A Clockwork Orange
Amazon.co.uk Review
The controversy that surrounded Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Anthony Burgess’s dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange while the film was out of circulation suggested that it was like Romper Stomper: a glamorisation of the violent, virile lifestyle of its teenage protagonist, with a hypocritical gloss of condemnation to mask delight in rape and ultra-violence. Actually, it is as fable-like and abstract as The Pilgrim’s Progress, with characters deliberately played as goonish sitcom creations. The anarchic rampage of Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a bowler-hatted juvenile delinquent of the future, is all over at the end of the first act. Apprehended by equally brutal authorities, he changes from defiant thug to cringing bootlicker, volunteering for a behaviourist experiment that removes his capacity to do evil.
It’s all stylised: from Burgess’ invented pidgin Russian (snarled unforgettably by McDowell) to 2001-style slow tracks through sculpturally perfect sets (as with many Kubrick movies, the story could be told through decor alone) and exaggerated, grotesque performances on a par with those of Dr Strangelove (especially from Patrick Magee and Aubrey Morris). Made in 1971, based on a novel from 1962, A Clockwork Orange resonates across the years. Its future is now quaint, with Magee pecking out “subversive literature” on a giant IBM typewriter and “lovely, lovely Ludwig Van” on mini-cassette tapes. However, the world of “Municipal Flat Block 18A, Linear North” is very much with us: a housing estate where classical murals are obscenely vandalised, passers-by are rare and yobs loll about with nothing better to do than hurt people.
On the DVD: The extras are skimpy, with just an impressionist trailer in the style of the film used to brainwash Alex and a list of awards for which Clockwork Orange was nominated and awarded. The box promises soundtracks in English, French and Italian and subtitles in ten languages, but the disc just has two English soundtracks (mono and Dolby Surround 5.1) and two sets of English subtitles. The terrific-looking “digitally restored and remastered” print is letterboxed at 1.66:1 and on a widescreen TV plays best at 14:9. The film looks as good as it ever has, with rich stable colours (especially and appropriately the orangey-red of the credits and the blood) and a clarity that highlights previously unnoticed details such as Alex’s gouged eyeball cufflinks and enables you to read the newspaper articles which flash by. The 5.1 soundtrack option is amazingly rich, benefiting the nuances of performance as much as the classical/electronic music score and the subtly unsettling sound effects. –Kim Newman
“There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Korova milkbar sold milk-plus, milk plus vellocet or synthemesc or drencrom, which is what we were drinking. This would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence”. Strange beginning for a movie, don’t you think?. Disregarding that, that’s the way in which this movie starts, and more or less what you can expect from the rest of “A Clockwork Orange”.
This film tells the story of Alex (played by Malcolm McDowell), a teenager that has his own gang, and that does all kind of despicable things, from robbery and battery to rape, all without remorse of any kind. This band of outlaws has its own slang (“nadsat”, a mixture of English and Russian) and dress code, and only one law: violence. Due to a fall out with the rest of the gang, Alex is caught by the police after commiting murder, and condemned to spend 14 years in jail.
Looking for a way to get out of jail early, Alex volunteers for a ground-breaking experiment, that supposedly transforms criminals into law-abiding citizens. He is chosen, and “conditioned” against violence, the end result being that he feels nauseous merely by the idea of committing a violent or sexual act. A secondary effect is that he now hates the music he had always loved, Beethoven’s 9th symphony.
As a consequence of all this, Alex gets an early release from jail, and is thrown into the world without any kind of defense mechanism. The truth is, he has to be a model citizen because he doesn’t have any other option. In a way, Alex is like a machine (a “clockwork orange”), because his actions are preordained. But how will the world treat this new Alex?. And do his actions have any kind of merit, if they aren’t inspired on free will?. You can answer one of those two questions quite easily if you watch “A Clockwork Orange”. The other involves a conclusion you will have to reach for yourself after watching the movie and reflecting on it for a while.
A word of caution is in order, though. “A Clockwork Orange” includes many explicit sex scenes, lots of violence, and parts that will make you recoil in disgust. If you think I’m exaggerating, take into account that even nowadays this movie is not for sale to persons under age 18, and that when it was first released in 1971 it received an “X” rating.
