One MUST have the ability to think before embarking on A Clockwork Orange...

Rating: 10/10 (21 August 2002)

It's funny. Upon reading the reviews of A Clockwork Orange, all of the
people who wrote negative responses admitted they didn't understand it.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN IT IS
ILLEGITIMITE OR INSULTING YOUR INTELLIGENCE!!! If A Clockwork Orange
insults your intelligence, you are obviously not intelligent enough to
understand it. If you say it does not count because it does not follow
the book 100%, then you are being hypocritical - can you honestly name a
movie based on a book that has followed the book to a "t"? Didn't think
so. Stanley Kubrick's version of Anthony Burgess's tale is one that is a
lot more in-your face and blatant. It has to be - it's a movie!
Basically, what is implied in the book is actually shown in the movie.
Some aspects have been altered because they'd just be inappropriate to
show in a movie (I doubt ANYONE would honestly want to see a 15-year-old
Alex having sex with two 12-year-old girls). Also, this movie is not
about making fun of or "ousting" other films, as one reviewed
misinterpretted. You have to keep in mind while watching this movie that
the language, characters and settings are derived FROM A BOOK. How could
a book try to oust movies - they're not on the same plane (media-wise),
so this type of logic is therefor disengaged. This movie does an
excellent job representing governmental flaws, just as the book did. The
movie, however, is able to capture violence in a unique way - a
picturesque, arthouse way. The violence and sex depicted in the film are
done so uniquely - set to Wendy (used to be Walter) Carlos' haunting
symphonic versions of classical music standards - that really make you
see that even a disgusting act can be portrayed beautifully, which in
itself is a vastly disturbing thought. This movie is very real and
hardcore in its style, which is something one can only WISH Kubrick
would have done with his other films. Everything: the language, the
music, the violence, the sex, the character development, the true
cruelty of the world around us - is all right there, in your face. You
can either choose to turn it off and dismiss it, or endure the whole
thing and attempt to make sense of it (which, if you are capable of
thought or free-will, should not be too hard). A Clockwork Orange IS a
classic, period. 10/10.................