Thought provoking, hardly gratuitous (Spoilers)

Rating: 10/10 (30 April 2001)

Gratuitous is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as "Unnecessary or unwarranted." This movie is far from gratuitous violence. The violence in this film is necessary to prove how demented he is, and at the other end of the spectrum, how his spirit has been broken and how he was "cured". This film is so well done, you don't even realize what you have felt until it is over. Brilliantly, Kubrick pulls you right through this movie, controlling your emotions with the onscreen action. Example, at the begining of the film, you witness the horrific acts of violence and rape, so when he is caught, you don't fell bad for him whatsoever. Through prison and treatment he is "cured", and in the demonstration he is beaten to show he will not fight back. When he is released, he is disowned by his parents, insulted by the guy who lives in his room, beaten by homeless guys, and nearly drowned by his former droggies. At that point in the movie, I said to myself "he doesn't deserve this, he did his time, he can't even defend himself", it was at that point that I realized how talented Kubrick really was. This movie was very well done, proving how strong the mind is.

Easily a 10/10