Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange

time for a taste of the good 'ol ultra-violence ya droogs!

I have to admit that A Clockwork Orange is one of the few films of Stanley Kubrick that yours truly has ever had the privelage to watch. As with the films of his that I HAD watched, A Clockwork Orange proved to be one fantastic film experience.

Set in near-future Britain (or what passed for it during the early 70's), the film tells the story of teenage hooligan Alex De Large (as played by a very young Malcolm McDowell) and his less than admirable exploits in the world of, as the film would put it... "ultra-violence".

Naughty, naughty, naughty! You filthy old soomka!

"Ultra-Violence" in this case, is by no means an exaggerated term. Alex and his cohorts participate in all sorts of horrendous acts. Then again, the people from the 70's would probably be as equally horrified with what kids today are capable of... but that's another film discussion all in itself already. Garbed in their trademark derby hats and crotchguard-over-white-overalls, these hoodlums engage in most everything illegal in order to satisfy their need for the ultimate rush... hallucinogens, gang-fights, theft, rape... any horrific crime you can think of, they've either already done it or will very likely consider to do it. The plot intensifies when Alex's so called partners-in-crime (his droogs - as the film's quirky lingo so aptly states) decide that its time for a change in leadership of their merry bunch of misfits. In a freak robbery gone sour, Alex accidentaly kills the owner of a house they planned to pillage and ends up being deserted by his so-called friends to the mercy of the police. Once inside prison, Alex decides to do whatever is necessary to ensure that he gets out in the shortest amount of time... and that means participating in the experimental "rehabilitation" program sponsored by the state.

There was nothing I hated more than to see a filthy old drunkie, a-howling away at the filthy songs of his fathers and going blurp blurp in between as if it were a filthy old orchestra in his stinking rotten guts. I could never stand to see anyone like that, especially when they were old like this one was.

Although the movie outlines violence prevalent in the time period to which the story takes place, one cant help but sympathize with the predicament Alex has gotten himself into. Generally an intelligent character actor, Malcolm McDowell portrays Alex as a charming and charismatic individual. His appreciation of Beethoven's 9th Symphony (or in Alex's words: "the 9th, by Ludwig Van") might reflect one of the few things that are still innocent and good in a mind as deeply disturbed as his. The street-talk that Alex and his droogs consistently spew at each other is a bit hard to understand at first (or would the british have no problem with this? hmmmm....), but during the course of the film, the viewer gets an appreciation of it's almost lyrical and poetic qualities.

What you got back home, little sister, to play your fuzzy warbles on? I bet you got, say, pitiful, portable picnic players. Come with uncle and hear all proper! Hear angels' trumpets and devils' trombones. You are invited!

The highlight of the movie has to be when Alex is actually rehabilitated. Once the transformation from Mr. Hyde to Dr. Jekyll takes place, the ramifications of such a radical personality change will make one wonder on whether human nature should be a thing to be so-lightly toyed with.

probably one of the most chilling images in 20th century cinema...

Recommended for mature viewers, A Clockwork Orange gives us a glimpse of the horrific side of human nature and the consequences we must face when it is left unchecked. Kudos to Mr. Kubrick for giving us such a unique vision of the duality that reside in each and every one of us.