 Tagline: Being the adventures of a young man ... who couldn't resist pretty girls ... or a bit of the old ultra-violence ... went to jail, was re-conditioned ... and came out a different young man ... or was he ? Freaking out audiences since 1971, A Clockwork Orange is truly one of the most bizarrely entertaining yet disturbing films ever made. The film was the target of riots in the UK in response to teens carrying out a series of copycat crimes that aped the behavior of the characters in the film. Even the original author of the book, Anthony Burgess, has gone on record both as hating the film and as praising it as a work of absolute genius. Personally, I have friends who loathe every frame, while others adore the film. What is it about this film that inspires such extreme reactions? Whatever the reasons, you'll either love this film or hate it, but whatever the opinion, it's sure to be a strong one. Stomping, whomping, stealing, singing, tap-dancing, violating. Derby-topped teddy-boy hooligan Alex (Malcolm McDowell) has his own way of having a good time - at the tragic expense of others. His journey from amoral punk to brainwashed proper citizen and back again forms the dynamic arc of Stanley Kubrick's future-shock vision of Anthony Burgess' novel. Controversial when first released, A Clockwork Orange won New York Film Critics Best Picture and Director awards and earned four Oscar nominations, including best picture. Its power still entices, shocks and holds us in its grasp. Storyline: Protagonist Alex DeLarge is an "ultraviolent" youth in futuristic Britain. As with all luck, his eventually runs out and he's arrested and convicted of murder and rape. While in prison, Alex learns of an experimental program in which convicts are programed to detest violence. If he goes through the program, his sentence will be reduced and he will be back on the streets sooner than expected. But Alex's ordeals are far from over once he hits the mean streets of Britain that he had a hand in creating. Written by Nikki Carlyle Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Ben Williams on November 12, 2007 -- Freaking out audiences since 1971, A Clockwork Orange is truly one of the most bizarrely entertaining yet disturbing films ever made. The film was the target of riots in the UK in response to teens carrying out a series of copycat crimes that aped the behavior of the characters in the film. Even the original author of the book, Anthony Burgess, has gone on record both as hating the film and as praising it as a work of absolute genius. Personally, I have friends who loathe every frame, while others adore the film. What is it about this film that inspires such extreme reactions? Whatever the reasons, you'll either love this film or hate it, but whatever the opinion, it's sure to be a strong one. Alex de Large (Malcolm McDowell) has a few loves in life. Chief among them: rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven. He and his band of "droogs," don their freakish, white costumes and masks and tear through London terrorizing anyone who is unfortunate enough to get in their way. Calming their nerves with drug infused milk, these teenage terrorists answer to no one and fear nothing. As Alex's violent ways alienate everyone in his life, he will find himself in the hands of government scientists, who think they might have a cure for his temperament. A Clockwork Orange is a cinematic masterpiece and is my personal favorite of Stanley Kubrick's films. The film is a master-class in manipulation. Kubrick tells a very straight-forward story, for the first half of the film, that to the casual observer might come across as gratuitous sensationalism. There are more than a few very unpleasant scenes and the viewer has no choice but to be completely disgusted by Alex and his actions. Unlike a film along the lines of Hollow Man that plays on similar themes purely for the sake of titillation, A Clockwork Orange uses its brutality to make a very important point. Where the film finds its stroke of brilliance, is in Kubrick's masterful way of showing us how horrible Alex is, and then making us feel sorry for him. If the viewer can truly pity a monster like Alex, then Kubrick has pulled off the greatest of cinematic tricks. I'll leave it up to you as to whether Kubrick succeeds in this, but I challenge each and every one of you to not be taken in by Kubrick's steady hand and ingenious plotting. Visually, the film is simply a treat for the eyes where each and every shot is a work of art. Very few filmmakers have mastered every aspect of the art of film. In my humble opinion, Kubrick was one of the few who could claim this title. A Clockwork Orange is a must-own title on Blu-ray. A Clockwork Orange ranks as one of Stanley Kubrick's great masterpieces. The film is shocking and is sure to disturb more sensitive viewers. This is, without a doubt, not a film for younger viewers. Instead, this is a mature and intense work of art that does a masterful job of manipulating the audience into following Mr. Kubrick's every cinematic whim. I admire the film for many reasons, but its emphasis on story, music, phenomenal acting and haunting visuals has always earned the film a place high on my list of favorites. This Blu-ray edition takes extremely challenging material, both visually and aurally, and delivers as accurate a product as could be hoped for. While not as in-depth as I would have liked, the supplements are also well assembled and are sure to please fans of the film. Like most of the Kubrick library of films, A Clockwork Orange is a must own title on Blu-ray and is highly recommended. Cast Notes: Malcolm McDowell (Alex), Patrick Magee (Mr. Alexander), Michael Bates (Chief Guard), Warren Clarke (Dim), John Clive (Stage Actor), Adrienne Corri (Mrs. Alexander), Carl Duering (Dr. Brodsky), Paul Farrell (Tramp), Clive Francis (Lodger), Michael Gover (Prison Governor), Miriam Karlin (Catlady), James Marcus (Georgie), Aubrey Morris (Deltoid), Godfrey Quigley (Prison Chaplain), Sheila Raynor (Mum). IMDb Rating (11/02/14): 8.4/10 from 424,480 users Top 250: #74 IMDb Rating (07/24/14): 8.4/10 from 403,533 users Top 250: #69 IMDb Rating (05/30/10): 8.5/10 from 186,384 users Top 250: #47
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