and engaging dialogue, and, yet, it is an excellent and unsentimental study of the frightening consequences of a human society that is trying to live without morality or genuine compassion. Because of it's humor and detachment, the viewer is not emotionally overloaded by the terrible prospects set forth in the movie and can see plainly and without hysteria the similarities between the movie's fictional world and our own.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Piece of Art, 29 August 2005
Author: Sühan Gürer from Turkey
I don't know how many times I've watched it, the last time being yesterday night. It is certainly a piece of art by Kubrick. No one can criticize his talent. He still has a great impact on the art of cinema.
The totally fictional story being told in the movie is told like a fairytale so that it criticizes very different parts and structures of the society.
It shows how some actions can end up creating the violence in other people. It also shows how the modern society is getting an awkward prejudice to the youth.
Politics is as always one of the best topics of Kubrick to analyze. The political inability and stupidity in the movie as well as political games picture a world that is quite known to us.
Another movie by Kubrick that has all the plot line beneath the surface. I wish he could've lived 20 years more and left us more art pieces that we could watch in admiration over and over again.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
best film ever, 23 August 2005
Author: teenymartini from United States
the best film ever made Kubrick is a genius no questions asked the people who find this movie disturbing or sick just can't get past the actual film and see to the depth of this film. it is so much more then a bad kid doing messed up things. this movie (and all of Kubrick's) show so much more then that and make you think, which i believe is the whole point of cinema. you definitely need to see this movie with an open mind, and if you do that it can certainly change your opinion on many things, especially cinema in general --> masterpiece also if you enjoyed this like i have i highly highly recommend other Kubrick films, the man is a genius and doesn't get the credit he deserves (which is way more then Stephen Spielberg gets times ten)
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
flawless-absolutely brilliant, 21 August 2005
Author: murali83 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
without doubt I can say this is the best movie I have ever seen. The vision towards which Kubrick directed this movie is mindblowing.
Malcolm McDowell is too good in his role as Alex, who has some abnormalities about him and has some violence which is inborn and is his nature. A series of events lead him into trouble and he find himself in jail. very smart thinking by him gets him into a hospital where political tricks are trying to influence people by trying to prove that criminals can be treated medically.
the movie shows in a beautiful way the flaws and the true colors of the political system.
i cant say more, just go and see it if u have not.
brilliant
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Most amazing movie of all time, 20 August 2005
Author: Greg Lindsay from Australia
A Clockwork Orange changed me, when I was 16 I was at the video store and I saw it and my Mum says it was great, I was doubtful. I put "A Clockwork Orange" into the DVD player, the next few hours of my "viddying" changed my whole perspective on cinema. Malcolm McDowell is absolutely perfect for the role of Alex and as he says he was born to play Alex. At first I was totally thrown by the outlandish language and dress code of Alex's gang of droogs. In fact the entire cast was perfect from Michael Bates as the Chief guard to Philip Stone as Alex's Father. Stanley Kubrick is a god and everyone who wants to direct a movie should bow down to him, and we should all try to phase out appalling movies like XXX, The Fast and the Furious and Van Helsing (yuck)
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Stanley Kubrick Plus Drencrom, 14 August 2005
Author: Mar-Cinema from United States
My friends have placed hype on this movie for years. There would obviously never be an uncut presentation on cable television, so I had to use a bit of the old ultra-violence to get a copy at Best Buy. I sat in front of my 13 inch TV, eyes pried open with a clamp around my gulliver, and saw Kubrick's greatest work. Dear Brothers, this is the best 2 hours you could ever spend. A Clockwork Orange has that effect on you. This is unlike anything you have or will ever see. I doubt that anyone will ever create such a delicately beautiful work of art. Kubrick was at his artistic zenith in this film. He presents a decadent, psychedelic London terrorized by teenage gangs called droogs. They speak a strange language, a peculiar mix of English and Russian called 'Nadsat'. I went into this film not knowing what to expect and that is the best way to watch it. Kubrick allows us to hear perverted remixes of classical music, he even has Alex whistle the theme song to Singing in the Rain during a rape scene. There is plenty of that brilliant dark humor in A C.O. that Dr. Strangelove is full of. Some may think that this film is encouraging violence and bad behavior, but it is doing the opposite. We see how Alex's lifestyle catches up with him in the end. We also once again get a glimpse at Kubrick's disapproving view on the world. He portrays the decline of society due to the lack of parental control. The fading trust in the government due to the dishonesty of the state. I am still a teenager, but I know why this film was so important in 1971. All of the themes presented were directly related to what was going on at the time. It is just so ironic that Anthony Burgess hated his book and this movie. IMDb states that it is because he didn't get a check from it. Well Burgess hates A Clockwork Orange, but I think that it is truly, the best movie of all time.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Only one film can be considered "perfect"., 7 August 2005
Author: altcontrolsdelete from Richmond, Virginia, USA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
And this is it.
What can a mere mortal say about this film? Stanley was a god among men, and this was without question his defining work. This story (not to mention his numerous other marvelous works) also cements Anthony Burgess's place as one of the greatest authors of the period. Honestly, if this film doesn't reach into the core of your being and make you think about what you are, there is nothing that will.
Burgess's story and Kubrick's vision are unmatched; a completely uninhibited and unfettered look at what makes a man and how fragile his humanity is. We can thank Burgess for bringing the viciousness and helplessness of humanity to light, and we can thank Kubrick for bringing it to our attention.
From the haunting scene of Alex in the milkbar to the ashamedly thrilling scene of Alex in his own personal heaven, Kubrick captures the very best and the very worst of what defines us as humans. The animalistic nature of man is presented beautifully among Alex and his droogs through the fight with Billy Boy and his droogs, the rape of the author's wife, and the murder of the cat lady.
Even more brutal is the attempt at Alex's reform, and that's where the message of the story and the film begin to make the reader/viewer sympathetic to the brutal force that is Alex. Until the realization of Alex's torture at the hand of the government it is impossible to sympathize with Alex's behavior, as it is simply despicable. But, more despicable is his reform -- death would have been a more humane punishment.
To try and explain or review the film is ultimately unfruitful. Each viewer will have his or her own takeaway, and it will either be revelation or disdain. It's simply a story that must be viewed with an emotional detachment to be accepted, and an emotional attachment to be understood. Thus, it's a film far too difficult for those unable to make the connection and disconnection simultaneously.
Kubrick's genius does justice to Burgess's own, and I'm left saddened that the two never directly collaborated. One can only imagine what the fruit of a collaboration similar to Kubrick and Clarke's on 2001 would have been. For that matter, one can only be disappointed by the omission of the 21st chapter of Burgess's work, but you must also wonder what the cost to the film version would have been, had Kubrick been made aware of the chapter. Honestly, I can't imagine the film being better than it is, nor is the novel complete without the view into the life of a mature Alexander de Large.
Perfection comes along a great once in a while. This is the very definition of the word, and I think that this film serves to segregate those who "get it" from those who don't.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Whats it about, 6 August 2005
Author: Alexatmoneypit from United States
This is an excellent movie based on a man who's principals are rape and ultra-violence and this is like one of the worst movies that has violence.I'm 12 yrs old and I've seen this movie about 13 time i've got the Stanley Kubrick Special Edition Its got almost every genre.Violence,Rape,Killing,and one man does this.He goes to far and gets sent to a prison where they put these metal wires around his eyes and make him watch violent movies. If you like Cult Classic Sci-fi movies this is the ticket!!!!This is the best movie ever made. Stanley Kubrick hit the gold when he directed a 1970 Masterpice.A Clockwork Orange.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick Really Opens Up, 4 August 2005
Author: seventhsamurai1954 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This has to be the most unique film I've ever seen. From it's stunning and sometimes disturbing visuals, to it's dialog, A Clockwork Orange keeps you engrossed for the whole time. Taking place in the near future, this film follows Alex and his gang of Droogs as they commit acts of atrocities in an attempt to look for the good old "ultra-violence". Alex is later arrested and put through this revolutionary rehabilitation center where the people try to "correct" all the evil that is in him. Without giving away too much of it, this movie primarily appealed to me because it was nothing that I had ever seen before and I was shocked to see that this movie was made back in 1971. This is a cult classic and a must see. Viddy well.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Simply genius!, 3 August 2005
Author: Theo Brown from Netherlands
This movie reigns as my most favorite movie now for more than 25 years... and the reason is simple: it's one of the most thought-provoking and bizarrely styled peaces of art in the whole cinematic history. It's so beyond its years that it also aged very little, and it's got one of the most thrilling soundtracks ever!! In the middle of pointless, gimmick-like and often stale productions throughout the last years this one will definitely catch any movie-lover's eye. I say that Malcolm McDowell's role in this movie is very much under-rated on the whole. He's as mean and scary as Nicholson in the shining, but at the same time as weak as William H. Macy in Fargo for instance. The point the movie makes is that there isn't a reason or motive for violence, it's simply inherent to some people (that enjoy it). But the point is largely overshadowed by the brilliant outlook of the scenes, and the Shakespeare-esquire dialogues that make the characters even more ambiguous. I would say this movie is a typical product of the coincidence of a brilliant director and a brilliant writer, which delivers the perfect movie! Watch in the dark...
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Absoulute epic masterpiece blending music and satire with insanity., 30 July 2005
Author: Lucas Ellis from Winter Springs
Alex de Large(Malcolm McDowell) is the leader of four droogs who steel, rape, and fight for pleasure in a futuristic society. The spend every minute of their spare time causing absolute chaos anywhere they please. But after being challenged for his leadership, Alex puts his own droogs in their place by beating them. Wanting revenge for Alex's betrayal, the gang betrays Alex and leaves him for the police by whom he is told that he will be prosecuted for murder. Alex is sentenced for 14 years in prison, but after a while with good behavior, he is given the opportunity to get out early through an experiment that reforms criminals through brainwashing to be perfect citizens. Now, a totally reformed Alex must go back and face the society that he once terrorized as a human being with no free will.
What amazed me most about the movie, was the classical music that was played throughout horrific violent acts that Alex committed, showing that his violence was in nature. The music assisted the idea that he was a criminal at heart and he doesn't want to change. With the movie originally being rated X, you can probably guess that the criminal acts are very graphic. But that it was makes the movie even more brilliant. It doesn't hesitate to show the viewers every aspect of brutal fight scenes or disgusting rape visuals. Every detail adds to the idea that he is a sinner, plain and simple.
The acting also amazed me. Malcolm McDowell did a masterful job at his character's changes throughout the movie. The mood changes throughout the movie also. When Alex is "allowed" to be sinister, the mood is dark but yet happy. But when he is forced to be good(either in prison or after the reformation) the mood turns very dark and you can see Alex's unhappiness at what he has become. The movie shows very strong opinionated themes:Society cannot forgive other's sins and criminals are naturally evil and cannot be reformed. Disagree with this you may, but you have to respect the epic masterpiece that is A Clockwork Orange.
Overall,the movie is completely flawless and is everything it was meant to be and more. The idea of a criminal being transformed into being the idol citizen was captured brilliantly, through the graphic genius of Stanley Kubrick. It is one of the greatest of all time and one of my personal Top Ten greatest of all time.
I highly recommend this movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Weird, Disturbing, But Still A Masterpiece, 22 July 2005
Author: LoneWolfAndCub from Australia
Stanley Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' is a very odd movie, it may seem extremely twisted and sick and a terrible movie. It is most definitely not. Not everyone will have seen it, but many will know the reputation it has gathered.
Alex (Malcom McDowell) is the leader of his little gang. His hobbies include rape, ultra-violence, drugs and Beethoven. In other words, he is a very disturbed individual. But when he is caught by the police he wants to change to get out of prison. He applies for a controversial treatment to cure him of his need for violence and rape.
This movie is one of my favorites but for some it wouldn't be easy to watch. There is a lot of nudity, a rape and a few sex scenes. Not to mention, ultra-violence (but by today's standards it isn't too bad). But it is a classic nonetheless. Stanley Kubrick does an outstanding job of directing and the acting is fine all around, especially McDowell's performance as Alex. The soundtrack is very good, the opening theme is suitably unsettling and there is a lot of Beethoven (which I love).
The movie, even though it might seem aged, should not be seen as a mere violent movie with sex. It is much more, it has actual meaning and morals, brought to screen by Kubrick and McDowell with skill. It is a movie that not all will love, but it's definitely worth the 2 and a bit hours.
5/5
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
As shocking today?, 22 July 2005
Author: G1acier from United Kingdom
After summing up the courage to finally view this notoriously dark, disturbed but also acclaimed film I purchased it from HMV thinking to myself and informing others that I will only watch the film when i am mentally prepared.
After around the first half an hour I found myself totally immersed in the film but not shocked. The intentions of the gang are shocking and cruel but the aged portrayal for todays much hardier audience has become quite tame; and this film was banned?
Never the less, Malcolm McDowell's portrayal of the evil yet childish Alex and the superb language used, "bit of the old in out, in out" is inspiring.
This film was coveted for its violence but the main focus should be its image and style, go and see it, looks can be deceiving.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Greatest film ever, 20 July 2005
Author: ronnay_barkay from Ireland
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is a beautiful, beautiful film. It shows how humans behave in the real world and doesn't compromise one inch of truth in doing this. It tells the story of a young man who's daily way of life involves gang warfare, drugs, rape, and listening to Beethoven. The central character, Alex, doesn't see himself as bad. However the society around him thinks otherwise and he eventually gets caught and locked up for his crimes.
He's sentenced to 14 years in prison for "the accidental killing of a person" and one day a government minister visits the prison in order to look for a suitable candidate for a new experimental form of treatment which is supposed to stop a criminal from committing crimes and turn him into a functional member of society.
Because of his outgoing personality, and the fact that he's still a vicious young hoodlum at heart, Alex is the one who they pick as the guinea-pig for this new therapy.
After undergoing 2 weeks of being strapped to a chair and forced to watch movies of rape and violence whilst having a paralysing serum injected into his body and his eyes kept permanently open thanks to a set of "lid-locks", our hero is transformed out of all recognition.
Now a mentally crippled member of society who is free to roam the streets again, the people he terrorized in the past come back to take their revenge on him. Helpless, homeless, and unable to listen to the music he loves without getting sick, Alex decides to take the ultimate step and end his own life.
However, although badly bruised and with many bones broken, he survives the jump out of a third-storey window, and as he lies in hospital physically recovering, he is also recovering mentally from the "treatment" and is starting to once again feel twitches of desire for the old "Ultra-Violence" and we see him become happier and stronger. At the last moment in the movie we see a strange look on his face as he revels in Beethoven's 9th symphony while having a fantasy about having sex with a woman while people stand around and applaud him, We know and he knows he's cured.
That brief summary doesn't do justice to the movie, or the book for that matter. Once you see "A Clockwork Orange" you'll never look at life the same way again. See it a few times and it becomes part of you. It shows you the intangible things everybody in the world spends most of their time talking about, but nobody can explain. It shows you what people mean when they say they "made it" in life, It shows you why people that don't show fear ultimately don't get picked on, regardless of physical size, about why honesty about one's vices will always lead to you being hailed as a hero, regardless of how despicable those vices are.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Great, 12 July 2005
Author: momycom from Argentina
Best movie ever; great script.Inspirational.Although rape, and some other things are quite not to pleasant to "viddy" view, I think this piece of Stanle Kubricks art, inspired throughout the years to many directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Joel Coen (Coen brothers). Considering that this movie dates on 1971;shows the vision of the world as if it were nowadays in the 2000's.Pulp Fiction and some other so-called - violent movies, should thank Kubricks work. It shows the understandable point of view from a murderer and what it is his reaction when he became conscious of what he has done, throughout a very strange method
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Clockwork Orange, 12 July 2005
Author: Jackson Booth-Millard from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Director Stanley Kubrick was one of the greatest, and even though this was banned by the director himself, till his death in 1999 (just after Eyes Wide Shut), this is still not a bad film, but more especially for students. It tells a dark story about a psychopathic gang leader of raping, beating and killing thugs. This young gang leader, Alex De Large (Golden Globe nominated Malcolm McDowell) loves Beethoven, loves raping and having sex with women, takes drugs and kills for fun. One day he is found out for his terrible crimes and is sent to Rehab. After many months of torturous experiments, he is apparently cured. It's only when he is haunted by his previous crimes that he cannot stand what he has become. In the end, he is obviously cured properly and back to his evil self. This film, along with Natural Born Killers, has been criticised for controversially glamorising violence, in this case, making it look fun, and easy to copy (which it was). A disturbing film with some drugs, sex, rape, violence, bad language and a giant penis. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium and Best Picture, and it was nominated BAFTAs for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Sound Track and Best Film, and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Director and Best Motion Picture - Drama. Alex De Large was number 12 on 100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains, the film was number 21 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, it was number 54 on The Ultimate Film, and it was number 7 on The 50 Greatest British Films. Good!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Sociological study, 8 July 2005
Author: tomimt from Finland
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
It's weird how a movie can look so modern and fresh even tough it was made in 1971. Not many movies can do the same.
A Clockwork Orange tells a tale of a man, who isn't exactly a nice lad: He rapes, steals, fights and kills. No need to moralize, he's not a hero, there are no heroes or heroines in the film, the movie just tells about him and what happens to him in the society.
So Alex (Malcolm McDowell) leads his gang of droogs and spends time in a Milk Bar (not drinking exactly regular milk, mind you) plotting out for things to do. But so it happens, that Alex gets caught and is imprisoned. Soon he's taken for a guinea-pig in an experiment to brainwash criminal behavior out from his mind. Every time Alex is thinking anything criminal he's punished with pain.
But what happens to man, when his right to make decision, no matter how bad they would be, is taken from him? This is the question Stanley Kubrick so masterfully examines in his cinematic essay. To get in the end of this movie is actually surprisingly easy, because of the unique visuals and dialogue: Everything flows forward like a dream, but everything has a meaning and a purpose.
Watch it once, twice as many times you want, you'll always find something new from it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Stanley Kubrik's masterpiece works like clockwork, 5 July 2005
Author: Bryan Nixon from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. It is my favorite film by Stanley Kubrik, who I believe, along with Martin Scorsese, is the greatest director ever. Full Metal Jacket, The Shining, Eyes Wide Shut, 2001, and Dr. Strangelove are some of the best of all time, for me anyway. I wish that Kubrik could have had the opportunity to direct Artificial Intelligence, but Spielberg's homage did just fine. Back to A Clockwork Orange. This film is painful to watch on many levels. It is violent, but that is the subject matter. Due to that, this film is not for everyone. The soundtrack adds so much depth. The opening shot is planted in my brain, which is a closeup of Alex's face in the milk bar that features eerie music that fits so wonderfully. I do not want to describe the plot, because many others have and I do not want to give anything away. I do, however, want to write about my interpretation of the scene in which Alex is being "treated" in the movie theater by scientists who are trying to forcefully remove the evil from within his mind and heart. In the scene, they strap Alex down in a chair and hold his eyes open, so that he can not blink or look away from the screen. While he is strapped down, he watches footage of violence, rape, and war. In a way, this scene describes what the movie does to the viewer. When watching this film, it is impossible to look away, no matter how far it goes. The violence is not stylish or exciting. Instead, it is painful, brutal, hateful, and violent. Kubrik made this film to turn audiences off by violence. In today's world, violence seems to be the key to the success of a film. Just look at The Matrix or Kill Bill (I love both of these films by the way). I believe that Kubrik's mission was the same as the scientists, which was to scare the evil out of you. At least, that is what the film did to me. You know what I'm saying? If you have not seen this movie, I highly recommend it. Art does not get much better than this. It's a shame that the movie is loved by younger audiences due to the fact that they find the violence to be hilarious. They have it all wrong.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
"What we were after now was the old surprise visit. That was a real kick and good for laughs and lashings of the old ultra . " - Alex DeLarge, 3 July 2005
Author: Michael Margetis (pmargetis@cox.net) from United States
#1 Best Film of 1971
There are many great filmmakers who are unfortunately not alive today. There was Hitchcock, Curtiz, DeMille, and the list goes on and on. Eventually you'll get to Stanley Kubrick, director of such films as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the , Full Metal Jacket, Barry Lyndon, and my personal favorite, A Clockwork Orange. Out of all the filmmakers to ever live, I always thought Kubrick was the finest. His meticulous and carefully crafted works of art (his films) are superior to any other filmmaker on a good day (in my opinion). Out of all his incredible achievements, I find the best is 'A Clockwork Orange', the controversial - Best Picture nominee about in youth in our society, well a future society.
In futuristic Britian, young Alexander DeLarge (Malcom McDowell) and his droogies enjoy pranks, robbing, izing, , spiked milk and 'a bit of the old ultra '. One day while Alex and his crew (Dim, Georgie, and Lodger) are izing and eventually ing a "dirty old sumka" with a lot of cats, Alex's crew decides to turn against him, and leaving him alone at the scene for the cops to come. Young and trouble-making Alex's life gets turned upside down when he goes to prison. In prison he becomes very interested in religion and the and pain Christ went through. Not because of sorrow for Christ, but because of his obsession with inflicting upon people. He day-dreams of being a Roman, whipping Jesus while he carries the cross, and having s with the temple chambermaids. One day, Alex comes across an experimental medical procedure that supposedly cures violent criminals, and decides to take up the offer so he can get out of jail. The rest of the film follows him in the procedure and the consequences, hardships and situations that follow.
'A Clockwork Orange' is such a well-made production it almost can't even be considered a film, it should be considered a work of art. Stanley Kubrick beautifully molds this dark, dim and disturbing tale based on Anthony Burgess' novel, and turns it into his own glorious vision. Kubrick achieves utter and absolute perfection in his direction, and he also provides a magnificent screenplay filled to the brim with intriguing almost Shakespeare-ish sort of dialogue in which Alex speaks. The acting is a cut above the rest also. Malcolm McDowell owns the role of Alex DeLarge, and plays him with intensity, passion, great understanding and an almost shocking realism. You don't see Mr. McDowell on the screen, you see his character Alexander DeLarge, a young mischievous monster in the making. The film also stars Patrick Magee, Warren Clarke, Carl Duering, Adrienne Corri, Anthony Sharp, James Marcus, and Michael Bates in a very comedic role as chief guard at Alex's prison. The film garners neat cinematography, awesome set decoration, interesting costumes and a highly inventive and exceptional vision thanks to the brilliant Stanley Kubrick.
'A Clockwork Orange' is my favorite Kubrick film, and that is saying a hell of a lot. Others may not agree because it doesn't have the awe of '2001' or the cult following of 'Dr. Strangelove'. I love it to though, because it's so different then his (Kubrick's) other work and that is what makes it so special. It was one of the most controversial films of the 1970s because of it's extreme and , and it had to be cut from it's original version (now restored on DVD today) to receive an 'R' rating it all along deserved. In conclusion, this is an incredible work of art (one of the two only - features to be nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture) that will be adored by the film buffs and detested by the weak-hearted. I highly recommend it. Grade: A
MADE MY TOP 300 LIST AT #12
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Film making at its finest!!, 21 March 2005
Author: stacey_loxton from United Kingdom
Although A Clockwork Orange has a disturbing storyline with some graphic images, the story itself is pure genius.
Alex is the leader of his "brothers" - 3 men who do as he says, when he says it. The events these "brothers" participate in is both horrifying and bizarre. So, you take this man who has raped and murdered and try to reform him -impossible, some might say - or is it? According to a new government project, they can do just that - but with what consequences?
Speaking in sometimes confusing terms, with a jolly background score and a psychedelic set, A Clockwork Orange is pure Kubrick. You will not be disappointed - but not for the faint hearted!!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Malcolm In The Middle, 1 March 2005
Author: Bill Slocum (slokes@optonline.net) from Norwalk, CT USA
People sometimes call "A Clockwork Orange" their favorite Stanley Kubrick film. Me too, except higher praise in my book is that it's my favorite Malcolm McDowell film. McDowell's portrayal of a vicious young hood up against a system every bit as cruel is what draws me in, and keeps drawing me in, time and again.
McDowell is a young fellow named Alex, who in a vaguely futuristic society goes gallivanting off on assorted crimes with his equally nasty mates until he finds himself in the hands of justice. To get out of prison, Alex volunteers for a new mind-altering technique designed to rid him of his antisocial impulses. But is the cure worse than the crime?
One of only two X-rated films ever to be Oscar-nominated for best picture, "Clockwork Orange" has lost none of its ability to shock in the more than 30 years since its release. It still attracts hard-core fans while offending others. I used to be a bigger fan, back when I was a college boy. I even took a first date to see this. Needless to say, there wasn't a second date, though it's not only for that "Clockwork Orange" hasn't aged for me as well as some other films I can mention.
It's a very good film all the same. Kubrick's perversity and his structured style of storytelling are well tailored to an Anthony Burgess novel that operates like a boomerang cuckoo clock. The music by Walter Carlos, re-fangled classical melodies served up electronically, works very well with the slightly putrid color scheme and odd lighting to create a sense of prevailing unease throughout. In his other works, Kubrick too often tended to elicit either mechanical or hyper-emotional performances from his actors, but with the exception of Patrick Magee's embarrassing turn as one of Alex's victims, the approach actually works here because the film itself is something of a satire, boldly comical even in depicting brutal crimes like the murder of a cat-loving woman with a giant ceramic, um, sculpture.
But what makes "Clockwork Orange" worth repeat viewings, more than Kubrick's cleverness, is McDowell's lead performance. Though we get an education right at the beginning just how terrible a person little Alex is, McDowell invests him with such charisma, wit, and even grace that we kind of gravitate to him despite ourselves. "Don't sing that song in the bathtub, Alex!" "Watch out for that milk bottle!" There's no reason we shouldn't wish Alex his instant karma, yet the lively McDowell gives us someone to perversely root for. His narration, like Richard III's, is a marvel of mordant sympathy-stealing.
While the film raises questions about the necessity of being able to choose good or evil in order to be human, and how society casually corrupts the individual, I have a sneaking suspicion a lot of people gravitate to this film because it serves up generous helpings of nudity and ultra violence under a decorous umbrella of deep thought and even a vague spiritual dimension courtesy of the prison charlie. Kubrick knew how to make a trip in the gutter seem elevating.
However absorbing it is in all its parts, "Clockwork Orange" is a one-man show, and for me that man is Malcolm McDowell. The way he smiles so menacingly yet with real allure, wipes a smear of spit off his face, screams out how he's seen the light while undergoing the Ludovico treatment, and maintains his weird bond with us the viewer is a marvel of morality-warping brilliance. McDowell had other great roles, but Alex is one for the ages. Is there anyone else who could make corruption seem so refreshing?
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
MasterPiece!!!, 28 February 2005
Author: nowacbra from United States
This movie brings sunshine to the dark corners of society! A ClockWork Orange is wonderful. If you have not seen this movie, go out and rent it today, then buy it. Stanley Kubrick is a great director who is missed by many film lovers. This film will forever be on the top 250. It should be on the top 5. There is no film like it around. The movie brings the mind of a young boy named Alex, who is having problems in his life, he is bring violence into everything of his life. With numerous sexual acts, the movie brings a stunning turn, and shows what a person goes through, when being incarcerated. This movie will be a great for many years to come. Go out and buy it!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
An ultra-great movie, 23 February 2005
Author: Philip Van der Veken from Tessenderlo, Belgium
With his excellent, but violent movies like for instance Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill..., Quentin Tarantino is seen as one of the best directors ever. And yet, what he does isn't all that renewing. Stanley Kubrick did it before him in 1971, more than 20 years earlier, in a decade where violence in movies wasn't yet as tolerated as it is today. So in a way, Kubrick was more ground breaking than Tarantino will ever be (Not that I'm not a fan of QT's work, I certainly am).
This is how the story goes: In the UK, somewhere in the near future, Alex is the leader of a gang of teenagers. He enjoys rape, violence, everything sadistic and ... Beethoven's classical music. They spend their nights terrorizing anyone who they might encounter. One night, they break into the house of a woman with a lot of cats and kill her, but than his gang turns on him and leaves him to the police. He is sentenced to 14 years in prison, but he finds a way to get out of prison soon. The government needs more prison cells for political prisoners and all he has to do is to be a guinea pig for a scientific experiment. The experiment should change violent people into good, sweet and loving people, who are no longer able to even think about violence. Alex immediately agrees, because than he'll be able to get out of prison soon and return to society as a good and honest man. But the experiment has some unforeseen side-effects. He nearly dies and his case becomes a major embarrassment for the government, who arranges to cure him of his cure.
What may be the most thought-provoking about this movie is the contrast between all the violence and the beautiful classical music, composed by Beethoven (I guess the man himself could never have imagined his music would be used in such a context). What you see is awful and the music accentuates that even more, but thanks to the music it also seems to be more "digestible". But don't think this movie is a celebration of cheap violence, it certainly isn't. If you look closer, you'll see that it's against violence, but also against any dictatorial government who thinks it should control its citizens by any means.
Perhaps it is all a bit difficult to understand what I mean and I guess you'll have to see the movie for yourself to fully understand it, perhaps even more than once. Only after several viewings, this movie will get fully through to you. And after you've seen it at least once, you'll agree with me that this is an absolute masterpiece and that it deserves a full 10/10.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A brutally violent yet intellectually challenging classic, 16 February 2005
Author: El_Rey_De_Movies from San Rafael, CA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
It amazes me how a movie like this, which was so hugely controversial when it was released, can be so completely ignored now by the average movie watcher. Kubrick was widely reviled because of the way he pushed the boundaries of what was considered "acceptable" in movies – specifically, sex and violence, the two-headed cultural Hydra that continues to fascinate and repel us. Although I've read a number of reviews that chastise the film for being "old hat" and really no big deal here at the beginning of the 21st Century, I have to admit that this picture is still as shocking, brutal, comic, nihilistic, and philosophically challenging now as it was in 1971 – and if someone tells you different, then get the hell away from that person because they've become so desensitized to violence that they'd probably think that the 5-car pileup they just passed was faked because the blood didn't look real! But under all the violence, what Kubrick gave us is a parable, narrated by Malcolm McDowell like some demented younger brother of Fielding's Tom Jones, about choice. The plot is the story of Alex, a young ne'er-do-well living off his parents in a cookie-cutter flat in a slightly-futuristic London who cuts class during the day and hangs out at night with his "droogs" in a bar where they serve milk laced with various drugs – which is just a prelude for "a bit of the old ultra-violence", as Alex calls it. Kubrick shows their various escapades and adventures, that escalate from a simple joyride to a rumble...to a harrowing home invasion where Alex sings "Singin' in the Rain" while beating the living crap out of the writer who lives there – which is then followed by a ball gag in his mouth so he can watch Alex and his gang beat and gang-rape his wife. Eventually, the gang turns on Alex because he's an arrogant, supercilious, conceited, manipulative son of a bitch who's not above sending his cane crashing into the balls of his gang-mates to assert his authority as leader. They set him up with a little breaking-and-entering action which Alex, sadist that he is, turns into a murder when he assaults the woman who lives there with a statue of a giant penis! He's convicted and sent to prison for 15 years, and normally that would be the end for someone like him. But not for our little hero, who discovers that he has an untapped talent for hypocrisy, a talent that he uses to manipulate the prison chaplain into making him first his assistant and then to get him accepted into the "Ludovico Treatment". Of course Alex doesn't care what the treatment is – all he cares about is that it will get him out of prison, permanently, in a fortnight, as a completely rehabilitated member of society. But, for once, Alex has outfoxed himself. The treatment is not some simple psychological counseling and job-training program – it's a new and radical method of re-sensitizing an individual, essentially a kind of massive negative reinforcement towards sex and violence. And THAT'S where the crux of the picture, the essence of Kubrick's argument lies. The treatment makes Alex physically sick and induces suicidal tendencies when he tries to act violently or engage in sexual activity, which makes him "cured" in the eyes of society and the government. But, as the chaplain says, he has lost the ability to choose his behavior and, in the end, isn't that the only thing that distinguishes man from beast? It isn't intelligence, it isn't laughter, it isn't the opposable thumb – it's the fact that, for human beings, there is really no such thing as instinctive behavior. Alex has not learned that his behavior is wrong, objectionable, evil – all he's learned is that if he tries to act that way, he'll feel like retching and killing himself. He's simply been programmed to respond in a specific way to specific stimuli, not to make any kind of moral choice. And not only is it not a permanent solution, it also has the unintended consequence of taking Beethoven's music away from Alex, who just loves "Ludwig van" but can't listen to the 9th Symphony anymore because it was the background music the treatment used! Filmed in Kubrick's signature chillingly documentary style, it's a picture that will make you laugh, cringe, but most of all, think.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Give it a chance., 12 January 2005
Author: Lex (xel_kid@yahoo.com) from DFW Area, United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
***Spoilers***
I thought this was an awesome movie the first time I saw it, but I can see why people wouldn't. I still remember it vividly. There is, as the rating says, a lot of violence, nudity, and suggested rape, and it is partly this that makes the movie such a big hit.
My personal feeling on the movie? It was awkward, but extremely thought provoking. The "ultra-violence" didn't bug me as much as the boys' indifference did to it. The way they made beating people, no matter how old, the way they used sympathy to gain entrance into a house, just to beat the old man and rape his wife. I have not been able to hear "Singing in the rain...I'm just singing in the rain." since without thinking of this movie. It made me think differently of things I had always thought perfectly innocent.
Ten minutes into the film, I was on the edge of my seat-though not quite literally-waiting to see what happened. It was flexible, and could have gone either way. Throughout the film, I wasn't able to guess what came next, the way a person can for a cheesier movie, and I loved it.
The setting is futuristic, but not like the others I've seen. It doesn't focus as much as the way of life or government, and it may be possible to think the story is happening in the present. The setting is also a bit queer; in the milk bar, there are naked statues, where milk is squeezed from the woman's breasts. The main character's apartment is fairly run down on the external, and on pictures of nude individuals on the outside, there is a fair amount of graffiti, the kind that could be found scrawled in school textbooks.
I found the main character, Alex, endearing in an odd sort of way. While he could do cruel acts in cold blood, he always answered promptly when spoken to, usually with an added "Yes ma'am" or "Yes sir" so crisp that it would make your shirts jealous. This is one of the principal things I remember about the film.
The brainwashing that Alex undergoes is just awesome. When it is over, he is unable to beat anyone, unable to touch a naked woman, is even forced to lick an officials shoe. He can no longer hurt anyone.
But when he gets out of prison, it's only to beat nearly drowned to death by his old thug friends. When he tries to return home, it's only to find that his room has been rented out. It's only when he's in the rain, trying to find a warm place to stay, that he's taken in by an old man that doesn't recognize him for who he was; the Alex that beat him and raped his wife.
The end is also interesting. It's fair for the old man to want the Alex dead, is it not, after Alex raped his wife and confined him to a wheelchair? Yet there is also the political undertone, wanting him dead to prove that the brainwashing the new government had done to him was cruel and unjust.
But Alex doesn't manage to die, and it is the new government themselves who pay for his hospitalization. (Correct me if I'm wrong in any of this, it's been a fair few months since I saw it.) They also repeal their brainwashing, and manage to cure Alex of his. It is this part that makes one wonder, is it a favor or a curse? Once Alex is free of his brainwashing, he is free to pursuit any hobby he wishes; including those that got him in trouble to begin with. His smile at the end of the movie is both ecstatic and sinister.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
The best movie ever made, 23 December 2004
Author: Mikael Axelson from Sweden
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is definitely the best movie I have ever seen. It contains everything I ask for and the actors are great. I am also very, very satisfied with the filming. Stanley Kubrick makes new film technique look like the 30's. There is so great feeling in this movie.
Some favorite scenes are the one at the dock and the housebreaking of the old lady. Also the burglary at the man's house (the guy who later is forced to sit in a wheelchair). Man, there are too many good scenes to write down! And the clothing is so brilliant. Loose eyelashes, white dresses, hats and the walking sticks. Awesome!
Other movies from Stanley Kubrick are also great but this is really the best one. The two next best are Full Metal Jacket and The Shining.
In short, the best movie ever made: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A great film, 15 December 2004
Author: horton-scorton-is-here from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
(minor spoilers)
Many people appreciate this film, if only for its shock value. The controversial subject matter in this film is indeed a merit, but this is not the only reason this is such a great film. Many people as well think that this movie is too violent, and just a lame excuse to shock and disturb people. I do not agree with this.
As I am sure has been mentioned countless times, this film criticizes society as well as human nature. It asks the viewer if what is being performed on Alex, which is designed to make him a "good" person, is moral or the right thing to do. It also suggests that society is cruel and unforgiving. Note that upon Alex's return to his home, people constantly beat him, when he is now "good" and quite defenseless. Sometimes, society doesn't give you a second chance. Alex is left defenseless under society's bitterness. But does he deserve this treatment for the crimes he committed? These questions and others the film asks, making it a thought-provoking film. This is a huge merit.
I also believe that the film-making in this movie is excellent. Stanely Kubrick was a master filmmaker. The opening shot, which opens up on Alex and slowly zooms out, is great and absolutely genius.
