What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again!

Rating: 9/10 (10 July 2016)

Out of all the Kubrick masterpieces I have seen, A Clockwork Orange had the greatest impact on me. Firstly, the film is a visual treat for the eyes. Kubrick's meticulousness to every detail is manifest, visually striking with its futuristic feel and surreal imagery. The set pieces were among the best I've seen in a movie and beautifully captured the movie's essence.
While labelled a dystopian film, there is an undeniable Black Comedy element to it as well. Whether it was our "friend and humble narrator" presenting his 'rendition' of "Singin' In the Rain", propositioning a couple of women at the record store or even the mere conversations he would have with his "droogs", the humour was always a perfect contrast to the difficult subject matter being depicted throughout.
What more can be said of Malcolm McDowell's breathtaking turn as the charismatic hooligan of young Alex DeLarge? As the narrator, protagonist and antihero, Alex is an ultra- violent sociopath who assaults people for sheer satisfaction. Violence is the engine that fuels this enigmatic man. This is why his quasi-transformed self is all the more astonishing, and allows McDowell to show off his immense versatility as an actor.
While watching the film, I couldn't help but notice many connections between ACO and Breaking Bad. So I did my research and it turns out other people have too noticed the similitude. Mr. Alexander, in his final appearance, closely resembling that of drug runner Hector Salamanca being one. The scene of Walt casually strolling around in the home of Gretchen and Elliott Schwartz to the echo of classical music likely alluding to the Beethoven music torture scene. And of course, the unmistakable parallels between each of our anti- heros. Each so dark and morally questionable, fuelled by violence and the fear they instill in others. Not since Walter White had I met such a fascinating character with the uncanny ability to delude himself about the truth of his actions. With both W.W. and Alex DeLarge, you find yourself hating that you love them. Their evolution is so out of character, and yet you can't help but root for them because they are, quite frankly, so damn badass. But most of all neither, in the end, really transformed at all.