a bit of the old ultra-violence

Rating: 8/10 (20 June 2008)

A Clockwork Orange is one of those rare films that you really can't compare anything to. It is so unique in a good way. Watching it is kind of like having a surreal dream but one you wake up remembering. Malcolm Mcdowell is cast perfectly as Alex, the leader of a group of violent punks who both admire him and are afraid of him. Alex is chosen to participate in an experiment that will cure him of his violent behavior by brainwashing him to be a proper citizen. He is forced to watch hour after hour of violence on a movie screen until just the pure thought of violence makes him want to vomit. There's more to the experiment then that but that's the gist of it. The group of punks even have their own language that they speak to each other but not so obscure that the audience can't grasp it. When the controversial film was released, it sparked much violence in England where a few too many audience members were inspired by Alex and his gang of punks. The director, Stanley Kubrick, forbid the movie playing there again to his dying day. You'll never think of the song "singing in the rain" in the same way again and you'll see why. Let's hope the day doesn't come when this movie isn't made into a lame remake starring Leonardo Decaprio. GOOD STUFF!