So, if you are the mood to see a movie that is excellently filmed, though-provoking, saddening, disturbing, and even sometimes "funny", see "A Clockwork Orange".
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
fascinating!, 20 November 2004
Author: Ivana Kovacevic from Uzice, Serbia
I was really eager to see this movie, since I've heard so much about it. The first word that comes to my mind is: fascinating. True, there is much violence and "hard-to-look-at" scenes, but after you've seen the movie, it stays long in your mind, and makes you think about it for a long time... Music is perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of the movie. Actually, I couldn't imagine ACO with some other music than this. Suits just perfectly. Acting of Malcolm McDowell is fantastic. Remarkable music, perfect characters, great plot... it is flawless. Simply exquisite. A movie that deserves a place in every home movie collection. As I've said, some scenes are really "heavy", but that's exactly what makes this movie so brilliant.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A great representation of the Novel, 14 September 2004
Author: Jacob Gest (jakegest@gmail.com) from Denver, Colorado, USA
I really enjoyed this film. Kubrick really captured the essence of the Burgess' Classic. I particularly enjoyed the opening scene, which really captures, in my opinion, the character of Alex and his friends. I did fin there to be some major details cut out of the movie, including the reason for the title itself. I also at times felt that some characters were portrait very differently than I had perceived them while reading the book. Still I think Kubrick really did a good job bring this piece of literature into a different medium. With the use of a peculiar soundtrack, Great imagery and especially his including original duologue, I believe he was able to bring this story to a much wider audience, and hopefully has compelled some individuals to read the novel itself.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Disappointing would be a Horrible Understatement...., 17 August 2004
Author: AmericanMan04
A Clockwork Orange is perhaps the most pointless film in the cinema. Just a peep show for teen movie buffs and perverts obsessed with violence and sex. The plot: a teen named Alex is caught by the police, and sent to prison. He becomes the victim of an experiment that can "cure" him, and then he is released. And then you can imagine the horrible things that Alex does. For example, he and his "droog" of friends break into a writer's house, beat him up, and then rape his wife. Who wants to see that happen? No one. So why bother making it? So Mr. Stanley Kubrick would have more excuses to make films with violence and sex so the audience would get used to it. Malcolm McDowell's narration is useless, and perhaps it would have been better without it. Overall, stay away from this repulsive mess.
0/5 stars.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's Vision?, 6 June 2004
Author: Baxter de Wahl from Canberra, Australia
A flawed masterpiece, especially where Kubrick detours from the vision of Anthony Burgess.
Much of the comments about this movie refer to "Kubrick's Vision", unquote. The problem with that perspective is that the best parts of this movie are those that directly translate the novel by Anthony Burgess. The worst parts are those that Kubrick and his designers came up with themselves.
For instance, the original novel was set in a much more Orwellian world of dark staircases, concrete decor and the smell of cabbage. The so-called "vision" of Kubrick and his designers gives us what must have seemed very futuristic then but now appears so very 1971. Look at the decor of the Korova milk bar with it's naked female sculptures dispensing drencrom from the breast. Look at Alex's apartment with its silver and golden walls. Look at his parents in their oh so 1970 clothes. Look at "Home" cottage where Mr. Alexander and his ill fated wife live - looks more like a trendy 1970 flat in Chelsea!
In yet another case of the Emperor's new clothes, "Kubrick's vision" is, ultimately what fails this movie.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Good movie, but too complex for this type of movie., 30 April 2004
Author: ks4 from EU
They say Stanley Kubrick has always been ahead of his time, and considering the age of this movie, that is probably true, this is a very a sharp critical movie, still it contains a high amount of social realism though, it's a twisted movie that is very hard to sit through, but leaves you thinking.
Alexander De Large and his gang is a product of a numb society, for fun they entertain themself with violent acts towards whomever crosses their way, Alex is the leader of the gang, the others go in his path and does what he wants, one day though two of them objects and wants to be equal, Alex doesn't agree and starts a fight, after that things go back to normal, Alex in charge, but his gang is no longer his friends. He is betrayed and is sent to a prison, to get out early he volunteers for a program that is supposed to help him out of his violent path.
Kubrick has always had a very experimental style, and even though this mvoie is hard to watch, it's still very powerfull and have a very realistic (even though the movie itself is portrayed unrealistic and fantasy alike). The movie spends a lot of time on the act of violence, and Kubrick's morale point of view is never in doubt, but then again, it always appears to be in doubt, because i dont think that i ever managed to figure out completely what the meaning was with the plot, just as i thought i was on a straight path, understanding everything, the movie turns and goes in the opposite direction, it's definetely a complex movie, that for full understanding has to be watched more than once, problem also is that it's hard to sit through, Kubrick uses the soundtrack perfectly, especially in the start, Beethoven is nearly constantly playing, but as soon as Alex is arrested, it stops. And from here it only plays occasionally as he gets cured, but in the end the path comes back to hunt him, together with the music.
Of course this is Kubrick's movie, his directing habits shines through in all his movies, because he is a genius, and a true master, this movie is very powerfull, but i think also maybe too complex. Kubrick has his own style and his own way of saying it, i think not all will understand this movie, but the ones that do will think it's a masterpiece, this movie will divide the audience, some will understand it and think it's brilliant, another large group will think it's jibberish, and then there'll be the ones still trying to figure out how all the puzzles fits together, the movie is very symbolic, colors and music displays a lot of the meaning of the movie. In one remarkable scene in the start we see Alex and his gang attacking an elderly man sitting in a tunnel, as Alex and his gangs walks in their shadows grow long down towards the old homeless man, i think this specific scene tells a lot about what the initiave with the movie is, it's a symbolic movie. Which is also one of the reasons why i believe it has to be watched more than once for full understanding.
Another thing that is interesting in this movie is the special use of the language, it's obvious that Kubrick was thinking in a futuristic style while taping the movie, the language is unique and gives the movie a weird touch, though interesting, the movie is very experimental as other Kubrick movies, it does seem like he is trying to look into the future and predict the future of a numb society.
Malcolm McDowell is Alexander De Large, and he fills out this complex and interesting character very well, he is the only of the chracters that shines through, all the others pretty much fades to the background, perhaps because the story doesn't stop at them long, there are many supporting characters playing various roles and they all appear in different parts of the movie for a little while.
The movies strength is definetely the directing and storyline, Kubrick dared to check chances, a movie like this nobody else could have made at this time, he is unique and that's what shines through in this movie, this experimental director has created a movie that will and should never be forgotten, because it's a landmark in cinematic history. However, to me it doesn't stand as the masterpiece of all time, mainly becuase it's too complex, and at times too long, but the complicated way it's directed is what makes it hard to understand, so for me it's both a strength and a weakness, strength because it's unique and original and it will stay in your thoughts for a good while, weak because it's very hard to absorbe and understand, and it's almost definate that it has to be watched more than once for full understanding, something that isn't always a good thing, especially considering that it isn't an easy movie to sit through.
7/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Not bad but way too overrated, 28 March 2004
Author: benny5719 from NY
This film was by no means bad. It just isn't great as everyone says. Why are these teen's are whatever they are beating/raping people? They have no motive. They're not poor. they live in a futuristic society without a gov't but that's no motive. And who and why are there cops if there's no gov't? There are so many plotholes in this movie it made me lose any enjoyment. So if there's all these plotholes, then how is this a masterpiece? Cause it's violent and has naked chicks and has one memorable scene(the film/cure scene)? The directing isn't great either. Kubrick definitely improves drastically later on and becomes a phenominal director, but this proves his amaturety at this point. Everything just has a corny look to it. I couldn't take any of it seriously. It was too tedious. This is the kind of movie I'd want to be dark and serious and disturbing. And the cheeze-ball music makes it even more rediculous. The last complaint is the horrible representation of a futuristic society. Some scenes look less futurstic than today's look and other's have an obviously fake futuristic atmosphere. OVerall, this movie is just....stupid is the only word. Not bad. Just stupid. Had it been done in the past ten years by Kubrick, I think this movie could've had much more merit and deserve to be overrated.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Such a nonsense, 30 July 2003
Author: jsalazar92 from MX
i didn't enjoy this movie just like others have said, violent porn, at least this movie, different from other overrated movies, has a story but i don't recommend you this one its just another disappointment of "classic" films
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
WELLY, WELLY, WELLY, WELLY, WELLY, WELLY, WELL!, 13 June 2003
Author: SHADE BURNETT from ST.PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is my #1 FAVORITE movie, because it's timeless. Back in'71 it looked futuristic. Today in 2003, it still looks futuristic. I've easily watched it over 100 times. And I never get tired of seeing Malcolm McDowell!!"VIDDY WELL LITTLE BROTHER. VIDDY WELL." RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT?!!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
The epic, dystopic vision of ultraviolence, 5 May 2003
Author: Petra Allen from Palmdale CA
This was Kubrick's first film following his magnum opus, "2001: A Space Odyssey" and if anything exceeds that film in pure audacity. The audience experience an epiphany even more cathartic than that of Alex (played with dead-on insouciance by Malcolm McDowell). Kubrick's unsparing eye harpoons the penal system, the Church of England, trendy Skinnerian behaviorism, and a host of other modern madnesses -- all to the angelic scores of lovely, lovely Ludwig Van!
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Not just entertaining..., 20 April 2003
Author: Voxel-Ux from London, England
The film based on the book is an intriguing view of choice, personality and the morality of society and the media. It centres around the main character, Alex de Large, and his gang of young adventurers who terrorise people for the sheer pleasure of it. But this is not the point of the story. The story is concerned ultimately with the right to choose how to live: to be an individual. Should a criminal be kept essentially human by being allowed to live criminally, as is his nature or nurture, and be punished for their crimes, or be transformed into a "good person" through deliberate conditioning for the safety of other citizens?
The film takes great effort to reveal points on both sides in the backdrop of a strange nihilistic, almost cyber-punk world with fine acting, direction, and atmospheric music by Walter (now Wendy) Carlos. The film was banned in Britain by the director, Stanley Kubrick, until recently which added to the mystic of the film, at least here in Britain.
This is a film to watch and in my view, the first film of this genre recognisable today as a "modern film" in its execution and, in some cases, a truer representation of today than one may, at first, realise.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
My Favourite Film of All Time, 9 February 2003
Author: Leafs4eva
I love absolutely everything about this movie. The acting is superb, Malcom Mcdowell is amazing as Alex. The music composed by Wendy Carlos is incredible, it matches perfectly with Kubrick's filming style. I don't think i really need to say anything about the direction, I mean it was directed by the master of film; Stanley Kubrick. The film may require multiple viewings for some people, it's nothing like normal hollywood garbage. I myself could watch it unlimited times and never get bored. From the opening shot the film draws you in and doesn't let go until the end. Stanley Kubrick is the best film maker of all time for many reasons, one being that he can make A Comedy, a Horror, a Sci-Fi, a few war, and some films which cannot be categorized, and all of them define the genre. This movie is shocking at times, funny, disturbing, and always very strange.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Over-hyped, 8 February 2003
Author: Missy from Britain
Its not a bad movie, I found the expected conformity of the Government and society interesting, also the use of music throughout was very clever. My opinion of the scenes of violence was that they were not all that grotesque and although still disturbing were watchable however, I could not help but feel a little bored by the repetitive sexual references and pretty naked ladies (it has now come to my attention why so many males like this movie.) I am not saying that nudity is wrong but I did feel that on some occasions it was completely unjust for example the topless woman on stage whilst performing the experiment was just plain well, ridiculous. I also felt that the government characters were potrayed in a very stereotypical biased type fashion on a whole and were robotic and calculated much like the 'droogs' themselves which for me was just too one sided.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
a film with depth, 31 January 2003
Author: (bigdaddydave@lycos.co.uk) from oxford, england
A great film, its probably the only film i couldnt make my mind up on immediately after seeing. Im not in to hard-core analysis, but this film gets you thinking in a big way.
In one way the film is itself (violence deemed too bad for society, so artificially censored) true of both film plot, and film. Maybe this was the plan, when we debate whether the film is too violent, we are also debating the film plot.
Clever stuff indeed.
This film also seems to have somthing that gives an unusually high number of intelligent comments, be they praise of criticism. There is a lot to this film, but thats not to say you will like it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
This review has been withdrawn, 29 December 2002
Author: (derekparry696@hotmail.com) from High Wycombe, England
Sorry but I have had to withdraw this review on account that I might get beaten up and the review wasn't really that good. However, with any luck the review will build up a certain amount of notoriety over the coming years and when it finally sees the light of day will be hailed as a masterpiece. Well why not ? It worked for others....brother.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
big issues tackled, 14 October 2002
Author: toonnnnn from Hartlepool England
Well I saw this movie in 1971 it was the most controversial of its time,it tackles big issues like youth crime,freedom ,vengenance and disenchantment with society.The film is too long a good thirty minutes could and should have been cut.The rape scene was very disturbing and it worries me some thug may try to copy it.However the film does make you think about issues so thats a bonus,but its not an easy film to watch and it is dated.The film was banned in several places in the Uk but now its violence the rape scene apart is not as shocking or bloody as it could have been,so if you haven't seen it watch it but its a hard slog. 6/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A funny & Disturbing piece of filming. Truely a work of art!, 16 August 2002
Author: Lee Bartholomew (sage_patrynxx@cfu.net) from Cedar Falls, IA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Funny & Disturbing probably shouldn't be in the same sentence, but they are.
(Spoilers?)
Indeed... after watching this movie I can say with out a doubt that had Kubrick been alive to release Eyes Wide Shut, he would have released it uncut. Since there is so much stark nudity in this movie I'm surprised anyone would balk.
And seeing a barely recognizable Malcolm is beyond me. Since I only know him as an older man with white hair. :(
This movie though may corrupt you for a few days. But it certainly has a great last effect. If your into controversial type movies this movie will excell at that. It did have an ending thats a bit of a letdown. But great movie nonetheless. (quick note though. playing this movie repeatedly is similar to playing a Marilyn Manson repeatedly. It'll stump yer growth. lol)
10/10
Quality: 10/10 Entertainment: 10/10 Replayable: 7/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Meet one of the most deviant characters in cinema history, 17 April 2002
Author: Renelson Antonius Morelos (renelsonantonius77@yahoo.com) from Manila, Philippines
I read somewhere that the late Stanley Kubrick was reputed to be against conventional and repressive forms of establishment.If that was so, then I believe that he potently expressed it in "A Clockwork Orange."
Based on Anthony Burgess' 1962 novel, the film introduces us to one of the most violent, amoral and deviant characters in cinema history---Alexander (but of all the film characters, protagonists and antagonists alike, whom I've encountered so far, he's the only one who has registered so strongly in my mind;and Malcolm McDowell's realistic and complex portrayal has greatly helped in making that happen).
I can't forget the opening shot where, while we begin to hear his introductory voice-over narration, we see Alex, together with his fellow "droogies," sitting idly on the floor and staring sharply at us, as the camera slowly pulls back and then we notice marble (or is it wax?) figures in strangely provocative poses.It serves both as an invitation and a warning:we're invited to take a peek into a "new friend's" visionary milieu, but then be prepared for the consequences.
At first, one can't help but be disgusted at the atrocities---devilish and whimsical at best---that Alex and his gang have committed (they maul an old and sick beggar, involve themselves in a violent gang fight, barge into a quiet household, tie up the couple, torture the man and rape the woman).Alex even disdains his family and entices women (total strangers to him) into sex as if he were asking them for a dance in a party (and this might be so, if one is to have his own "reading" of the outrageous scene where Alex does sex with two pretty ladies in fast motion and to the tune of Rossini's "Overture to Wilhelm Tell").Such kind of "rebellious" attitude of Alex may strike one as being done out of youthful capriciousness---at best, a mere show just to satisfy some self-serving ends;nowhere is to be found any justifiable or rational basis at all.
But not until the film reaches its critical point where Alex murders (with the use of a "phallic" furniture) a woman (who's fascinated with cats) when the latter aggressively refuses his advances does one start to rethink his/her thoughts.You have to see for yourself how Kubrick manipulates the narrative from this point on for the viewers to have a "change of attitude" toward Alex.
After that, one can already make sense of Alex' "rebellious" attitude, for the conflict has become clear:it's Alex vs. all the conventional and (as it turns out) dubious forms of establishment---family, government, mass media, education and state.They have laid down the standards on how one must think, feel and act within a given system, but once it is achieved, they are at a loss as to what to make of the individual---to have a firm grip on him or to leave him out in the open---leading them in the end to play the game according to the rules set by the individual himself.
And in Alex' case, as the state's program of reforming criminals and producing pliant citizens will be put to shame because of the former's failed suicide, the people concerned are now willing to fall on their knees before Alex---let Alex be what he is."Now, I was finally cured" has become a classic line.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Twisted Film, 13 March 2002
Author: The Black Englishman from London, England
There was nothing inspirational about this film at all. I did not care about the characters. I found them warped and twisted. There was no significant plot or redeeming qualities about the film. In fact, the only thing I felt was a slight sexual arousal when they broke into the married couple's house and began to shag (as it was not sex) the wife.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Stanley Kubrick's best? Hell yeah!, 21 November 2001
Author: Mika Pykäläaho (bygis80@hotmail.com) from Järvenpää, Finland
Unfortunately Stanley Kubrick died but he left an incredible legacy to the future generations. Is the unforgettable "A Clockwork Orange" the very greatest movie he created? Actually the amount of films he directed over the years wasn't very huge so one would think it's not all that hard to pick a favorite. But it is. I'm always facing the same annoying problem. When I see any Kubrick movie for the millionth time I claim: "This is the best movie Stanley Kubrick directed." And when I see another Kubrick film also for the millionth time I immediately change my opinion: "Hell no, it has to be this one."
Maybe he wasn't all that productive - only three movies in his last two decades (The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut) is a proof of it. But he directed those few films with such a dedication and in such a masterly way that it's almost impossible to choose a finest masterpiece among a bunch of beautiful masterpieces. But, in the end it simply has to be "A Clockwork Orange". Kubrick always knew the way to create a whole knew imaginative worlds. Words can't describe the world of "A Clockwork Orange". It's an odd, disturbing, frightening place.
Actors in Kubrick's movies were always fabulous. From James Mason in "Lolita" to Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in "Eyes Wide Shut" Kubrick always found the most fitting people to appear in his movies. Who could forget Jack Nicholson's violent, furious and maniacal performance in "The Shining" and think of anyone else to fill his place? When we look at "A Clockwork Orange" we can witness the fact that Malcolm McDowell's phenomenal role as young Alex is unhuman - something out of this world. Movie history rarely sees anything as disturbing and at the same time as enrapturing.
Kubrick's movies were never easy ones and "A Clockwork Orange" is probably the most obvious example of it. If it's still brutal, twisted and shocking today I can only wonder what kind of reactions it gave people 30 years ago. And still, despite the fact that the movie is basically nauseating there's always a place for humor too. It's a wicked humor but it makes the movie look even more confusing. In 1994 Oliver Stone tried to make his own analysis of violence for the 90's but "Natural born killers" failed badly. His film turned out to be only violence for the sake of violence. Kubrick's visions were always much wider as "A Clockwork Orange" eventually shows. This is truly a wonderful 'one of a kind' movie. Long live the memory of Stanley Kubrick. 10 out of 10.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Dark, Violent and Twisted Masterpiece - Spoilers, 10 November 2001
Author: dee.reid from United States
Alex DeLarge(Malcolm McDowell) is a hoodlum in not-too-distant future London. As the tagline says, "His principal interests are rape, ultraviolence and Beethoven. He and his "droogs"(friends) often spend a lot of time away from home and out on the streets. They go out at night and have fun which means getting into fights with other gangs, commit random acts of violence, and "in-out"(rape) women. One night, when Alex comes out of some lady's house after beating her to death with a large statue, he is beaten up and betrayed by his droogs and is left to be arrested by the police. At the jail, Alex is informed that a woman that he had performed an "in-out" on had died at the hospital from her injuries. Alex is then sent to prison. While there, he reads the Bible(he only reads about the sex and violence) and dreams of getting out of prison. He then asks a preacher about an experiment that he had heard about at Ludovico that if successful, could possibly rid him of any violent or sexual impulses he might have. Soon enough he is sent to Ludovico. There he is forced to watch unedited footage of brutal beatings, rapes, and Nazi marches all the while with good old Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony playing in the background. Alex comes out of Ludovico a changed man or is he?
This is actually the second film directed by the late Stanley Kubrick that I've watched with "Full Metal Jacket" being the first. Malcolm McDowell is truly awesome in his role as the sadistic, young Alex. Stanley Kubrick said he wouldn't been able to make this movie without him. Stanley Kubrick did take an awfully big chance with this movie. The violence here in "A Clockwork Orange" can simply be described as ultra. There are many brutal rape scenes and several bloody beatings. People who like Gene Kelly's "Singing in the Rain" may not like it anymore if they watch "A Clockwork Orange" because Malcolm McDowell sings it while kicking the crap out of an elderly man and raping his wife.
The musical score is the easily one of the best parts of "A Clockwork Orange". It is fantastic! The opening score is the one I like the most. The way it plays while Alex is looking into the camera with that half-smile, you wonder what exactly is going through his head at that moment. The "milk bar" or whatever it's called that Alex and his droogs are sitting at, is unique and yet ultimately frightening and disturbing at the same time.
The film's setting is apparently futuristic London, but it seems a lot like present day London. The reason it feels so much like present day is because of the clothing and all the cars and stuff like that. This feels a lot more like some sort of dark, comic satire than it does a science-fiction movie.
"A Clockwork Orange" certainly is a twisted work of art. It is now my favorite Stanley Kubrick film. As I said before Stanley Kubrick did take a chance making this movie. It probably could of either made or ended his career because of all the sex and violence that's in this movie.
"A Clockwork Orange" gets a 10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Brilliant and Thought Provoking, 8 June 2001
Author: (bowman___@hotmail.com)
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Possible Spoilers:
A Clockwork Orange is the type of film a person will either love or hate. Many will find it to be incredibly offensive, and they will refuse to look deeper for the moral complexity and satire the film possesses. The first fifteen minutes are pretty shocking, but all of the violence and cruelty is not glorified, it simply tries to make us understand the type of person Alex is, and it tries to make us hate him.
After Alex's capture and rehabilitation, he is declared "cured" and is sent back into the world. After he suffers from his former victims, we surprisingly begin to pity him, which is one of the incredible things about the film.
A Clockwork Orange raises several moral issues. We become angry when the government "reforms" him, because they don't reform him at all, they simply take away his rights and freedom to be a person. They dehumanize him and he becomes a governmental experiment to be helplessly pummeled by others.
The film is also filled with satire. Alex performs unspeakable evil each night, but when he is rendered helpless, his victims do the same thing to him, which doesn't make them any better than Alex. It shows that we are just as evil as him.
A Clockwork Orange is one of Stanley Kubrick's most complex and thought provoking films, as well as being one of his most mesmerizing and daring. It is an unforgettable film that should be experienced more than once to look past the violent nature and look for the satire, humor, and the questions it asks.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Makes me feel like throwing up,...a lot, 6 June 2001
Author: meryl-2 from Los Angeles, CA
All I can say is that the first time I put this film in my VCR, I ran out of my apartment, and made one of my friends go over to my place and take it out, because I was too scared to touch it. I watched it at HIS place later with LOTS of lights on....
Is it a CHICK THING??? This movie just made me want to throw up,...a LOT,... AND it gave me nightmares,... But I know MANY, MANY MAAAAAAAANNNY MEN that think that it's one of the most brilliant films ever made,....
I'm not saying it sucked,... I'm just saying that it freaked me out to much to REALLY pay attention to what the movie was trying to "say."
Maybe when I grow up,...I'll be able to watch it again and be able to appreciate it,...as for now, I don't want to touch it.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's sheer talent!, 20 May 2001
Author: Stunner_laugh
I am a big lover of Kubrick's films, so this may be a bit biased, but viewing A Clockwork Orange was meaningful because it left a sense of paradox, what life is really like and what you thought of the place you live in and this sense of realism was hard to find fault. Kubrick wanted things to be PERFECT in all his films because that was the auteur he was. Clockwork Orange is one of the best films I have seen because of all its multi- generic conventions and a film that not only challenged my eyes but my mind too.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Thought provoking, hardly gratuitous (Spoilers), 30 April 2001
Author: Mike from Royal Oak, Michigan
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Gratuitous is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as "Unnecessary or unwarranted." This movie is far from gratuitous violence. The violence in this film is necessary to prove how demented he is, and at the other end of the spectrum, how his spirit has been broken and how he was "cured". This film is so well done, you don't even realize what you have felt until it is over. Brilliantly, Kubrick pulls you right through this movie, controlling your emotions with the onscreen action. Example, at the begining of the film, you witness the horrific acts of violence and rape, so when he is caught, you don't fell bad for him whatsoever. Through prison and treatment he is "cured", and in the demonstration he is beaten to show he will not fight back. When he is released, he is disowned by his parents, insulted by the guy who lives in his room, beaten by homeless guys, and nearly drowned by his former droggies. At that point in the movie, I said to myself "he doesn't deserve this, he did his time, he can't even defend himself", it was at that point that I realized how talented Kubrick really was. This movie was very well done, proving how strong the mind is.
Easily a 10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
To remain decent, is to tolerate the indecent..., 20 April 2000
Author: jscavness from USA
This film, is an uncanny, prediction of Today's society, as seen in 1971. As an American, I value my freedom, and this film shows just how fragile that freedom really is, for as seen in today's (everyday's), headlines there are those who, take away all that we hold dear, and get by with it. The idea of a "free, safe" environment is an oxymoron, and yet to strive for anything less, is un-American. The film asks the question "Is there rehabilitation, for rapists and murderers"? See this film, and decide for yourself. A brilliant movie!!!! 10 out of 10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Violence made to seem beautiful- a reflection of human nature?, 15 April 2000
Author: zhr1 from Ramat Hasharon, Israel
Violence made to seem beautiful- a concept that repulses many, and rightfully so. However violence is deeply embedded in human psychology and in society. Clockwork Orange uses a stunning sound-track and stylized English argot as a backdrop to choreographed extreme violence to bring across this point. The association of Beethoven's Ninth and Nazi horrors exemplifies how thin the veneer of civilization really is. Can the sociopathic human really be change, and if yes into what, is a second aspect that the picture explores. Beyond the major sociological point raised by the film, it is a masterpiece of atmosphere and setting, exemplifying the strength of cinema as the major art form of our time. One of the all-time great movies.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Sociologist's nightmare, film-buff's dream., 5 April 2000
Author: Insincere Dave from Maidenhead, England
I must admit that I am not Stanley Kubrick's greatest fan - I found Eyes Wide Shut disappointing and 2001 just plain dull. However, I went to see A Clockwork Orange not only on account of the hype but also as I had read the book several years previously and I wanted to see if the film version lived up to the literary classic. I discovered, not to my surprise, that it is affected by 'The Exorcist' syndrome. Kubrick managed to create something totally different to its source material, yet with a charm of its very own.
Obviously, from the very outset, a very seventies film, this was unlike anything I have experienced at the cinema before. This film disturbs at almost every conceivable level - rape, murder, brainwashing and "ultra-violence" are all breezed over during this films run time. And does the film stop to moralise? It barely takes a breath, leaving ethics up to the audience's discussions on their way home. You leave the cinema wondering who - if anybody - you should feel sorry for. Everyone in the film, from Alex (Malcolm McDowell) to Dim (a very early performance from Warren Clarke) and from Mr. Deltoid (Aubrey Morris) to Mrs. DeLarge (Sheila Raynor) displays inhuman characteristics.
There seems to be some confusion as to whether this film is really about Alex and his violent nature, reflecting the darker side of human nature, or society having no qualms about using a victim to their own ends. Perhaps it was too many people believing the former which led to its retraction in Britain for more than 20 years. Either way, the dark undertones, superb soundtrack and excellent acting make this film a must-see for any self-respecting film fan. Kubrick-lover or not.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Definitely Kubrick's best movie., 31 March 2000
Author: uffe-5 from Sweden: E-mail: fredro_link_86@hotmail.com)
This movie is amazing. One of the best movies I have ever seen.
Violent, gross, strong, powerful, and the most uncomfortable movie in the world. McDowall as the Beethoven-loving hooligan-leader is perfect and disgusting, when he and his pack of 'droogs' is going around and rape, kills and as he says commiting 'ultra-violence'. His mates sets him up, he gets brainwashed and is thrown back in the society as a new person. But is he? And how does the world treat him nowadays?
This movie is VERY disturbing. It's so tragic and powerful.
Just the feeling you get when the droogs rings the bell on mr.Alexander's door. You don't feel safe in your house anymore. I don't think I could sleep for a week after seeing this movie. Actually, I kind of hide it. I have seen it two times, maybe three, no more. The main reason is... I don't dare. It isn't just a movie you slack upon a Sunday morning. Just as in other Kubrick movies you will have to be ready for something different. 2001 (you can't say I'm wrong), DR. STRANGELOVE (verrryyy bizarre), Barry Lyndon (is there a longer movie?), The Shining (it IS scary!!!) and Full Metal Jacket (about the same as this one). I haven't seen EYES WIDE SHUT yet, but I will be prepared.
I love Stanley Kubrick, he is my nr.1-director (even though he's dead) and A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is his best movie ever made.
The scariest movie in the world. 10/10
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
"A glass of Moloko+ before a bit of the old ultra-violence", 27 March 2000
Author: (dirty_dog_2k@yahoo.com) from Northampton England
This really is a love-it-or-hate-it film. I have to say I wasn't to impressed by Eyes Wide Shut, but now that "A Clockwork Orange" has been re-released in the UK, I can say that it is one of my favourite films. The theme compares to other modern pictures, such as "Fight Club" (another top film), but the original has not lost any of it's impact after 25 years. Real horror-show, viddy this.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Up with Dr. Strangelove, 28 July 1999
Author: David Mahon (mahond@hotmail.com) from NYC, USA (Irish on holiday)
Oh, what a great flick this is! Confrontational, ultraviolent, a stark realisation of how Burgess envisaged the future - random violence, liberalism gone hard, your choices made for you, the parent as the child. Is Alex the man-child that was last seen staring at you in the last 2 minutes of 2001? If so, we've definitely taken a step backwards, the dusk of man as rational being. The treatment (which, I've heard, damaged McDowell's cornea) is scary - my girlfriend couldn't watch. The music intertwines beautifully with it all, and the attempted suicide scene makes you feel the crunch of bone on ground. The ending also makes you think: has he changed at all? Is he still the choiceless fool rendered a vegetable by the Ludovico treatment? Where does society go from here? This is, along with Dr. Strangelove, Kubrick's best.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's best and also a terrific film, 12 June 1999
Author: herb-20 from Teaneck
A Clockwork Orange is definitely Kubrick's strangest (and most brilliant) film I have ever seen. It also makes some good points. This film's genre is supposed to be Sci-Fi but I think it's more than that. I think this film is also a drama about what can happen when you put your faith in the government. That they prove they can mess with you anytime they want, and that includes boys into the bad things in life as well. A definite classic for Kubrick fanatics and film buffs as well.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
The best movie of all time., 9 May 1999
Author: mrt-5
For all who would view a film as a painting in motion, rather than some comment on society, this movie is yours. Godspeed, Mr. Kubrick.
I registered at IMDB just so I could say this.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
excellent direction, 6 May 1999
Author: anonymous from Monterrey, Mex
It's probably one of the best if you like a profound different drama. See humans as if they let out the animal inside. Do men really choose?
It has the best ambientation, great fotography.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
True Disappointment, 24 April 1999
Author: Solrac-3 from Manhattan Beach, CA
Now what the hell is this? For years, I hear about this movie, hushed in whispers like it was an underground illegal drug, the most violent horrible movie ever.
Finally I get off my butt and actually RENT the thing, and what does it offer in "ultraviolence" and gore? NOTHING! Oh the rape scene? It was like 5 minutes! Not even the stuff they showed Alex to brainwash him was very shocking at all. Hell no, this movie had hardly any violence! If you want to see REAL ultra violence, watch Fist of The North Star (animated). That is the greatest movie ever. So I was disappointed. But I wouldn't let that be the judge of the movie. So people blew the shock value of it all out of proportion? So what, it was still a good, entertaining movie, right?
HELL NO, the thing was BORING. It was worth watching, no doubt, to see what would happen next, but still. It wasn't exciting, it wasn't suspenseful or captivating. All it had going for it was the ultraviolence and shock value, but that turned out to be all blown out of proportion.... not even. In fact I now consider all that I heard about the movie to be LIES. That's how far from the truth all the rumors about the movie are.
Oh well, at least now I can say I've seen the stupid thing.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's best movie, 26 March 1999
Author: Barbara Pinzka (bpinzka@partnersmc.com) from Cincinnati, Ohio USA
In honor of the director's recent death, I've rewatched almost all of his movies and decided this is truly his greatest, the most fully realized in terms of character, style and message. As I love Kubrick films, this is saying a lot. The subject matter is still appalling and hard to watch, but I wish those directors of the Van Damme/Schwartzenegger school of movies would watch this to really learn what violence is.
As always, a cast of relative unknowns makes the movie sparkle and Malcolm MacDowell's all-out performance is spellbinding.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Horrorshow!!!!!!, 20 March 1999
Author: anonymous
I had read a lot about `A Clockwork Orange' before seeing it, basically because I was unable to see it. When I saw it two days ago, I thought that maybe reading a lot about it would make the actual film disappointing. It was better than I had read about. This is the greatest film ever made - better than The Professional, and that takes some beating. The overacting by the minor characters is excellent, as is Malcolm McDowell. Why this film didn't win all sorts of awards for art direction and costume design is beyond me. (as well as for best film, director, actor, editing, cinematography and adapted screenplay) Kubrick uses music in such a brilliant way, like in 2001, (notice its display at the record store) making for a great experience for eyes and ears. ACO is thought-provoking, funny, entertaining, and scary. Everything a film should be and more. Viddy well, brothers.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Viddy well little brother, viddy well., 18 March 1999
Author: Doug Galecawitz (dougg@evilnet.net) from Lisle, IL
This is an awesome movie. The whole movie gives a displaced feeling from odd camera angels and crazy set designs to the native Nadsat language and introspective violence. I love this movie and its message that even evil people are entitled to the freedom of choice. The gang fight scene is cool. Somebody gets hit with a window. They don't go through or out a window, they actually get hit with the window. The extreme Gene Kelley homage is classic as the original. The cat lady death sequence is cool. Enough things can't be said about this movie. It's #3 on my all-time top 100 list.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A movie that should gladden the hearts of career criminals everywhere, 4 March 1999
Author: anonymous
Stanley Kubrick's ode to personal freedom at any cost is one of the most amoral movies ever made. The film seems to be implying that it's all right for a person with incorrigible anti-social tendencies to rape and steal and murder if the "Ludovico Technique" is the only alternative. Kubrick really wants us to think that Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is a cool guy. First, we have the chummy, confidential narration, spoken by Alex himself. Then the director distances us from the rapes, beatings and brawls perpetrated by Alex and his buddies by setting them to jolly Rossini and Beethoven. He then dehumanizes Alex's victims by making them even more vicious and disgusting than he. Figures of authority are either pathetic, grotesque cartoons (Alex's parents) or sadistic repressed homosexuals (Alex's correctional officer). The movie does raise the important question of just how far a government should go in attempting to reform career criminals, but since cocky Alex does volunteer for the treatment in order to get a reduction of his prison sentence, no one can say that he doesn't know what he's in for. However, Kubrick means for us to cheer at the end when our "hero" is able to return to his old sociopathic self. Somehow, I didn't feel like joining in the chorus.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Brilliant. Simply brilliant., 3 July 2009
Author: dtgonehome from United States
Nearly 40 years after its release, Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange remains as arguably the most controversial movie ever made. It was rated X when it came out, a rating only ever bestowed unto pornographic movies if anything; and even when it was partially censored by Kubrick to attain an R rating, it was still slammed and condemned heavily by every conservative mind on the planet. When you watch the film, it's doesn't come as any surprise; there's a bevy of images of full-frontal nudity, and there's repeated scenes of rape, physical ultra-violence and extended orgy scenes too, none of which employ euphemistic devices of any kind. Kubrick reveals all with nothing to hide, and this element certainly makes the film memorable.
However, this is not the focal point of A Clockwork Orange, albeit being the inference behind the film's notoriety among censorship groups, religious groups etc. The key aspect behind A Clockwork Orange is its message. This message lies behind all the seemingly ubiquitous rape, sex and ultra-violence that occurs on-screen; in fact, the rape, sex and ultra-violence is somewhat of a catalyst to deliver said message. The film is based on Anthony Burgess' novel of the same name, and it deals with issues such moral choice, decency and totalitarianism throughout its entire 130 minute running time. The multitude of themes on offer in A Clockwork Orange are astounding, to be frank, and if one can get past the graphicness of the on-screen events, then the film will truly be an unforgettable one.