Finally, I want to point out that this movie is based on a book of the same name written by Anthony Burgess, that significantly differs from the film, especially in what regards to the ending. Furthermore, I think it is worthwhile to highlight the fact that Burgess didn’t like his own book too much, and absolutely hated Stanley Kubrick’s filmic version of it. Unfortunately for him, the movie helped to promote the book, and “A Clockwork Orange” has becomed Burgess’ most well-known work.
All in all, and as a conclusion, I think this film is worth watching, and I recommend you to do so if you believe you can stomach the violent parts in order to eventually understand the message beneath them. I prefer to watch other kind of films, but I understand that this is a classic, and that as such it should be watched at least once.
Belen Alcat
Rating: 4 / 5
I love this movie. I practically grew up with this movie, having started watching it sometime in my mid-teens (I’m 40 this year). This makes the third time I’ve bought a copy of my own (the first being an old video of it — coincidentally the very one I’d originally rented from the video store!). The last one I got was a 2-disc collector’s type thing in a fancy box with a film frame and a CD of the soundtrack…but little else.
So, it was with considerable excitement when I saw this newest version. Really, the Malcolm McDowell commentary alone would’ve been enough to hook me; since the advent of DVD I’ve been wanting that to happen. As it turned out, that would’ve been worth the price of admission. Normally, I’m a bit wary of actor commentaries, as they tend to drag without some form of moderator. Fortunately that role is taken here by ‘Historian Nick Redman,’ about whom I know nothing, but clearly knows what he’s doing. He keeps McDowell going at a steady clip through the entire film, and we’re rewarded for those efforts with countless tidbits about our favourite head droog, the enigmatic director, and a number of the cast.
As I said, the commentary would’ve been enough to make me buy this again. However, this edition comes with a fairly satisfying 2nd DVD of documentary featurettes. There’s a Channel Four doc called ‘Still Tickin': The Return of A Clockwork Orange,’ which seems to have been produced to coincide with the re-release of the film in Britain. It’s good and interesting, but feels a little thrown together and features some ‘names’ from when the featurette was made who are a little less potent in their presence now. Then there is one just for the disc that really runs over every aspect of the film, from conception of the project (and the book, for that matter) to release and re-release. This one, called ‘Great Bolshy Yarblockos: Making A Clockwork Orange,’ is the one to watch, and should answer practically any question the less-than-obsessed viewer might have. Lastly, there is a McDowell career retrospective called ‘O Lucky Malcolm,’ which is interesting for what it is, but kind of smacks of contract-deal (‘I’ll do your bloody commentary, but you’re going to have to do something for me…’). Still, any fan of this movie is, I suspect, a fan of McDowell as well and so will receive this tribute openly.
Overall, I don’t imagine we’ll ever get a better edition of ‘A Clockwork Orange,’ save if they reunite the four droogs for a cast commentary. I won’t hold my breath…but I’ll probably buy that one too should it happen! In the meantime, this is a great set for a wonderfully twisted film. If you like it and don’t own this version, be a bit ashamed.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is just an amazing film, that has to be seen to be believed. Before seeing this, I already knew Kubrick was a superb director- 2001, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Lolita, Dr Strangelove… all incredible films. However, Clockwork Orange is just in a different league, an absolutely flawless adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ 1962 novel. The book itself is wonderfully well written(and I HIGHLY recommend you read it), and what makes this film a work of genius rather than a merely good film is that Kubrick absolutely does justice to it(esp. with the superb pidgin Russian dialogue of Alex). In terms of quality, I personally cannot find anything to criticise about it, and in terms of quality I would rate only the Godfather Trilogy(I and II especially) higher.
It is common knowledge that this film was highly controversial when it came out. Indeed the violence committed by main character Alex DeLarge and his “droogs” is incredibly shocking; particularly in the first half of the film. So if you are not one for violence, this film is probably not for you. However, do NOT take this as a film that is just about violence, rape and murder and is intended for cheap shocks. For Kubrick (as for Burgess with his book), Clockwork Orange was intended to be much more far-reaching- a debate between free-will and state control. It is a satire of our society, taking a deep look on our own emotions, desires and values. In particular, the second half, where Alex undergoes the Lodovico treatment, is brainwashed into repressing his previous emotions and desires, and then on release finds a society hostile to him; highlights precisely what Clockwork Orange was intended to mean. What is brilliant about this film, Kubrick stays absolutely focused on this line. It is true to the novel, and the messages that come out of the film is one that we can all relate to. That politicians are inherently cynical, concerned with their image, whatever the cost. That we, as a society, are equally capable of the same raging irrational desires and emotions as Alex and his droogs. That without free-will, the individual is nothing. That excessive state control is a danger to the well-being of all individuals. That the price of our liberty is one of eternal vigilance, not just against other individuals such as Alex and his droogs(as in a Hobbesian system) but also against the state that is supposed to act in our best interests. What comes out of this film are hugely powerful lessons for us all- and as such, Clockwork Orange is an incredibly powerful film, capable of exciting and perturbing at the same time, allowing us to fully comprehend Kubrick’s message.
