A True Staple in American Sci-Fi Cinema

Rating: 9/10 (2 July 2013)

A Clockwork Orange is a dark Sci-Fi film set in the futuristic 1995 London (speculated), starring Malcolm MacDowell as the teenage delinquent Alex DeLarge.
Alex DeLarge (Malcolm MacDowell) is a teenage delinquent whose most frequent crimes are rape, breaking and entering, assault, and theft. He and his gang of thugs, decide to have a night of fun. This includes drinking milk laced with drugs, beating a homeless person, running people off of the road, and brutally raping a woman and making her husband watch. The next day, Alex is arrested, and sentenced to 14 years in prison. He then agrees to undertake a treatment that will make him fit to be in society. He becomes ill whenever he is confronted with sexual or violent themes. Once he is released back into society, he is not welcomed by anyone, even his former colleagues. He then unintentionally gets raveled in a plan to embarrass the government.
A Clockwork Orange benefits from great acting. One particular example is the scene in which the gang breaks into a house and beats the husband and wife. Stanley Kubrick thought this scene was originally "too stiff". Malcolm MacDowell decided to improvise, and sing "Singin' In The Rain" and dance while beating his victims. Overall, Malcolm MacDowell fits perfectly into the role of Alex DeLarge, a troubled soul who gets put into society without free will. All of the other actors were also great, especially Alex's charismatic gang.
Stanley Kubrick made this movie work with the set designs and costumes, and pulled off the feeling of the alternate dystopian 1995 London. In the film, the set pieces were dark and gloomy, but at the same time mysterious and futuristic. The costumes that are worn stand out, and truly feel like they belong in that time period.
When I saw this movie, I was shocked, but addicted. It is hard to explain how one can become attached to a character like Alex DeLarge, even though he is ruthless, mean, and vicious. I had to watch the movie a few times to understand that Alex DeLarge is one of the greatest movie villains of all time, because he is so charismatic and sometimes even relatable.
This is not a movie for children. I recommend A Clockwork Orange to fans of Stanley Kubrick, sci-fi fans, or just lovers of classic movies.