Both the explicitness of the film and its brilliant themes and messages coalesce to form one amazing viewing experience, and A Clockwork Orange is a film that will go directly to your heart and your mind, and not let go for the entire time it's alive. No doubt it is the characters of the film, an idiosyncratic bunch, which add so much life, emotion and ferocity to the movie. Malcolm McDowell plays a now instantly-recognisable role as the main character, notorious delinquent Alex DeLarge. McDowell lives and breathes his persona, a rebellious, brash young teenager who is seemingly incurable of his violent habits and atrocious ways.
It's stated officially that Alex's hobbies are: rape, ultra-violence, and Beethoven, and during the graphic first act of A Clockwork Orange, he shows off to the audience his love for each of these hobbies. Alex, along with his 'droogs' (his dim-witted gang of thugs who share an equally fiery passion for sadism) take a night out on town – a typical one at that too. They start at the Korova Milk Bar, where they drink laced with drugs of all sort, on top of tables fashioned from the spread-eagled mannequins of naked women. Such are the graphic images of the film – and it only gets better.
Alex and his droogs decide to beat up an old, haggard beggar living underneath and overpass. They do this just for laughs, and they certainly get laughs out of it. Then, they seemingly heroically rescue an innocent woman from being raped by another gang; however it's revealed that they only interrupt the 'in-out, in-out' proceedings just to beat up and bash their rival gang. Then, Alex and his friends steel a sports car and drive at breakneck speeds on the country highways. They dump the car, break into a nearby home of a writer, bash said writer and rape his wife in front of his eyes. Alex sums up by saying 'it was a wonderful night'.
This first act of the movie is indeed an eventful one, a shocking start to the film which has the ability to put off a myriad of viewers should they be unable to handle it. However sadistic and however dangerous Alex proves himself to be here, he somehow miraculously winds up being the dazzling anti-hero of the movie, and we simply cannot help but be captivated and enthralled by his life, style and character. This feeling of engrossment lasts for the entire duration of A Clockwork Orange, and no doubt it isn't just McDowell's acting which retains our attention; director Stanley Kubrick also adapts Burgess' novel, and no doubt the story he crafts and transposes onto the screen is one of the film's greatest assets. No only does it pack an emotional and thematic punch, but it keeps the audience in its own world, and never lets them go.
It's also a matter of whether we want the film to let go, as in reality we don't. A Clockwork Orange has so much to offer and so many ideas to share with us and astound us that it's a rich viewing experience that we would live over and over again, just to receive the satisfaction. The second and third acts of the film only prove to be equally as abundant of ideas and themes, despite their enormous variation from the film's opening act. The succeeding parts of the film have nowhere near the amount of violence and profanity; in lieu of these things they have much more dialogue-oriented scenes. It is at this time when the movie starts to flesh out its ideas for all to bare, and it does so until the very end of the movie.
Speaking of the end of the movie, it is an ambiguous one, and one that is open to interpretation. It's a common Kubrick trait, and although one requires thought over the ending, it's effort that is well exerted. The ending of A Clockwork Orange is the cherry on top, the icing on the cake; it reaffirms everything the movie has been telling us since the very start of the movie. Indeed, everything seems to be in its right place here in A Clockwork Orange, and although it may be off-putting on the outside, it's the inner layers of the film that prove to be most rewarding and worthwhile. What can I say but Kubrick's done it again. A Clockwork Orange is simply brilliant.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Practically a parody, 6 May 2009
Author: lisaoklahoma from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
"A Clockwork Orange" is my favorite novel of all time. Before watching the movie I wondered if it would do justice to the novel. Well, it didn't. The movie was basically a porno version of the novel. Kubrick's aim seems to have been to take a philosophically meaningful story and incorporate as much female nudity into it as possible. Why? I guess it was avant-garde or something. I think there were a couple occasions on which bare "groodies" were possibly warranted. Other than that, the nudity was over-the-top and cheesy.
People talk about how disturbing the violence is in "A Clockwork Orange." Disturbing violence? I really didn't see any. What did masquerade as violence reminded me of the old "Tom and Jerry" show. Most of the violence consisted of Alex and his droogs tapping each other and their victims with canes, but the bizarre sound effects during these scenes told the viewer to see this as brutal. In another scene Alex raises a phallic sculpture in order to clobber a crazy cat-lady, but you don't actually see him hitting her with it; instead, you are shown something that looks a bit like cartoon fireworks. Then the rape scenes are always accompanied by upbeat music which just makes them seem comical. The violence in the book was truly disturbing, but I don't see how you are supposed to take violence in this movie seriously.
The book had a theme, which was that a person's most important right is being able to think and choose for himself, and nobody has the right to take that away from him regardless of the consequences. In its truly ridiculous final scene, the movie obliterated that theme by choosing to focus on and glorify Alex's sexual fantasies, as if he was some sort of perverted superhero. Thus the point the movie inadvertently seems to end up making is that if the government doesn't stop people, they will just go out and perform deviant acts, but deviance is so much fun that the government shouldn't try to stop them. This completely undermines the message of the book.
In short, the novel is a literary masterpiece. The movie is a hypersexualized, cartoonish version of that masterpiece, practically a parody. Good thing Kubrick didn't try a film version of "Pride and Prejudice"--wonder how that would have turned out. There are numerous things I hate about this movie, from the glow-in-the-dark jumpsuits to the fact that I will never be able to listen to the William Tell overture the same way again. But it had a few good points. It did follow the basic storyline of the book up until the end and was well acted and filmed. For that I will generously give it a 3.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's best, 23 February 2009
Author: thewhiterose85 from India
I have read many comments here about the movie being disturbing or offensive but believe me, that is not true. This film is a stunning visual experience. As with most of the Kubrick films attention to detail is quite apparent here. From the costumes to the sets to the music to the acting, everything is just perfect. I need not say anything more.
As regards to the films relevance today, I would like to say that films like these are ageless. They will always be relevant. The central premise of the film questions whether it is correct to suppress the free spirit of an individual, even to do wrong, for the greater good of the society. I think that this premise remains as significant today as it was 100 years ago and would be, a 1000 years from now.
I had always thought that 2001 was Kubrick's masterpiece, but that was until I saw A Clockwork Orange. I can only now sit back and marvel at the genius that was Stanley Kubrick. I just wish we had more filmmakers like him today.
Highly recommended to everyone. 10/10.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
I don't see why so much praise for this film..., 10 July 2008
Author: Atreyu_II from The world of artists
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I know that movies are a matter of tastes and I respect that, but frankly I can't understand all the praise towards this movie. Its "out of this world" plot? Its peculiar visuals? Its strong contents? Whatever the reason is, one thing is for sure: there seems to be very few people who dislike this. I'm one of them.
I've been trying to watch this movie for a long time, after hearing so many good things about it. Today I finally did.
Well, for one thing, this is a satirical, shocking and disturbing movie. People should know that: it is a violent movie (sometimes, extremely violent) and it has strong sexual contents (even in artistic shapes), as well as nudity. Besides the nudity itself, this movie shows some rape scenes and sexual violence. This is not a pleasant movie to watch, neither comfortable, although it has the power to impress.
Anyway, when this movie initially came out in 1971, it was extremely controversial for being too violent. In fact, it was banned from UK cinemas and nearly caused serious trouble for the director Stanley Kubrick. This movie was hidden for 29 years and only went to the theaters after all that time (after Kubrick's death in 1999). This movie was more than controversial at the time, it was a scandal. A similar situation happened with the 1969 song "Je t'aime... moi non plus" (by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin), although in the case of this song it wasn't for violence, but for sexual references and sounds of orgasms. Its video was forbidden and the song itself too, but later it was accepted (and it is a great song).
For a movie from 1971, its visuals are original, eccentric and futuristic. In fact, it takes place in a futuristic dystopian society (somewhere in England). This is a positive point. And the soundtrack is great, consisting in classical music - mostly by Ludwing Van Beethoven, or simply «Ludwig Van», like the character Alex says. The dialogs are very interesting, especially because many of them are narrated by Alex. This is also a very energetic movie, with a level of energy comparable to "Dog Day Afternoon".
The character Alex is brilliantly portrayed by Malcolm McDowell. He's the movie's main character, a mentally very sick person who loves to rape, kill people and hurt them very badly with the use of extensive violence. Alex and his "droogs" somehow remind me about the musical band Culture Club with their way to dress and looks. Alex, for example, does look a bit like Boy George, doesn't he? At least in the beginning. Alex, however, after "curing" himself, becomes a victim and pays for his own crimes.
The movie has its brilliant things, but it also becomes too long and tiring when Alex begins his "cure". From that part on the movie almost never seems to end. I liked, however, the part when Alex and his "droogs" steal a sports car for a reckless drive into the countryside. That part is crazy and brilliantly done.
This is a very weird and bizarre movie, one that is difficult to "stomach". But for those who can "stomach" it, it will be an extraordinary movie experience. The title is weird too, although it might have something to do with Alex - his instincts, the way he functions is like a clockwork orange.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Second in my top five, 15 November 2007
Author: tiwawa9005 from United States
This movie is one of my favorite movies of all time,the only movie that i prefer than this is American Beauty.This movie is about a young man named Alex(Mcdowell)who loves a bit of the old ultra violence(raping,stealing,beating people up)and eventually gets caught.So then the government decides to try a new technique on him,told that it will cure him of his sickness.To me this is Kubrick's best but i still haven't seen 2001 a space odyssey so who am i to judge.This movie will leave you sickened and yet in love with it.I don't know how Kubrick manages to make you love all his movies but i guess it was just that Kubrick touch that always leaves you wanting more,i think that he is the greatest lost we will ever have in movies.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
One of my favorite movies, 11 September 2007
Author: icet2004 from Estonia
this movie is awfully good.Stanley Kubrick was one the greatest directors who ever lived on planet earth.it's based on same name novel by Anthony Burgess.the main person(Malcolm McDowell)as the charismatic and psychopathic delinquent Alex.director Stanley Kubrick was a perfectionist.he has made many masterpieces.this was in many countries when it's came out.but it's still a kinky movie but anyway a masterpiece.it's a little bit future movie 1995 about imagined from 1965.a teenage boy Alex whose hobbies are violence,raping and classical music - mostly Beethoven(in book Bach) and a weird slang.most famous song in this film where Alex beating and reaping and sing song "i'm singing in the rain".this movie is timeless.Stanley we miss you.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
a masterpiece and probably Stanley Kubrick's best film, 29 August 2007
Author: oliver simpson from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
a brilliant film one of my favourites of all time and Malcolm McDowell performance being one of the best ever really played the role of Alex with perfection, the film has such clever dialogue and amusing scenes (like the the singing in the rain scene i tell you i keep singing that song because of the film) and performances from Micheal bates as Chief Officer Barnes, Aubrey Morris as Mr Deltoid and Miriam Karlin as the Catlady (miss weathers). but the thing about the film that strikes me the most is that it feels like Anthony Burgess (the writer of the book) went to the future though a time machine and saw the UK as it is today and created the film to show a warning of what the future as going to be like. Stanly Kubrick i felt did brilliant on the film and its one of if not his best films the way he and the composer used the Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van was genius it really was brilliant the was they used it you have to admire that
i will write off saying its one of my favourite films and it will always be in my favourite list
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Horrible, 5 April 2006
Author: ArtisanArtist from United States
This is a short review - I think this film is horrible. Showing scenes of rape and violence, this film is a piece of trash. It glorifies what it presumes to decry. It does nothing to really help people - it just encourages the violence that is in the world today. Young kids watch this and feel their emerging sexism and hatred are well-justified. The rapist mentality is what feeds this films. It's hypocritical in the extreme, because of this. Kubrick should have had to do ten years parole at a rape shelter to see the devastation up close. Anyone who gets off on this movie should have to do the same. It's too bad that so many movies add to the hatred that exists in the world today - and it makes it even more heinous if they are done well - it's creativity in the service of something trashy and hateful.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
The world of Stanley Kubrick: A Clockwork Orange., 30 July 2005
Author: Captain_Couth (sirjosephu@aol.com) from Sacramento, CA
A Clockwork Orange (1971) was a product of it's times. The late sixties and the early seventies was a violent era. Movies were becoming ultra violent in nature. World affairs were brutal and the media was showing it all. So when you mix a brutal novel about a nihilistic society with modern times you get this. Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. Based upon the U.S. released edition of the novel.
Malcolm McDowell (in a career making performance) stars as Alex, a gang leader who lives a violent filled life with two parents that he treats like imbeciles. But we can tell he's getting tired of his gang and when they try to push around for more leg room, it get's nasty. But one day Alex's nice way of life is gone in an instant. Will Alex be able to cope with his new lifestyle? How will he react when reality hits him?Can he be cured of his criminal behavior? You'll have to find out for yourself when you watch Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.
A nasty and brutal film. It's still a tough watch, even today it's packs a mean punch. The movie riled all the critics back in the day. But it's a well made film and another notch in the master's belt.
Highly recommended.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
it requires multiple viewings, 15 March 2005
Author: look_closer_45 from New Zealand
This is a true masterpiece of Film. It definitely requires multiple viewings because each time you watch you notice subtle little things that Stanley Kubrick has done in order to both save time but to truly bring you into the world of our Narrator. I have seen this film on many occasions(I would say close to 50) and it still never ceases to amaze me, from start to finish it has you on the edge of your seat.
Of course this film is not for everyone i would recommend you to watch at least twice to even begin to truly understand the character Alex and the Genius of Kubrick and Burgess as well.
Still my favourite film(a tie with Citizen Kane)after all these years and viewings i will never good tired of it.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
For all those who think this is crap, 21 January 2005
Author: babuska111 from Pickerington, Ohio
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I've recently been reading some of your comments and posts saying this movie is overrated and a piece of "crap". I even just read Roger Ebert's own review of it and even he seems to not understand it. Maybe I'm wrong in this, but it seems to me that all you people just seem to not get the movie. Maybe I can explain it to you. The movie is about the ability to control society. The movie asks the question of whether or not society can be controlled without sacrificing art and creativity. Many of people might be asking how I came to conclusion. All I simply did was think about it. Rogert Ebert, in his review, said that the fact that Alex listens to Beethoven was completely pointless and served no point to the meaning and only helped to stylize the film more. He was wrong. The music Alex is so passionate about is supposed to represent art in our society. It is very important to the film. Alex himself represents all the violence in the world. In the film, a hospital attempts to "cure" Alex of his need to commit acts of violence but in the process of doing this, they also make him "allergic" to Beethoven. What the film is asking is "can we cure society of violence without sacrificing art?" This is the meaning to the film. It is not just some film glorifying violence, and it definitely not the definition of the word "crap". Please people, think about a film more before you start hating it.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Stanley Kubrick's best film!, 31 January 2003
Author: Michael Margetis (MrWhite2) from Glendale, Arizona
Untill 1971, the song "Singing in the Rain" from the movie "Singing in the Rain" was a nice happy song. After 1971, most people who hear it think about the use of it in "A Clockwork Orange". The main character, Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) sings it as he and his so-called droogs, beat up an older gentleman and rape his young wife. This violent, and sometimes unbearable to watch scene is what makes this film so interesting, good, and daring. I think this film is an excellent horror/fantasy/sci-fi flick! Personally, it is one of my favorite movies. The direction is absolutley brilliant, the writing is very good, the acting is great (Malcolm McDowell hands in a haunting, scary, and impecable performance that is still memorable today). In my opinion, Stanley Kubrick's best film. Too bad he's dead!
Grade: A
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Holy Overrated Movie, Batman!, 12 December 2002
Author: Sydney (joeorewan) from Iowa
Let me start with a little autobiographical information. One day, I wanted to see "A Clockwork Orange" because I heard it was an awesome movie. But, I decided it would be more spiritually rewarding to read the book before I watched the movie. At this same time, I was assigned a research paper for English class, and I decided to do it on "A Clockwork Orange". So, I read "A Clockwork Orange" in detail, studied the Nadsat language of the malchicks'. I read criticisms, more criticms, analytical essays. And then, I decide, ah gee, I'm going to watch this movie. And yes, I am an avid movie watcher and I claim to know what I'm talking about when I say this or more correctly write this. Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" is a perversion of the novel. He deep down wanted to make a porn and decided he's going to interject it within the story of "A Clockwork Orange". What was the point of the sexually explicit material? There is no connection between it and the novel by Anthony Burgess. There wasn't sex in his story, there was rape and the ravaging of innocence. There was nothing sexy about it. So why then do these big chested, curvy Playboy bunny-type women "get raped" with little to no struggle (I think one assisted in taking her clothes off) and in the book they are 10-11 year old girls who have yet to have big breasts and gorgeous hips. A minor detail overlooked by a director's arrogant vision. And then there's the old lady who is brutally attacked (then murdered) by Alex. Very old and decrepid in the book with no capability of defending herself except with her copious amounts of cats (I think I saw five in the movie, in the book there was like twenty). In the movie she is limber, probably early 50's and is killed by a giant phallic symbol. In the book, it was a bust of Beethoven. It was so significant to have the music destroy this lady, not this huge phallus. What is the point? The point is, o my brothers, is that Kubrick I believe is a sexist man who wants his victimized women to be dominated by large maleness (aka ceramic phallus). I will admit one thing good that this movie accomplished, the comedic tone of the book. The lightness of the language and Malcom MacDowell captured the humor well, BUT he was too old to be Alex. Alex is fifteen which makes it all the more CREEPIER. The actors were too old to be playing a gang of teenagers. Hmm, what else....oh yes the violence and the underlying theme of freedom of choice. The violence, not at all shocking, but then again I've grown up to "pulp fiction". Not that I need the in-your-face style, but I think that's what Kubrick was going for. He doesn't leave it for the imagination, but fails at providing grotesque imagery that would make you feel sickened by the violence. And the freedom of choice, yes the prison chaplain has his famous line, but I think the ultimate point of this movie is lost in once again Kubrick's obsession with sex. If you want Kubrick-directed naked people I suggest "Eyes Wide SHut". At least then I get the point. But here, he fails. He doesn't do enough justice to the book. He strays from the Anthony Burgess's vision too far. Sure, it's more faithful than a lot of Hollywood's book adaptations, but it could have been done so much better. This book was practically begging to be made into a movie with it's already picked-out soundtrack. But I honestly feel that if people read the book before jumping on the hype band wagon back in the '70's, we wouldn't look at this movie with such awe.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Another self-righteous Kubrick film, 13 November 2002
Author: great_198 from Muskego, WI
Like 2001 and Full Metal Jacket, Kubrick tries to express the point he's making WAY too hard in this movie. Nothing's left to the imagination, and it's like Kubrick thinks that his audience are a bunch of morons who can't come up with conclusions and ideas of their own. See Lolita. I thoroughly enjoyed that movie. This was before Kubrick became all self-righteous and tried to push ideals on his viewers. I heard Dr. Strangelove was good, too. The same kind of humor as Lolita. And Peter Sellers, who's in both these films, kicks ass. Kubrick, I don't know why people praise you so much.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Spastic Porn?, 15 October 2002
Author: mrtopsyturvy from Suffolk, England
After watching the network premier on Channel 4, I was pretty much left wondering what all the fuss was about. As is the case in many Kubrick films, nothing is left to the imagination in this futuristic "shocker". The special vernacular used by the movie's juvenile delinquents puts me in mind, however, of the "computer-nerd" language used by teenagers at the start of the new millenium as a way of setting themselves apart from their 'square' and 'pedestrian' elders. A future society that revells in extreme violence was also more than touched upon in the 1976 film "Rollerball", but thankfully these dire predictions have not yet been realised. A much better film (based on a protracted adventures of a young man, at odds with the world around him) would have been "O, Lucky Man" (also with Malcom McDowal), two years later. As a film of prophecy, one has to say that "Clockwork Orange, A", like "2001: A Space Odyssey", pretty much fails in every respect. So the question has to be asked - "What was all the fuss about?"
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Good story, lousy film, 29 September 2002
Author: Peter (fineanimal) from San Diego, California
A Clockwork Orange has achieved legendary status, but for the life of me I cannot figure out why. The original story by Anthony Burgess strives to make an important Orwellian statement about the perils of allowing society to override peoples' free will for the common good. But the production of this film is so irretrievably dated and incoherent that the moral is almost entirely lost in a bizarre mix of stylish ultraviolence and unrefined cheese. Take Stanley Kubrick's name off the credits and its almost a certainty that the gang at Mystery Science Theater would have had a field day with this overrated dud.
Granted, the nudity, sex and violence must have been shocking in 1971, and shock can make a point. These scenes are commonplace today, however, and there lies the main reason that this film seems forever trapped in 1971: it relies entirely on shock value to make its point, yet the scenes in this film are no longer shocking. In too many ways, they are disturbingly silly.
For all the talk about Kubrick's "brilliant" ironic juxtaposition of beautiful classical music against the ugliness of violence, most of the soundtrack sounds like it was created by an escapee from the primate sanctuary who entered the sound studios of Leonard Nimoy's "In Search Of..." and began pounding away at the Mini-Moog.
Unlike Kubrick's timeless masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove, A Clockwork Orange looks like it was already seriously dated by the end of the year it was released, even though the story apparently takes place well in the future. So much bad hair, pre-disco costuming and overtly sexual "modern" art makes one think of Andy Warhol far more than George Orwell, adding a buffoonish quality to what should have been a serious story.
And unless Kubrick expected that Americans would never see this film, one has to wonder why the speech almost entirely consists of slurred, sloppy British slang to the point where one requires English subtitles to get anywhere beyond the gist of what is being said in this English-speaking film.
My apologies to those who love A Clockwork Orange, but it really isn't a very good film. It's sad enough when art achieves immortality through style rather than substance. But when even the cheesy style upon which a work of art's immortality is based has long since become a historical embarrassment, we have to start looking for psychological reasons why this film remains so popular.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Very hard to describe..., 12 December 2001
Author: nat from England
Hmmm I have mixed feelings over this film. The book 'A clockwork orange' is brilliant and overall this isn't a bad adaptation. However, I think this film really glorifies the violence too much and takes it too extrmes. It also misses out the moral of the story and the interesting ideas Burgess had about morality and free will. OK to watch once but only if you can handle some fairly horrible scenes
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's best!!! A haunting masterpiece that will always be remembered!!!, 2 May 2001
Author: mattymatt4ever from Jersey City, NJ
"A Clockwork Orange" is a film I didn't quite get the first time around, and it's interesting that many other people felt the same way in their first viewing. I mean, how am I supposed to react a scene where Alex and his Droogs are raping an innocent woman, while he happily sings "Singing in the Rain"? I'm no sadist.
However, in the second viewing, I realized the film's moral value and was able to indulge the spectacular visuals. Kubrick has that masterful quality that sucks you into his movies via the initial shot. The opening shot of "CO" is a memorable one in which we see Alex (Malcolm McDowell) staring straight into the camera, evil in his eyes--which do not flinch for a second. Combined with the astounding soundtrack, highlighted by Beethoven's "9th Symphony," we're dazzled by this hypnotic piece of artistry that contains maximum doses of style and substance.
There are many lessons to be learned after watching this movie. Because "CO" deals with all the faces of evil. We embark on a journey, through the mind of Alex, bringing us into his sadistic world. There's a great scene in which Alex retires to his bedroom, puts on Beethoven's 9th and we see a montage of violent sequences interlocked with close-ups of Alex's face with blood seeping out of his mouth. We learn how these acts of violence and rape stimulate him to the fullest. Then we learn about the jealousy that exists among evil. When Georgie wants to take over the Droogs and become leader of the pack, Alex tosses him in the water along with the slow-witted Droog Dim, and slashes him in the hand teaching him a lesson on who's the boss. And finally, when Alex commits his last murder, we learn about the betrayal that spawns from evil. All of Alex's fellow Droogs beat him senseless and leave him at the scene of the crime, allowing him to get picked up by the authorities and thrown in jail. In jail, we learn about how "supposedly" morally correct individuals try to eradicate pure evil. We're introduced to a fanatical preacher, who feels jail is the best punishment for this group of sinners and they fully deserve to rot inside until their souls are cleansed. That shows how religion can sometimes be exaggerated and far-fetched, and religious leaders don't always take a realistic approach to these matters. Alex is later rehabilitated by being put through an unusual procedure. He is forced to watch scenes of brutal violence and rape, put to the soundtrack of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. At first, he feels satisfied. But as his mind gets healthier, he gets more and more disturbed by these images. And we learn that the healthy mind is not able to withstand such evil. Alex was able to withstand this evil in the past, because his mind was in a sick, demented state. After Alex is fully rehabilitated, he's released back into the world and--unfortunately--things don't turn out so good. His family doesn't want him anymore. And we learn more and more in upcoming scenes how evil cannot be tolerated by society, and how evil acts of violence and rape are not forgiven or forgotten in the eyes of those who were traumatized, no matter how clear Alex's conscience happens to be. And society will often use evil against evil. This is the type of the movie that gives a raw, unflinching look at the evils of society, how we deal with them, how we're faced with them, how they're inflicted upon us, etc. This is one of the best social satires ever made, brutally portraying all the "dark sides" of society.
The dialogue is also memorable--though sometimes difficult to understand. This is the type of movie that is great in all aspects. It's not only emotionally stimulating, but visually stimulating, in a way only Kubrick could've expressed it. I can't imagine any director doing it any better.
"A Clockwork Orange" is Kubrick's most noble masterpiece, and a definite must-see!!!
My score: 9 (out of 10)
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
A strange fruit to say the least, 28 August 2000
Author: davideo-2 from United Kingdom
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
Natural curiosity is more a reason than any to watch a movie.Having been banned on video for apparently 29 years, A Clockwork Orange,like all the rest,inspires you to watch it if only to see what all the fuss was about.Reservoir Dogs was splendid,The Exorcist was watchable.....but,then again,Natural Born Killers was an unspeakable mess.This film emerges on that unparallel line between uniquely great,and preposterously dreadful.
There is,whichever way you look at it,actually very little rhyme or reason to the story of this film.Like in his past overrated disappointment 2001:A Space Odyssey,Kubrick has instead here mesmerised the audience with his own variently effective roleplay on how his orchestra of filming should go.He was capable of great,more reasonably effective work in the past,as The Shining and Full Metal Jacket have proven,while Eyes Wide Shut remains to be seen on my part,but,revolutionary filmmaker he was,it was perhaps slightly unfair of him to expect the audience to swallow his own complicated world view on such astoundingly thin plot material,though the lead young man's journey from an unscrupulous lawbreaker to a dedicated abider of law and order is strangely involving.
Yes,again in this scenario,maybe due to the film's age,it's hard to see what all the fuss was about.Which is,in turn,all the worst,leaving you with an unbelievably uneven whole that churns you in for the ride,and endures you in it's inexplicable revelation.**
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Some thoughts about A Clockwork Orange, 3 May 1999
Author: b-a-h TNT-6 from nowhere
I have to agree with a previous comment about the detractors of this movie; it seems this is not the right movie for people who just wanna see the classic psycho movie characters and be scared (while laugh at the characters' foolishness inside). This is not that kind of movie; so just watch The Shining (a really good movie, btw) instead of this if that's what you want. ACO isn't, indeed, an easy movie; Stanley Kubrick did a wonderful job in trying to make the audience identify in Alex's character, while keeping Alex's character himself so unbelievably real that sometimes you think Malcolm McDowell was real crazy. That's probably why the movie is psychologically shocking (and no, you don't see that much blood or straight violence on the screen). This is not, indeed, a movie translation of the novel itself: although they share the sharp sense of humour of Alex's narrative, the story is slightly different, and the reader doesn't identify with "the novel's Alex" that much; as Burgess himself said, the movie is "Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange", the book is "Anthony Burgess' a Clockwork Orange". I'd say their aim was pretty different: Burgess' primary one was probably to describe society dehumanization, Kubrick wanted to show how criminals aren't "aliens" and sometimes respectable people aren't better than them. This is, probably, why the movie was dubbed "disgusting" by so many people. The movie is visually really different from anything else ever appeared on the screen: not at all hollywood-looking (nothing fancy looking here), and maybe that's another reason why the "anti" camp is still pretty big; nevertheless, I think Kubrick did a wonderful job in describing those "futurible" suburbs. One final note: the movie described a very close future when it came out; now it's probably more like "an alternate world", although really close to ours. That's why the movie itself still keeps his scary fascination.
10/10
3 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Stupid., 12 August 2007
Author: reg-alita
Yeah, I know I am a fool not confirming with the praising mass for this movie. Yet I still gave it two stars because I watched it till the end.
At the time this movie was made it must have been fantastic - today I think it's quite flat. The message is quite important - maybe even more today than then but the presentation is quite weak, mostly plain stupid. The one thing I don't like the most is that the primitivity of some expressions stay in your head for quite a while - just like a chant.
All in all I'd say that A Clockwork Orange does not deserve it's good reputation in any way and I know that many people agree with me. I regret that I have watched it.
4 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Overbaked and overrated, 10 June 2007
Author: theskylabadventure from United Kingdom
The fact that this film is still held in such high regard is surely one of the greatest mysteries in cinema.
For the record, I love the book. It would be easy, then, to dismiss my disliking of the film as being no more than that I preferred my own vision of the story upon reading it. Alas, my reasons for not liking the film go far beyond this.
Firstly, and perhaps most significantly, I do not like Malcolm McDowell's reading of Alex at all. I find him tacky, annoying and not in the least fearsome. To be fair, Burgess wrote the infuriatingly tacky lingo that Alex uses in his relentless narration throughout the film, but I don't remember him describing Alex as an annoying, whiney Northerner.
It is not just the performance of Alex's character that misses the mark for me. Almost everyone in the film seems to think they're in an episode of Monty Python. Yes, I know it's meant to be satirical, but it's more parodical than anything. We're not laughing with it, we're laughing at it. You could be forgiven for assuming that every actor here thinks they're in a stage production and that we won't understand their character unless they shout and overact their way through each scene.
The production design is possibly an even greater crime. Rather than looking futuristic, the whole film looks so stuck in the '60s that I can't help but be completely detached from the action. The colour is overwhelming and the lighting only serves to enhance the feeling that this is a cheap TV movie, not a "classic" Warner production.
Don't even get me started about the cheesy, electronic renderings of Beethoven that plague almost every scene. What on earth were they thinking? Surely they knew that by using "state-of-the-art" synthesisers they were condemning the film to being out of date within five years. To begin with the music is mildly amusing. Soon it becomes tedious. Then downright annoying, like everything else in the film.
Quite simply, I just cannot take this film seriously. It has no impact whatsoever. Part of the film's longevity in the minds of moviegoers is said to be the controversy and the powerful, disturbing tone of the movie. Frankly, I found Bambi more disturbing, and a damn sight less tedious.
On that note, let me not forget how long, slow paced and drawn out every single scene is. By the 90 minute mark the film has gone past boring into something completely new. Needless to say, when the film finally ends, you'll find yourself struggling to resist the urge to follow Alex in jumping straight out the nearest window.
7 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Violent actions, violent reactions..., 29 May 2004
Author: Merwyn Grote (majikstl@aol.com) from St. Louis, Missouri
According to IMDb.com, Stanley Kubrick had exhibition of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE stopped in the United Kingdom after his family received death threats protesting the film. There is a certain irony here: Kubrick's film at the very least trivializes violence and maybe even glamorizes it, but Kubrick himself didn't seem to recognize the power and the influence that stylized violence has, until it posed a real threat to him and his family.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is undoubtedly a fascinating film to watch. Its creation of a bizarre, pop-art, surrealistic, vaguely futuristic world is, as you'd expect from Kubrick, meticulous and detailed. The film fulfills a daring, conceptually bold vision of a world that is violent, superficial and coldly impersonal. In essence, a somewhat more colorful version of the type of world with which Kubrick became increasingly fascinated. And, as in the Kubrick style, the more obsessively intense the appearance of the film, the more progressively shallow it is thematically and philosophically. Like much of Kubrick's work, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is about how something is said, but not all that interested in what is actually being said.
The film is not just about violence, but about the theatrics of violence. The acts of violence are just that, acts -- i.e., performances -- of violence. Some of this is obvious: a gang rape happens on a theatre stage and another rape is performed as the main character parodies "Singin' in the Rain." Other instances are less obvious, but still apparent as Kubrick takes great pains to control angle, lighting and image to make the attacks "ultra-violent," but in a photogenic way. We don't see the violence as realistic, but in a jazzed up cinematic way. Terrible things happen to otherwise innocent people, but Kubrick isn't interested in their suffering, but in the calculated high his protagonist and his fellow thugs get as they commit crimes -- and the calculated high he wants the audience to have as they watch.
ORANGE's anti-hero is Alex (Malcolm MacDowell). Alex is a rapist and a murder and God-only-knows what else. Kubrick wants Alex to be seen as the film's victim. To this end, Alex is arrested and, during the course of the film, reprogrammed to abhor violence. This, it seems, makes Alex a helpless victim in the real world, much like the helpless victims he terrorized during the first half of the film. The difference is that Alex is the victim of a big, mean, horrible government that has left him stripped of his free will, while Alex's various victims were, well, secondary characters; important as props, but little else. Kubrick seems oblivious to the fact that his argument in favor of individual freedom has little respect for most of its individual characters.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is unique in the world of film, there is nothing quite like it. But, unfortunately, it is very typically Kubrick. Like an architect or interior designer who strives to be an artist, Kubrick creates a world that is stunning visually, but coldly inhospitable. He is so obsessed with having every frame of his movies looking just so, that he neglects to create worlds where there is room for anything as messy as humanity. Even in a film like ORANGE with its defense of free will at any cost, Kubrick himself seems to fear anything as uncontrollable as spontaneity. His plea for free will is cold and mechanical.
Kubrick's message is that being robbed of free will by the state is far worse of a crime than rape or murder or any other act of violence. Which, in theory, is a noble philosophy, assuming you have not been a victim of rape or murder or any other act of violence. Whether in the real world or the reel world, violence always robs its victims of their free will, and in far more oppressive ways than suffered by Alex. It is sad and somewhat telling that Kubrick wants to work up a great deal of pity for a shallow monster like Alex, who essentially is stripped of his dubious right to do harm, but the director can't seem to muster up anything but a passing interest in the people who are harmed by Alex. Kubrick seems to respect Alex as a man of action, albeit antisocial action, over the benign passivity of his victims.
ORANGE doesn't really condone violence, but it doesn't condemn it either. The film sees violence as a moral choice, something for the individual to accept or reject. Which would be fine, if the film also recognized that such choices come with responsibilities and consequences. What most people would see as justice -- Alex losing his freedom to chose his life's options -- the film sees as oppression. Whether you want to see it as chaos, anarchy, amorality or just plain stupidity, the film's seemingly high-minded defense of personal freedom is noble only if you are devoid of basic human compassion. That is, you are willing to place intellectual theory over simple human dignity. I suspect that Kubrick -- like the makers of other "ultra-violent" films, from THE WILD BUNCH to NATURAL BORN KILLERS -- thought he was making a bold statement about our violent society, creating "art," but foolishly he didn't seem to grasp that such "art" is what helps to make a society violent in the first place. Unquestioned violence begets indefensible violence.
Art should be the antithesis of violence and even violent art should mock or repudiate violence. Maybe that idea finally hit home when Kubrick moved to suppress the film in order to protect his family.
8 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
Interesting but flawed, 26 October 2002
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK
In England Alex and his droogs are just one of many small gangs of youths who live for thrills experienced through ultra-violence and forced in and out with girls. Internal conflict with his droogs sees Alex abandoned at a crime scene where he is arrested. Faced with 14 years in jail Alex tries to get involved in a new Government led initiative to rehabilitate criminals.
I imagine I'm in the same boat as many users here. I first saw Clockwork Orange many years ago on a pirate copy where the words `sound quality' and `visual sharpness' didn't play any part. It wasn't till recently that I was able to watch it on a screen without squinting, when Kubrick's ban was lifted in the UK. At this point I waited several years till it came to TV before revisiting it – I wanted to watch it away from media hype and make my own mind up.
What I found was a film that was taking it's points from the debate that was going on at the time over treatment of criminals. The plot is worthy and does set up a situation that becomes more relevant every year in the UK – that of violent disaffected youth. However Kubrick doesn't look at the wider impact of society on Alex, he only looks at Alex and how he is treated now by society. His life consists of sex and violence – all for thrills, a picture that is all too realistic. However only in the second half does Kubrick make some strong points about the nature of people and how society can be as cruel as individuals.
Most of the film is a sort of arty porn type of film. That's not to criticise it for this, but it does feel like Kubrick is concentrating more on style rather than content. Visually the film works well, even if some of the scenes of sexual violence I felt were more than they needed to be and it felt like it was revelling in the very things it was criticising. However at it's heart the story is a good idea and it is told in a weird way that holds the attention.
Alex's weird childlike use of made up words make it feel like he really is a teenager trying to create a world different from his parents and plenty of the images show the reality of his world. McDowell delivers another great performance and effortlessly carries the film. However his constant swagger could be criticised for being too much, but at the key moments of weakness he brings out Alex's fear well. The rest of the support cast give good Orwellian authority figures or vengeful victims well.
Overall this film is worth watching once simply because of the hype. Now that it's no longer banned it will lose much of the credit it gave you when you could tell people that you'd seen it (now every school kid can rent it on video!) and may lose some critical support as a result. McDowell is great but Kubrick works harder on his style than making clear, strong points through narrative.
