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A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A flawless masterpiece!!!
Review: A clockwork orange is one of Stanley Kubrick's best films ever. It gives us a different vision of the future. The direction and the screenplay is brilliantly handed by Kubrick, there he shows us why he's one of the best directors in filmhistory. We may not forget about Malcolm McDowell's superb performance as Alex. There he plays a violent thug whos two main interests are the ultra-violence and Beethoven. I think everybody should own a copy of this stunning film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Substance and Style!
Review: Perhaps the greatest irony in "A Clockwork Orange" occurs in the scene where Alex is reading the Bible in prison. He informs the viewer that he loves the violence and sex contained in the first part, but really has no use for the preaching in the latter half. I've come across a lot of folks who have seen this flick and it never fails- there are many out there who, like Alex and the Bible, love the brutality of the first hour of the film, and cannot abide the preachy second half. If you are one of those, stop reading this review.

"A Clockwork Orange" is an ingenious comparison of two theories of punishment- retributivism and utilitarianism. Debate has raged over the proper role of a criminal justice system. Is the goal to punish the criminal according to the old eye for an eye standard (retributivism) or to reform the criminal into a useful, law abiding citizen (utilitarianism)? At the outset, many people dismiss utilitarian values as a lot of liberal silliness: soft on crime. A more important question is whether we should reform criminals whether they desire to be reformed or not for the good of society. One of the more interesting aspects of this film is that is shows utilitarianism can be a far more brutal method than retributivism, contrary to popular thought.

Here we have the debate crystallized as if the proponents of both, Kant and Bentham, were debating the merits before our very eyes through the characters on screen. Alex is unquestionably rotten to the core; he maims and rapes helpless victims for laughs. The first hour of the film is dedicated to underscoring this point. When Alex is apprehended by the authorities, he is dealt with in the old fashioned Kantian way- punishment.

Alex then volunteers for a special treatment that will "cure" him, in exchange for freedom. The cure is a form of conditioning that causes Alex to become terribly ill whenever any inclination towards sex or violence surfaces- he now has a reflexive aversion toward evil, and "ceases to be a being capable of moral choice". The final act of the film deals with the consequences of being "cured" in such a way.

By now you probably get the idea- go see this film (but not as a "date"). To further entice you, it's one of the most visually exciting movies ever made, with vibrant images that will burn themselves into your mind. If you've never seen it on DVD, the transfer is great, and you will see things you've missed before. And as a final bonus, look for the guy who plays Darth Vader as a bodyguard.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Are you narrow-minded and lacking intelligence?
Review: Then don't bother watching this movie. In fact, don't bother watching any of Kubrick's films. Stick to "You've Got Mail" and "The Matrix" for your brainless entertainment. This film is nearly beyond words.

A seemingly post-apocalyptic world...a young man (who was but 15 years old in the book) who's greatest source of joy is found in the supposed ills of society...sex, drugs and violence. After being sold out by his droogs, Alex is arrested and incarcerated. He then chooses, despite warnings of the dangers therein, to subject himself to a new "treatment," declaring "I want to be good," in an obviously less than sincere manner. He is then put through nothing less than an array of horrifying treatments to "cure" him of his violent tendencies. The result is a drone, a "Clockwork Orange," who is capable of only what has been programmed. He is subject to revenge and, unable to deal with the repercussions of his acts, attempts suicide. After surviving, the media discovers the horrible results of his "treatment," and expose it for what it is.

A brief synopsis of Burgess's fabulous work of fiction...but words cannot describe what Kubrick has done. It can only be experienced.

