A Clockwork Orange - 8 stars out of 10

A Clockwork Orange - 8 stars out of 10

"A Clockwork Orange" is one of the most bizarre dystopian films that I have ever seen.  It is violent, twisted, and should only be watched when emotionally prepared for its graphic nature - it is not light-hearted.  That being said, the film carries a strong message amidst the overwhelming storm of nudity and violence about human nature and the inability to create "goodness" within a bad person.  The film's main character, Alex, is terrifying.  It isn't because he is physically intimidating; rather, it is because he completely lacks a conscience and is thrilled by his grotesque acts.  Malcolm McDowell brings this character to life with his eerily joyful personality and love for classical music.  The climax of the film occurs with it's most famous scene in which Alex is forced to endure the Ludovico technique.  This aversion therapy involves Alex's eyes being propped open while he is forced to watch violent images for long periods of time with a nausea-inducing drug in his system.  If my PG-rated description is causing hesitation, this is not the movie for you.  This sequence is so powerful that the resolution of the film seems to take forever.  I like the ending (which, by the way, ends after Chapter 20 of the original 21 chapter book) but it feels so boring in comparison to the rest of the film.  The film's clever soundtrack is a thematic extension of Alex's love for classical music, comprised of classical music in a twisted synthesizer form.  Unfortunately, this film creates an aversion to its music for the viewer, making it difficult to listen to Beethoven's 9th Symphony and especially Singing in the Rain without associating the music with the horrific scenes in which the music is featured.  This landmark film changed the acceptance of violence in movies forever.  I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing (okay, after watching the American version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" it is definitely a bad thing), but Stanley Kubrick's shocking portrayal of violence creates an amazing cinematic experience.