18 out of 36 people found the following review useful:
So disgusting I am amazed it ever made to the top 250!, 2 December 2007
Author: iteptex from France
Usually, before watching any movie I look up IMDb to see its rating and viewers' comments on it. I did the same before seeing the Clockwork Orange. It said, mostly, yes, violence, yes, the main hero's a monster, but what a masterpiece! It seemed to deserve its place in the first 50 in the IMDb rating... Then I watched the film. And I believe it is one of the most disgusting films I ever saw. It is no doubt intended to be full of hidden significance, the grotesque manner in which characters speaks, move, dress, live. This is supposed to be "new and frighteningly surrealistic", a "sharp, futuristic social satire". The viewer is probably supposed to be saturated with disgust to the point that he/she realizes, oh my God, that's us! That's the worst part of a person in modern society, bla-bla-bla. Suppose, however, that you don't go along with this idea. What do you see then? You see an empty film. It is filled with violence that serves to get the oh-so-new idea of a social satire through. Because, you see, without it the viewer won't understand. He won't understand the idea of mixing English with misused and twisted Russian words. He won't understand that the Music line is supposed to be thought-provoking and not just stupid: ah, Beethoven and the Nazi, Beauty and the Beast, whatever. This film is two wasted hours of your life. After having watched it, you get the awful feeling you've been taken for an idiot. One way to deal with the situation is try to look thoughtful and say, "hmm, so new, so sharp". Another way is throw the DVD into the waste bin and try to forget you've ever watched it.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Simply the greatest film ever made, 17 June 2009
Author: Irish man from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I am a Stan fan, just putting it out there first. From "A Clockwork Orange" to "Full Metal Jacket" and "The Shining" and so on. So forgive me if I embellish on Mr. Kubrick's past works. This is not just Kubrick's best work, but also the greatest film ever made. This film works and does well on so many levels. Upon my first viewing, "I said to myself 'this is all-right' not too good and not too bad. My next viewing I had seen many things that I had not noticed before." The day after the second viewing, I went out and bought it and it was worth every penny.
The primary goal of the film, I believe, was to show futile our efforts are to change people because of the way they "tick." I learned from this films that people don't "really" change. The films embraces these thoughts with dark humor and disturbing actions. In one word the film is: SATIRICAL. On another level, the words to describe the film are: "THE TIMES ARE A-CHANGIN." These wise words of Bob Dylan apply to this film as well as others and are every bit true in real life, like "No Country for Old Men." For example, as a slight spoiler, Alex, towards the beginning of the film; Alex is shown to not wanting things to change like his "droogie" Georgie had briefly mentioned. This and the poorly-sought ambition to change certain characters in the film WITHOUT any side effects are both inevitable and the central ideas in the film. A few characters had mentioned how they wished things were still the same in terms of anything, like in terms of Alex's punishments for his crimes. When Alex changes his ways, the others become hypocrites and oppose to what they once believed. For example, the people wanting to change Alex in a non-violent way find that at the end of the film, this is utterly impossible. Certain conversations between characters symbolize a world's readiness to change from one belief to the next and then back again, hence the title which also applies to Alex himself. In the film, half of the characters started as being the "ultra-violent" and wanting a change in their ways or vice-versa (good people becoming violent). I'm going to leave it at that because I am getting overwhelmed with just how much this film covers.
I cannot even fully write out how deep this movie is. For those who haven't seen it, go rent it now if you are not easily disturbed. The film was robbed of several deserving Oscars including some I thought the film also should have gotten, but didn't even get an Oscar nod (ex. Best Original Score). The only film that I believe comes close to this masterpiece is Eastwood's "Unforgiven" Once again, in a nutshell, go see this, but is not obviously not recommended for kids to watch.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Dazzling and provocative; Kubrick at his creative peak., 21 January 2009
Author: bobsgrock from United States
If there ever was a film that was shocking and twisted, yet so important and unique in cinema, that would be A Clockwork Orange. Stanley Kubrick, having just come off the success of 2001: A Space Odyssey, continued the most creative vein of his career with this adaptation of Anthony Burgess' controversial novel about gangs of young boys wrecking havoc amongst the streets of futuristic Britain.
This film is so much more than just a look at the future of youth. Kubrick also is able to insert his brilliant visual style which works so well here with the subject material. For the first half hour, we are stunned, amazed at the vicious and cruel acts of Alex and his droogs. As the story moves on, under any other director the story would have become less titillating, but thanks to Kubrick's vision and a tour de force performance by Malcolm McDowell, this movie only gets better. We follow Alex through all aspects of his journey, and this is the key. By the final third, we find ourselves somewhat sympathetic for Alex despite his previous wrongdoings. Beyond this, there is also exploring the fact of whether state control is good or how much it takes until someone is devoid of their basic choice as a human being.
Still, all these nuances aside, this is one movie not easily forgotten. With terrific performances, magnificent backing music, and flawless directing from one of the greatest of all time, A Clockwork Orange is a film to experience and think about for years to come.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Carefully prepared, highly stylised satire, 30 October 2008
Author: Framescourer from London, UK
High watermark Kubrick. It's a convoluted and often hysterical British satire shot with great care over lighting and composition. It's target is the near future or even a Britain of an alternative present. Everything follows fashion: clothes, culture, language, politics. The one exemption from this is the prison in which Alex is briefly interned, an establishment run by pre-war tub-thumpers for whom dogmatism, both religious and social, is inflexible. Importantly, whilst these characters are also amusing they are not contemptible.
Malcolm MacDowell carries the movie, cannoning between the adolescent bravado, belligerence and victimisation that Lindsay Anderson already cast in If... Kubrick photographs him, as he photographs everything, straightforwardly, making the cast work hard, but repaying their work by obscuring none of it. The older cast are wonderful: Philip Stone is key as the put-upon father suffering his wife's hideous clothing and furnishing fads; Patrick Magee does a super turn as the writer driven just short of madness by the first attack; and Anthony Sharp is the manipulative interior minister, familiar from our contemporary politics.
Controversy may be the legacy of this film for its brutal, stylised rape and violence sequences. What we see today though is an account of how the attitudes of those in the film already profoundly affected by fashion are further dictated by the media (there are lots of papers throughout). However, Alex's attitudes remain constant: they are the typical desires of a young man which, as often as they are maliciously sought also find consummation in as many circumstances that are not only anodyne but also humorous (the time lapse orgy to Rossini and the final shot). 7/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
"Naughty, naughty, naughty! You filthy old soomka!", 18 August 2008
Author: Bozo
This movie is pure art on the screen.
From the interesting language, to the colorful inventions of this world created by Alex Burgess, this is the story of a young man's night-life gone wrong, his recovery and suffering.
Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is one of the most interesting characters on the big screen. He is leader of a "gang" consisting of Dim (Warren Clarke), Georgie (James Marcus), and Pete (Michael Tarn). Alex does not like being challenged and has his fun at the expense of others. He also heavily enjoys Beethoven and his pet snake, Basil.
Some other good performances in this movie were Frank Alexander (Patrick Magee), and my personal favorite, Mr. Deltoid (Aubrey Morris), Alex's crazy, blissfully always happy parole officer (I think so anyway).
I was very disoriented watching this movie, but a few more viewings helped me appreciate this movie so much more.
This is definitely a favorite of mine, and well worth a try.
10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Terrifying, Grotesque, Funny, Lyrical, Violent, Spetacular., 30 June 2008
Author: skeletonman13 from United States
Kubrick really knows how to make a good movie! He really has shown me now, after seeing The Shining, Barry Lyndon, 2001, and Dr. Strangelove. I knew this has to be really good!! From the reviews I read, to the opinions i heard. I really set my expectations high for A Clockwork Orange. And the film, really blew me away. It is one of the greatest films ever made (to me). Stanely Kubrick, is now my favorite director. ACO has amazing visuals, the beautiful use of vibrant colors, the acting is incredible. McDowell did an excellent job as Alex DeLarge. The cinematography (spelling?) is amazing. Every little thing about this picture, is beautiful. Along with 2001, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, and Dr. Strangelove, they all blew me away, and all are in my top 50 greatest movies ever made!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Pure genius, timeless and not for everyone, 11 June 2008
Author: Trythewine from United States
It's hard for me to read the negative comments about Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange," but then I have to sit back and realize this movie is not for everyone. So here is a quick checklist for those considering viewing the film.
1. If you go to church every Sunday...this movie is not for you.
2. If your favorite movie came out in the last 15 years...this movie is definitely not for you.
3. If you dislike classical music...It's not for you.
4. If you dislike like violence...you better stick to PG-13 because this movie is absolutely, positively not for you!
Unfortunately, it appears that many who dislike the film cannot get past the ultra-violence and brief nudity, which are central to the plot.
Alex, a youth living in a nondescript future London, is pure evil. He is deceitful, manipulative, he robs, rapes, kills and brutalizes without any remorse. In this future society the government is concerned with staving off the climbing crime rate and rehabilitating the youth of the day. After a murder conviction leave's Alex in the stir, we truly see how conniving and unrepentant he is. Once released from prison, a government experiment leaves Alex defenseless against violence from those he has wronged, but it is still difficult not to root for him.
I think people are who are truly disturbed by this film realize, but would never admit, how they would like to be like Alex in a small way and take part in some or all of his exploits. I wonder if they would say the same about "Lolita," equally disturbing, but on a different level. Those who love it feel the same, which is why they watch it over and over.
Yet another masterpiece by Kubrick, in my humble opinion.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
My comment!!!, 30 May 2008
Author: jorgepulgo from Colombia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Clockwork orange, the story of a young man called Alex and his gang of teenagers, the kind of boys that loved do drugs, drink, skip school, and wreak havoc during the night. The movie shows a complete metamorphosis of the main character (Alex) who loved ultra-violence, Beethoven, who was the leader of the gang, and was rude and disrespectful towards his other droogs, and, in a higher level, with the people that suffer his wreak havoc. Alex become in a complete different man contrary to the man he used to be, and his "new brain" forces him to hate what he used to love. Thanks to this change, the hangman (Alex) was the victim and his old victims were the hangmen.
This movie doesn't seem to belong to any particular time; You can find situations and behaviors similar to those shown in the movie. It doesn't matter if it's now or ten or twenty years ego, its messages can be applied to any epoch. One of the messages that this movie gives us is: "old sins have long shadows", in other words: late or soon you have to face the consequences of your acts, and that happened to Alex. From other point of view, the movie can make us reflect on the possibility that other person or think can have to control our mind, our decisions, our life. They don't have to use medicines or special treatments to make us live under their control, they only feed our mind day after day with the concept of "perfect or ideal life", they construct our dreams and goals around this concept. The special treatment in our case are those material things we "need" and the media that every they wanna sell us all necessary things to build that perfect life. Do We actually live like we would like to live, or we live like this "treatment" wants we to live? think about it.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
single view, 28 May 2008
Author: juan f garcia from Medellin, Colombia
It is a crude film in the which everything that is shown is because it needs to be shown to give it a meaning. At first glance, this seems rude and morbid but every time I look more closely, I understand that all those involved in a lyric violence, plays a key role in the plot and development. The bar, the dresses, masks and the particular gangs, everything is needed. I am charmed with the movie for the mixture of violence, music, heap and the dialect that to the hearing can sound rough. Alex is the a unique character for his way of life with extreme likes. The performance of the main characters is impeccable, each one seems to have born for this role. The only thing that set me up at the first time was the speeching and language that is used. but ti was only the first time because like all the good movies, it doesn't give all in the same time. then I comprehend that this slang is very useful to the movie, in the same way that the ultra-violence. In addition the film leaves us to see a reality that has never been easy to see. The attempts of the State for dominating to everything that one that represents a danger for the balance of this one. In this case the State relied on the science, tries to dominate the part that does us more humans, the power of choice. It is not important if it is chosen towards the bad or good side, the autonomy is one of the principal rights that we have when we do part of a society. In this sense, the movie is futurist because it let us to have a view about the things that are going to happen in the cold war and what nowadays is passing with communication media and the influence of the State on the citizens.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Karma, 27 May 2008
Author: Diego R from Diego Rojas UdeA
"A Clockwork Orange" it's a movie to remember us than there are crazy people in this world, because the situations weren't fictitious situations. There are criminal people than doesn't matter other people and they are able to attack somebody without reasons, Like the main character "Alex" and his gang, than they were too bad to society because they stole, hit and rape people. But at the end they discover the "Karma" and pay for their acts in jail. After that, the main character turns in defenseless person by the tortures in jail
I liked the movie, not much, but i liked it, because the bad guy happened bad things
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A Clockwork Orange- A work of sheer brilliance, 7 May 2008
Author: ibuk from United Kingdom
I only viewed ACO a couple of weeks ago, from the minute go I was spellbound by its sheer brilliance. Adapted from a novel by Anthony Burgess ACO is a shocking tale of redemption and revenge. When released ACO caused a huge sensation and was banned for several years. After seeing I can see why it caused so much offence, there is a fair deal of nudity and it shows the main character raping women. Until I saw ACO the only movie I had watched of Stanley Kubrick was The Shining but this is in a league of its own. After seeing this movie I also saw Kubrick's other masterpiece 2001: A Space Oddysey which I didn't fully understand but I will give another go. ACO is a landmark movie and is a work of sheer brilliance from a great director.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
One of the best movies i have ever seen!, 6 May 2008
Author: atomicpunks22 from United States
A clockwork Orange, is a tour DE force of sounds and images. Never has the optical illusion of motion with the mixture of sounds that is movies,affected me so much. I came in, expecting the strange, the sublime, i heard many things about this movie and had high expectations. But after i was done watching, it didn't have that much of an impact on me, i thought it was OK, i did not get the message at the time, butthe next week, i watched it again, and i got it, i got the message, i understood the genius! the next day i watched it again, and after that day i became in love with this movie! Stanley Kubrick's best! he takes this movie by the reigns and steers it into the perfect movie. the images in this movie, while not as epic as 2001 a space odyssey, our still certainly incredible! the scene of Alex and his droogs will stay with you for ever! speaking of Alex, Malcom Mcdowell is incredible, he steals the show, the dialog that he speaks is odd and captivating.
the music is mesmerizing, its hypnotic, classical music playing opposite such "ultra-violence" is not the type of music one would first think of for this type of movie. As for the violence, it is not that violent now, in fact it isn't, back then people were over exaggerating! they had grind house movie worse than this all the time! the real main problem is the rape scenes. There is a lot of it, and i can see why people would find it disturbing, but to me, the way they are shot, makes them just one of the things to love about this movie.
Most directors give you all the answers, so that you can understand the whole movie the first time you see it. Not kubrick. The first time you see this movie, you are tooo distracted by the weirdness of this film to tkae anything out. But the second time trhough, its much more clear.
overall i have seen this movie many times and it never gets old, it is a classic, and one of the best films ever made!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A Masterpiece From The Master., 30 April 2008
Author: LagerLagerLagerShouting from England
Stanley's Kubrick's vision of a dystopian future is arguably his most accomplished film. Highly controversial on first release A Clockwork Orange was undoubtedly way ahead of its time and to this day remains an engaging, bold and brilliant satire on the corruption and hypocrisy of a fickle society. At the centre of this, the film remains chillingly topical, demonstrating the debate between free-will versus conformity with a distinct visual approach and creative structure. The best element of this film is the wickedly funny dialogue, a highly inventive take on delinquent orientated slang, but what makes the film a masterpiece is Kubrick's flawless direction. Every scene is beautifully composed and imaginatively stylish, combining zooms, tracking shots, pans and inventive close-ups coupled with some deliriously original editing that pays homage to the class system and engaging pop-art. The film remains a hallmark of modern cinema that is rivetingly brilliant, combining stunning visuals, darkly funny dialogue and insanely catchy music to amazing and accomplished effect.
10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
One of the Best Films Ever Made, 11 April 2008
Author: PeterWilliamson from Australia
One of my biggest wishes about this movie is that Stanley Kurbrick were alive to see the huge and successful re-release of his perfectly brilliant artwork.
Malcom McDowell plays the sly and cunning Alex. He likes a bit of the old ultra-violence with his three drogues. As far as I'm concerned is this movie is often extremely under rated, I was glad to see that it was in the IMDb top 250.
A Clockwirk Orange is visually brilliant, absolutely stunning; hardly any faults. After watching this memorable masterpiece you will have lines, music and scenes in your head. Still giving the impact of what they did while you were watching it. Singing in the rain will never be the same to you. The elements and effects of drama in this movie are outstanding, it's one of the most powerful films I have ever seen and one of the best perspective of the future (even though it was made in the late 60s). This movie has an unbelievable power to it, that creeps you and keeps you interested at the same time. You see the main directing signature of Stanley Kurbrik a lot, the P.O.V (point of view) shot. Although the movie focuses on the more horrible sides of life, you still get a good feel from it by the end; and that is what helps keep this movie brilliant, you DO NOT lose interest in it. Every part of it is extremely attractive, the beginning, the middle and Kurbrik even managed to give it an ending to suit it. The amazing flash backs and shots showing how Alex is thinking helps to also make the brilliance more obviously shining; and to think of how low budget this amazing attraction is or was.
I recommend this to anyone whose ever liked any 'off beat' film and can handle a bit of violence. 9.7/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Brilliant Classic on the problems with "Aversion Therapy", 9 April 2008
Author: ozmosis2323 from Australia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This extra-ordinary classic novel by Anthony Burgess originally sold to the Rolling Stones for $500 was picked up by the great Stanley Kubrick who wrote the screenplay and produced and directed it. The film set in the future uses a language created by Burgess , Nadsat, which is a mixture of English and Russian slang.
Story revolves around a stylistic gang leader Alex and his gang the droogs. Alex and his mates not only indulge in violent robberies involving rape but also attack rival gangs with their successful style of ultra violence. Alex also loves seducing very young teenage girls for group sex and this is displayed in the film at high speed to William Tells Overture. He is also obsessed with Beethoven's 9th symphony in D minor which gives him delusions off grandeur and manic elation especially during a scene when he turns on his fellow gang members. A graphic scene follows where Alex and his subjugated gang carry out a home invasion to the theme of the Rossini's Thieving Magpies overture.
Alex is caught and imprisoned for the murder of the old spinster owner. Alex undergoes a new and radical procedure of "Aversion Therapy" to suppress his violent and sexual tendencies. Unfortunately this therapy also leaves Alex unable to function within the realms of his personality creating disastrous Psychological problems. Alex is unable to defend himself when attacked by various of his victims including his former fellow gang members who are now Police. Eventually Alex stumbles across a wealthy political activist Mr Alexander who is trying to overthrow the government and seeks solace with him. Unfortunately for Alex Mr Alexander recognises him as the man who raped and murdered his wife during a home invasion.
Mr Alexander tries to expose the Governments use of Aversion therapy as an abuse of human rights but it backfires and Alex becomes a hero indulged upon by the Government.
Kubrick withdrew the film when censored in Britain. It a classic on every level.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
man as a machine, 19 December 2007
Author: madalina_roca from Romania
The movie deals with the human mind, the pervert man, brutal, violent, atrocious but free and the 'good man', the man seen as a plant, as a manipulated object, without free will. The world may be violent and horrible but still, a world full of plain, smiling, good people would be worse. Man is both good and evil, thats the beauty of humanity, that's the thing that brings color to life. The movie mocks at the government, the supreme control organ that manipulates the human mind under the pretext of doing something good for the society. The use of music in the violent scenes is not comic, Kubrick deals with music just like David Lynch does. The music is dangerous because itţs an extension of the characterţs inner self.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
a masterpiece, 20 August 2007
Author: masdestroyer12 from United Kingdom
Clockwork Orange is what you want to understand it to be. Some may find the movie very gross, that is. But some who see this film see it as the greatest film made, people such as myself, and can see through the carnage. The message of the movie is, you choose what you want to be, no matter what. You can be that kind of person, who does evil, the person you choose to be, or be a good person. That is the main message. It is up to the one who is evil to realise, what he/she is doing, doing is wrong. And the choices they make that make them to the person they are. You cannot make a man good, it is his will to do so. Clockwork Orange is a cinematic masterpiece, because of the way it was done. Truly showing how sinister the wold can be, even if i is set in the future. Again, i say that clockwork orange is a masterpiece, not because of its depiction of a future gone wrong, nor of the raw brutality of human beings(although these are very important factors which make this movie great), but the message of choice, choice to be good, or be evil.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Impressive movie, 18 August 2007
Author: daniel Carbajo López from Barcelona, Spain
In a new future, the society has gone to an offspring. Alex is a charismatic intelligent guy that loves violence and evilness. He is the leader of a gang and we can see him doing some act of terrific ultra-violence, just for fun. When he is arrested, as he wants to leave prison early, he accepts to be part of a new treatment which will cause him to be a good citizen. This is one of the best Kinrick's movies. Cruel, satiric, intelligent. The fact that ultra-violence is shown to us with lots of ironic and black humour, in almost a hypnotic-oniric way makes it special, then, violence becomes wonderful, and this disturbs you, which is specially the main of the director, he is able to make you love such a disgusting guy. Then, as the violent becomes the Government, Alex is just a victim, a guy that only wants to live quiet, and the "law" is the ultra-violent there, programming the prisoners, making them fools that cannot decide freely.
It is a critic not only to the violence (of course violence is bad) but also to the way that a country uses to fight against it, which are the limit should not be passed? Who will guard the guards? With all these thing in mind, th movie is just a masterpiece, disturbing and sometimes uncomfortable, but impressively good. The choose of Malcolm as the main actor is just perfect, he is able to play perfectly this not so mad danger and makes us ask ourselves why he was not even nominated to Oscars. may cause repulsion due to its violence (though lot of time has passed!) but it is totally good. Recommended to everyone able to think about ethics and who wants to watch to a good movie that makes you think.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's One True Masterpiece, 16 August 2007
Author: Jonny_Numb from Hellfudge, Pennsylvania
Stanley Kubrick is easily one of the most overrated directors of all time, but I will say that "A Clockwork Orange" is a singular masterpiece that still carries an effect, 36 years later. I think this has less to do with Kubrick the director than Kubrick the adapter--working from Anthony Burgess's novel of the same name, rich with food for thought, the director does not skimp on the intertwining strings of morality, religion, criminality, science, and the State that mark Alexander DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell, in an iconic role)'s descent through a literal mindf*ck in order to curtail his delinquent desires. Kubrick's "point-and-stare" technique, usually an invitation for sleep, is properly observant and well-utilized here: the characters convey the aforementioned commentary in a lively, sly way (from Alex's 'droogies' to the pitch-perfect Aubrey Morris as the perpetually-grinning Mr. Deltoid). While time has diminished the shocks that made the film controversial upon initial release, the morality-play structure is still well-executed and compelling, culminating in a scene revolving around Alex, a plate of spaghetti, and a bottle of wine that is nothing short of masterful. There are many more scenes like this, but like the rest of "A Clockwork Orange"--they are best experienced cold. Highly recommended, and that's coming from someone who thinks the rest of Kubrick's filmography is negligible.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
An excellent presentation of art in cinema., 14 August 2007
Author: filmviewer64 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
"A Clockwork Orange" is one of the strangest and most brilliant films in existence. Based on the novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess, director Stanley Kubrick brings an ultimately surreal and artistic look to the movie.Never before have I seen a movie that works and operates so well on a visual level, and I am not sure if I ever will. It is a movie that must ultimately be seen to believe.
For the course of "A Clockwork Orange", we follow the experiences encountered by young British criminal/rapist Alex DeLarge, played wonderfully yet hauntingly by Malcom McDowell. Alex and his droogs (members in a gang lead by Alex) rape, beat, lynch, and steal just to have their own sick sense of enjoyment, all while communicating to each other in a type of language known as Nadsat. Whether you view these experiences as intelligent views on society or just plain vile and disgusting images, there is no denying that it is definitely artistic, and that is the level that this movie succeeds best on.
While the movie is full of violence and sexual content, it is the way that it is portrayed that truly sets it apart. Bright, brilliant colors make up much of the backgrounds and settings, while various pieces of classical music are used as background music. While the colors and music usually clash with what is taking place in a particular scene, the overall experience that they all create is truly a wonder to view.
I place a lot of emphasis on this movies artistic direction, and while it does make the movie what it is, it is not the only thing that makes the movie great. Malcom McDowell portrays the monster Alex DeLarge so well that, even though we find everything he does to be awful, he can almost make you sympathize with him when he encounters various problems. Even though you never agree with the type of person that Alex is (or at least I hope you don't), you can truly see Alex as an actual person, and I attribute this in great deal to Malcom McDowell.
It is not surprising that this movie was so controversial when it first came out in 1971, as it shows a great deal of infamous rape, sex, and violent scenes. To only see the movie as something of those elements only, though, is to be rather short-sighted. Another popular criticism of this movie is that it seems cold and lifeless, but that is necessary to ensure we see the entire move fold out in front of us like a piece of artwork. Simply said, their is no time for real character development. All that time wasted on complaining about such issues, however, detracts from time that could be spent on one of the most visually arresting and absolutely brilliant movies in existence.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Memorable, Mesmerising and Magnificent Masterpiece, 13 August 2007
Author: Alexander Penn from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange is a story of a young degenerate called Alex de Large who seems as if he is a normal teenager living with his parents. But as you scratch the surface you see that he's a cold hearted evil criminal. After he gets betrayed by his gang and sent to jail for murder he is chosen to try out the governments new reformation program which has interesting results.
The reformation technique is called the 'Ludivico Technique' in which the prisoner is pinned down and forced to watch films of graphic crimes such as rape, murder etc. The idea of it is to give so much violence to the prisoner that he begins to dislike it and grow a natural resistance to it. This natural resistance is a sick sensation felt any time the thought of violence comes to the prisoners mind. Although this stops the prisoner committing crime, it raises ethical issues that are stressed by the prison vicar such as the fact that Alex isn't truly good, he only performs because of the fear of being in physical pain. A quote that interested me in the film is 'A man who cannot choose ceases to be a man'. Alex cant choose whether to do good or bad because hes a robot forced to do good. This in itself is called a clockwork orange.
There was much confusion of the name 'A clockwork orange' and what it means. In the book, F.Alexander is writing a book called a clockwork orange which Alex notices prior to the brutal rape of his wife (otherwise known as the 'singin in the rain' scene) he then rips its up. However this isn't in the film. The actual definition of a clockwork orange is someone that can only perform good or evil. This is in direct correspondence with Alex's story in the book and film.
Alex and his droogs (Dim, Pete and Georgie) use a very enigmatic and somewhat Shakespearian lexis such as 'chelloveck' and a personal favourite quote of mine 'how art thou glob of cheap stinking chip oil'. This is the slang of teenagers in the time of the film which is in the not so distant future. This is a fantastic prediction and also assumption of how youth will change. Many people find the dialect used by teenagers in the present day very hard to understand like we do to the language used by Alex and his droogs. No-one else seems to use that language other than Alex and his droogs, its teenage talk. Its like another realm of todays world. Also the fashion is a fantastic prediction of the not so distant future. The outfit and hairstyles in the film seem ridiculous to us as we watch it such as Alex's mum's crazy hair!. Much like today, we look back at 80's and 70's fashion and we see it as ridiculous. This all adds up to the conclusion that everything in this film is plausible even the crazy design of the Korova milk bar.
The movie is in three parts, Alex and his droogs, Alex in jail and the treatment then Alex out of Jail
Alex de Large rapes, steals and kills people but he listens to and is driven by Classical music such as Mozart and Beethoven. Music is a very important device in this film. Part 1 of the film is series of music and violence orchestrated together with perfect harmony. Kubrick manages to take relaxing classical music and use it to make the scenes deranged and frantic. Not only that, the film also manages to give the music sadistic outlooks for the audience. For example, i now see the 9th symphony and Singin in the rain as evil songs now however, i enjoy listening to them more!. The film conditions us to like or hate the music more much like Alex is inavertely conditioned to resist beethoven in the Ludivico technique later in the film.
Near the end of the film, Alex's demons come back to haunt him. Firstly, the old man he and his droogs assault in the beginning of the film spots him and realises who he is so he and his other homeless friends attack Alex savagely and take his belongings. Of course, Alex cant fight back because the pain of being punched is better than the sickly pain he gets if he performed any violence. The fight is then broken up by two police officers.....which Alex realises in horror are his two former droogs that betrayed him, Dim and Georgie. This is an ironic twist in the tale that the ones who are doing bad have switched sides. Alex is then near killed by his two former droogs. This is of course afer Alex had been rejected from home by another lodger staying there. He had no home, money or prospect so he ends at F.Alexanders house...Yes the man who Alex and his droogs assaulted earlier in the film. The writer doesn't recognise Alex at first but he knew he was on thin ice. F.Alexander wanted to use Alex for political value against the government because he is against the use of the Ludivico technique and the government. However, all changes when the old writer finds out who Alex really was when he hears him singing the same jingle he was singing when raping his wife, Im Singin in the rain.
Kubrick manages to make the audience feel sorry for Alex. We feel sorry for a prisoner of rape and murder. Alex is clearly an evil soul yet we seem to have a relationship with him through the film which makes us like him and empathise with him. This makes this film a beautifully cunning film.
I love the music, I love the iconic direction and I love the language!
10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
As shocking as it ever was, 6 July 2006
Author: Martin Bradley (MOscarbradley@aol.com) from Derry, Ireland
Kubrick's great comedy is as dark and as shocking as it ever was and as we march further into the 21st Century it's view of Britain is no less chilling than it was in 1971, (even more so, if anything). In fact, it's prescient view of a dystopsian state makes you realise how ahead of its time it really is and how, if made today, would seem an unsubtle and outright condemnation of Blair's Britain.
It's sci-fi leanings notwithstanding, the film gives us an uncannily accurate portrait of an cancerous society ruled by young thugs and policed by sadistic, corrupt politicians and law-makers. It's as if Kubrick and the original author, Anthony Burgess, had second sight. As Alex, leader of a gang of 'droogs', out only 'for a bit of the old ultra-violence and in-out in out', Malcom McDowell is magnificent. He was fresh from Lindsay Anderson's "If" and his cocky arrogance was never captured as well again as in these two films and like the devil he has all the best tunes, raping and killing to the strains of 'Singin in the Rain'. He's a monster who wins you over.
Naturally, it would be hard to warm to this movie but Kubrick's chilly gaze is alleviated by shafts of dark humour and Alex will always be a more approachable anti-hero than Barry Lyndon even if you wouldn't want to meet him on a dark night, or any other night for that matter.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Very Bizarre, excellent though., 16 March 2006
Author: Tommy Nelson from Long Beach, California
starring: Malcom McDowall.
In a futuristic England, groups of teens rape and brutally beat people. One group is led by Alex. The film is really 3 plots in one film. The first 45 minutes of the film are just showing the violent acts of this group including a horrible rape scene and a fast motion sex scene between Alex and two women. Alex accidentally kills a woman and he goes to prison (14 years is the charge). the next 45 minutes are Alex in prison and then being able to go through a treatment that will end his evil ways and let him out of prison. The last part is Alex out of prison, no longer able to do violence, sexually attack women, or listen to Beethoven (you have to see the film to know what i mean). It's very bizarre, but it adds to the film. Malcom McDowall is great, and the character is one where sometimes you want him to die, sometimes you feel sorry for him. The direction is really excellent and the classical music choices really added to it. Excellently done.
My rating: 4/4 stars. rated R for nonstop full frontal male and female nudity, strong sexuality including rape, violence and some brief language. 134 mins.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
not quite so disturbing, but very intriguing, 7 March 2006
Author: bdwilner from United States
Unlike another critic, I read the book well before I saw the movie. (I was too young for that sort of movie when it came out but, fortunately--by my teen-age years--it had ascended to the status of "cult classic" and ran ubiquitously in the Greenwich Village "art theaters.") Alex leads a gang that gets drugged out at the local "milk bar" and then indulges in orgies of violence, rape, and, eventually, murder. The Beethoven fascination that others have mentioned is, frankly, a relatively minor plot component: Alex is a big-time fan of the "Glorious Ninth" and enjoys playing it while "playing doctor" with girls he's picked up at the local record store. (Odd how, in 1971, the vision of a "future society" still included LP records, a technology we did away with decades ago--even though a CD is less flexible: you can't play your favorite part of your favorite song, and you can't play it at 45 to raise its frequency by four steps.) After murdering an old lady ("and me still only fifteen," Alex quasi-guiltily monologues to us), Alex is spirited off to a jail where he is treated to the experimental "Ludovico Technique" for curing violent offenders by forcefully subjecting them--eyes maintained open with surgical clamps, ears inobstructible--to non-stop barrages of extreme torture, rape, murder, etc. But Alex isn't exactly cured, and, after his return and "reintegration" into society, the movie--quite honestly--spirals downward in pace, consistency, texture, and, frankly, excitement. The end result is that Alex is still Alex, still a rapist, still a murderer, and still "triggered" whenever he hears Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" (a choral section of the Ninth Symphony).
What made the book much stronger than the movie, frankly, was its reliance upon Nadsat, the three-quarters-Russian lingo in which the teen-agers communicate. Thus, "heads" are "gullivers" (Rus. golowy), "friends" are "droogs" (Rus. drugi), "brains" are "mozgs" (Rus. mozaki), drinks are "peeted with vellocet" (spiked with speed, though "vellocet" obviously hails from the Romance family, not from the East Slavic), etc. It adds tremendously to the pace of the written story if you are quick enough to pick up on the language without having continually to check the appendix to see what is meant when Alex says, e.g., "I wasn't expecting the millicent, so I hastily slipped my nagoy nogas into my woolly pantoofles." That was missing from the movie--though it didn't have to be. I remember a cheapo, late '60s or early '70s flick called "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth": upon entering the theater, an usher handed you a card that essentially translated the troglodytes' language into English (yes, I know, cave men opposite dinosaurs: it clearly isn't a paleontology lesson), although Ringo Starr and John Matuszak's hysterical "Caveman" managed with only an occasional troglodyte word here and there, which you could always pick up from context.
TO THE EDITORS: MY "SPELLING ERRORS" (with the possible exception of inobstructible {please check the OED} and cheapo {well-known slang}) are not misspellings, but either words in Nadsat, an artificial language coined by Anthony Burgess for his novel, "A Clockwork Orange," or transliterations of Russian words into the Roman alphabet per Polish spelling rules. PLEASE DELETE THIS PARAGRAPH. THANK YOU.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Why I don't like it, 25 February 2006
Author: bearian from Albany, NY, USA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Normally, I would rate any memorable movie, even if I did not like it, or certain parts or acting, a 6 or 7 at least.
The reason I rate this so low is for the gratuitous violence. Mad Magazine did a dead-on satire of this movie two decades ago. The violence is repulsive and over the top. It's putrid. The rape scene, and the constant batteries and assaults are too much.
Most unusual is some of the dialog between the gang members, which uses a made-up slang.
That being said, I loved the acting and the score. The plot is basically relevant to modern times. The set design and live action scenery is excellent.
Everyone should see this, but hold your hand on the fast-forward, which is used on one sex scene anyway, very humorously.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Important but very disturbing Kubrick film, 2 September 2005
Author: Stanley Strangelove from Portland, Oregon US
Master director Stanley Kubrick's dark film about a bleak future in England where gangs terrorize ordinary citizens and the government is corrupt to the core. Malcolm MacDowell as Alex the droog in one of the greatest movie villain roles ever created. He and his band of droogs cruise around doing the in and out and ultra-violence until Alex is caught and sent to prison. What follows is an absolute nightmare. The violence in Clockwork Orange was, and is by some, considered extreme. It's the way Kubrick films the scenes that gets under your skin. The movie itself is an indictment of violence but some people incorrectly read it as a glorification of violence in the character of Alex. He's just a victim of a ruined society. Personally, I think the film is a great film, and I love Kubrick, but I avoid watching Clockwork Orange after seeing it three times. The scene where Alex is bound in a straight jacket and is forced to watch images of war violence turns my stomach. Clockwork Orange is #41 on the AFI's 100 best films list.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A good movie....if you can handle it, 1 July 2005
Author: mattm89 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Stanley Kubrick has created what some may call a masterpiece, and others may simply call trash with A Clockwork Orange. Personally, I thought that it was a good movie, but certainly only for mature audiences. It was originally rated "X", and I honestly don't know how even the re-edit that I saw got down to an "R" rating. The movie is about a group of young hoodlums whose main sources of fun are Beethoven, rape, and murder. After drinking some apparently drug-laced milk at a milk-bar the four men go out for a "bit of the ultra violence" as they put it, as they beat an old bum, and rape a few women. After one particular altercation where he had to break into a home (He usually knocks on the door saying that his friend was in a horrible car accident and gains entrance that way) he kills a woman with a statue of a penis (yes you read correctly) and as he tries to escape from the police, his friends, and fellow gang members break a bottle off of his head and take off, leaving him there to be caught. He is taken to jail but learns of a new experimental treatment that will release him from jail sooner, and also cure him of his addiction to murder and rape. He goes through the procedure (I wont give away details but it certainly isn't for the faint of heart)and is released from prison. After getting kicked out of his parents house he wonders the streets until he finds a house that will let him in and let's just say that he has seen the house owner before. I'm not going to give away any more of the movie, that is for you to watch and find out.