Malcolm McDowell is superb as Alex- a sharp, ruthless and demonic gangleader in the first half, becoming a vulnerable lost boy searching for acceptance after the Lodovico treatment. Only a versatile actor could have pulled this off, and McDowell does this in spades. Other roles come across as amusingly British, and I completely agree with the assertion there is classic Carry On and British sitcom within some of the characters, notably the characters of the prison warden, the writer and Deltoid. These provide sublimely OTT support for the classical actor McDowell. Yet these do not blunt Kubrick/Burgess’ message in any way whatsoever, if anything they soften you up for the shocks to come later(violence, Lodovico, Alex’s release etc).
The visuals are stunningly perfect and unforgettable, despite their very dated look, and if anything they help ensure you get the message. As for the music- well, lots to say on that! Fantastic, as with all Kubrick(2001, Eyes Wide Shut et alia). A mix of wonderful classical, and synthesiser arrangements(very very cutting edge for 1971). I was happy with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, the superb synth arrangement(by John Carlos)of Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Rossini’s Thieving Magpie Overture, Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance, and Gene Kelly’s Singing in the Rain- yet by far the best, the Ludwig Van. Yes, Symphony No.9, used superbly throughout, and again true to the novel. It was watching this film that made me realise the sheer genius of Beethoven’s Ninth- and of Kubrick’s filmmaking technique. What makes Kubrick a memorable director is his use of music- and in Clockwork Orange, as with 2001 especially, the music just seems to fit absolutely naturally. For an already good film, the perfection of the soundtrack(and Beethoven’s Ninth) is the icing on an incredible, home-made cake(even more incredible, Clockwork was indeed made entirely in the UK).
This film is, quite simply, a work of genius. Certainly by far the best film by a wonderful director. Many good films have been made- yet films that just cry out “perfection” come very rarely. I would put Clockwork Orange within this bracket. There is literally nothing you can criticise about it artistically. The only thing, this has to be watched as a comment on society, not merely a extra large dose of “ultraviolence”- as it is only then that the genius of Kubrick(and also of Burgess’ novel) will shine out on the screen. But this is A MUST BUY- you will not be disappointed, you will find yourself challenging any assumptions you had before and you will be amazed at the sheer brilliance of this film.
Rating: 5 / 5
From the first short as we see the close up of “That is me Alex” your humble narrator played by Malcolm McDowell we know we are going to be treated for something like anything else before,With a haunting score playing as a backdrop to the piercing voice of Malcolm McDowell we are sucked into the stinking life of the hooligans “Droogs” and get ready for a bit of the “old ultraviolence” as they have pleasure at the expense of other peoples plight.
Although this film is not for all tastes this is somewhat an honest although stylish look at the violent nature of the youth and the reprecautions of healing them.Both funny and disturbing at the same
time, it shows sex and violence in a very stylishly with classical music playing in the background to some scenes.
Kubrick is at his best. Malcolm McDowell becomes Alex and gives a “pull no punches” performance that stays in our minds and haunts us.
Purely on the DVD basis this has a commentary from Malcolm McDowell
on Disc 1.On Disc 2 there are special features which is one of the best I have seen for any movie as it gives a detailed explanation on the movies impact on the youth of the times, the controversy surrounding it,
on Kubrick and making of the movie and an excellent documentary on the movie carrier of Malcolm McDowell.
If you want something different watch “A Clockwork Orange” and you wont be disappointed.
Rating: 5 / 5
Wow and this HD-DVD contains 2 HD’s the main film on one and a lot of special features on disc two partly in 1080i and 1080p and partly in standard def .A great film uncut the picture is amazing, considering how old it is. digitaly remastered and cleaned up, great sound and mind blowing visuals super pop up menue’s with time line this disc is worth every penny
Rating: 5 / 5