This movie was banned from British screens for over twenty
years. During that time a fair degree of controversy and hype
has built up around this Stanley Kubrick movie as it has become
famous for its supposedly graphic ultra violence. In this reviewer's
opinion, A Clockwork Orange is a very typical Kubrick work with
grand attention to sound and music to create a stylised atmosphere
but which seems to lose sight of a story along the way.
Set in a indeterminate future, this movie tells the story of
Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a teenage delinquent, smart alec, and
Beethoven fan. He is the self elected leader of a small gang
called the Droogs whose night time antics include beating up
homeless people, and raping women in their homes. Inevitably
he runs afoul of the law and is despatched to youth reform institution.
There he volunteers for an experimental treatment that will
'cure' him of his antisocial tendencies. This treatment, which
has been much parodied in subsequent years, seems to be successful
and Alex is released back into the community only to be haunted
by some of his past victims.
Most of the time, this movie is pretty wierd. Kubrick brings
us his vision of author Anthony Burgess's future with the Droogs
wearing white suits and codpieces and relaxing in a milk bar
replete with statues of naked women. Stranger, and more annoying,
is the futuristic slang used by Alex and others in his world
(along the lines of "I had never viddied anything like
it, brother sir").
McDowell is great as the thoroughly dislikeable Alex although
it would be fair to see that were no really likeable characters
in this movie as they all evil, vindictive, or annoying. Even
a pre Darth Vader David Prowse just looks silly in his tight
workout outfit with super thick rimmed glasses.
Many people call this a masterpiece. I think its just a bit
silly.
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