Overall, I gave this movie a 9/10 it is a very good movie, but only if you like this type of movie and can stomach the ultra violence, blatant nudity, and other adult themes.
Some of the best parts of the movie are just listening to their slang... some of it is hilarious.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
This highly controversial and also highly enjoyable piece of 70's artwork both revolts, attracts and connects to me, and I'm sure many others out there., 11 March 2005
Author: lyndzamabob from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This masterpiece entered my 'list of things to do' while watching a film countdown on Channel 4 a few months ago. From then on I was impelled to watch this infamous film banned to me, being 14 years of age. I experienced a rush of joy when I realised a close friend at school had a VHS copy in their possession, and she lent it to me the next day.
Like a child with a new toy, I could not wait to get home in order to watch this long-awaited movie, and I was not disappointed.
I am hard to surprise and shock, but the pace of this film did indeed surprise me. For me, the most memorable part of it was near the beginning, where the character of Alexander DeLarge, played by the fabulous Malcolm McDowell ( and in my crazy opinion, simply sumptuous in his younger years ) is woken up by his PVC and nylon clad mother, after a hard night out containing the usual - ultra violence and 'the old in-out, in-out' - and it is revealed to the audience that this assumed twenty-something man is actually a boy of 15, younger then the films certificate, and only one year older than myself. After this early morning arousal, Alex sleeps some more then, in his waken state, is called upon by a confusing character of some significant importance. This leering man, I assume to be a Police or truant officer of some sort, then proceeds to interrogate Alex, in his underpants on his parents' bed, then grabs his testicles in what I am sure would not be classes as orthodox, even then. The homosexual tendencies of this toe-curling character are fully displayed and explored in this scene.
For me, the two reasons why this film is one of the best of all time, are thus. Firstly, the incredible use of imagery, music and language. Stanley Kubrick, genius director, chose the most repulsive outfits for Alex and his 'droogs' for while they were out on the town: sterile looking white overalls and a giant fake penis worn as over pants, whereas a rival gang (named Billy Bob and his droogs) wore pirate outfits, giving them a more unclean and savage look. These types of costume gave the feeling of a cult following similar to that of the Ku Klux Klan. The music chosen gives a whole new slant to classical music: I will never be able to hear Ludwig Van's 9th symphony without thinking of Alex and his adventures with the world. It is haunting, perfect, strangely tech-no-sounding and modern when put in this context. Also, 'Singin' in the rain' is placed in a very obscure situation and becomes a classic all over again. The language for me is pleasing: it shows that maybe the most vicious of our criminals are well-spoken and have no need to swear. The sheer lack of f-word and partners should be a signal to other directors to show that criminals seem all the more absorbing, memorable and real when anything other than the normal street talk is used in their language.
Also, the very fact that this wonderment is banned from UK terrestrial networks is enough to make me think.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A Clockwork Orange itself, 25 February 2005
Author: JaneSchmo from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
"A Clockwork Orange" is, despite what everybody in the world has told you, despite what the AFI thinks, despite what the New York Times says, despite what all those 250 Best, 150 Best, 100 Best lists say, A BAD MOVIE.
Stanley Kubrick was a great and original director.His "2001" and "Dr.Strangelove" are among the best films ever made.From the others I have seen, "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Full Metal Jacket" were flawed but still very much worthwhile.Even "Spartacus" had its moments. Kubrick only directed sixteen movies in his lifetime but not one was uninteresting, worthless or mindless.Except for "A Clockwork Orange".
Number One, it's mechanical and boring.It's such a bland and colorless adaptation of the book.The film follows the book nearly word for word; it doesn't flow, it marches from page to page.
Number Two,it's cruel and morally repugnant.The movie doesn't know that its sick and sadistic hero, Alex, is not supposed to be a sympathetic character (or maybe he is. Who knows. The book was ambivalent, first describing his horrific crimes and then turning him into a victim and object of pity.)However, the movie is pretty clearly on Alex's side.At the end, when he survives a suicide attempt, can rape and kill again and collaborates with the criminal government, it's like we are expected to cheer.
One thing always bothered me about "A Clockwork Orange", the book and movie; what in God's name is the message, the great underlying idea? It's obvious the author is trying to make some sort of metaphysical point, but what the hell is it? A lot of graphic violence and scenes of rape are employed, but to prove what? As the American film critic Roger Ebert once said, I don't require ideas in movies,in order to be great a movie doesn't at all need to have a message-but in a message movie, I'd sure like to know what the message is.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Adventures of a sadistic predator in merry old England, 20 February 2005
Author: ebsmooth from United States
This is one of my all time favorite movies.The first time I saw this film I couldn't grasp all the Shakespearian language,but I still was fascinated.The opening scene with little Alex and his pals chilling out and a local lounge getting ready for a night of ultra-violence is one of the most powerful scenes I have witnessed.The direction & the sound along with sinister look on Alex's(Malcom McDowell) face had me mesmerized & I went along for a two hour journey. The story basically tells you the story of a young dude named Alex who is as sick & depraved as any serial killer produced on this planet.There is a consequence for his actions which is strange & compelling rolled up in one. There are some brutal rape scenes along with violence that might not be for everybody,but you'll probably be glued to your seat. Malcom McDowell is brilliant in this movie,but outside of Gangster No.1, he has lite up some stink bombs in movies like Tank Girl,Milk Money,& Class of 99 but no one's perfect.The prison guard with the Hitler mustache stuck out for me. The only drawback might be getting use to the language of the film along with some bad settings since the movie is suppose to be in the future but a lot of movies have great settings and no plot.Great movie
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Greatest Movie Ever, 17 February 2005
Author: simonwawrykow from Niagara Peninsula, Canada
Without a doubt, the greatest movie ever made. Kubrick got everything right in this film. From the social commentaries, to the in your face violence, to the Love Story (or the lack there of), to the Music... "...all we needed now to end the perfect evening, was a little of the old, Ludwig Van..." From the opening scene of panning in on Alex at the Kirdova Milk bar...to the fight scene with the William Tell Overature in the background...pure brilliance. The fact that Kubrick doesn't lose interest with flaky and often unneeded love stories is another selling point...the only love story is Alex and his Ultra-Violence. I highly recommend this film...not only for Kubrick's interesting look into the future, but for a good chuckle here and there, and of course for bits of the old 'Ultra Violence'. Look past the violence and see the film for what it is...a masterpiece.
Keep on Rockin'!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
The most visually-audacious film of the twentieth century, 20 January 2005
Author: whitestripesobsessed from Australia
*I vow not to spoil this film for those of you unfortunate people who are yet to see it.*
"A Clockwork Orange" is an inimitable film, unparalleled in its optical captivation - arresting the viewer from the very start.
"A Clockwork Orange" is filled with scenes of debauchery, scenes of sadism and not to mention, scenes sharpened by a dark, sardonic humour that the lead character, Alex De Large so effortlessly seems to put into words.
(Again, i vow not to spoil, so no quote will be inserted here.)
The sophisticated soundtrack, embellished with music from the likes of Ludwig Van Beethoven, collaborates with the film to effectively create something that was never done prior to its release date (1972) and will probably never be done again - visual-audaciousness.
This exceptional film is incomparably and unequivocally the ultimate movie for any movie-lover.
"A Clockwork Orange" will never cease to replay itself in the cinema of the viewer's mind.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
An Amazing Film!, 15 January 2005
Author: stylishkidintheriot from Dublin, Ireland
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Basically its about a criminal/rapist who goes to jail, but then is let out, and taken on as a test subject for a government experiment to reform criminals. But does this experiment work?
"A Clockwork Orange" is a great film in so many ways, I would find it hard to give every example of its excellence and stay within a 1000 word limit. :)
The script is excellent; it's very strange, the characters are speaking very advanced English that sounds so weird coming from a criminals mouth.
At the start of this film i found myself not liking Alex because he did such horrible things, but he was also very funny; wearing that ridiculous nose! Nearer the end, you just forget that he is such a criminal, and feel so sorry for him...
This is one of those films that everyone should see. 10/10!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A Clockwork Orange, 14 January 2005
Author: The_Director2004 from United States
My family has always been scared/freaked out by the evil smirk Malcolm McDowell gives to the camera in this film's opening shot. Now that I've seen this movie, I get to freak them out whenever they serve milk as a beverage at holidays. :) Using stunning tracking shots, bizarre surrealism and just sheer drama, Stanley Kubrick created one of, if not the best movie of 1971. Now that that's been established, let's take a more in-depth look at this exceptionally deep film.
My first Kubrick film was 2001: A Space Odyssey when I was six. I understood most of it, but I just liked the visual effects. When I saw it again on DVD when I was 13, it was so much different. Since that day, I had wanted to see all of Kubrick's movies. A Clockwork Orange may just be his masterpiece.
Kubrick's tracking shots have always been the best of any director (Martin Scorcese is right behind). Using the trademark fish-eye lens, the screen follows characters from an inanimate third-person point of view. The record store scene in particular is a great example. Sometimes the scene will just stay still for so long, the tension becomes so unbearable because you just want the camera to move.
The acting is extraordinary, especially from British actor Malcolm McDowell. He is able to completely embody Alex de Large with startling and sometimes even scary ease. When I read the trivia section at IMDb before seeing this movie, I couldn't figure out why McDowell would have a fear of eye drops after making this. The "conditioning" scene explained to me why.
Anyway, this is a terrific film that mature audiences should all experience. If you are reading this review and haven't seen it, you really should. I can almost promise you (I can't promise you because I don't know you) that you will not be disappointed.
****/****
10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
If Pink Floyd had made this movie..., 7 January 2005
Author: dcdz78 from United States
I wouldn't have been surprised, The very first time I saw this movie I went through spells of being horrified, laughing uncontrollably, tapping my foot to a well known score and staring wide-eyed at the screen filled with a sense of "weird". The narration of that covers the movie from "Alex" is a wonderful touch, his choice of words and the English syntax kept me wanting more. Poetry if you will. He uses words that I found extremely funny in place of common words we would use. The music was used in ways that I found very odd such has the happy classical music that overlaps the rape scene in the theater. But the synth that you hear through out the movie reminded me of some 80's Pink Floyd, actually all the shots and back grounds, clothes, furniture etc.. reminded me of Pink Floyd for some reason. And the story itself I though was really good because from the friends that I know that have seen it, we all had different ideas of what it was really about. I thought it was a big lesson on karma, others saw it differently. never the less, it was an amazingly unique movie that is enjoyable to watch to this day. I highly recommend this movie if you haven't watched it before.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
The Greatest Film Ever Made!, 1 January 2005
Author: Ndirsch11 from United States
What Stanley Kubrick accomplishes with A Clockwork Orange is simply beyond words. This film is number 1 on my favorite film list for an infinite number of reasons. First of all, the acting, screenplay, and direction are all top notch; the story is ambitious and brave; the film's use of classical music fits perfectly; and it leaves you with so much to think about. The key to the film's brilliance lies in its humor. The film contains extraordinarily dark subject matter yet seems lighthearted all the way through. I can't help but watch this film with a smile on my face because I know and understand that the film is trying to poke fun at society and the hypocrisy within our various institutions. That's what all great satire does and this is the greatest satire of them all. Notice such scenes as the nurse and the doctor having sex while Alex is waking up in the hospital, the cat lady with her obscene paintings and statues, the naive parents who don't suspect that their son is up to no good when he goes out at night. All of these things highlight the fact that ordinary, everyday people act much differently behind closed doors than they do in public. In fact, I believe that one of the main messages of the film is that we all in a sense have elements of Alex DeLarge's personality within our own personality. When we can't even acknowledge our own barbaric and disgusting drives then how can we even begin to think of solving such social problems as murder and rape? Many people make the mistake in thinking that the film is trying to justify Alex's crimes. Alex is not meant to be looked upon as a hero or a role model. He's a villain all the way through. But one must also notice how villainous all the other characters are too. Everyone in this movie is essentially a villain because they are all human, and subject to the same drives that drive Alex and his droogs to murder and rape out of boredom. The reason why I believe Stanley Kubrick to be the greatest director who ever lived and ever will live is his ability to depend on the audience's intelligence. All of his films are deliberately ambiguous because the audience is supposed to come to its own conclusions. What you put into a film is what you take away from it. Stanley Kubrick will be missed. Perfect 10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A Classical Masterpiece, 15 December 2004
Author: Mohsin Khan (ci03mak) from London
A Clockwork Orange is no doubt a classical masterpiece which artistically employs themes such as good vs evil and free will vs indoctrination, followed by presenting them in a very dark manner, which may seem surreal to some, artistic to others and if you are like me, both. The aforementioned themes are presented in a dark manner because whilst presenting them in the movie, kubrick has made abundance use of coupling violence with sex, and has exploited several immoral ways to bring some fundamentally important issues to light. I did not know what to expect when I watched this movie, and when i did, I was intrigued. Therefore, I won't tell you what the movie is about because it is best to watch, not knowing what to expect (even to the most high level subjects such as "main themes"). My advice to all you is to abstain from reading into the movie details before watching the movie and just rent it out like you would rent out an ordinary movie and watch it (preferably alone). I'm sure you will compliment the works of a genius, give it a 8 or a 9/10 rating and refer to it as an artistic masterpiece. Rating for A Clockwork Orange = 8.5/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
negative reviews miss the mark, 8 December 2004
Author: anotone (anotone@aol.com) from NYC
Anybody who thinks ACO is a disgusting film and that Kubrick was merely trying to offend or shock really has a lot to learn about film, literature and the windows they can be upon society and the human heart. First, it was based upon the brilliant novel by Anthony Burgess; Stanley Kubrick did not create the story from whole cloth. Second, it is true that much of the violence in the film is shocking and disturbing. But to dismiss those scenes as simply showing violence for the sake of violence is to deny a fundamental truth of modern human society: horrific and sadistic violence and cruelty exist in it and we must confront that terrible truth if we are ever to truly know ourselves. By using violence Burgess and Kubrick were trying to convey something much more profound about the role of crime and punishment in the modern state, personal redemption and the importance of free will and moral choice in the individual (see my comments of Nov. 14th for a more detailed treatment of these themes). Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment and Tolstoy's War and Peace depict acts of horrific violence and wanton cruelty as well, yet we would not dismiss two of the greatest novels ever written as shock art or "attention grabbers." The fact is that ACO is one of the greatest, most fascinating and most important films ever made by one of the titanic directors of our time. It is impossible to look away: the beautifully lush still shots and pans, the hypnotic and perfectly placed haunting music, and the cold, bleak desolation of the modern totalitarian state intricately interwoven with Stanley's wonderfully black sense of humor. It is a masterpiece that will endure for all time. Violence and man's continuing inhumanity to his fellow man is a reality of modern human society. So too is the frightening power of the state to ostensibly correct such conditions in the name of the common good. Never before or since has a film portrayed these complex and difficult themes with more import or power.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
I'v taught you much my little Droogies! So tell me what you had in mind Georgie Boy!!!, 6 December 2004
Author: EDWARD BAGGALEY (EJBaggaley@yahoo.co.uk) from uk
Clockwork Orange is a classic 'Stanley Kubrick' production, as its a film way ahead of its time. I admit this film was low budget, with disturbing scenes and the storyline/plot got cut in half from one extreme to the next, but I think what held this film together was its great acting, soundtrack, memorable scenes and its genius script/ dialogue for its Russian Lingo, Old-style Cockney accents and sophisticated (yet hip), Cult-Like London jargon, made this film a 'One of a kind'.
I can understand a person not liking this film (especially women), considering the rape and violence, but in order to appreciate this film, you've gotta look beyond that; By doing so, you'll need to watch this film at least twice in order to absorb the unique dialogue and Lingo (ie. If you want a motorcar - you pluck it from the trees and if you want pretty Polly - you take it) and of course its amazing memorable scenes. The scenes I love in this film are when Alex chatted up the two women in the record shop, when Alex was strait jacketed in the Institution (with his eyes held open), while watching the violent films, when Alex beat-up Georgie and cut open Dims hand at the canal (in Slow motion), when Alex wacked Dims lap, with his cane, in the milk-bar, after Dim mocked the ladies singing ! and several other scenes. However, these scenes wouldn't have been half as good as they were, without the brilliant soundtrack in the background. Another element of this film that I quite liked, were the subliminal (micro-second) camera shots that Stanley Kubrick hid within the film. This happened when Alex dropped the over-sized penis ornament on the catwomans head. If you haven't seen 'Clockwork Orange' and would like to, than go ahead and watch it. However, please concentrate on the external view of the film and not the internal view of it, as its the only way you'll appreciate watching it.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
If you don't like this film, you don't like Drama.., 5 December 2004
Author: illidansart from Norway
This is one of the best film ever made. To me it is number 1. Malcolm Mc Dowell does a fantastic performance as the cultural bully Alex.
This is Kubricks very finest masterpiece. All persons who like films should see this picture, no question about it. If you thought Kubricks 2001: A space odyssey was a boring film, than this film is exactly the opposite. It is a film that really opens your eyes. It has rape scenes, drug use, violence, blood and Hitler.
You say "This is nothing special, almost every films has these things".
What is so special about this film is how is directed. The actors are phenomenal, and so is the music. The story, music and actors are mixed together in such a good way that its almost shocking.
But keep this film away from little children. They should be at least 16 before they see it. Its violent, but not that scary.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's Masterpiece, 25 November 2004
Author: middleburg
In a film career distinguished by films of great style, this one is Kubrick's most brilliant, entertaining, and beautifully conceived. There is not a moment which feels dull or forced or unimaginative. Of course Kubrick had a great piece of literature to deal with. People may quibble with his "retelling" of "Lolita" or "The Shining"--I don;t--but this film is so completely true to the spirit of the book, and so beautifully finds a cinematic equivalent of the writing style of the original--that it is truly amazing how he pulled it off. The moment the film begins--with that unbelievably spectacular film score using electronic versions of one famous
piece after another and the vision of that Korova Milk Bar that began, what in the 70's was a really shocking film, we are tossed into a world so vivid and so
imaginative. The moments of violence were practically unwatchable when it first came out (now of course we are desensitized to that........hmmmmmmm...was
this film somehow prophetic?). But these horrific scenes were balanced with
moments that were simply beautiful or really amusing or intriguing as could be. In addition to being an extremely "artistic" film, it also tells such a great and compelling story, and we get carried away with it. We somehow identify with
Alex. We are appalled and we feel guilty at the end as we hear those final ironic strains of "Singing in the Rain", and are so relieved that Alex is well and good-- that miserable rat bastard! How can this be? Kubrick has a field day
manipulating all of us. I think of any film I have ever seen (and I am a real film buff), this work made me think like none other.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
the tale of a young man Alex who loves danger, 23 November 2004
Author: freeway6f (freeway6f) from united states
Clockwork orange is a work of beauty. it raises many questions of humanity and has a way of making u question yourself. If u want to think and be entertained watch this movie. The acting on the part of Malcolm McDowell is superb. It may be a little adult for some viewers but everyone should watch this film. It makes u question, what is right and what is wrong. Instead of feeling remorse for the victims in this movie. You will find yourself feeling remorse for Alex. The young man who loves ultra-violence. Even the scenes of him day dreaming about the bible are thought provoking. It makes you think and laugh all at the same time.It also has many quirks about religion which is always funny
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
REPULSIVE,UGLY,VIOLENT...and 1 of the best movies ever to hit the screen, 16 November 2004
Author: there_is_no_good_names from newfoundland
Well I saw this movie without knowing about it's strong sexual sequences and outrageous violent sequences.I have to say when i first saw it I thought that Stanley Kubrick was of his head and I thought what would make him do a film that had such sick happenings.Then I watched the rest of it and I WAS BLOW AWAY!!!!It had such an impact on me the idea alone is genius and the acting hear is great also and the direction oh my god this film is just a great masterpiece in film history and is or at least should be in everyones top ten!Those who say this is a repulsive film or it's not edgy enough just don't get it!This man is taking you into the world of a sadistic freak who enjoys inflicting pain on others that alone is great then you got the cure which made him a changed man and made him feel pain like he made others feel.The one thing is the ending were he still didn't change after knowing that what he was doing was wrong he still thought up dirty thoughts and was probably going to do the same again.So all in all this is a great piece whom ever dislikes it is obviously a moron and cannot take or understand what a genius like Kubrick is showing them. *****/*****
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A Timeless Classic!, 14 November 2004
Author: hokeybutt from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (5 outta 5 stars)
One of the most wildly, imaginative and fascinating movies ever made. Stanley Kubrick's obsessive eye for detail elaborates this simple science fiction tale of a cruel, young sociopath who is "conditioned" to become a "normal" human being. Amazing performance by Malcolm McDowell (just look how long he is held underwater and beaten in one extended take!) The lead character of Alex is one of the most evil characters ever portrayed on film... and yet he also gains audience sympathy as the story progresses. I've always thought it incredible that the author of the book actually experienced the vicious home invasion that takes place in the movie... and yet he went on to write a novel from the point of view of the rapist of his wife... making him the HERO. The movie was banned in England for many years. It was claimed by some that the movie promotes and glorifies violence. What crap! Anyone who is "turned on" by the violence in this film needs help... seriously.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
one of greatest films ever, 14 November 2004
Author: anotone from NY
A Clockwork Orange is clearly one of the greatest and at the same time most disturbing and frightening films ever made. Its commentary on free will, morality, the human psyche, good versus evil and crime and punishment in modern society is as penetrating and relevant today as it was 33 years ago, but first about the title. In the words of Anthony Burgess himself in his new introduction to the novel entitled A CWO Resucked "A human being is endowed with free will. He can use this to choose between good and evil. If he can only perform good or only perform evil, then he is a clockwork orange- meaning that he has the appearance of an organism lovely with colour and juice but is in fact only a clockwork toy to be wound up by God or the Devil or the Almighty State. It is as inhuman to be totally good as it is to be totally evil. The important thing is moral choice. Evil has to exist along with good, in order that moral choice may operate." This is in essence the heart and crux of the film and book: free will and the ability to make moral choices are ultimately removed in Alex and he is left conditioned by the State an empty shell of a human being devoid of everything that makes us human. In the name of eliminating crime and violence the State has in effect created a condition that is arguably equally as inhuman as the violence that Alex and his droogs were perpetrating in the first place: a cold sterile society full of empty wooden waxen clockwork oranges. Kubrick brings this frightening moral landscape into sharp relief- the cold stark futuristic setting, the sadistic sickening violence and the searing image of our poor narrator strapped in and forced to watch films of horrific and unspeakable wanton carnage and carnality with a little of the old Ludwig van playing in the background. The theme of revenge and redemption is also a prevalent one in the story. The image of the mad obsessed writer of subversive literature taking his vengeance upon Alex at the end of the film is one of the most terrifying scenes I have seen on film. In the end, Burgess and Kubrick make it clear that a conditioning treatment such as the one performed on Alex is itself morally wrong and doomed to failure because it destroys free will and the human ability to think and act autonomously. Although it is disturbing and difficult for many people to sit through and watch, A Clockwork Orange is one of the most important films ever made for what it tells us about society and what it tells us about ourselves.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Being the escapades of Alex De Large, with lashings of the old ultra-violence in Stanly Kubrics Masterpiece., 24 October 2004
Author: Strider_1978
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Probably my final attempt.
One day, several years ago I picked up a copy of either Empire or Total film, I don't remember which. Inside, center pages was the review of a film called 'Clockwork Orange.' The film was to be released after being banned for a number of years. No stranger to watching previously banned films: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the atrocious Last house on the left, it piqued my interest. In the middle of the wording there were five bold stars, the highest rating a film could be given. I read the review. When I read about things like a tramp getting kicked to death, it doesn't compel me to watch a film. When I see other ratings from various magazines and reputable firms and agencies throwing out full marks like they are mardi gras beads, I do take an interest. Visiting my local Blockbuster one day, there it was on the shelf. . OK. . here goes nothing. . . . I had the film over the weekend, I think I must have seen it five or six times before I took it back. The next time I was in town, I bought it. I've tried two reviews before this one, I want this one to be more user friendly than some of the things I have tried to convey before. Clockwork Orange is nothing short of a masterpiece. It's one of these films, that I agree with other reviewers when I say it needs multiple viewings. It's a huge art fest that allows us to experience the brutal and disturbing escapades of Alex De Large and his fellow Droogs, without being completely repulsed, because during the nastiness we are submerged in sets comprised of intricate detail and brilliant lighting. The story, the rise and eventual fall, or even "reform" of little Alex in surrounded by messages and philosophy. It is like drinking a dark concoction of medicine that can be distasteful and hard to swallow, but at the same time exfoliating. Perhaps categorised as 'futuristic', or 'sci-fi fantasy' the film takes us on a fantastic and satirical, yet disturbing and venomous journey. It is a highly controversial, yet also a brilliantly told tale of society, that has only grown worse in the 36 years of it's cult following and longevity. there are recurring messages spoken by characters where no dialogue is wasted. Every line of scripting has been used, with no bloating and writing for the sake of writing to make uber bucks. The lashings of ultra violence, both sexual and brutal are countered verbally by statements such as - "He resisted his lawful arrestors, violence brings violence" -and- "Violence is a horrible thing,you're learning that now." Kubricks direction allows us to see facial detail in such a way that we are indeed, as another review has noted 'drawn into the psychology of the characters'. Everything that is said, comes to our ears from a face that conveys the sentiment without flaw. Muscially, the film, that is entirely non conventional as far as cinema goes is vibrant. The images presented to us accompanied by classic orchestrations. Classical music alone, without imagery can take us to wonderous heights; this time we are allowed to view a motion picture of aesthetic mastery while the score puts wind to sail. There are times, through some of the nastier parts of Droog fancy when the themes take on a dark and venomous cacophony, thereby telling us that what we are witnessing is nasty and wrong. Though we may see it with sometimes intricate detail, it is never, seemingly advocated. Clockwork Orange is, in my opinion one the greatest and most important films of all time; Though it's controversy may never be wholly accepted, it's messages cannot be denied.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
greatest movie ever, 10 October 2004
Author: fishfeet (shortfishwithfeet666@hotmail.com) from toronto
i love this movie, it's now in my top favorite movies of all time, this movie is about a man(Malcolm McDowell) whose about fifteen who spends his free time putting on fake eyelashes, raping women, breaking into houses, and ultra-violence in general. and this man goes to prison and gets "special treatment" to be good, but this man loves Beethoven(so much they're on a first name basis)cannot listen to his ninth symphony anymore(this is an important plot point later on)i am 13 and i have not been raped of my innocence by this or any other violent movie i have seen, this movie is one of about 10 which prove Stanley Kubrick is a genius and deserves more recognition, and McDowell looks pretty hot in this movie to as the main character Alexander "Alex" De Large, this film is not to be missed or messed with. now i will read the book
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Great film, novel still better, 11 July 2004
Author: helloness from Toronto, Canada
I watched the film after I read the novel, and I enjoyed both. The film is great, and surprisingly amusing at times, due to the music in the background. However, many parts in the novel were taken out in the film, especially the 21st chapter that Kubrick alleges he never knew existed. I believe that the 21st chapter is essential as it provides closure and suggests that maturity will always overcome human beings, but unfortunately it was not included in the film.
It was wonderful how the film made you hate and despise Alex at first, yet in the middle of the movie you begin to pity Alex and actually disgusted by all the injustices that are imposed upon him. I felt that there was not enough use of Nadsat language, but Kubrick probably didn't want to use too much because there is not enough time for the audience to adjust and understand it.
It was a wonderful movie, but the novel will always be 10x better. 9/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
disturbing, slight spoiler?, 16 June 2004
Author: sillymidget27 (sillymidget27@aol.com) from Durham, NC
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This movie was the most disturbing thing I've ever seen. Thank god it's been over a year since I've watched it, so luckily I've forgotten a lot of it (*relieved sigh*) The whole thing was immoral & disgusting. I'm not one to be easily offended, I've been watching horror movies and R rated movies since I was only a year old...this is the first time I've ever truly been upset by a movie. It wasn't even just the plot that got to me; somehow, the techniques Kubrick used to shoot it & the dialogue made my skin crawl too. One of the worst things is when they kill the lady with a giant replica of a penis. I think that they also kill a couple in front of each other, but I'm not sure about that b/c it's been so long. Anyway, it goes way too far, way beyond the boundaries of good taste. Kubrick should have known better. I believe in free speech, but this is a load of trash, & America is better off without it. In 2 words--morally dangerous. In a sentence--The biggest barrel of trash you could ever stumble across, this movie is just downright amoral.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Very overrated, 14 June 2004
Author: Brad (Dreadnought757) from Missouri
"A Clockwork Orange" is an early film by famed director Stanley Kubrick about a distant future where bands of vicious criminals roamed the night. We meet Alex, a young boy, who, with his three friends beat innocent elderly people for their sick kicks. However, one night, an attack went terribly awry. While his droogs escaped, Alex was captured by the "rozz" (police) and sent to the "Staja" (state prison). While there, he discovers an experimental procedure that could get him out of prison in two weeks. However, he was ill-prepared for what horrors awaited him. He sits in a dental chair in the center of a simulated while his body is strapped down, eliminating any movement. His eyelids are forced open, so he has to keep utmost attention to the gruesome images he is shown on the screen. After 14 excruciating days, Alex is deemed cured. The media hails him as a success, although Alex's sanity is beginning to deteriorate. He goes back home, but his parents are convinced he escaped, so they refuse to let him in. Through the movie, Alex frantically tries to find some salvation from society. Eventually, he returns to his original state of mind, but vows not to return to his criminal behaviors of the past.
Before I get into the actual review, I must admit that I am not a huge fan of Kubrick. I think his movies are somewhat overrated, considering most of them are based on books, including "Clockwork". Maybe he was a revolutionary in his time, but now there are plenty of quote-unquote "weird" directors, so I'm not that impressed with him. "Clockwork" was no exception. If you didn't know, the movie is based upon the '60s novel by Anthony Burgess. His novel, if you can imagine, was actually MORE controversial than the movie and was banned in several countries. It was also better than the movie. It's not that I think "Clockwork was a bad movie, it's just that it bears too many similarities to the book. With the source material Kubrick was given, he should've made a much better movie than this. He and this movie get far too much credit. Almost everything was taken word-for-word from the book. Instead of interpreting it in his own way, he interpreted as it Burgess did, which I dislike in movie-book adaptations. So, basically, what I'm saying is: If you're a fan of the movie, do yourself a favor and read the book, then see how much respect you have for the movie.
** 1/2 out of ****
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
The film doesn't do justice to a great book, 9 June 2004
Author: Sabriane from Melbourne, Australia
I thought that Anthony Burgess' "Clockwork Orange" was one of the most brilliant and disturbing books I've ever read, so I was very eager to see Stanley Kubrick's cinematic take. Sadly, while I thought that the film was worth a look in the end I was underwhelmed. It's very well made, as befits a Kubrick film, with great eye for composition, camera shots, etc., and it boasts a fantastic central performance from Malcolm McDowell as Alex, although he's obviously too old to play a 14-year-old. But any message the film was trying to convey was completely lost in ridiculous lurid production design that I found shockingly dated. You don't need to have seen Austin Powers movies to giggle at the 70s fashions gone barking mad. The film's "ultra-violent" tag looks just as hopelessly dated. I'm not desensitised to screen violence and rape, but here it just looks cartoonish and frankly ridiculous; therefore I felt there was no real impact to Alex's crimes. It also doesn't help that Alex is made to be the only character who seems alive and vibrant amongst the unlikeable, personality-free drones. Oh, and did I mention that practically everyone overacts like there's no tomorrow? In the end, the film IMO is nothing more than a curious relic.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Stanley Kubrick's True Masterpiece, 19 January 2004
Author: KurdtKobainIndustries from Lorain, Ohio
I care not what anyone says about Full Metal Jacket or 2001. They are great films, as well are Spartacus, The Shining, and Dr. Strangelove. I have posted something like this on the message boards, but I will say it again. A Clockwork Orange is Stanley Kubrick's all time best film. The acting, directing, cinematography, writing, look, feel, and music are all perfect. All of the scenes are genius. This movie is not about raping, murder, lying, fighting, or going to prison for doing those things. It is about the transformation from monster to man and back again. In a way, Alex never changed. He was always his stubborn violent self. But that is what is so genius about the film. It's almost as if the book was written only so Stanley Kubrick could create this film. I recommend this great story about the rise and fall of Alex DeLarge to everyone, as long as you see it with an open mind and the intelligence to understand that this is not glorifying violence.
I give this film a **********10 out of ************10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Mabey Its Just Me, 21 December 2003
Author: Matt from Canada
Mabey its just me but this film was more disturbing than anything. I can realise why people would say that its such a masterpiece but I think the only reason it is such a masterpeice is just because of the clothes, the milk bar, the language, the emotion or lack thereof. The whole style of it is this movie's only saver, when theres bad taste in the characters they really make up for in the backdrop of the movie.... Infact thats one of the only things i really remember (or care to remember) of the movie. The bars name escapes me now but i thought it was beautifull. I guess the only reason I don't like this movie as much as everyone else is because of what I do remember... for 2weeks after watching that movie i kept thinking that someone would break into my house and try to kill me, it drove me crazy when i wanted to sleep!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A fantastic Masterpiece and one of the best directed movies of all time., 14 December 2003
Author: Jim RAynor (jraynor@new.rr.com)
I suppose that this is one of my first reviews so don't judge me for my wording. clockwork orange is by far one of my favorite movies ever. To sum this movie up it is one of the most violent disgusting movies ever and when you add it up this is a 1970's Kill Bill, and I loved it. But don't take me as a sick perverted freak just because of that fact. I'm also in love with movies like Jerry maguire, but lets face it, thats a whole different type of movie. To get back to the subject lets list some of the things it lacks and doesn't lack. First the lack; Kindness. All right that about sums that up, lets move on to the things that make it a great movie. First of all it is by far the most original and inovative movie of the 1970's. Second, it's crude humor that I don't personally think was meant to be there makes up for its ultra violence and sexuality. And thirdly, the music in the background gives it an edge that no other director , alive of dead, can capture like Kubrick. So in the end this movie gets a rating of 10/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
One of my better movies from my English Lit course, 1 November 2003
Author: mm-39 from Winnipeg
Taking Dr Morton class in English lit/philosopy I found this the best book in the lot, and movie. The movie transends the book well. The story in the movie is better with the missing chapter, but the book is more complete with the extra chapter. The extra chapter makes my essay on what is evil easier. Read the book for the extra Chapter. Now, on with the movie. It is interesting, and the director get the feel right. I like how they ended it, and it shows that violence be gets more violence. Not for everyone 6 out of 10.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE!!!, 26 September 2003
Author: EVOL666 from St. John's Abortion Clinic
i'm not sure why this movie is listed under horror, but i feel compelled to write about it anyway.
as anyone in their right mind will tell you, this is one of the most incredible movies ever made. the story line is insanely inventive, the movie itself is very well acted; this is one of the few movies that truly creates an entirely different and believable reality and draws you in from beginning to end.
built on the "negative-utopia" platform (such as 1984 and Brave New World) it explores topics invoving juvenile delinquency, human depravity, and the flaws of the "justice system".
Although some will find that outwardly it appears dated due to obvious '70's references and style, it is an incredible work of art that is shocking/humorous/and a cautionary tale all in one.
this movie will have you reeling from beginning to end and the ending is a twisted "Twilight-zone" style conclusion that will have you thinking for days, if not years to come.
Kubrick is a master of artful storytelling, and if this film does not touch you on some level, than there really is no hope for you as a movie-goer.
11/10 - untouchable
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A man who loved a bit of the old ultraviolence was betrayed by his droogs, and was left for the millicents to catch him, he went to jail and volunteered for the Ludovico teqnique which was guaranteed to get, 15 February 2003
Author: What92691 from London, England
Droogs, Ptitsa, devotchka, millicents, a bit of the old ultra-violence, some of the most creative things ever, Anthony Burgesses novel was too good to be true, and when the movie came out it stunned me. I ought to warn you this is only good when you see it two times. But the second time for me, was bliss bliss and happiness as they say.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
What Was I Thinking??, 10 February 2003
Author: richiethebaumer
I originally had said this film was bad and too much for me to take and so on and so forth.
I am now revoking that opinion. This is a great film that is a bit over the top, but in that way it is also perfect. I originally liked the film but upon a second viewing found it unappealing, but I have changed my mind again.
Maybe I was just in the wrong frame of mind the last time I watched it. But I am making up for it and correcting the error of my ways.
