Beethoven's Ninth Symphony the theme for "Ultra-violence"

Rating: 8/10 (18 August 2012)

wiki synopsis: Alex (Malcolm McDowell), the main character, is a charismatic, sociopathic delinquent....... He leads a small gang of thugs (Pete, Georgie, and Dim), whom he calls his droogs (from the Russian друг, "friend", "buddy"). The film chronicles the horrific crime spree of his gang, his capture, and attempted rehabilitation via controversial psychological conditioning.
My comments: The premise of the story centres on the main character Alex. Alex takes what he wants and does it a way that alienates him from the audience. He is set up as unlikable. Calculating, manipulative, violent, cruel, vindictive, individualistic, uncaring even sadistic. However, all these traits make him top dog and successful {at least at what he does in his small world}. That is until he is betrayed by his gang members and is sent to prison.
He would probably have been alright in prison {he manages to cosy up with the prison chaplin by faking religious conviction} but as always when offered a seemingly easy way out he decides to take it. He "volunteers" for a scientific trial of a new therapy that produces a extreme physical reaction in the subject when aggressive feeling start to surface.
Released from prison Alex is now defenceless in a violent world. His old friends {who are now police officers}, his past victims and his family all now have the upper hand and act in similarly vindictive and cruel way.
Thus the philosophy of the film plays out. Is Alex a product of society? Are we all Alex in some way? Is Alex part of human nature? Is punishing Alex make us more violent? Is the science of human behaviour dehumanising? Will the government use this Science to control us and gain more power?