Many reviews I've read shows a sort of disgust wit this film, claiming it to be little more than a shock fest. Of course, these people fail to realize the reasoning for displaying such, even disgusted at how the scenes of violence are glorified. THAT is how Alex feels while acting out these crimes. He finds joy, pleasure, excitement! "I'm...ready for love!" To have displayed it for what it truly is would detract from the expressionism of how Alex perceived it. To him, it wasn't a horrible act...it was fun! And to think that the sole message of this film is to feel sorry for criminals...well, I'm sorry that you watched it. You missed it completely. This film isn't about crime and punishment. On the surface, perhaps. But below this lies a bold statement about human nature and relates closely to Carl Jung's statements about evil. Kubrick must be a huge fan of Jung's work, because I see it in most all of his films. Jung believed evil was purely subjective. What is more evil? Beating an old man with sticks or having your thoughts and beliefs programmed into you? Obviously, if you've been brainwashed into Christianity, you'll prefer the former...but consider not being able to choose how to live. Consider being sickened when you see a beautiful member of the opposite sex. Consider not being able to defend yourself from an attacker. Consider a beautiful piece of classical music driving you to suicide. THAT is what the movie is; to me at least. Jung's idea of subjectivity towards evil.

Of course, Kubrick's cinematography is nothing short of brilliant. The scores are appropriate and add to Alex's playful moods.

A word about the nudity. There is, admittedly, a lot. Most of it, however, is represented in artwork. Painting and sculpture. Why does that offend people? Is nudity not perfectly natural? Are we all not nude under our clothing?

And the sex...would any of us be here without it?

Free your minds, people.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Is Alex a 'Victim of the Modern Age'?
Review: The primary question which springs to mind when viewing Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" surely has to be: where should our sympathy lie? A literary adaptation from Anthony Burgess' book of the same name, Kubrick intended for the film to question the roles that government play in punishment of convicted criminals and ask "Does the state portray the same disregard for humanity as the rapists and muderers they punish"? He was condeming the treatment of Alex as well as Alex's actions, allowing us to feel no real empathy for any of the characters in the film. We are positioned to feel, if anything, a sense of understanding and compassion towards Alex himself as narrator and victim of the state, but to me it seems wrong somehow to focus upon the "wrong doing" of the ministers and forget the irreperable damage Alex has done to get there.

I may be outrageously right wing, but I feel that a lot of the "treatment" Alex recieves is small punishment for the torture he inflicted on others in his days as a teenage hoodlum. It would be very easy, as an audience member, to see Alex kicked out of his house, beaten by police officers (his former groupies) and sick at the sound of Beethoven's 9th, to feel sympathy and compassion towards the boy's suffering and anguish, but this would mean expelling all knowledge of his past deeds. Indeed, by the end of the film Alex has come full circle and appears rewarded for his 'troubles', by being returned to normal and given a government position! The prevention of his former violence is no longer 'in session' and so he is free and unpunished, back to normal and seemingly unaffected by what has happened to him. He even has his beloved Ludwig Van back!

This film is really expertley made, and sticks to the origional language of it's base text and the morals and values that lie behind it. However, I can't help but think the film shows a destorted ethical picture of criminal punishment in todays society, the condemnation of the state apparent throughout. In my opinion, Alex got everything he deserved, and in the end the government went too far trying to compensate his pain for the media masses. He should've been left suffering.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Clockwork Orange--Cinematic Masterpiece!
Review: I was NEVER an especially normal child and I initially saw this film alongside my sister,when I was surely much too young to "viddy"(to quote the film's protagonist,"Alex") such an adult film(I was five,mind you!).While my sister found it too disturbing to watch at times,I adored it!(Told you I was an odd one!)Sadly,this film has been much interpreted as condoning violence,when really,its true message,is that of an anti-violent one.The direction--as done by a great master--Stanley Kubrick,himself--is exquisitely striking and features,in certain scenes, the stark contrast of vivid and vibrant colours--against the starkness of black and white--such "gorgeosity"(to quote "Alex" again!)is much indicative of this stunning feature.Malcolm MacDowell(who stars as "Alex")plays the role with excellent skill and adept dark humour.The musical score applied to this film is utilized in such an innovative way ,so as to create a virtual synchronised dance with the images that are unfolding upon the screen.This concept do I find quite beautiful,despite the often disturbing situations that are involved.But violence is NOT beautiful and ,once again,this is what this film chiefly communicates.Mind you,"my little droogies"(to quote "Alex" yet again!)in this one,our protagonist's exceptionally warped mind conquers in the end!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Masterpiece" society,sex,violence..>Behavior,conditionning
Review: who are the "sick" people in our society,not the one you think! the movie shows different stage of human "behavior" through different stages.