This is yet another stellar effort from filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. It must be seen to be believed. It really is a very dark film, but it is also very funny. This is one of the ultimate dark comedies. It is pretty twisted and sick but that's the point. You just have to know what you're getting into, and then you should be good to go. I really do think this film is excellent and am not sure why I once thought differently. So to everyone I enraged and so forth, I am sorry. I was wrong and am admitting it now.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Stanley Kubrick's Best Film, 11 November 2002
Author: soranno from Las Vegas, Nevada
Cult director Stanley Kubrick scores his greatest success with this still controversial 1971 Warner Brothers release. It's a lengthy and extremely violent character study about a young man named Alex (Malcolm McDowell). He leads a punk biker gang in Britain and amuses himself and his gang members by going on nightly orgies of rape and murder. His mind gives him the impression that he can not function whatsoever if he does not torture and kill people on a regular basis. Alex is finally busted when he is found guilty of bludgeoning a young girl to death with a large phallus art sculpture. Sent to prison, he is soon picked up as a potential guinea pig for a rehabilitation experiment that just might take those evil thoughts out of his mind. However, the results of the experiment go awry and Alex begins to show some rather unpredictable behavior changes. Not for all tastes and may be way too violent for others (it was originally rated X) but if that can be tolerated and if you're looking for a fine showcase from a masterful director, then "A Clockwork Orange" is just the film.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
One MUST have the ability to think before embarking on A Clockwork Orange..., 21 August 2002
Author: RHPSvegas from United States
It's funny. Upon reading the reviews of A Clockwork Orange, all of the
people who wrote negative responses admitted they didn't understand it.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN IT IS
ILLEGITIMITE OR INSULTING YOUR INTELLIGENCE!!! If A Clockwork Orange
insults your intelligence, you are obviously not intelligent enough to
understand it. If you say it does not count because it does not follow
the book 100%, then you are being hypocritical - can you honestly name a
movie based on a book that has followed the book to a "t"? Didn't think
so. Stanley Kubrick's version of Anthony Burgess's tale is one that is a
lot more in-your face and blatant. It has to be - it's a movie!
Basically, what is implied in the book is actually shown in the movie.
Some aspects have been altered because they'd just be inappropriate to
show in a movie (I doubt ANYONE would honestly want to see a 15-year-old
Alex having sex with two 12-year-old girls). Also, this movie is not
about making fun of or "ousting" other films, as one reviewed
misinterpretted. You have to keep in mind while watching this movie that
the language, characters and settings are derived FROM A BOOK. How could
a book try to oust movies - they're not on the same plane (media-wise),
so this type of logic is therefor disengaged. This movie does an
excellent job representing governmental flaws, just as the book did. The
movie, however, is able to capture violence in a unique way - a
picturesque, arthouse way. The violence and sex depicted in the film are
done so uniquely - set to Wendy (used to be Walter) Carlos' haunting
symphonic versions of classical music standards - that really make you
see that even a disgusting act can be portrayed beautifully, which in
itself is a vastly disturbing thought. This movie is very real and
hardcore in its style, which is something one can only WISH Kubrick
would have done with his other films. Everything: the language, the
music, the violence, the sex, the character development, the true
cruelty of the world around us - is all right there, in your face. You
can either choose to turn it off and dismiss it, or endure the whole
thing and attempt to make sense of it (which, if you are capable of
thought or free-will, should not be too hard). A Clockwork Orange IS a
classic, period. 10/10.................
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Weird yet Great, 28 April 2002
Author: Douglas McTague (mdbumcs@hotmail.com) from baltimore, Maryland
Wow, this movie blew me away of it's content and universe. The idea of how society's standards cannot change ones being. There were many strong scenes such rapes and brutal beatings. Great acting my Mcdowwel and the universe that Stanly created is unforgetable. It may be a bit weird for some but overall, a great movie. This is not a movie to watch with parents!
-=FINAL VERDICT=- 9/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Brilliant, 27 April 2002
Author: whitegold from Portugal, Porto
This movie is certainly my favorite movie and the greatest of all a ever seen!!! Kubrick is one of the greatest movie directors of ever and this is (in my opinion) his master piece!!! This movie when seen once you never forget... and it shows so much about our society and aspects that should never happen and Kubrick does it in a way that we never get secondary thoughts and focus where we most be with all attention!!! Everyone must see this movie at least once in a life time... without this movie anyones life can not be complete!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
No one would dare make this movie in 200x, 25 April 2002
Author: aramo1 from Ireland
Based on R2 DVD.
Following '2001' by three years 'Clockwork Orange' closely resembles its predecessor in form if not content. 'Clockwork Orange' also has a degree of on the cuff political cynicism not seem in later Kubrick movies and it's all the better for it.
The stong visual nature of the movie is pure Kubrick though it's a certainty that no serious producer or director of the 2000s would dare emulate the style - thanks be for DVDs.
8/10 classic material.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A Violent, Dark, Twisted, Sick, Eye Popping, Disrespectful Film....and I loved it, 25 April 2002
Author: Sal Santorelli (Jawa11182@aol.com) from Queens, New York
A Clockwork Orange is a Violent, Dark, Twisted, Sick, Eye Popping, Disrespectful Film....and I loved it. It might actually be one of the most controversial films in the 20th Century. The director of A Clockwork Orange, Stanley Kubrick had the most twisted mind in making this film, but not only was he twisted but the author of the original novel had some part in the distorted visions or beliefs of Alex and his "droogs". I loved this movie because it was different. I also found it a little humorous when Alex did some of the things that he did in the film. Call my crazy, call me wrong, call my sick in the head but that's what I believe. If you are not one of those always moral people, you will like this movie. I guarantee it trust me on that one.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Brilliant,Genius,Masterp i e c e!Freakish,Greatest film ever made., 24 April 2002
Author: BizarreBoy from aussie
The film can mean different meanings to different people,and somehow the more you watch the film the more different it becomes,something very odd or bizarre,almost out of this earth feeling to the film,which makes it very very frightening not so much with the R rated but the hidden message that becomes clearer the more you watch it and work out the true meaning of the film,if you can that is..you'll be cured alright!
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Great movie, 16 April 2002
Author: AndrewWalker747 from Worcester, Mass.
This was a great movie, what else can I say? Ive seen it over 10 times and it never stops getting better. Please see this masterpiece if you haven't already. Oh by the way, some songs you will never listen to the same again after seing this movie; "William tell Overture", "Bethoven's 9th Symphony", "Singing in the Rain"....
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
WHY GLORIFY RAPE AND VIOLENCE?, 11 July 2001
Author: alistairmuir from Trumpton
THIS FILM PROTRAYS RAPE, BURGLARY AND VIOLENCE AS GOOD THINGS TO DO. THE SAD THING IS THAT PEOPLE LOVE THIS FILM NOT BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT ITS INTELLECTUAL STANCE ON SOCIETY BUT BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE RAPE AND VIOLENT IMMORAL CONTENT. SHAME ON KUBRICK. Thank God that this pervert is dead, who knows what more filth he could have directed if he still was alive.
He is a pervert and the people who watch the film and like it are all perverts too.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A greater movie on the horror of violence has yet to be made, 6 May 2001
Author: raging bull from Hamilton, Ontario
A Clockwork Orange is an amazing film that shows the extreme horror of violence. I have seen most of Stanley Kubrick's movies and am very impressed by the ones I have seen but Clockwork stands out. Kubrick must have been a great person to know. The film proves his genius and especially compared to the films being made today, Kubrick's movies are brilliant.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's best!, 3 May 2001
Author: makers99 from Madison, WI
This film is as incredible now as it was in 1971. Did you know that it was banned for a time in England because of all the copycat violence? Its too bad Macolm MacDowell wasn't used more often back then, his performance was superb. Kubrick's display of violence shocks the viewer as well as giving one a new appreciation for Ludwig Van (Beethoven).
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Bizarre, 21 April 2001
Author: Jonathan Horner from Stockton-on-Tees, England
I was dying to see this movie because it was directed by Stanley Kubrick. I remembered Kubrick had directed "The Shining" which was a masterpiece, so I dashed down to the shops to buy "A Clockwork Orange"
When I started to watch "A Clockwork Orange" I couldn't believe how bizarre this movie was. Watching a pack of "droogs" go around smashing everybody's face in!
As the movie progressed I started to get into it and by the time the end came I was stunned, this movie truley is a classic.
9/10
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
We can see why you were withdrawn . . ., 8 April 2001
Author: Stuart Ian Burns from Liverpool, England
It isn't difficult to approach this film without the frisson of excitement you experience when you see anything which was withdrawn (at least in the UK) for so many years. Unfortunately, at least for me there was a definite disappointment in viewing the product. Although the is a definite visceral quality to the exploits of Alex there is something very sterile about the piece, akin to watching a pop video which doesn't have anything to do with the song. One of the many film whose creation is more interesting than the product. **
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
The best movie ever made, very popular among my people, 1 May 2000
Author: johnnyrebel115 (johnnyrebel115@hotmail.com)
I thought Clockwork was an awesome movie every skinhead should see. It has an excellent hidden psychological theme. Alex is the toughest character ever written. I like how society is portrayed and I especially like how after all Alex was put through, the brainwashing, losing his Droogs, etc., he goes back to his old ways. I admire all of Stanley Kubrick's work. This movie ranks on my list of top three favorites, the other two being Romper Stomper and SLC Punk.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
It cant get any better than this, 24 April 2000
Author: skahead77 (skahead77@hotmail.com) from pa
im am a teenager and i heard about this movie from a friend. i bought this movie and it was honestly one of the best movies i have seen in a long time. its the greatest cult movie around. rent/buy it whenever you can get your hands on it.its a long movie but very good.ONe of Stanley Kubricks best and shockingly most popular movie. Rated R contains:a little bit of rape but its basically all implied. however there is a lot of backround nudity, violence and mild language. it could have been rated PG-13 if there wasnt nudity in it.
I have recently been cautious about renting "Henry: POrtrait of a serial killer", so if anybody has seen it and is a teenager(so i can get a teenagers point of veiw) contact me so i find out how it is, and if its a good one to rent
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Astonishing, but is there something missing?, 5 April 2000
Author: Darragh O' Donoghue (hitch1899_@hotmail.com) from dublin, ireland
This film, withheld for 30 years in Britain, and banned in Ireland, is finally rereleased, and five things are immediately apparent:
* That this is, as always with Kubrick, a stunningly beautiful film, with the stylised, futuristic, predominantly white set design clashing crucially with the very real, grim, abandoned 70s Britain, looking more post-apocalyptic than anything Kubrick could imagine;
* That the film is absolutely hilarious, for childish reasons, as caricature, as alarmingly prescient satire in this era of New Labour;
* That the film's 'ethical' difficulties arise from a Hitchcockian engagement with point-of-view, which points the blame on passive viewing (and, by extension our (non)engagement with society);
* That the film is gleefully homoerotic - check out the sly imagery in the warehouse fight scene between the two rival gangs;
* And that A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, for all its thrilling rush, and for all its showing up of our cowardly generations' cinema, is not a Kubrick masterpiece: whether the ironies are too broad, or the structure is too schematic, I don't know, but, unlike THE SHINING or BARRY LYNDON, Kubrick's major achievements, it just doesn't breathe. Sorry.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Sick, 10 July 1999
Author: Adam Morrison (dvd53@hotmail.com) from Bathurst, New Brunswick
Disturbing film about a sick man who undergoes some weird tests.A powerful performance and equal direction are great.
Rating:**** (out of five)
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
My review takes more of a comment format (not a summary), 9 May 1999
Author: Nate Vanderella (nate120@hotmail.com)
Wow. That is just how I felt while I was watching this masterpiece. I have never seen anything like it. This is the ONLY movie I have ever given a 10. Why? Simple, it is interesting, insanely original, and most of all FUN! It is just great to watch this movie and drink milk. It makes me feel like I'm a part of it. One of Alex's droogs. Some may say that it is just some kind of independent film that throws sex and violence at the teenage crowd to make a buck, but that is quite untrue! Well, admitted that it IS violent and it DOES have rape, but these are key plot elemets. Nothing hurts me more than watching this with someone and when it's over saying "So?" and getting the reply "It was pointless. Just violence and sex" I guess some people just don't get it. The thing that REALLY sets this apart from other movies is the music. It is a joy to see Alex and his droogs(friends)smash, destroy, yada yada all to the tune of classical music. It sounds weird, but it really works! Well anyway, rent this movie. It will give you a whole new outlook on life. (It will also make you think twice about letting strangers in the house!)
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Do not listen to the detractors, 30 April 1999
Author: Chet! from Wrexham
I have just read two previous comments on this film and I was astounded by their stupidity. One complains that Kubrick's film isn't violent enough. The thing is, while films like Fist of the North Star justify violence as a means of gaining revenge, A Clockwork Orange actually faces the real ugliness of violence, embodied in the young and amoral anti-hero, Alex. To just watch a film to get a cheap thrill off brutal scenes is one dimensional. The film also deals with such problems as mind control, teenage peer groups and the aspects which make us human. Evidently, some people don't want this kind of intellectual experience. If this is the case with you, then why don't you just lock yourself away with your copies of Zombie Flesh Eaters and other similar films, and don't trouble anyone else ever again.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
if you think rape is funny then you'll love this DVD, 13 November 2009
Author: BossEberts from TAGAYTAY CITY, CAVITE Philippines
Stan the Man Kubrick delivers another gritty, no frills modern London film. What starts out like a horror movie slowly morphs into something else, something more ambiguous, all while maintaining a vice grip on the viewer's mind. It helps that Malcolm McDowell and Warren Clarke deliver first rate performances and add instant depth to the plot. Malcolm McDowell is particularly compelling in a role unlike any he's played before. His character continually plays with our perception of him, swinging like a pendulum from insanity and supernatural possession and back again, and even invoking sympathy at times. Malcolm McDowell is commanding, and his raspy-voice and stoic appearance imbues vitality to his role as the standard teen bad boy. Behind the camera, Stan Kubrick is more concerned with creating mood and atmosphere rather than showing off or displaying cinematic tricks.
This Classic from the eighties is one of the many sci fi films to be produced in England incidentally it is also one of the best. Directed by Stanley Kubrick of "2001: A Space Odyssey " fame A Clockwork Orange is one of his earlier works. The cinematography may not be great but the rest sure is! An interesting and intelligent story that makes for full on family entertainment. This movie will make you smile laugh and cry and bring out all the other various emotions in you. Malcolm McDowell players the bubbly cheerful droogie and Patrick Magee the crippled one who upon discovering the invisibility formula sets out to avenge the worlds evils. Michael Gover played by the greatest villain ever to grace the English screen as the acting Prison Governor. His portrayal still strikes terror into the hearts of kids. Patrick Magee & David Prowse's relationship is more of a homage to the Louis lane Clark Kent type relationship seen in several superhero movies. The rain and wind dance number by Alex. could easily give the new crop of actresses a run for their money. brilliantly acted and executed his dance with the phallic sculpture is simply unforgettable! who can forget that cheeky "Singing in the Rain" number. you can watch this film time and time again and not get bored. The special effects may be basic but the story and acting are just brilliant. directors and actors of today take a note. Its not just about the visuall appearance. its also about soul that films of today lack which this film is full of. watch it and be truly entertained.
In a horror film, this is a definite plus – and some of the grimy scenery inside the "futuristic urban area" evokes the dreary and dirty world of David Fincher's "Seven". But then again, you do have to ask yourself: *is* this a horror film? The answer is ultimately up to the viewer. Give this film a chance and decide for yourself. If you're a fan of the director, actors, or are just craving a solid thriller, "A Clockwork Orange" comes highly recommended.
Other notes ----------- Stephen Spielbarg after watching this film offered both Godfrey Quigley and Amrish Puri a Hollywood film, though Amrish Puri did a film with him, Quigley declined the offer due to his workload in the Phillipines.
The verdict ---------- If there's one movie that I am going to recommend to people of all ages, then it is this movie. Watch it on DVD, and live the life of the young kids as they pass through one adventure after another. Plus, have the thrill of saving Alex from "the System". You will have everything in this movie. Just go on, watch it and live your dream!
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Fantastic Movie, 13 February 2009
Author: tdaddict99 from Australia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
~CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!!!~ A Clockwork Orange, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is one of those movies that stays with you long after you have seen it. The first time viewing, I thought it was a pretty good movie, but not one of the greats. But after repeated viewings of it, it definitely grew on me and I now know why people give it such good reviews all the time.
The movie is basically a take on the inner workings of people. the way we think, the way we act and why we do these things. We all have our good sides and our bad sides. We make mistakes, that's a part of being a human.
The movie revolves around the character of Alex DeLarge, a teenager (at the beginning), who, with his droogs (friends), goes on the wrong side of the law. He takes drugs (the milk at the beginning of the movie), he steals, he bashes up old people, rapes women and eventually murders a woman while trying to attempt a robbery, which eventually goes wrong because the police arrive and his droogs betray him because they are sick of his actions. Alex is taken by the police and that is where the story really starts to pick up.
While in Prison, Alex starts to read more and more of the Bible. Alex is eventually chosen to take part in a new rehabilitation project which will change criminals and make them lose the ability to do evil acts. This is shown when Alex is released from Prison and is unable to act violent towards anyone, nor is he able to perform sexual acts upon women (such as raping them).
When Alex is released, he tries to go back home, but finds out that his room is being taken up by a lodger and his family basically do not want him anymore, so he leaves and meets up with the old man that he once bashed up with his former droogs. The old man gets his friends and they all surround Alex where upon two of Alex's former droogs appear and then Alex goes through hell. They punish him by sticking him in a trough full of dirty water. Alex stumbles upon a house where he once came to (with his former droogs) and raped a woman and injured the womans husband. The husband is still there and he punishes Alex, where upon Alex tries to commit suicide by jumping out of a window, and fails. He is taken to the hospital and he is changed back into what he used to be because people thought that it was wrong to have had him changed in the first place.
The story revolves largely around Alex and explores the evil sides of human nature. It's a very engaging movie and it will grow on you, like it grown me. This is definitely a recommended movie.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
I'm siiiinging in the rain...satiric, sarcastic, provocative...Weird !!!, 2 February 2009
Author: delija84 from Slovenia
20 minutes ago, i watched one of the strangest if not the strangest movie that i ever saw in my life!...and let me tell you that i have mixed feelings. I certainly think that this movie is a classic flick, that was very provocative in the 70's ( the best movie era in a history of the motion picture ) but at times it made me a little bit bored, but that is because this is the type of movie that you should watch at least 3-5 times before you get your mind correct-after all, the godfather part II is certainly the best movie EVER for me, and after i watched it for the first time, i said to myself that this movie can't come close to the original, but after few seeings later, it become obvious that this is the only movie who will get a perfect score in my book.
But let's go back to A Clockwork Orange. It is satiric and sadomasochistic. Malcolm Mcdowell is just brilliant and he should get at least an Oscar nomination if not the main prize. SPOILERS: The movie has a simple plot, Alex ( Malcolm M. ) and his 3 friends robe, fight, rape and also kill the rich and odd people. In one particular moment Alex is arrested by the police and then they put him in jail for 14 years. He only serves 2 years, because he is willing to do the test that will erase from his mind the violence...but here is the sick part -the good is not always good-!!!...It only makes his life more hard and at the end he tries to kill himself, but he fails. And he becomes once again the old menacing Alex! The movie has phenomenal score, especially at the start of the movie with menacing look at the camera by Alex! Brilliant acting and also directing by one of the best directors of all time!
P.S. get a subtitles, even if you are English spoken person!
Very recommended movie.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
I've reconsidered my previous review..., 7 December 2008
Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
WARNING: ONLY AN INSANE AND IRRESPONSIBLE PARENT WOULD LET THEIR KIDS SEE THIS FILM!! SERIOUSLY!
I originally gave this film a very low score but have reconsidered it after having read the Anthony Burgess novel and then seen the movie again. The Burgess novel is brilliant but necessarily violent given the subject matter. I still think that Stanley Kubrick really lost his way in this film because he increased the level of violence and especially nudity--making the film, at time, almost like a sex film. This was just gratuitous and seemed highly reminiscent of NATURAL BORN KILLERS--a film that was just too graphic and needlessly trivialized violence. However, despite Kubrick's overindulgence, the film is pretty good and reasonably close to the novel--and I appreciated this greatly. Plus, I liked Malcolm McDowell's nice performance.
First, let's talk about the overindulgence that keep me from seeing this as a brilliant film (despite popular opinion--after all, it's #49 on the IMDb top 250). The book never had such graphic rape scenes and that much sex. In Kubrick's vision, the story is more about sex than violence much of the time--completely missing the point of Burgess' novel. Adding rapes and making many of the scenes so very graphic just seemed unnecessary and make this an adults-only film that easily earned the X rating (today it clearly would be an NC-17 film). Plus, Kubrick's need for over-indulgence made the film seem more like a Ken Russell film--just unnecessarily crude with statues of Jesus with an erect penis, the character Alex beating to death a woman with a giant penis and testicles statue (the original way she dies in the book was much better--funny and ironic) and many, many scenes of graphic non-violent nudity that were not even in the book. Oddly, despite the many depravities, Kubrick chose not to include an attempt by one of Alex's roommates to sexually abuse him--an odd omission considering everything else.
Now if you can manage to watch the film and ignore how over the top it is compared to the book, you will be happy that most of the scenes in the book are still there (though, as I think, with a few unnecessary additions). Plus, much of the spirit of Burgess' excellent novel is present--along with Alex's clever narration. On the very positive side, the movie is based on the American version of the novel not the original British one (which is odd, as Kubrick loved the UK and didn't think much of his home country according to most reports). In the British version, there was a final unnecessary chapter in which, by Alex was in his early 20s and he was essentially cured--wanting to become a productive citizen practically overnight. While a redemption is possible, having it happen so young and so quickly with such a hard-core sociopath didn't make any sense at all and undid most of the book. Leaving Alex an unrepentant and vile individual had much greater impact.
By the way, it's never really said but I thought it was implied in both the book and film that after Alex's attempted suicide, doctors de-programmed him--possibly by employing psychosurgery or more conditioning techniques. I spoke to a friend who never noticed this--yet he LOVED the book. What did you think about Alex's transformation following this attempt?
Overall, a very good version of the Burgess book but also way too sexually explicit--limiting the movie's audience and possibly encouraging rape and violence instead of being a tale about totalitarianism and behavioral conditioning.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Disappointed, 4 September 2006
Author: dawslu from Australia
I watched this movie a couple of days ago and was strongly Disappointed. I went in excepting a lot (from it being on friends favorite movie list)but got out little. Don't get me wrong i fully understood the movie and i am not just one of those people who doesn't get it, therefore its crap but i just though it was a boring, psychedelic interpretation of an apocalyptic world filled with corruption and roving gangs. Could somebody enlighten me if there is any reason why i did not enjoy this movie.
Also i think that the horror of this film is largley hype and it is not truly that bad. (excpet the rape scenes is pretty bad)
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
That Chaplain sticks in my throat, 30 May 2006
Author: SnorriGodhi from the Sagas of Icelanders
One problem with this movie is that senseless violence is depicted as glamorous. (This is obviously less of a problem after Pulp Fiction and Sin City.) Speaking for myself, I find this to be only a minor problem.
My main problem is different: the movie raises an important issue, but deals with it in a confused and illogical manner. The issue is whether something like the Ludovico treatment, if feasible, would be ethical. For those who have not yet seen the movie, the Ludovico treatment is a (fictional) conditioning process, by which a violent criminal comes to associate the sight of violence with strong nausea. The purpose is to make the criminal practically unable to use violence ever again.
Presumably, the Prison Chaplain speaks for Burgess and Kubrick when he complains that the Ludovico treatment is unethical because it robs the patient of his free will: the patient avoids violence because he fears nausea, not because he has changed his ethical outlook.
What the Chaplain says is well phrased, as can be seen in the "memorable quotes" section. It is also very silly. It is silly because it assumes that people who try to avoid nausea have lost their free will.
Imagine a criminal who has been to jail and has abandoned crime because he fears going back to jail: does this mean that the threat of jail deprives people of their free will? Imagine also a man who experiences nausea after tasting Bearnaise sauce in a restaurant: this man is unlikely to eat Bearnaise sauce again, but can he sue the restaurant for depriving him of his free will (as opposed to suing for food poisoning)? If the answer to both questions is no, then a man who abandons crime because he fears nausea has not lost his free will, either.
On the other hand, if the answer to either question is yes, that means that people lose their free will when they have to suffer the consequences of their actions. So this is what the Chaplain's tirade amounts to: there is no free will if people suffer any consequences from their actions; and therefore there is no free will in the real world. It sounds absurd if put in these words, but this is the only way I can make sense of what the Chaplain says.
It might be argued that there is a qualitative difference between fear of prison and nausea: the two emotions activate different brain pathways, for instance. There can be reasonable disagreement on the differences between the Ludovico treatment and prison, and there is plenty of room for debate on this issue. The fact is that the movie does not even begin to address the issue! The Chaplain does not explain why he is opposed to the Ludovico treatment, but not to prison. Nothing in the movie suggests any reason to prefer prison to the Ludovico treatment; if anything, the Ludovico treatment is portrayed as faster and more effective in reducing crime. This brings me back full circle to my starting point: the movie raises an important issue, but deals with it in a confused and illogical manner.
In spite of all this, I was entertained by the movie: there is an interesting story and stylish cinematography, as one would expect from Kubrick. The violence is unpleasant, but it is not gratuitous: it shows what kind of person the main character is, and what kind of people he hangs around with. But at the end of the movie, what remains in my mind, and sticks in my throat, is the Chaplain's speech. I perceive it as an insult to the intelligence of the audience. Should I be more disturbed by the violence? I don't think so, because the violence is fictional, while the silly ideas that the Chaplain is advocating can do serious damage to an impressionable mind.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Not a great adaptation of the book, 26 February 2006
Author: ChefInnocent from United States
Clockwork Orange is a great book. I love the language of the book and I think the topics that Burgess is trying to address are interesting.
When I heard there was a movie of the book, I thought I should go see it. Kubric forgot one very essential thing to the movie that just turns it into a movie about a hoodlum. We never get to peer into Alex's head-space. Without being able to "see" the world as Alex see's the world, we miss the real points of the story. Alex doesn't get to grow, and he never becomes a person that one can empathize with. We also miss the arguments about whether or not society has the right to fundamentally alter a person. Kubric has inflicted a monumental disservice to this book.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
What Kubrick does best?, 19 January 2006
Author: Sylvia Marciniak (sylviastel@aol.com) from United States
I have only seen this film once and yet I probably will watch it again. It's kind of painful to watch sometimes especially those scenes in the prison. Malcolm McDowell should be knighted by now. His role of Alex, the criminal, becomes a three dimensional character rather than just a caricature. Of course, the late great Stanley Kubrick provides spectacular images and scenes with color and unforgettable music. The movie shows a futuristic society in which the criminal like Alex can be cured but mostly by some of the most inhumane motives. I don't approve of Alex's crimes but I don't think cruel punishment is the way to redeem and cure the hard criminal. Because once he goes on the outside, he reunites with some of his victims. They return the crime. So crime begets crime, victim becomes criminal and the reformed criminal like Alex becomes a victim of society. This film ponders the questions about curing criminals. By making him a victim of crime, he becomes the victim. The sad truth is that it does not work. Criminals like Alex need psychotherapy, drugs, and something more than watching Nazi films about abuse. BUt I'll definitely watch this film again. With Kubrick, you can never get enough, boy do I miss him.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Overrated Yawnsville, 29 June 2002
Author: purryguy from Kilmarnock, Scotland
Ok so people think of this as a bit of classic movie making; it might well be in some respects but that doesn't stop it from being dull to watch. I saw it at the cinema not so long ago when it was doing its re-release revival and it looked very dated and I found it kinda lame to be honest. It wasn't at all shocking, more boring than shocking.
Yeh so he wore eye liner and jumped around a lot like a 5 year old, and liked to be violent, so what? Anthony Burgess created a silly language to go with the movie - so what? Its just stupid talk like Teletubbie talk - it has no intrinsic value and doesn't enlighten us in any way about anything.
People who loved this movie I think have missed the point about what good movie making is all about.
Kubrick was certainly a talented director and The Shining, Lolita, Spartacus and 2001: A Space Odyssey are classics of the genre but "A Clockwork Orange" is a very flawed and silly movie.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
What is all the fuss about?, 2 May 2002
Author: John Taylor (jdtaylor@btinternet.com) from Bedfordshire, England
I really do wonder what all the fuss about with Clockwork Orange. O.k it does have a bit of violence and a little bit of nudity and maybe it was a bit strong for 1971 but not enough for it do get the notoriety it has. The biggest controversy about this for me is that it got that much publicity and perhaps Kubric deserves the praise for hyping a less than brilliant film up banning it. As for the movie itself , it is weird and does look good as do all Kubriks films but i certainly wont bother watching it again. i'm not sure if it trying make a political statement but if was it was lost on me. The first half an hour is apalling and i almost considered turning it off which i hardly ever do but as the film went on it got better or should i say a little less sureal . Malcolm McDowell is brilliant in the film and is the only reason i stuck with it but boy , was he an ugly young man!Age has treated him well. 5 out of 10.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Didn't blow my mind, seemed average but the idea was good., 18 June 2000
Author: overcast22 from United States
I have to admit the concept of a criminal being reformed and then being attacked by his own victims is a great idea. But the movie which I was expecting to be incredibly intense, was actually soft. In the rape scenes I didn't feel sad I just waited for it to end. Kubrick could have milked the crippled mans loss but the whole scene was too fast, I mean Alex plays psychological games with his "brothers" but when it comes to the rape it's just a thing that he feels like doing. It seemed more like fun than lust And some "ultra violence" that turned out to be, it was nothing. I could understand why he would want to attack his victims, but the old man was the only one that worked. And the government was made to look too ridiculous, at least do it with subtlety, might as well have painted I'm stupid on all their heads.
In short, the idea is pure beauty but it could have been done better.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Deserves to be an icon, 16 April 2000
Author: Spleen from Canberra, Australia
This is the one moment in Kubrick's career when he overdid the `found' music thing. He makes the most liberal use of Beethoven, Elgar, Purcell, Rossini, Dvorak, Rimsky-Korsakov ... have I left anyone out? -although I must say that his use of music is often as cunning as ever: at its first appearance the use of Rimsky-Korsakov's `Scheherezade' struck me as being a cheap device, but it turned out a moment later to offer a sly remark on Alex's fantasy. But `Pomp and Circumstance'? Too obvious.
That's my quibble out of the way. When I saw it `A Clockwork Orange' did everything to justify its reputation as a masterpiece, although, curiously, very little to justify its reputation as a sick excursion into the old ultra-violence. In fact it struck me as the product of a more civilised age. (Whether or not it WAS the product of a more civilised age, I wouldn't know: I wasn't alive back then.) Note how we are asked, as if it's no big deal, to feel sorry for Alex. After committing terrible crimes he is altered so as to be physically incapable of committing any more, but this isn't enough for the people whom Alex has wronged. They want to see him suffer. Not to any particular end; they simply want suffering for its own sake. I wonder how many people these days would notice that there's anything wrong with this. We're starting to think, once again, that the purpose of the criminal courts is to exact revenge - just look at all the `vitcim's rights' activists about.
Not that Kubrick's film has a message to offer them, or anyone else. In many scenes every character present has a point and nobody is exactly right. Look at the scene where Alex is being paraded before the press as a triumph of the Ludivico technique, and the priest objects that all that has happened is that Alex has been robbed of his free will (just as he was when he was locked up). The priest is almost right, just as the minister is almost right when he responds that hit doesn't matter, so long as the crime rate drops; but you'll notice that the reason the priest advances is a silly one: that Alex is behaving himself now only in response to a crude system of reward and punishment. The claim that Alex has no power to make decisions, and the claim that he acts out of a fear of immediate punishment, can't BOTH be right; besides, the irony invisible to the priest, but obvious to us, is that his own fire-and-brimstone preaching is no more than an earlier version of the Ludivico technique, with this difference - it doesn't work. Still, although we think little of the priest, and although he's wrong, we know he's on to something. So is the prison guard whose reactions we see throughout the scene. He doesn't take to the new technology at first, but when he sees that Alex is subject to fits of naseau - when he sees that his native cruelty will be indulged after all - he's all for it.
No doubt about it - a film of marvellous complexity, and, two or three shocks of violence aside, it's a delight to watch.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Overrated, 2 April 1999
Author: Cacciato from Baltimore, Maryland
A Clockwork Orange, hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, is nothing more than an attempt to shock the audience. While I acknowledge the story idea is excellent, it is executed rather poorly by the otherwise flawless Stanley Kubrick. Moreover, Malcolm McDowell's acting performance is unmoving... I realize I'm watching this sick guy, but I stop caring about midway through the movie. Don't get me wrong, I am not easily offended. But I do recognize when a movie is simply trying to offend the audience for the sake of offending, as this movie does over and over and over again. It's a movie worth watching because of the brilliant story idea, but don't expect to get anything else out of this movie.
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
the message is humanitarian but the movie is itself sick just like other Kubrick movies, 16 September 2005
Author: shutterbug_iconium from Türkiye
This is Stanley Kubrick! His work of art raises the question but never provides a clear-cut answer! Kubrick is someone who sees progress as an illusion.According to him people are doomed to repeat their own mistakes.So it is about a sick rapist violent delinquent teenager "Alex" who is conditioned against sex and violence in a Pavlovian method.The moral question of the film is that Alex is now "good", after such a an aversion therapy but his ability to choose this has been taken away from him; his "goodness" is as artificial as the clockwork orange of the title. You see the message of the movie is really great. It questions human's power of free-will.It shows us that it doesn2t matter to be good or evil without having a full-power of free-will.Coz the free-will is what makes us different from the other creatures. Well it is just as sick as any other Kubrick movie like "The Shining" or Full Metal Jacket" maybe this is the most over-rated one but this is Kubrick! NO NEED TO MAKE SO MANY COMMENTS! Other than abundant nudity the only deficiency I could find in the movie was the the coincidences. Alex's accidental reunion with the husband of his victim and his old-friends.One coincidence after another! Thiscorrupts the unique message of the movie! If you can't handle abundant nudity don't see this movie! But if you liked Kubrick's other movies it is a must!
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Pornography, 2 December 2004
Author: sailingstar (sailingstar@myvine.com)
This movie is disgusting. The fast paced sex scene was probably entertaining for pubescent teenage boys but totally unnecessary. The movie is only famous because it is an attention grabber. The rapes in the movie were excessive and more offensive that pornography itself. I mean they rape a woman in front of her husband. Movies are supposed to be a form of entertainment, how is watching the worst things imaginable entertaining. Kubrick seems like he is trying to offend people and then people get angry when others get offended. I mean what do you expect of course people will try to ban filth like this People only like this movie because it goes way over the line.
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
As great as it is, the movie's scenes of blatant depravity detracts what can be gained from viewing it, 1 September 2002
Author: dcmarkham from Orlando, FL
As a true film buff, I can accept the fact that some of the greatest movies ever made can also be extremely difficult to watch -- whether from its content and/or the emotional response it generates. Most movies like this usually receive my adolation and praise, even if it may take me time to recover from the first viewing
But in my opinion, A Clockwork Orange takes the grand prize as the most disturbing movie I've ever seen, and it does not get much easier with repeat viewing. The movie's brilliance in directing and storytelling makes it impossible to dismiss critically, yet the film disturbs me to the core. I would almost hope that I am not alone in this opinion -- to truly 'enjoy' this movie you'd have to be pretty damn callous to hideous imagery, especially when it comes to rape and excessive exploitation of the female body.
If there's one very big dislike I have against Stanley Kubrick, it is way in which he treats the naked female body onscreen. It becomes impersonal, cold, devalued -- cheapened and readily exploitable. Think of these examples -- A Clockwork Orange: 5 gangsters rip the clothes off and rape a young woman to a classical waltz; the milk bar with naked women statues and dispensers; Alex's daydream of being in Roman times; the high-speed menage-a-trois; the naked, stoic 'temptress' onstage approaching Alex; and the 'humorous' winter-wonderland end-scene slow-motion daydream of public exhibitionism. That's just A Clockwork Orange. Throw in the naked woman in the tub in The Shining, along with scenes totalling a full one-third of the running time of Eyes Wide Shut and you should have a pretty good idea of the devaluation of the female body I'm referring to.
I think of Spartacus, Full Metal Jacket, 2001, Dr. Strangelove, even Barry Lyndon, and I just want to praise Kubrick forever. The man is a cinematic genius. But, because of how adversely A Clockwork Orange affects me, I must dismiss it and can't recommend it to anyone. The more sensitive you are to what you see onscreen, the more this movie will deeply, deeply disturb you. I've seen it three times now, my first time being over 12 years ago, and it's no easier to watch now than then. And sadly, because it is so disturbing, I am deprived of enjoying the greatness that the movie really does contain.
I read the book by Anthony Burgess because the story is truly brilliant. I was surprised to find out that the book's final chapter was purposely left out of the film. Also, I was surprised to find that the author disliked the film, as he alludes in the book's introduction. He feels that "A Clockwork Orange" has become to him what "The Nutcracker" was to Tchaikovsky -- what he considers as one of his least important works has become his most famous and recognized.
