A Clockwork Orange (1972)

Winnmusic

This all new 2007 Digital Transfer of "Clockwork" is must for any fan of this film or films of Stanley Kubrick.

Colors are rich and the new transfer is crystal clear. After seeing so many grainy and faded versions throughout the years, it's great to see this film they way it should have looked like. Sound is quite a enhancement as well. As any fan of this film music is the utmost important factor too. So much classical music is played especially Beethoven.

The special features are extremely informative as well. Many of the features give a detailed history of the film and why it was banned in England for so many years. Now folks in the UK can see "Clockwork" in prestine condition. Malcom McDowell specials are very entertaining but a little too long. My only little gripe!

Must get this to add to any classic film collection!!

July 18, 2008

Once Is Enough

I'm not familiar with Stanley Kubrick and I wasn't even born yet when this movie came out. All I can say is that this movie was way too long and I had to force myself to continue watching it to the annoying end. There were also way too many phallic images presented throughout the course of film. Just way too many. If you think the government giving a person medication to change bad behavior is controversial, just wait a few years. Soon your DNA will be collected as soon as your out of the womb. Your DNA will be tested to see if you have a "criminal gene" and then off you go to a facility to be given a microchip and medication to control you. I saw this movie once and I never want to see it again. Skip this one at all costs. July 2, 2008

Masterful Mind Control

Stanley Kubrick introduces us to a monster at the beginning of this great work. Alex De Large is a horror of a human being. He is violent, sadistic, ruthless, and cunning. He and his gang of youths steal, rape, destroy, and generally make war upon anyone they choose - be it rival gangs, people driving on the road, or people living quietly at home.

In a master stroke, the movie reveals that this nightmarish individual is not the real evil here. The real enemy of the people is the oppressive government. This government wants its citizens to do as they're told, go to work, and live plain, uninteresting lives. In other words, they want a society of "clockwork oranges". The government will achieve its goal by starting with prisoners - as in the case of our friend Alex and will presumably move on from there to other citizens.

What is amazing is we, the audience, find ourselves at this point of the movie pitying poor Alex. Yes, this unrepentant monster becomes our protagonist. Such masterful manipulation will leave us disturbed with the movie, which is exactly what Kubrick intended. July 1, 2008

A great work

Although I have heard that this movie is not one of Kubrick's best movies (Dr. Strangelove and 2001 get that credit) in which I might agree, this movie is a better movie than 95% of the crap that comes out - and is top 25 on my list. The story is classic Kubrick - dark, futuristic, with great music, great costumes, and a bit of dark sense of humor. June 18, 2008

Real Horrorshow

I jumped on the band wagon with this stange film nine years ago when I was in high school. I remember it was all the rage within the "outcast/misfit" group in school and I wondered why I haven't heard of it myself. I decided that I must have a look and bought it on VHS. I had absolutely no idea what I was in for. I was ignorant in every way possible having not even known it was based on a novella.

To be honest I got to the part where Alex was in prison library reading the Bible where he's imaging himself flogging Christ as he's dragging the cross on his back. I remembered the loud music it employed and the image so vividly it scared the s**t out of me; I had to turn it off! I did finish it nevertheless, and when I watched it again over time I always either "fast-forward" through that part or just closed my eyes.

As I got older, I became more and more familiar and interested in Stanley Kubrick's work and really admired the guy as a filmmaker even though many of this films aren't "enjoyable" per say. He does (or did), however, have an amazing eye for shots and really encompassed that around everything else.

Last year, I decided to read Anthony Burgess' novella of the same title while in college. I really enjoyed it, and I decided that I'd watch the film again (having not seen in some time now). Surprisingly, the film version is truely an excellent adaptation of Burgess' novella (save for the newly added chapter at the end of the novella). Reading the book really made watching it all the better. I caught onto so many things I hadn't noticed initially in the film. I fould it extremely satirical and, well, enjoyable! I even got through the scene I had hang-ups about effortlessly. And after watching the film, I couldn't help but be really impressed. For a film that was made some 30 years ago, it holds up very well. I think we call that a classic. If not, it's still an brilliant film. June 14, 2008

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