Who is the "bad",the "good" one in this movie,no one,they are

the same! but some("normal people" are hiding their behaviors

much more than others("abnormal people").This guy seems to have

a problem with his behavior through society but later,he is

incarcerate for murdering an old lady into a prison

where he has an extremely good behavior then he heards about a

new program that makes "bad"behavior healing.Thereafter,he is

confrontate with his victims,who wants their revenge.Last but

not least,he tries to commit a suicide because of the music he

was deconditionned with then he is hospitalized,and they

treating him as a king because they know they made an "error"

but it's funny because what they tried to do to conditionning

him in the first place(make him seeing movies supposely ultra

violent or negative,here they try to unconditionning,where he

has to say through little cartoons what kind of behavior he'll

have,and he says what first come into his mind,like natural

things,really funny and real!

This movie can teach us a lot,what is the real behavior through society,who are the "violent,sexual,lunatics,"not the one who are incarcerate into hospital or whatever,but the doctors,the teachers,minister...,the "normal" people !
there are no bad or good behavior just for society!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Most Beautifully Ugly Movie I Have Ever Seen
Review: Wow...
What can I possibly say that probably hasn't already been said about the infamous A Clockwork Orange??

Let's put it this way: If I am allowed to only name 10 most interesting movies in my deathbed, I will have to put this one on the list.

An old man once told me, "You will see the same things differently - because when you are 14, that same thing will seem very different to you when you are 34." And as obvious as that might sound, it has brought me endless levels of awakenings in this world full of countless forms of stimulation. And I must say, A Clockwork Orange has always had that rare power to "stimulate" my mind and eyes from every angle - everytime.

DISTURBING: the most obvious word I cannot forget to use describing this movie.
STUNNING: if I was an alien who did not understand violence and crime, the visuals alone will be breath-taking enough to permanently be engraved in my mind.
UNFORGETTABLE: remember my deathbed bit??

This film to me is sort of like a vintage cigar with unusually strong flavor - so if you are one of those people who like
"wow-I'm-going-to-smile-all-day-with-my-child-and-puppy-movies," then forget it.

This is not for you.




Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Karma
Review: I just watched "A Clockwork Orange" again for the first time in fourteen years. The last time I watched it I was only 15, so clearly my impression of it at this point in my life is different. Even at 15, I found the violence to be disturbing and not at all funny, and understood on some level that the main characer, Alex, despite his "rehabilitation", still had to pay the price for the vicious crimes he commits in the beginning of the film. At 29, this karmic theme makes even more sense to me. Despite being rendered incapable of violence due to the experimental treatment he receives, Alex still doesn't understand the consequences of his actions, and can't see his crimes from the perspective of his victims. So although the government's "treatment" may keep violent criminals from committing more violent crimes, it does nothing to treat the spiritual illness of a society who still, at it's core, rewards aggressiveness and believes that "might makes right".

What I certainly didn't appreciate at 15 were the stunning and provocative visuals of the film. Instead of creating a future full of high-tech gadgets, Kubrick fills the scenary with imagery suggesting mannequin-like sexuality and soulless, tacky modernism. Even Alex's gang uniform (lipstick, false eyelash, jockstrap, combat boots) suggests phony, plastic beauty combined with aggressiveness and insanity.