Ever wonder what is meant by "a clockwork orange"? Mr. Burgess explains the metaphor in the book's introduction. An orange is sweet, refreshing, and juicy -- fulfilling and delicious. But it is organic and cannot provide this sweetness forever -- it will eventually expire and rot. Man cannot make an organic object function like an inorganic object, or something man-made, or 'clockwork'. The term 'clockwork orange' is therefore an oxymoron and a paradox -- it infers that man has converted something organic into a controllable, inorganic process. The experiment Alex goes through, by robbing him of free-will, effectively creates 'clockwork oranges' out of human beings -- he is forced to be sweet, gentle, and moral all the time.
Final thoughts: I am LDS (or 'Mormon'), and it's noteworthy to mention something about the beliefs of the LDS religion as it pertains to this concept... It is believed that in pre-earth life, Lucifer proposed that everyone who comes to earth be forced to do good, so that everyone will be worthy to return to God's presence after death, therefore 'no souls will be lost' -- however, he wanted the credit for this plan. Jesus wanted each person to have complete free-agency in order to learn from their own decisions, and he voluteered himself to be the one who must live a perfect life as THE example as well as be the atoning sacrifice -- and all glory go to God, not to himself. To have mankind robbed of its free-agency is the Devil's original plan and ultimate goal. So, the movie and the book asks this supreme question: What's more evil -- a person who focusses all his thoughts and energy and actions on doing bad, or forcing this person to only think and feel and do good?
My answer: Skip the movie and read the book -- it's a far more edifying experience. And you also get to know what happens in the final chapter!
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Talk about over rated, 27 August 2002
Author: blaisepascal
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I am utterly shocked at how bad this movie was. I'm tired and don't feel like going very in depth, but here's why this movie is horrible. And there will be spoilers.
We have a main character we hate because he enjoys raping and killing innocent people.
We are then supposed to sympathize with him, which we don't, because we hate him. This goes on for a VERY long time. Horrible things happen to him, but we don't really care, because he's a bad person.
The movie is extremely long and drawn out. It climaxes so many times that it's very anti-climatic by the ending.
We are supposed to get a sense of irony out of Alex going from a sociopath to someone who is constantly being beaten and tortured while he can't use the very thing that got him in the situation, violence, to help himself. We do not get this sense of irony because the movie is CONTRIVED, some examples being: how Alex just happens to run into everyone he ever did wrong one day after getting out of jail (the bum, his droogs, the cripple), or how after Alex luckily is not recognized by the cripple, he goes on to sing the SONG HE SANG WHILE BEATING HIM AND RAPING HIS WIFE while in the cripple's house, as if he were the most idiotic person in the world, which he is obviously not.
The fight scenes are silly and anything but "ultra violent".
The atmosphere of the movie is redeeming and there is some cult/shock value. I give it a 4/10.
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
What the heck was that?!, 11 January 2009
Author: Dimitri T from United States
I have never seen this film until last night. Everyone says it's absolutely amazing and terrifying. I expected this to make my skin crawl. A Clockwork Orange has to be one of the worst films I have ever had to watch. The first twenty minutes were okay because it was not boring, then holy crap, the rest of the movie was flat out dreadful! I could not believe that this film got all great reviews. Do critics enjoy boring, non-psychological crap from the 70's? I guess so! There was honestly no point what so ever to this disgusting film. The story line was terrible, the acting was below horrid, and the fact that this movie is a cult classic makes me sick to my stomach. Terrible, terrible film.
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Explicit savagery as implicit satire, 14 October 2007
Author: moonspinner55 from redlands, ca
Delinquent youth in the not-so-distant future of Britain is captured after a bout of rape and murder and becomes part of a rehabilitation experiment set up by the government; changed, presumably for the better, he's sent back to the streets, possibly unprepared for what awaits him. Cannily-made apocalypse-comedy by director-screenwriter Stanley Kubrick, who is often very subtle about where he leans in regards to this material (he's a tricky filmmaker who doesn't at all mind changing the rules on this scenario, playing his audience for a fool in the process). Kubrick, who is as much the star here as leading actor Malcolm McDowell, is alternately decadent, dazzling, pretentious and juvenile, and some of his gimmicks and sexual jabs aren't as pointed as they're meant to be. The film doesn't attempt the solve the sometimes confounding cinematic connection between (and the curious lure of) violence and sex--and I'm not a big fan of the queasy mixed with the satirically sensational--yet after a few reels of this stuff, you're ready for Kubrick to change gears (and, in the third act, he does). Adapted from the cult book by Anthony Burgess, Kubrick lets the meaning of the story's title slip away within this medium--yet nothing is carelessly done, out of reach or out of bounds for Kubrick. He's meticulously menacing, and those who respond gleefully to the film are most likely subjects he would have eventually studied. ** from ****
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
An Empty Vessel, A Waste Of Time, 2 August 2006
Author: thegonzojournalist from Australia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I had looked forward to seeing 'A Clockwork Orange' for a long time before my opportunity to see it came. It's one of those films like 'Pulp Fiction' or 'Fight Club' that young men like me have been trained to look forward to. Unlike 'Pulp Fiction' or 'Fight Club' I did not find it stimulating, thought-provoking, revolutionarily groundbreaking or, for that matter, remotely enjoyable on any level. The reform scenes sickened me, as did the rape scene, the dialogue, the costumes and even some of the sets. I have never seen eye to eye with Kubrick's visions but this films is far and away my most heavily disliked film of all time. I do not pan it with a complete lack of stars as I found Malcolm McDowell's performance to be one of the most unique I have ever seen and that deserves credit, but I can say without a doubt that 'A Clockwork Orange' will be far displaced from my viewing screens for a good few years until I am up to the challenge once more.
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Intellectual... or just confusing?, 26 March 2002
Author: Mike P from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I often enjoy movies that comment on society and the nature of man, and I loved other Kubrick flicks like Full Metal Jacket and The Shining, with Dr. Strangelove being possibly my favorite movie of all time. I was anxious to see this one, having heard it praised as a true masterpiece, and I must admit I was quite disappointed.
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ****
A lot of people who praise this movie say that it raises the question of whether Alex is truly reformed after his treatment or not. Frankly, I don't see how that's a question at all... to me, he was obviously not the least bit reformed, and only restraining himself because of the "punishment" he would receive if he acted out.
Another point often brought up is the disturbing, shocking, nature of the film, and the effect is has on the viewer, but frankly, by today's (2002) standards, the violence is hardly anything special, and the sex only a bit less so. Silly, pointless movies like "The Cell" have disturbed me a lot more than this one.
Many particular elements of the movie didn't sit well with me. The "sickness" that violence or sex induces in Alex during the second half of the film is really quite silly, it mostly consists of him holding his head and burping repeatedly. Even Alex himself describes it as, to paraphrase, "the feeling that something horrible is going to happen to me". So... this punishment makes you paranoid? That's it? I imagine the scene where he's locked into a room and forced to listen to Beethoven (which induces the same sickness) was supposed to make you feel badly for him, but the ridiculous nature of this sickness made it more comical than anything to me. I kept wondering why he doesn't just stuff something in his ears, or break the door down (it looks like a very flimsy door). I realize that you can similarly question any movie, but I wouldn't have noticed these things if I hadn't been, by that point, pretty bored.
Some elements of the movie particularly baffled me. There are many things that flat out SCREAM "Look, I'm symbolic for something!", but for the life of me I can't figure out what. Why does Alex's mother (and later the psychiatrist) have purple hair? Why does the same elderly mother wear outfits of red leather and thigh high boots? Why does the gang that Alex's group fight in the beginning wear Army uniforms? Why is there such a strong homosexual innuendo (Alex's teacher grabbing his crotch early on, the chaplain making a pass at him, the old man at the end living alone with a young man, etc) throughout the film?
One thing that confused me in particular, and this is an element most viewers will miss, is that the movie often uses Russian words. I notice only because I know Russian, as the words are easy to figure out through context. Alex and his friends go to a "Moloko" (Russian for 'milk') bar. Alex repeatedly uses "Malchik" (Russian for 'boy') to describe young men. Same with "Devochka" (Russian for 'girl') to describe the women. Near the end, Alex talks about eating "Lomtiks" (Russian for 'slice' or 'piece', usually in reference to food) of bread. As this movie is made during the height of the Cold War, is this some sort of attempt to associate Alex's mindless sex and violence with Russian culture?
I can see no real message to this movie, besides that the treatment that Alex was given obviously doesn't work. But I fail to see any sort of point to that message, as this treatment obviously doesn't exist. If the message is against psychiatric rehabilitation in general, as opposed to incarceration, I don't think it makes the point very well, considering that the few years Alex spends in prison don't even seem all that bad, and certainly don't change him. He says that he endures horrible beatings from the guards, all we ever see him do in prison is sit around, fantasize about sex/violence and quote the bible to please the chaplain. If the film was supposed to comment on how ineffective rehabilitation in general is, I don't see why there's an attempt in the second half of the movie to make Alex a sort-of sympathetic character. Shouldn't it show him as the monster he still is?
I talked about this movie with a friend earlier, and he pointed out to me that at the time this film was released, the violence and sex was probably most shocking, and that there was a heavy movement towards psychiatric rehabilitation of prisoners at the time. If that's true, then this is simply a reactionary period piece, dealing with one very particular issue.
Don't get me wrong, this is by no means a very bad movie. But I can't really say it's a very good movie either, and certainly doesn't compare with other Kubrick films that I've seen. This is by no means a classic, as it fails on the one crucial test: it does NOT, at least for me, stand the test of time. I give this movie a 7/10 for the first half of the film (up to the part where Alex goes to prison), which is surreal and often darkly hilarious, and 3/10 for the rest of it, which I found boring, lacking in coherence, and, frankly, often quite silly and overdone. That averages out to 5, which is, I think, the right score for this movie.
NOTE: I have NOT read the book, but if I can't understand this movie without reading the book first, it is, IMO, simply another flaw of the film.
4 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Injustice, 14 January 2007
Author: yum_cha_militia from Canada
Oh my. I watched the film about a fortnight after I read the book. Amazing? Oh I was amazed indeed. Other than some nice photography shots, the film lack intensely. I place the book on my top 5 without a doubt. The film however...I'm not one to compare a book to it's film because they are two different mediums and are not meant for comparison, however for any of you who desire to see this film I suggest you step back with your hands out and get the book instead. Enough satisfaction will be found there. Horrible cinematography, BAD ACTING...holy crap! Alex is the sociopath with no emotion...NOT EVERYONE ELSE. And excessive nudity. I have no problem with nudity, if it is done tastefully and necessarily. This film did none of the above. Loved the eye lashes though ;)
4 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
An example of the director's frustrated gifts, 22 May 2006
Author: Andrei Pavlov from Archangel, Russia
My opinion: the movie has got a very solid potential to be one of the most powerful sci-fi drama, but instead, it turns into a nasty piece of cinema. Couldn't this movie get along without that phallic statuette with which a lonely cat woman was killed? Couldn't be those disgusting human-like furniture be avoided? Couldn't the sex/rape/beat scenes be less showcasing? Sure it could. Those scenes don't make the movie better, but ruin it (at least for me). I have an impression that the director did not control himself and did not know where to stop. A real artist must have that feeling inside himself. "Mad Max" is art, while this movie is not.
I can easily guess, that my opinion is not in the general stream but I have to point it out. I bought this movie on DVD (I trusted IMDb rating too much those days) and I think I will have to throw it away, while there are too many scenes which I want to skip. I repeat: it has very strong potential. If the initial material had been professionally cut, the movie would be marvellous sci-fi drama (like "Solyaris"). But it gets into a ditch with those dirty and low elements. Camera-work doesn't save it. Besides, anyone can use classical music. It is not a "plus". Use your own beautifully composed and that will be a "boost".
To finish it all with a slash, I had the same unpleasant experience when watched "Caligula". Also a dirty movie but with great potential.
Sorry to say, but it is a raw product: 2 out of 10. Thanks for attention.
4 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
over-rated and average, 19 March 2004
Author: rebeljenn from Bath, England
I think that this film is one of the most over-rated films of all time. I would rate it below average - extra points go to the originality and art. I feel that the film lacks coherence, and I had a difficult time actually being interested throughout the film. I am not entirely sure what Kubrick was trying to achieve here, but in my personal opinion, I think this film was over-rated. I think the reason why it is so popular is that it questions life, and it focuses on taboo topics. There's the element of "shock value" and the fact that no one else would have dared to make a film like this.
Overall, I have seen much better films and I don't know what all the hype is about.
8 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
Worst movie ever, 12 July 2009
Author: real_kurvos from Sweden
If you who read this are one of those who hated this movie, I really feel your pain. If you are one of those who thinks this is a masterpiece, then you don't know what a good movie is. I have never seen a movie this bad ever in my entire life. The actors are really, really bad - and even though the main character plays a villain, he seems more like a sissy retarded wimp. All I can remember from this so called "movie" is pain... I suffered through it all the time. I would rather get whipped 100 times than watch this horrible piece of s**t ever again. People ONLY love it because of it's satire of society, which makes no sense. For someone who knows how you actually make a movie, this is a joke. I can actually tell you about the ONLY time I watched it - it was when I was studying the art of film making. In class, the teacher told us we should watch it. Afterwards, our teacher said she actually likes the movie (like most people unfortunately do), but still, she told us this is NOT HOW YOU MAKE A MOVIE. That says it all. And just for the record - this is the only movie that have actually managed to make me feel like a brainless weirdo who should go and bite my hands off, while I dance like a idiot.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Yuck, 30 November 2009
Author: Glock_Boy from Flyover Country
OK, so we all know it was bad. Violence for violence sake. Some folks bathe themselves in it. Some think themselves highly elite to watch rape and call it art. It's a poignant "social commentary on the state of affairs in America"..."a cinematic masterpiece". Please! Call it what it is: Awful, nonsensical, disgusting, gross, low-browed, unintelligent entertainment for the very weakest of minds in our society.
They will call us dumb for not understanding the greatness of this film. I for one will wear that like a badge of honor.
Kubrick seriously dropped the ball with this one.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Works like Clockwork, 19 October 2008
Author: tobyjenn from United Kingdom
A Clockwork Orange is wrong in so many ways. Violence, Incorrect Sexual Encounters and Highly strong language in the wrong hands, would usually combine to shoot the director in the face and drag the actors back to drama school.
However, what we have here is (in my opinion) the greatest film ever, superbly created by Stanley Kubrick and brilliantly carried by the ever impressive Malcolm Mcdowell.
Kubrick's vision seems appropriate still today, despite it's aging and with a world mad about sex, hooked on violence and demanding of their freedom, these themes are related to from not only then, but now still.
When a film ages this brilliantly it just doesn't seem real. What makes this fact even more surprising is that the whole film has a psychedelic feel and the language is a little complex at times. Usually psychedelic films which can sometimes be difficult to understand get discarded, yet, despite the lengthy ban, we see A Clockwork Orange triumph.
A brilliantly shot twisting tale of freedom, expression and sexual desires, given such drive by Kubrick and such life by Mcdowell, this film should be hated, but instead is loved...
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
* * * out of 4, 15 November 2007
Author: Bleeding-Skull from Review Land
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Alex, a teenage hooligan in a near-future Britain, gets jailed by the police. There he volunteers as guinea pig for a new aversion therapy proposed by the government to make room in prisons for political prisoners. "Cured" of his hooliganism and released, he is rejected by his friends and relatives. Eventually nearly dying, he becomes a major embarrassment for the government, who arrange to cure him of his cure. A pivotal moment is when he and his gang break into an author's home: the book he is writing (called "A Clockwork Orange") is a plea against the use of aversion therapy, on the grounds that it turns people into Clockwork Oranges (Orang is Malay for "Man"): they are not being good from choice (sentiments later echoed by the prison chaplain). The film reflects this: many bad scenes in a Clockwork Orange are accompanied by jolly music; if we are to experience them as we should, we have to do it consciously, by realising they are bad, and not because the director tells us so through the use of music and images.
Pretty good Stanley Kubrick Movie, Too bad, the droogs should have showed up more.
Note: This should have been an NC-17.
Rated R for Extreme Graphic Violence, Nudity, Profanity and Rape.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Orange crush!, 25 December 2006
Author: tlmmtibet from Peru
Kubrick and all his talent in service to the frantic,a misfit called Alex Delarge(giant MacDowell!)leads a band of punks with the common sense in the life to make crimes with no feeling of guilty nor mercy, but this "freaky" is busted by the policemen,and caged at the Ludovico Prison,the methods of re-adaptation were cruel and absurdest,cuffed in a chair,Alex is compelled to watch the greatest horrors in all the human history specially all the nazi genocide,this therapy seemed to scare Alex,but after his best,nothing can be changed from the bottom of his soul,it's sealed his doom. A clear criticism to the actual society,Kubrick uses the classical music in a shining way,showing humor,violence in an atypical history, maybe we wanted an ending with more "punch" to our bodies!but Kubrick could turn his madness in mystery,but in spite its mistakes "ACO" is a movie to not let to see,be strong,that is the main condition.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Mungo Jerry, 9 September 2006
Author: Larry Burke from Ireland
McDowell's performance alone makes this a good film. However (and maybe it's been mentioned elsewhere), the idea of using classical music and mentioning fictional pop groups so as not to date the piece is scuppered... the blonde in the record shop clearly seems to leaf through a Mungo Jerry Record ! How did that slip through? I think I also caught sight of a poster in the record shop saying 'you need Bread'.. If Peter Osgood had been in the shop, they couldn't have dated the film more. How did a master filmmaker like Kubrick manage to make such a terrible gaff? The film is no longer a near future nightmare, it's a distant flower power memory.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Stanley Kubrick's best movie!, 9 July 2006
Author: DisgorgedMenstrualSludge from Hell
This is called one of Stanley Kubrick's best films and in my opinion, definitely deserves to be. A Clockwork Orange stands right above The Shining and Spartacus as one of Kubrick's greatest and definitely reaches my top five favorites. It begins with a group of four hoodlums whose idea of a good time is to go around, causing crime and assault. One night they plan to break into a health farm and perform the usual "ultraviolence", but their leader, Alex, ends up killing the woman inside and is left by his buddies for the police. He is arrested and sentenced to fourteen years in prison. After studying the bible in his spare time, he is offered to partake in an experiment that is suppose to cure violent criminals. This movie is violent and disturbing at times, but never in a way that makes you dislike it. It is definitely a rare kind of classic and a must see for Kubrick fans.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
insane but suddenly sane., 13 October 2005
Author: benjajamim from Chile
When I saw Stalney Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange", my breath was taken away. First, the opening scenes of the gang are very strong and gave me an idea of how ultra-violence worked. Second, i found myself starring outside the limits of my TV screen for a second. A mixture of Beehtoven's finest music, Kubrick's finest novel choosing and, last but not least, Kubrick's magic, unreal but breathtaking touch were hitting my eyes, maybe too much of a good-strong, picture for my eyes and my brain. Malcolm McDowell gives us an excellent interpretation of the rare, crazy Ludwig Van lover Alex. This is a classic and probably the best movie I've ever seen, nonetheless I wouldn't recommend this movie to any person unless I know they are old or mature enough to see it. The ultra-violence is nothing to be censored or rated, but yes the raping scenes. And, last but not least, this movie was so well made that it gives us the sensation of being as lost as Alex in his life. Sci-Fi and Drama are mixed with a Kubrick touch, i mean... how better could it get?
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
I've never ever seen such an entertaining film., 1 October 2005
Author: heavenly_perverse from United Kingdom
When I first saw clips of this film on a TV show, there was something that automatically intrigued me, although from the content of what I saw, I was somewhat apprehensive about watching it. But I am so very glad I did. This film is a true reflection on modern society, and the kind of corruption that goes on in it. Malcom McDowell plays the role brilliantly, I don't think the film could have been nearly as convincing had he not been playing the role of Alex. This film is quite warped, but it makes you look at modern life in a totally different way. Some of the violence can be disturbing at times, but I think this really adds to the atmosphere that Kubrick was trying to create. It took me watching the film quite a few times to properly understand the ending of the film, but each time I did, I fell in love more and more with it. The effects are simple in it, but it all adds to the atmosphere, and all the music used in it was superbly chosen, it all really adds tension and a sense of drama and mystery.
This film doesn't mess about, its message is very clear and direct, and I think there is where the genius of Kubrick lies. It's probably not a film for everyones taste, but if you look past the violence on the surface, it makes the meaning of the plot even more outstanding.
There isn't much else to say, other than watch it, and make your own mind up about it!
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Clockwork Lemon?, 21 September 2005
Author: BRAKisBack from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
The flawed genius of Stanley Kubrick.
There is no doubt that this film was cutting-edge when made.
The censors must have had quite a time deciding how much sex, violence and colorful language the film's audience were going to get. But it isn't so shocking now.
This is my summary of the film.
Typical Kubrick: wonderful story, brilliant acting (as a result of ingenious casting) and clever cinematography. And don't forget the twisted, wacky, dark, funny script.
Untypical Kubrick: lame ending. So unfulfilling that I'd venture to say it is his most over-rated film. Still, as with Spielberg, a 'bad' Kubrick film is still better than most other 'good' films made.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
S t A r B u C k S, 10 March 2005
Author: richard-gonzales from United States
The Starbucks Coffee Company up in Seattle Washington was established the year this sweet movie was made. BUT since it was filmed no where near Seattle where the Starbucks headquarters is currently located, we see no Starbucks coffee houses anywhere in the movie, making this comment completely irrelevant to the movie, but then again isn't life kind of irrelevant to people that are already dead and turning into dust? If i offended anyone living or now presently dead, forgive my ignorance and enjoy the wonderful beverages that starbucks has to offer. oh and A Clockwork Orange is awesome cuz the guy who did the production design also did it for Star Wars episode 4.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Jon Monsarrat review: painfully violent, even tho I "get it", 3 May 2002
Author: Jon Monsarrat (jonmon) from United States
OK, let me start by saying I "get it". The film draws us to hate the protagonist so much that we as audience members actually start thinking violent thoughts and wanting to beat him up. So we become like him. There are indeed some interesting themes in the film, and it's quite intellectual.
Except it didn't work in my case -- I was just sickened. I spotted the trap and didn't end up wanting to beat up and dismember the protagonist. So much pathological violence. So much misery.
It's weird, because I'm an action movie buff. I like it when stuff blows up, but I'm talking about cartoony action like Jackie Chan or Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this film, the pain was very real and inescapable.
I think if you're a film school type with an appreciation for the acting, the cinematography, the deep themes, maybe you could ignore the violence. No, you really couldn't. I'd be a little disturbed by anyone who said that straight out. I guess everyone who likes this film must like it despite the violence? Even "Reservoir Dogs" wasn't this bad (gorey, but the characters didn't revel in the pain).
I get it, but highly recommend against it.
Who should see this film:
-- arty types with a healthy (unhealthy?) resistance to violence
and nightmares
Kubrick often set out to create controversial films. I'll give it a 3 out of 10.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
I'm upset, 8 August 2001
Author: Christopher Mercurio from United States
Dear IMDB, I am very upset. I saw a review of an IMDB user for the movie Clockwork Orange. The person said thank god that pervert is dead. They meant Stanley Kubrick. That is un called for. Alistairmuir is there name. They said they were from Trumpton. I think they should be thrown off IMDB.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
So what?, 2 April 2000
Author: Alex Brown (alex_brown@blueyonder.co.uk) from Woking, England
Having waited such a long time to see this film, it really was a bit of a disappointment.
That would be a bit strong perhaps, it was good without ever getting to the levels of being anything special; although that is perhaps due to it being a victim of its own hype and being as dated as it now is.
Burgess' brilliant book was largely turned ho hum by one of the most over-rated directors of all time, and the main redeeming factor was the soundtrack and the performances of the supporting actors to the ever irritating Malcolm McDowell, who is now a part of that annoying band of celebrities who are famous for being famous, having done nothing any good since.
Worth seeing to judge for yourself, and the soundtrack is excellent.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
One big miscue..., 7 August 1999
Author: Rob Deschenes from Toronto, Ont.
Brilliantly done and set movie about Alex DeLarge and friends who prey on anything they disdain. Once Alex's friends leave him to the police, he tries an experimental project in hopes of leaving jail. This type of movie was right up Kubrick's aisle and he shows it. Thus if you ever knew Kubrick, you never brought this movie up. To the general public now, it would either be too "screwed up" or too boring. But back at CLOCKWORK ORANGE's release, it revolutionized everyone's view on sex and violence. Its impact was so huge, it inspired people to practice what was seen. Everyone played the role exceptionally well with Malcolm McDowell being the best. Everything else was utterly tasteless or of no interest whatsoever.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Classic!!!, 25 January 2009
Author: irie-fire from Australia
Stanley Kubrick films aren't always the best of quality to get through the unforgettable scenes of the shinning one must endure long and endless scenes of pointlessness and one might pick up a copy of Barry Lydon and endure a 3 hour movie of medieval boringness and Stanley Kubrick self indulgence. But one see a Clock Work Orange one expriences many themes such as Sex,Violence,Prosecution,Beethoven and Synthesizer scores this movie is the exceptional it is based on the book A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by anthony Burgess. If you enjoyed Full Metal Jacked,Lolita or The Shining you probably will enjoy this fine piece of cinema.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Disappointed, 13 June 2007
Author: hawkinsd9 from United Kingdom
After hearing about A Clockwork Orange from my friends older brother, I was keen to see it as it had been banned, being young I thought it would be cool.
It wasn't until last week when I actually go to see it, some 6 years later.
What a disappointment. It was hyped up to me so much, I was expecting an amazing film, however I was left feeling as though I had missed the point.
It seems to be one of those 'Cult' films that beard strokers say they like just to belong in their little clubs.
Unforgettable film, but not for the right reasons.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
not that violent, 4 October 2006
Author: gandalf_a_1999 from Australia
Not really wanting to see this I went ahead anyway after reading a few comments here.
One reviewer wrote the treatment was so graphic he turned away. Having seen far too many horror movies and the like it was just a few violent images he was forced to watch, along with some experimental drugs. I was expecting something a bit more along the lines of electro therapy, how watching violence could cure anyone I cant see, strong drugs may work more effectively.
By todays standard I found this movie tame. Its also far too long. It certainly wasn't futuristic, maybe 1990 at best.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Appreciated for many of the wrong reasons, 14 February 2006
Author: EvilSpaceApe from the Forbidden Zone
In light of the disturbing number of invective-laced replies, over on the discussion boards, to any post that DARES to criticize any aspect of this film, this seems to me the preferable forum in which to offer a handful of personal observations based on my somewhat less than positive response to Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Anthony Burgess's "A Clockwork Orange", a film I believe enjoys a gratuitously inflated reputation; a film of some value, but not the masterpiece so many have hailed it as.
Kubrick sticks to the source novel rather closely here. Except when it suits him, of course. Specific instances of alterations, additions, and subtractions have been oft-cited, so I'll forbear to enumerate them here. My point is that such changes as he saw fit to effect, seem to me decidedly NOT improvements upon Burgess, though Kubrick may have felt some of them were, rather than simply ways to avoid censorship. It seems likely some were made to allow for greater audience sympathy with Alex (and less for his victims); Lord knows an audience can sympathize with a guy who rapes women and kicks winos--but not one who runs over "odd squealing things" the way--in the book, but not in the movie-- Alex and his droogs do on their mad midnight joyride.
The film is uneven, and that, if nothing else, should give people a problem. To me, the script breaks down, roughly, into five acts... ACT I: From the opening, chilling shot of Alex and droogs in the milk bar, through the killing of the Cat Lady, this is the longest and easily the most impressively sustained 'act'. Here, Kubrick keeps things moving and consistently entertaining, through use of camera placement/angles, editing, music choices which--though not necessarily as clever or apt as some have claimed--are good and lively, sets, etc. Not to mention the fearless performance of Malcolm McDowell as Alex. I dislike the sped-up orgy sequence (which reminds me overmuch of "Gilligan's Island"-type slapstick)--indeed much of the humor makes me wince, not smile (think Mrs. DeLarge's false teeth)--but nevertheless it's the first 45 minutes that make the film at all interesting for me. I believe it IS, contrary to many people's defensive protests, a kind of celebration of Alex's demonic energy--a perverse paean, if you will, to his hedonistic and ultra-violent instincts.
It's later, when Kubrick must deal with the violence done TO Alex--his "treatment" and later comeuppance at the hands of former victims--that I find the film bogs down, and never quite recovers. ACT II: Some of the prison scenes (courtyard, library especially) have an almost perfunctory feel; and the scenes back in (ACT IV) Alex's home and the writer's house seem drawn out as if to pad the running time, which was hardly necessary. (And Patrick Magee's excessively histrionic display during his later scenes scarcely helps matters, to my mind.)
In between, the crucial ACT III, consisting of the Ludovico treatment and demonstration scene, I find comes close to realizing what Burgess probably had in mind, and to Act I in terms of sheer cinematic power. I've concluded that Kubrick's decision to leave most of what's on screen during the treatment to our imagination, allowing MM's marvelously expressive facial performance (and impressive screams of terror) to fill the blanks in for us, was indeed correct. During the demonstration scene following, I find some of the spectators' reactions too broadly played, but subtlety cannot have been what the director was after here (or anywhere else, for that matter).
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
That leaves ACT V, commencing with Alex's recovery in hospital from his near-fatal plunge, and concluding with the strange final image of the "cured" Alex, once again enjoying erotic visions to Ludwig van. I'm NOT going to take Kubrick to task for not filming a chapter he didn't even know existed; I'm of two minds myself as to Burgess's decision to include it. What I WILL take issue with is changing the way Alex envisions his being cured. In the film, he's copulating with a stacked female to upper-class onlookers' applause; in the novel, a more violent picture takes form in Alex's mind, "carving the whole litso of the creeching world with my cutthroat britva." I doubt that even Kubrick could have brought himself to film as black an ending as THAT, and risk jeopardizing the sympathy for Alex he'd been careful to build up during the last hour. So much, I guess, for the vaunted boldness and uncomprisingness of his vision.
The Ape's verdict: "A Clockwork Orange" is more fruitfully viewed and appreciated as something closer to the "pop art fresco" it's been labeled (or to elevated exploitation piece, for that matter) than to social commentary, philosophical treatise, or art cinema. (In a parallel instance, "The Shining"--to my mind SK's arguable masterpiece--gains when considered as a lavishly mounted, epic-scale take on the traditional tale-told-around-the-campfire, rather than as a study in isolation and insanity.) By ascribing all means of social, moral, and political relevance to Alex's treatment at the hands of the State during the film's second half (wherein the film's purported themes ostensibly lie), many of its ardent fans have done a disservice to Kubrick's most interesting and notable achievement—the juggling act he performs with our emotional responses to on-screen violence during the first act, his daring to seem to celebrate acts that our upbringings and our consciences tell us we must find reprehensible—a disservice from which the film's inflated reputation may not, ironically, recover. Such a fate tends to befall films appreciated for the wrong reasons, and "Orange", I fear, will be no exception.
I would hope my comments might constitute a very small step in another direction. But I doubt it.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
9 times outta 10 the book is better than the movie, 5 January 2006
Author: billnyeonrye from United States
I think I might have liked the movie more if I hadn't read the book first. The book is one of the most brilliantly written pieces of literature of all time and the movie leaves out a lot of the depth and complexity that was originally part of both the characters and the plot. The fact the last chapter was left out, and several key pieces of the story, Such as Alex killing a man in jail, and the origin of the title, were left out really bothered me. It also bothered me how certain scenes were changed, and changing them added nothing to the movie. For example, in the movie when Alex fights with Georgie and Dim, it appears that it a complete sneak attack, when in the book Georgie and Dim are the ones that actually initiate the fight. Overall I was fairly disappointed with the movie, but if you ever have the chance, read the book. It's amazing
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
WOW! WARNING!!!!!!! SPOILERS!!!!!!, 27 August 2004
Author: (callanvass@hotmail.com) from victoria b.c canada
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
WOW! what a movie for me i was utterly amazed this a wonderful movie that has beautiful glossy direction great story telling great plot and overall just great movie making at it's finest this is a true classic in my opinion and it deserves every bit of praise it gets SPOILERS!!!!!! SPOILERS!! it has LOTS of graphic violence brutal beatings rape and lots more now i agree what Alex did was wrong and sickening but i just couldn't hate him he is so likable so energetic so witty so likable that i just couldn't help but like him and feel for him when he gets beaten up pulverized and harrased. i thought the script was excellent and Stanley Kubrick did a great job of Directing. the acting is Oscar worthy Malcom McDowell did indeed give an Oscar Worthy performance here he is a wondeful actor no Qualm's here yes he was bizarre but amazing ! anyway an AMAZING movie that is A MUST WATCH PERIOD!!!!! ***** out of 5 SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!! brutal scene where he tries to kill himself by jumping out the window
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
It needs winding up!., 21 October 2002
Author: barada from England
Quite how this peice of film ever gained a reputation is beyond me!!?. After Kubrick's withdrawal of it from Britain, it has been hailed as a masterpiece, but by today's standards, look's nothing but a second rate, no budget movie with little or no story to it.
The portrayals of violence are nothing to get concerned about, it is a movie afterall, not a reality tv show as alot of people feel movies are at times.
Just because it was made in 1971, doesn't make it anymore worthwile, it's a bad film, simple as that!.
Watch Kubrick's "The Shining" for a good movie, this one is best left alone....
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Perhaps the Most Overrated Film of Alltime, 14 June 2002
Author: verbalcheese from Wherever, Idaho
A Clockwork Orange is a pretentious mess that never adds up to anything worthwhile. It is immature, vulgar, childish, and inane. You're just missing the point, you might be saying. Of course I'm missing the point! This ridiculous film doesn't make any sense to me. Of course, I could relate to the main character when he was being tortured, for that was how I felt throughout the duration of the stupid film.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
I'm not sure why it's so overrated, 21 October 2001
Author: Jacob Johnston (aracauna) from Rome, GA
I'm not sure how Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" ended up such an overrated movie. It's mind-boggingly juvenile and I could find no apparent reason to justify the constant violence and sex in the movie. The story was weak to begin with and I think it may have gotten its original appeal from the shock value it created. The problem is that 30 years of escalating violence later, the shock value is lost and you end up with a movie that seems more like a half-hearted retelling of the fantasy life of the average geeky adolescent boy. Of course, the movie does have the Kubrick name attached to it so that could also explain some of the hype since so many of his other films were truly excellent. In the end, after all of the hype, "A Clockwork Orange" is a huge disappointment.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
A little too strange!, 7 October 1999
Author: kellyg2 (gumprechtm@earthlink.net)
I rented this movie due to IMDb's high appraise of it. I unfortunately was not impressed. I did not like the plot in the least bit. Although highly graphic in nature, I was not bothered by that aspect of it. It just overall sucked. This is one of the few movies I disagree with the IMDb users about. 5/10.
3 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Not Enjoyable at All, 20 June 2003
Author: tony-clifton from Edmonton, Canada
It disturbs me that a lot of these 10/10 reviews rave on about the "ultraviolence" and sex. Now I do not have a problem with art - I have no problem with realistic portrayal either - but to extol the art of a film because it is violent or has sexual content, debases the people who do so into carnal savages.
Is it so wrong that in the 21st Century, with all the misery and destruction, that we learn to elevate our culture and society to have some self-respect and compassion? Evidently when someone gleefully watches "A Clockwork Orange" delving delightfully in its violence, that being a better person isn't a virtue worth striving for for that person.
On to the movie review: Malcolm McDowell plays one of the most hateable characters I've ever watched - and one can only naturally congratulate Malcolm for his acting talent. However, the rest of the film is only average. Perhaps in the 70s it may have been brilliant for the cinematography but I find the themes very basic. There's certainly nothing extraordinary about this film at all. Stories like "1984" or "Metropolis" would be considered brilliant in conception and vision, but "A Clockwork Orange" has nary a thought that would cause one to pause more than a second of afterthought. The concept of removing one's free will to do evil was very poorly conveyed and it never once caused me to ponder it.
I just get this feeling that there is really nothing great about this film at all, and so all these animalistic fans of violence-for-the-sake-of-violence make up all these so-called qualities for this film just to pad their reviews so it's not so obvious how so lacking in substance this film really is. A film like "Brazil" for instance, covers the themes of "A Clockwork Orange" so brilliantly that one thinks about how it relates to society. "A Clockwork Orange" does nothing to relate to the real world since it poorly relates anything except for some brute violence. Whoopie-doo.
In fact the only thing that makes fans of this film rave on about this film is the violence and the fact that it was banned. Yawn. Let's move on shall we? 4/10
3 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Yet another overrated Kubrick film..., 9 July 2000
Author: Laner from United States
I really think all the Kubrick-worshippers read far too much into his films than intended. Yes, I "got" this movie - I just don't think it's really that groundbreaking, important, or thought-provoking. Malcolm McDowell's performance is great, and the cinematogrophy is interesting. Other than that, there's not that much to gain from watching this movie.
4 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Overrated, pointless (today) and silly, 6 May 2003
Author: Danila Medvedev
Everyone seems to like this movie so much. But I honestly think that people just like to put their own thoughts and ideas into this film and imagine that was Kubrick's genius.
