Kubrick's best!!! A haunting masterpiece that will always be remembered!!!

Rating: 9/10 (2 May 2001)

"A Clockwork Orange" is a film I didn't quite get the first time around, and it's interesting that many other people felt the same way in their first viewing. I mean, how am I supposed to react a scene where Alex and his Droogs are raping an innocent woman, while he happily sings "Singing in the Rain"? I'm no sadist.
However, in the second viewing, I realized the film's moral value and was able to indulge the spectacular visuals. Kubrick has that masterful quality that sucks you into his movies via the initial shot. The opening shot of "CO" is a memorable one in which we see Alex (Malcolm McDowell) staring straight into the camera, evil in his eyes--which do not flinch for a second. Combined with the astounding soundtrack, highlighted by Beethoven's "9th Symphony," we're dazzled by this hypnotic piece of artistry that contains maximum doses of style and substance.
There are many lessons to be learned after watching this movie. Because "CO" deals with all the faces of evil. We embark on a journey, through the mind of Alex, bringing us into his sadistic world. There's a great scene in which Alex retires to his bedroom, puts on Beethoven's 9th and we see a montage of violent sequences interlocked with close-ups of Alex's face with blood seeping out of his mouth. We learn how these acts of violence and rape stimulate him to the fullest. Then we learn about the jealousy that exists among evil. When Georgie wants to take over the Droogs and become leader of the pack, Alex tosses him in the water along with the slow-witted Droog Dim, and slashes him in the hand teaching him a lesson on who's the boss. And finally, when Alex commits his last murder, we learn about the betrayal that spawns from evil. All of Alex's fellow Droogs beat him senseless and leave him at the scene of the crime, allowing him to get picked up by the authorities and thrown in jail. In jail, we learn about how "supposedly" morally correct individuals try to eradicate pure evil. We're introduced to a fanatical preacher, who feels jail is the best punishment for this group of sinners and they fully deserve to rot inside until their souls are cleansed. That shows how religion can sometimes be exaggerated and far-fetched, and religious leaders don't always take a realistic approach to these matters. Alex is later rehabilitated by being put through an unusual procedure. He is forced to watch scenes of brutal violence and rape, put to the soundtrack of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. At first, he feels satisfied. But as his mind gets healthier, he gets more and more disturbed by these images. And we learn that the healthy mind is not able to withstand such evil. Alex was able to withstand this evil in the past, because his mind was in a sick, demented state. After Alex is fully rehabilitated, he's released back into the world and--unfortunately--things don't turn out so good. His family doesn't want him anymore. And we learn more and more in upcoming scenes how evil cannot be tolerated by society, and how evil acts of violence and rape are not forgiven or forgotten in the eyes of those who were traumatized, no matter how clear Alex's conscience happens to be. And society will often use evil against evil. This is the type of the movie that gives a raw, unflinching look at the evils of society, how we deal with them, how we're faced with them, how they're inflicted upon us, etc. This is one of the best social satires ever made, brutally portraying all the "dark sides" of society.
The dialogue is also memorable--though sometimes difficult to understand. This is the type of movie that is great in all aspects. It's not only emotionally stimulating, but visually stimulating, in a way only Kubrick could've expressed it. I can't imagine any director doing it any better.

"A Clockwork Orange" is Kubrick's most noble masterpiece, and a definite must-see!!!
My score: 9 (out of 10)