Although I believe that "Clockwork" and "Eyes Wide Shut" are the only Kubrick films I've seen so far, I can see from both of these brilliant films why he's widely considered to be a genius filmmaker.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Kid's Review on Stanely Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange
Review: I am [...] and I have watched this film. I do admit that I was quite young to view this movie but I had already read the book anyway. Without a doubt in my mind, A Clockwork Orange has got to be in one of the top 5 best movies I've ever seen. A Clockwork Orange is certainly a very dark tale but brilliant, there is no doubt about that. When I finished reading A Clockwork Orange I thought to myself, "How the hell can this book be made into a movie?" I saw A Clockwork Orange and was very much impressed with Kubrick's work on this film. I would only recomend this movie to people who are intelligent because of the completely original slang used and just the originality of the film. A Clockwork Orange is simply unlike any other movie. I would also not recomend this movie to people to Christians, because this movie is not Snow White, ha ha ha. Overall, A Clockwork Orange is very disturbing but highly recomended. p.s. I would also recomend to watch this movie when you are over 18 and by yourself.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of The Best Films Ever Made!
Review: What is A Clockwork Orange?

a clockwork (mechanical, artificial, robotic) human being (orange - similar to orang-utan, a hairy ape-like creature), and the Cockney phrase from East London, "as queer as a clockwork orange" - indicating something bizarre internally, but appearing natural, human, and normal on the surface

The Facts

A Clockwork Orange was released in 1971. It was made for around 2,000,000 dollars and pulled in around 26,000,000 dollars at the box office. I believe it originally got an "X" rating. If I'm not mistaken it was one of two movies to get an original "X" rating and get nominated for best picture at The Academy Awards. The film was banned in the UK until 1999 when Stanley Kubrick, the director, died. I think he got death threats from the film's release in the UK so he decided not to have it released there until he died. In 1973 it was released with an "R" rating. In my opinion A Clockwork Orange is one of the best films ever made. I loved it the first time that I saw it. That may mean that I'm really screwed up or that I have decent taste in movies. A Clockwork Orange is based on a novel by Anthony Burgess that I have not read. It was released in 1962 if I'm not mistaken. The book as well as the film was controversial in it's original release. To me, A Clockwork Orange is one big piece of art. I'm not sure if it is just the direction or all the symbolism in the picture. I can see why some are turned off by the film but most enjoy it. This was the second Stanley Kubrick film I had seen. The first film I saw of his was The Shining. I saw it when I was nine or ten. It was made nine years after this picture. Stanley Kubrick has said that if Malcolm McDowell was not available he would probably not have even made this picture. Imagine a world with no Clockwork Orange. From all of the reviews I have read for this film everyone agrees that it is a good adaption of the book and very close to it. The main job of the film is to make us, as an audience, connect with the hoodlum Alex. In the beginning I was disgusted with him and despised him. Maybe I'm screwed up but by the end of the picture I care for him and, that is where Kubrick succeeds the most with this film. Kubrick's touch shines in this classic like a star. His artistic feel gives the film a unique and beautiful premise. All the acting is good. Malcolm McDowell is easily the best. No one could have portrayed Alex like him. The picture itself has lots of violence and nudity. At first it just disturbed me, but I grew with the premise and it did not bother me as much. If I were you I would watch it alone. You may get embarrased easily if you watch it with others. At many times I felt like I was watching a horror picture, moreso at the beginning. I was scared for the victims and felt their terror. The soundtrack was really good. I would call it more of a score. It was perfectly unique just like the film itself. I now like Beethoveen or Ludwig Van way more than I ever thought I would. Every piece is perfect for each particular scene. I also liked Alex's rendition of "Singing In The Rain". He wasn't too bad. The film includes it's own language, Nadsat, which I found amusing at times and confusing at others. The first moment that I stopped hating Alex and started caring about his character was the scene in which he was released from prison and went home to find his belongings and room taken. I felt bad because he had gone through so much and went home where he thought he was loved to find nothing for him. He had to start all over. He should have thought about the consequences before he did his actions. What I loved about the film the most is how no matter how hard he tries to change he always has that evil inside him. He is "A Clockwork Orange". Make sure not to miss out on this fantastic classic that Stanley Kubrick did brilliantly.



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