The points of the movie might have been revelations 30 years ago, but now there is nothing original and relevant in this film. There is really no message in this movie. An invitation to think? May be, but do you really need an invitation for that?
The quality of the filmmaking itself is crappy, honestly. The acting is uneven and sometimes extremely unrealistic. Nothing special about camerawork, sets, sound or music (of course, it's Bethoveen, but they could have put any classic music there, so Kubrick doesn't get any credit). And the movie is tooooooooo sloooooooow for the modern tastes.
One thing was quite good - directing. Too bad that Kubrick's talent was wasted, because all the components were crap.
And everything is extremely silly, from the opening shots, to the use of Russian words without any apparent purpose, to the manners of the people, to overacting by practically everyone (I felt embarrassed for practically every character :]).
9 out of 20 people found the following review useful:
Painful, flat-out nightmarish garbage. One of the worst movies ever made., 17 July 2009
Author: kingiamright from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I can't believe that so many people love this movie. Well then again it's considered a cult classic, thus "anything goes", right? Wrong. This is the story of a rapist and murderer and OH how COLORFUL and bizarre the sets are, and the different colors of hair etc, how unique. This movie was so painful I got the most horrible leg cramp I have ever had while watching it, and the thought to "snuff it", as "Alex" says, I could relate to. It celebrates this murderer, and shows a positively nightmarish world where EVERYONE is full of such extreme, violent madness and wanting to either kill or incarcerate. I found this movie both terrifying to watch (which I oddly, did not, when I was younger; in fact, I only remembered Alex's prowess with women well --one brief scene. But watching it, I remembered quickly the scene where he beats, with his "Droogs" (oh, yes -- one interesting thing about this movie is the language created; it's appealing, but it doesn't excuse the behavior of the characters, even if a cool band was named The Droogs, or The Ramones named their great instrumental after the car Alex and his 'droogs' drove, the Durango 95) -- anyways, early on, they beat to near death an old, innocent old man; a "hobo"; Alex also murders one woman who owns the most ridiculous "art work" of a man's genitals; he rapes and kills her. He also rapes another woman, who dies from it eventually, and he cripples the wife's man. There is no sense to this, or this movie.It is not society to blame for his actions, he and his friends, are simply SADISTS. When in prison, reading the bible, he fantasizes about whipping Jesus Christ; that enough for you of his character?
One thing that's odd is that sex gets mixed in with these brutal acts --I don't mean the rape, I mean, he enjoys sex, that's natural, but when he gets "cured" through this technique, he gets nauseas at the thought of touching a beautiful, sexy woman. WHAT does any of this mean? Nothing, except that Kubrik found a way to make a story about a rapist and murderer and add strange artwork and 'futuristic' things, to make it seem like a fantasy, and thus "okay" in some manner, and also, he makes sure we LOVE Alex, and sympathize with the Pooooor fellow. Sorry, I can sympathize with anyone convicted of doing something which harmed no-one, but I Cannot sympathize with the story of a rapist and murderer.
This movie is pure GARBAGE.
I understand how viewers watching this can be swayed, by their wanting to be free of society's restraints, and be able to live freely, and the admiration one has about someone's ability to rebel against the norm, the "establishment", against forced religion for example; to rebel and not be broken by society, not tamed, to conform, but Alex is a rapist and a murderer! He's NO HERO! His actions are not a rebellious response to society, but sheer sadism.
What a HORRIBLE movie this is. By the film having a sympathetic view of Alex, it thus glorifies his abominable actions, and it also desensitizes viewers by casting it in a "future world", although the actions are horrible REGARDLESS.
Those who already love it may not be swayed by my opinions here. Those who hate it may agree with me, I don't know. I just know it made me sick, and I would not only not recommend this to anyone, but I would advise them against seeing it. Pure, sick, vile, nightmarish, horrifying trash. Worthless garbage.
And flat-out painful to see; I spent most of the move totally cringing, in horror.
Probably the worst movie I have ever seen in my life.
11 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
Was Kubrick On Crack?, 24 November 2000
Author: bill_b4 from Red Springs, North Carolina, USA
What a waste of time! I don't know what was more frustrating, a ridiculous plot that made little sense and seemed to go nowhere tortuously slow, the difficult-to-understand cockney accents, or the retarded cinematography. Yikes! How can this movie be in the IMDB top 250? Be forewarned, this movie SUCKS! There is a scene in the movie where a woman is bludgeoned with a large ceramic statue of a penis, and at the end, I felt as if I'd been similarly beat. I would bet that Stanley Kubrick probably smoked a phallic shaped crack vile for the inspiration to make this movie...nothing else makes sense! It oughta come with sub-titles, and while they're at it, make another movie.
13 out of 28 people found the following review useful:
What????, 15 August 2007
Author: JagsFanJay from United States
I truly don't understand why so many people hold this piece of crap in such high regard. I think the premise of the film is o.k. and there is enough material there to really make a quality film, but what was presented, is virtually unwatchable. Here we are shown, what is supposed to be violent street hooligans, but what I saw was wimpy looking, makeup wearing, nerds who dress in matching jumpsuits and sing show tunes while committing violent acts. What am I missing?
For me to admire such a piece of art, I would have to find this believable and I certainly don't. Even if I were tripping on acid, I wouldn't find this movie believable or enjoyable.
0 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Good but the book is a lot better, 3 April 2007
Author: Jebus Hillin from United States
This movie was some ride, with its soft core porn scenes, and intense violence. This is in the book, but I didn't imagine as much nudity in the book as there was in the movie. The freaky milk bar was not at all as I imagined with the weird boob dispensers, no,no,no. Other than that good, but not amazing as others said it was. Good strong acting and good direction, but something about made me not love it. In all, read the effing book. Look up the nadsat words if you must, just read the book.
I wish the ending was used like the one in the Resucked edition of the book. It has a happy one, a good one. In all not a bad movie, but not the amazing movie everyone made it out to be.
0 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
I did not like the main character., 25 October 2005
Author: Dhaval Vyas (vogolsong@yahoo.com) from Dallastown, Pennsylvania, United States
One of the most enjoyable aspects of a movie are its characters. The characters of a movie bring joy and life to a film. Many characters in movies have become household names in the United States; Luke Skywalker, Don Corleone, Michael Myers, etc, etc. One of the main things I did not like about 'A Clockwork Orange' was its main character, and that was what ruined the movie. In fact, I think this movie did not have any likable characters, which makes it even harder to watch.
Stanley Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' has become a cult-classic. I remember in high school, this film was very well known and liked by a lot of people. At the same time, I realized that it was liked because of how grotesque and violent the story was, and not famous for the messages it was trying to convey. The film is based on a book with the same name by Anthony Burgess. I think both the book and movie are vastly overrated. The book was slightly better than the movie, but it still did not impress me that much.
One of the main problems with the story is that we have so sympathize with a rapist and a murderer. This is hard to do regardless of what punishments he receives. The basic problem is that we have to feel sorry for a character whose main solutions in solving problems is through violent means. Sorry, I cannot like somebody like that regardless if his free will is taken away. Let me ask a question to those people who are in favor of this film. Would you still be adulation of Kubrick's overrated movie if it had starred somebody similar to Jeffry Dahmer, Adolf Hitler, or any other real-life killer? Think about it and let me know the answer.
1 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
It Disappoints me..., 3 February 2008
Author: vikramsamal from India
Recently saw A Clockwork Orange and I have to say I was disappointed in the end..I understand its art and all but to be a thriller it lacks the pace and perhaps the same movie within 100 minutes could have made a better impact on me..I had heard so much about it and a classic and all but seriously except Malcom Mcdowell's intriguing and terrific acting and vague imagery I cant write home anything else.For me its highly overrated.. Stanley Kubrick's other films like the shining and full metal jacket just enthralled me and the most important thing missing as per me in Clockwork is the thrill I suppose but i quite liked the ending..
PS: Read the book it ll clarify more doubts and at least make u understand the meaning of the title..
1 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Kubrick's Only Vice, 4 November 2006
Author: Faisal_Flamingo (faauda@gmail.com) from Riyadh City
Many people like this movie, maybe they do have their reasons .. well, I like Kubrick and he is one of the greatest directors but this movie is the black sheep in his career. It is too violent and too disgusting; no wonder it was banned in the USA and other countries. I didn't even like Malcolm McDowell performance which was an OK at its best. I wouldn't say this movie is thoughtless but it is less thoughtful than most of Kubrick's movies .. to be honest the music was wonderful especially Beethoven's, there is good cinematography and there is some sign of brilliance in the picture, I mean visually but unfortunately all of that didn't do the movie any good.. in short, the movie is horrible and it celebrates the violence .. I wouldn't recommend the movie to anybody even my enemy(s) ..
so, save your time and money .. do yourself a favor and skip it. Mark my words: you wouldn't miss much.
1 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Most over-rated film Evvvvvvvvvvver!!, 16 July 2002
Author: y2jswalls
This film has got to be the most over-rated film I have seen. First off, this film is way too drawn out. Kubrick could have cut 30 or maybe even upwards of 50 minutes off this film and presented it as some short-film, at some sundance arts film festival or what-not.
What is everyone talking about? I am pretty open minded when it comes to viewing new and old movies, but I just couldn't stand to watch this movie.
True I did not grow up in that generation, at the time the movie came out, but I have asked people who have, and they say that it really wasn't that great. So I am not the only Jericho-Holic out there with this same opinion. This movie really has to be appreciated for what it really is. 2 hours and 11 minutes of your life, that you will NEVER, EVVVVVVVVVVER, GET BACK, AGAIN!!!
1 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Is it worth it??, 10 November 2000
Author: moviewiz-4 from New Zealand, Indonesia
I don't see any interesting in this story. Simply too much violence and the background music accompany the movie all way make this looks like a cult, drug-used story telling.
It seems that the movie can be done better with no background music which are too low and not alive. The story of the man when he turned into a new leaf doesn't tell the plot in more details.
The final part is very rare, hard to understand and no suitable ending.
2 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Disappointing at best, 21 July 2004
Author: blank_tyler87 from United States
Before I am harshly attacked verbally for this review, let me begin by stating that I think Kubrick has done some brilliant work. I absolutely loved "Space Oddyssey", "Lolita", and "The Shining", but something about this one didn't sit right. The plot sounds like an interesting idea: the leader of a terrible violent gang is arrested and forced to partake in a new form of criminal therapy. The end result is that he becomes ill at the very thought of a violent or sexual action, and as a side-effect suffers the same effect upon hearing Beethoven's music. So why would such an excellent and creative idea turn up such bad results? The "ultra-violence" is indeed disturbing, but to be honest I couldn't care less about any of these characters. Malcolm MacDowell does a mediocre job playing the main character and hence I found it hard to even care about the story. I found the movie shocking and disturbing, but not good. Disturbing and graphic movies I've enjoyed before such as "Se7en" or "Reservoir Dogs" managed to create characters I was interested in and could care about. However the below-average performance of Alex completely negated any and all chances of enjoying this film. If I didn't feel the need to sit through it all and not form a full opinion until the end, I would've turned the film off before falling asleep from complete boredom with the characters.
2 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Avoid., 19 March 2004
Author: Maedhros35 from Netherlands
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
-- This comment contains minor spoilers --
This is a movie I would not recommend even to my worst enemy. It is a horrible picture, containing too much random violence and rape committed by four no-goods in white pyjamas, than is good for anyone too watch.
The only fun moment is when the main character, being brainwashed into a non-violent state of mind, is being bashed by his former friends.
There may be some "hidden message" in this movie about society and blah, but the message (not too well brought) is completely drowned.
It is not even a waste of your time, it is worse than that. Avoid at all cost.
2 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Why, oh, why..., 5 June 1999
Author: Brian Wolters from Cabot, Arkansas
Why does a director feel that he needs to be as realistic as possible with sex scenes? The nudity and the "sculpture" ruined this film for me. It really wasn't needed to further the story. If you get past those things, you will find a good film about poetic justice and brainwashing. If it is ever shown on regular TV, see it. Otherwise, it is immoral garbage. I give this film a D+
3 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
A film everybody should see, 23 October 2001
Author: Niklas Lundqvist from Hässelby, Sweden
In "A Clockwork Orange" we get to see the life from the eyes of the sadistic young man, Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell). Together with his buddies he goes out at night and has fun, which means raping women, fighting with other gangs, assaulting innocents, etc etc. One night he is betrayed by his own and caught by the police. He is sent to jail, but after a few years he is offered a way out, all he has to do is participate in a little experiment... This is supposed to make him a good man, but will it really work without any dangerous side-effects?
This is one of Stanley Kubrick´s most famous movies, and also the most provocative. In the beginning I thought, "Come on, are we supposed to forgive this Alex and feel for him later on, after all evil things he is doing now? I can never have feelings for such a b*****d." But Kubrick and McDowell actually pull this off, with their great directing and acting respectively.
The movie takes place in the near future, but it more feels like it takes place in the seventies or something. It´s not quite enough to throw in some daft furniture and clothing. The futuristic music succeeds better with setting the tone, this is probably one of the better soundtracks I´ve heard.
The script contains some corny dialogue, and the movie is probably not as provocative as it was when it was released. But it still has a very strong plot, with an interesting message: can people change? It´s not as good as Kubrick´s best movies (The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, 2001), but it´s pretty close. A film everybody should see.
* * * *
6 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
A disappointment in the world of cinema., 5 September 2008
Author: jethianpriestphoenix from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I personally thought the film was not good at all, yes it was standard Kubrick, however I don't see how he became so famous. This film had a truly terrible storyline and the acting was dreadful. This film had no real highlights and when it offered them it made them to over the top and just really stupid. Malcolm was not frightening in any way, nor was this film. The direction of this film should have at least got somebody with talent when he chose the lead for this film. But quite frankly it would have been an insult to anybody to even offer them this part. What a truly disappointing experience of cinematic viewing. A true waste of two hours and seventeen minutes. This film is in the same league as Pulp Fiction, The Black Dahlia and The Last House on the Left, just a waste of time.
1 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Not good , and hasn't aged well either ., 16 July 2009
Author: mikelcat from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Thie film is a mystery in my opinion , although the concept of a futuristic society trying to repair their violent youth through therapy of a kind had the potential to be interesting , the blatant nature of the decadence isn't impressive in my opinion .Malcolm McDowell is a excellent actor and does all he can and the film does hold your attention .However you don't care about anyone on the screen and that really says it all , there is some entertainment here but not the big deal thats made of this film. Kubrick must have laughed all the way to the bank . Full Metal Jacket is a quality film , but the maturity of Kubrick by that time is evident . Still worth seeing , but don't expect too much .
1 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
A single idea, buried under surface activity, 1 March 2008
Author: T Y from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I've never been a big fan of this movie. I'm indifferent to the violence which I find unconvincing and comical. Instead I find the movie to be so ridiculously streamlined that for all it's outrageousness, just ends up feeling like a children's story, underscoring its moral over and over. Kubrick has reduced the whole production to a schematic argument with no real detail. There's just nothing else to consider in the movie except a singular, remedial idea about free will. Two hours and 16 minutes is way too much time to be this ideoogically barren. The first part proceeds rapidly enough, but the obvious developments after the Ludovico treatment drag unmercifully. How could Kubrick make 2001, which is teeming with ideas, and then go on to make this?
Its provocations are way over the top as unrefined minds prefer. Patrick McGeehan's grotesque hamming is the most unsubtle thing in a very unsubtle movie. I suspect guys talk themselves into this being a masterpiece in their horny, rebellious teens, then spend the rest of their lives never thinking about it again; continuing to defend their initial position and premature rave. There's nothing going on in this movie. it's like watching a juggler with one ball. Kubrick further undermines his art and the shock of the violence by getting too much titillation out of it; his rape victims are always attractive women with supermodel figures and enormous, spherical breasts. How many nitwits would be raving about this movie is even one of the chicks was out of shape?
1 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Brilliant - but why???, 27 March 2000
Author: Chris Docker (eyeforfilm) from Scotland, United Kingdom
Re-release of the sicko-psycho-cult movie that would have had people spitting on Kubrick's grave had he died then instead of years after withdrawing it. Scenes of pure cinematic brilliance combined with moral bankruptcy that can maybe be blamed on the author of the book who was better at painting problems (or exacerbating them if we are to believe critics) than making any responsible social comment on them.
1 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Unwatchable Crap, 17 April 1999
Author: badgirl9
This movie is pure junk. It was recomended to because of my love of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. It might be because I'm only 15 years old but I do know a bad movie when I see one. When Seperates this from other movies about rapist psychos is that there is no point to this movie. I do enjoy Psycho movies like 'The Shining', 'Psycho' and 'Scream' But this one is just plain stupid. How could this of been nominated for best movie? The oscars have a horrible way of picking the best movies and they still need to shape up. In my opion 'Clockwork Orange' should be nominated for worst movie at the razzies. 1/10
13 out of 30 people found the following review useful:
sympathy for a rapist? I don't think so, 15 August 2007
Author: losell6 from Canada
Imagine a movie where you're asked to identify with a pedophile, sympathize with him, even. Suppose that the whole film was mostly graphic scenes of beating and raping children..the sadist is singing during the torture.
What's wrong? Having trouble with that idea? Good. So am I.
Any point the film attempts to make gets drowned out with nothing but violence from beginning to end. Oh, but the film is about so much more, like the "controversial" theme, which asks you to focus on the bizarre idea that some psychopath losing his freedom to choose for himself is much more oppressive than the torture he's inflicted on his victims, who have lost a far more profound sense of freedom? Having trouble seeing such a movie as "art"? It's okay if the victims are adult women, though, right? Or how about a film where we argue over the rights of a KKK criminal who "accidentally" killed someone? Do you get it now? Know anyone who thinks criminals should be allowed to continue their violence because it's uh..free will, man? There is no such thing as absolute free will in any society anyway.
This film was like any other exploitative film. It's all been done before.
15 out of 34 people found the following review useful:
Possibly the worst movie of all time, 25 December 2003
Author: chopper-9 from Florida, USA
I am actually a kubrick fan. I loved the book too. The movie however is terrible. Words cannot begin to express how much I hate this movie. From the terrible zoom lens shots to the shoddy production design and bad photography. The script misses key elements from the book. Characters disappear without a trace and one of the defining scenes where Alex plies some old ladies with alcohol in exchange for an alibi is inexplicably absent from the movie. It is mysoginistic trash. The book describes the sexy costume the girl wears who is to be a temptation to Alex after his conditioning and Kubrick uses the opportunity to show yet another pair of bare breasts. A scene where a young girl has been kidnapped by a gang is replaced with an unnecessary rape scene. Every woman is a victim in this movie. This is definately one for women haters. To be avoided at all cost.
21 out of 46 people found the following review useful:
Alex is given experimental drugs that cause him pain when he tries to commit a violent crime, but his recovery is questionable, since it isn't through his own free will., 20 April 2005
Author: mikaa-1 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I absolutely despised A Clockwork Orange. I have never watched any movie that upset me as much as this movie did. The rape scenes made me wish I wasn't a woman. Women were shown as being completely powerless against Alex.
Men can watch the rape scenes in A Clockwork Orange with the security of knowing this will never happen to them. To men this is only entertainment.
Only female nudity was exploited in this movie. In the one scene where Alex is naked, his private parts are shielded by a table.
At the end of the movie, it was infuriating to realize that Alex would get away with everything he had done, and continue to torture people in the future. The press caused the public to sympathize with Alex. The old man Alex beat so viciously that he had to use a wheelchair was locked up for political reasons. The press was responsible for unleashing Alex upon society. Personally, the only ending I would have found appropriate would be one in which Alex was executed for his violent crimes.
0 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Please, NO Tarantino remake., 13 November 2009
Author: ptb-8 from Australia
In the 37 years since I saw A CLOCKWORK ORANGE I have always staunchly offended this stupid movie. I loathed it then and after seeing it again recently I loathe it even more. Why? it is BORING. It is OBVIOUS. It is a 20 minute idea that takes 2hrs 20 minutes to crawl through the projector initiating the sort of visual atrocity that these days, sadly, Tarantino and Roth get good reviews for. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is and always will be a terrible film; a vicious misuse of character, slyly pathetically trying to present a poncy vandal murderer as some witty ant-hero (yawn) and using classic music and songs as a defiant act of cine vandalism. An absolute no brainer to simply invert dignity and humanity and then bash it all together with stark sets and overalls. It is so unimaginative. And ugly. and did I say BORING.... it just goes on and on .. and even in slow motion! for hours. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE only has a future if remade as A CLOCKWORK CHUCKY and adds Bart Simpson rolling it all into a dumb pop satire of silly-Chucky doll grimace and Simpson's awareness. In 2011 when A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is 40 years old it will just again look as wasteful and bereft of creativity as it always did. Hopeless. What a con it was and still is. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is really just Tarantion's version of SINGIN IN THE RAIN before we knew the vandalism his films would celebrate. Thanks Stanley! For nothing.
0 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
After a number of attempts I finally gave up on this film, 21 October 2009
Author: John Schofield from England
I thought this film had been banned in Britain after its release but just today I found out that it hadn't been banned at all. Anyway I didn't watch this film until about 8 years ago and unfortunately I fell asleep and missed the majority of the film. I have since tried on a number of occasions to watch it all and have only managed to watch it in its entirety twice. I have come to the conclusion that this film is just not for me. I always try to find something positive in any film I watch but I could not find anything in this film to admire. The whole experience was in the absence of a more appropriate word, boring. I have no doubt that the cast and crew were well intentioned and believed they had done a reasonable job at the time but in my opinion the film is 136 minutes of self indulgent rubbish and it appears today to be very dated. I might have reacted differently if I had watched it at the time of its release but somehow I doubt it. I know I am in the minority who just don't like this film but that has never bothered me. There are a handful of films which I have seen which fall into my own category of 'a waste of time and money' and this is one of them. I cannot recommend anyone watch this film but I suggest they do, so you can make up your own mind up about it but please don't get tangled up with the enormous amount of positive or negative hype which has always surrounded this film.
1 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
I don't think this is a good film, but I fear I'm in the minority., 26 April 2005
Author: the81kid from Aberystwyth, Wales, United Kingdom
I'm afraid I'm one of those few people who just doesn't 'get' this film. There are two things in this film I like: Malcolm McDowell, who is an excellent and really under-used actor, and the music. Apart from these two I found the film silly, unbelievable, and the main 'theme' (does forcing people to be good actually make them good?) lost to me. Of course, I fear I am in the minority here, but I don't base my opinions on what the majority thinks. I'm going to go out on a limb and say I think Stanley Kubrick was unique, but not a very good director. 2001, Barry Lyndon and Full Metal Jacket are very interesting and different, but not very good. He always appears a bit aloof and cold in directing, not letting the audience feel to strongly about the characters. Much like A Clockwork Orange.
Just thought I'd share my thoughts on this film. I know many will disagree with me, but A Clockwork Orange is too random and subjective a film for me to consider good film-making.
2 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Not as great as all the hype suggests, 21 October 2000
Author: eugeneramirez (eugene@eugeneramirez.com) from San Antonio, TX
"A Clockwork Orange," is a movie that defied its time. But it is nowhere near brilliant or one of the best movies ever made.
The movie was ground breaking, but i feel that Kubrick fans are bringing in a little too much bias into their comments.
If you step back and look at it objectively it is not all that it is cracked up to be, It was great to see, but it is not one of the best movies ever made.
5 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
It was a good movie, but I didn't enjoy it, 29 October 2003
Author: Kristine (kristinedrama14@msn.com) from Chicago, Illinois
OK, my sister lent me this movie saying that it was definatly one of the best films of all time. And I even saw on IMDB that it's in the top 100. So, I figure that I'd give it a shot. When the movie started I thought it was ok. But there were a couple things I didn't understand. But I got past it. In the middle of the movie when they capture Malcom's character, Alex, I thought "Is this the end?" To tell the truth I was bored. It kept going on and on. By the end of the movie, I felt dazed.
I called my sister up and asked her it's not that great. She said give it another shot. I did. And then another one.
I don't know, maybe I don't like the fact that Mr. Kubrick wanted us to feel sorry for an evil killer. Either that or I'm not an artist. But it was brillently made. I'll give Mr. K that.
3/10
But I still didn't like it.
9 out of 23 people found the following review useful:
I am reminded of the Emperor's Clothes..., 6 March 2001
Author: Leona Smykal-Hiller (thehillers@thehillers.com) from Milwaukie, Oregon
After reading the reviews of the 250+ opinions of this film I am reminded of the Emperor's Clothes... and after reviewing this film again I can clearly state he has none. This film is Gratuitous in it's Violence of a Physical, Sexual and Mental type the 70's spawned. Kubrick is NOT God he is a director who pushed the envelope with great success. Best thing I can say about A Clockwork Orange is that its disturbing... the Worst is that it's an over rated waste of celluloid.
11 out of 27 people found the following review useful:
Disturbing Absurdity, 9 December 2004
Author: Marie Clements from Australia
This film was based on a novel written by Anthony Burgess. Burgess is quite a cynical kind of satirist. Bearing that in mind, I have say, that it was the greatest load of tripe I have ever experienced. The movie was irrational,illogical and nonsensical. It was a celebration of anarchy and of humanism. In Burgess/Kubrick's opinion,to think outside the normal boundaries and restrains that have been placed upon us as society and our own conscience would constitute narrow-mindedness. To be free to explore all forms of indulgence and wickedness is to be,"enlightened". Therefore,the average human-bean,"like you and me", wouldn't have the capacity nor the intelligence to comprehend unless they were as broad minded us those who cast off their restrains,e.g,"Easy Rider", another movie of its kind. As far as promiscuity goes, it was as vile as,"Cabaret" (Of course, I could never agree with such nonsense)
Although there were unspoken suggestions and hints that Alex was the poor victim of societies narrow-mindedness, it wasn't until the end of the movie that audiences were made to discover that Alex didn't need curing. Not only did he resort back to his usually self but that it was wrong of us to think otherwise.
0 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Stop worshiping this film and open your eyes., 13 November 2009
Author: Marcus from United Kingdom
The sheeple who pray an the feet of Kubrick don't so much appreciate this film but treat it like some kind of mystical prophecy.
They seem to be blinded by mutual admiration at their insight for seeing this films "divine" inner message.
This film is not the great and wonderful revelation they pretend it to be, it is nothing more than a mediocre 'B' movie about a sickeningly violent thug who enjoys nothing more than torturing people to death.
I must agree that this film has an interesting idea and with a far better writer it might have been entertaining.
If you watch this be careful not to join the masses that delude themselves about this film, they hold themselves as intellectuals for spouting the mantra that this movie has deep hidden messages that are there if you look hard enough.
Don't let the armchair psychologists fool you, this film is below average at best and that's giving it more credit than I think it deserves.
1/10
8 out of 22 people found the following review useful:
Most OVERRATED Movie of ALL-TIME, 26 February 2005
Author: Sensei_Rebel from NYC
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A Clockwork Orange was done in really poor taste. I was looking forward to this, everyone was raving about it. The worst thing about it is that you remember certain bits of awfulness for ages and ages afterwards. The movie has nothing (I really mean it). Every thing about the movie is slow. It simply suck. One of the worst pointless movies I have ever seen. I fail to see why this movie seems to be regarded as fresh and groundbreaking. I must be honest and tell that I had a hard time just staying awake, thanks to dull characters and dark photography. The final 20min though do get better with a little suspense but by this time do we really care about what happens in the end? There are no fitting words to aptly describe how truly horrendous this crap was. I saw a commercial advertising this movie--- and that's when the laughter started. Just the commercial alone was enough to make me almost pee my pants laughing. This movie is so empty and vacuous it's hard even to comment. 90% of this film consists of people standing around talking, a lot of it shot outdoors in such darkness that you can't see much of anything. I was recommended this film by a friend who went on to tell me how "brilliant" and "fantastic" it was. Yeah, right. This is one of the worst adaptations of a book to ever be seen on film. I find it ironic that a film considered by some as 'stylish' is devoid of suspense, or any kind of visual flair... The directorial style seems to be simply point the camera and shoot. If you care one iota about plot, consistent and or logical character motivation, and pacing, avoid this never-ending series of outrageous vignettes masquerading as a movie. The idea of the movie is not bad in fact, but extremely bad acting and just simply horrible realization overcomes any possible good. I was desperate to watch a movie that day ... I didn't have anything else to watch ... but I preferred to stop in the middle and go stare at the wall. I about fell over laughing while reading the previous review!! Clearly a family member of the director, a cast member or the director himself wrote that overly detailed ALL HYPE review! In short-- DON'T WASTE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON PIECE OF CRAP MOVIES LIKE THIS ONE! DON'T be fooled by the HYPE MACHINE reviews!!!
8 out of 22 people found the following review useful:
Kubricks worst film, 18 February 2005
Author: asd from Andorra
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is without a doubt the worst Stanley Kubrick film I have ever seen. I am a big Kubrick fan, and amongst my favorite films of his are The Shinings, Full Metal Jacket and Barry Lyndon. Maybe the film is ruined already because I actually read the book first.
One of the main reasons Kubrick totally missed the ball with this movie, is because he forgot to include the last chapter of the book. This is the chapter where Alex grows up and becomes a man. This is like watching The Usual Suspects, but then switching it off 5 minutes before the end - you lose the entire point of the whole film.
Besides this major flub, the film is a poor rendition of the book. Like a lot of Kubrick films, it has a totally unrealistic feel to it. He composes the shots more like paintings than movie scenes - like in Barry Lyndon. People forget that Kubrick was initially a still photographer before he became a director, and I think it shows a lot in his work.
When I read the book, the world that Alex and his droogs lived in did not seem anything like the "futuristic" world Kubrick presents (complete with 1972 VW Beetles and 70's styled trucks). Instead of ultra-violence, we see much more of ultra-cheese. Which idiot made up the idea that Dim should repeat every word everyone says? That didn't happen in the book.
Kubrick has took the book and butchered it. Some reviews on here make it seem like Kubrick was the genius who came up with the concept, the idea for this great story. He just took a great story, snipped the ending, and made a rather silly movie that glorifies violence. I understand that this is a very "in" film to like, and there are probably many idiots who idol Alex and his droogs.
Overall, very poor work from Kubrick. Verges on downright cheese at times. Especially the shots of Alex with fangs in his mouth for no apparent reason. I give it 1 star.
8 out of 22 people found the following review useful:
Fascism or anarchy?, 19 July 2002
Author: DoctorMartin (careymartin@jetbroadband.com) from USA
Those are the choices Kubrick gives us. And the one thing common to either pole is misogyny. Yes, this film has brilliant techniques. That technical skill is placed in the service of a truly evil viewpoint. A stomach-turning experience.
8 out of 22 people found the following review useful:
Disappointing and twisted, 12 August 1998
Author: dadams from Texas
After seeing the fanfare, reviews and awards surrounding this film, I had great expectations for this movie. It was a major disappointment. Despite some good artistic efforts by the director and the fairly good performances by the actors, there is something inherently sick and twisted in a movie that tries to conjure up sympathy for a rapist and murderer.
9 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
Overrated., 21 October 2006
Author: krytycal from United States
I never thought a movie could be more overrated than Fargo. Tonight, after throwing away two hours of my life, I stand corrected. This is the most overrated movie in history. I don't mind wasting time with mediocre movies because I don't expect them to be good. However, what really bothers me is that this piece of garbage is ranked 60 on IMDb when there are so many underrated superior movies out there in practically every aspect. Anyone who thinks this movie is a master piece of cinematography is just trying too hard to be artsy and intellectual. I honestly can't think of any positive aspect of this movie, poor acting, horrible setting, poor camera job, over-used nudity. Seriously, what was the director smoking when he came up with this thing? If you want to see a violent movie with a strong message, go watch American History X, don't waste your time with this crap.
9 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
I can't understand how this made the top 250!, 6 July 2002
Author: Colin from Hamilton, Ontario
I rented this after quite some time of being told it was an amazing movie. Even my mother (who is now over 50) said that it was a good movie. After having my intelligence insulted for the first 30 minutes of the movie I considered turning it off. But stupidly I thought maybe there was a chance that the movie would turn around and have quite a finish. Well it did, it went on to be one of the most pointless garish displays of violence I have ever seen.
Now I have watched violence before,Bruce Willis's "Last Man Standing" has the longest blood bath I have ever scene, but I expect that kind of movie when I turn it on. I have never heard anyone categorize those types of movies as "Classics." Yet for some reason people insist on putting this movie in that category.
If you really want your intelligence insulted here is the perfect double header for you.....One The most expensive "Flop" ever made...and the Most Insulting movie ever made....
Ishtar (1987) & Clockwork Orange (1971)
Enjoy
10 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Rape, ultra violence, Beethoven (???) call it what you want, this is just plain sick., 8 March 2003
Author: silverzero from Dungarvan, Ireland
An epic, a masterpiece?????? No, all "A Clockwork Orange" is is sadistic porn. How can anyone say that Stanley Kubrick was a genius. He made either painfully boring films ("2001: A Space Oddessy, Barry Lyndon) or sickly psychotic ones (The Shining). "A Clockwork Orange" is as unenjoyable and dislikeable as films come and you can't help but feel guilty watching it (and rightfully so).
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most overrated and twisted movies of all time. If you want to see Malcom McDowell fully nude or brutal gang rapes and torture then watch this. If on the other hand you are normal, then stay away from A Clockwork Orange at all costs.
10 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Frustrating slow plot., 25 September 1999
Author: LaurieB from USA
First of all, it was too long. It took an hour to establish that Alex is a raping, torturing, murdering sicko. What's his excuse - Mommy didn't buy him that red tricycle he wanted? After an hour, we're still trying to figure out what this movie is about. Then suddenly, the movie begins to develop a PLOT. Our hero/villain suffers the consequences of his actions and then some. Having listened to his innocent victims scream in agony recently, we're now supposed to pity him. Boohoo, poor convict :P Someone mentioned the movie being political. Yes, for about ten seconds.
I admit the directing was done well, and the scenery, costumes and music added to the kooky nature of this film.
I'm guessing this is the film industry's weak attempt at making a philosophical movie that a teenager wouldn't sleep through. Hopefully the British teenagers enjoyed it more. As for my companions and I, one stopped waiting for the plot to begin and dozed off, another found something else to do, and I completely wasted two hours of my life.
Rating: 1/10
13 out of 32 people found the following review useful:
Worst Movie Ever Made, 13 October 2007
Author: (mfmoore-1) from United States
I knew what I was getting into with Kubrick, and I've either strongly liked or disliked every movie he's made.
This was a whole other experience.
This film was total garbage. To enjoy any aspect of this film you have to completely walk away from the concept that films should be enjoyed.
If when you pick up a movie, rather than popcorn, you prefer to buy a bag of broken stained glass from a orphanage window to eat while you watch it...than this is probably the show for you and ignore my post.
As for me, I like popcorn. And I like movies that are enjoyable on some level. Inspite of what appears to be a ton of movie critics want to tell you, this movie is not enjoyable, educational, or even deep.
First and foremost, it is long. Really long. Ridiculously long for as little as it ties to accomplish. And just when you think "my god, this film has been on for a week and half, surely it has to be over soon," it keeps going. Of the six people who came to my house to watch this movie, I was the only one that didn't walk out.
Most of the aspects of why this film sucks have already been discussed at length. I will tell you why I hated it most.
It wasn't the violence, I can handle that. I found it poorly incorporated (which was remarkable as it is the primary focus of the entire film).
It wasn't the artsiness. I can usually enjoy that in films.
What bothered me most was after I watched this film, I read a ton of reviews and internet analysis of this movie thinking that there has to be more to this than what meets the eye.
There wasn't. I actually got it.
There was little depth to what this movie was trying to say other than the kiddie pool deep discussion of the definition of morality, conformity, and behavior that a 4th grader could have picked up on.
I am not anti-violence. I am not anti-creative. I am anti-worthless. And this movie is worthless in every level I can relate to you.
The only people who will like this movie are those stuck up, smarter than thou, I am so much deeper than you that I urne to find stuff the rest of the world hates, snobbish pricks who have no friends and probably work at the video store you rented this from.
13 out of 32 people found the following review useful:
s%#t-sandwich, 29 July 2002
Author: animusband from USA
Anthony Burgess wrote a wonderful novel. In fact, it is one of my favorites. This movie is such an awful misrepresentation of that book that I have to choke back vomit whenever it is mentioned. When I think of how this movie goes about representing the text, the word "rape" comes to mind. Haughty over-acting, obtuse direction, and an overwhelming sense of "we're smarter than you are," make this movie an abomination... not a classic.
13 out of 32 people found the following review useful:
read the book..., 25 May 2002
Author: uberbrodie from Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Kubrick got it all wrong. the main problems with the movie were the tempo, the art direction, and most of all Kubrick's twisted obsessions and interpretations. He may have been bound into the futuristic sixties-mod style, but it does not fit the book or subject matter. The movie drags on and on and on at a snails pace, completely against the flow of action in the book. And then there's Kubrick's own personal perversion. He, if you've seen moer of his work, loves nudes. everywhere you look in this movie there's nude paintings, and statues, and various impressionistic nudes and classical nudes and