STANLEY
KUBRICK'S
CLOCKWORK
ORANGE
Number
of you who have had lashings of the old 'Ultra-violent'
since
March '99
Being the adventures
of a young man
whose principle
interests are rape,
ultra-violence and
Beethoven
Stanley Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
is perhaps one of the most mentally challenging films that I have ever
viewed. Based on the 1962 best-seller by Anthony Burgess, Kubrick's
depiction of the novel brought to life Burgess's vision of England in the
1980's. A country that has become a haven for street gangs and an uncanny
language used by the gang's members. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE tells the
story of Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a teenage gang member who walks the streets
with his Droogs drinking some Moloko Plus,
getting up to a bit of the old ' in out, in out ' and picking victims for
a spot of 'ultra violent'.
Before long, Alex falls
out with his Droogs and is beaten up by them and left for the police to
take him in. He is charged for murder and prisoned for 14 years,
but in developement is a new mental treatment that can clean the body of
all harmful thoughts. In an attempt to be free, Alex puts himself
forward for the treatment, unknown to the dangerous side effects...
Many people claim that
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE was banned in Britain because of the 1984 Video Recording's
Act, but it was infact Stanley Kubrick himself who refused to allow the
film's video release in the UK. The most notable reason for this apparently
is because Kubrick was living in Britain at the time of the film's release
and after a series of copycat crime waves in the UK, he decided that his
film had been misunderstood and withdrew it from all theatres and video
proposals.
I managed to see the film on
a digitally remastered NTSC laser-disc and it made the malenky little hairs
on my plott stand endwise...
I personally feel that
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is a prime of example of cinema at it's finest. Stanley
Kubrick has proven himself to be one of Hollywood's most original producers/directors.
To say that this film could have a violent influence on viewers is particularly
ignorant on the censor's part. Though I think that the danger lies within
the audiences' interaction with Alex as the good guy in the movie. We begin
to sympathise with him after the Government Treatment, witnessing Alex
being rejected by his parents and having to watch him attempt to 'snuff
it' (kill himself) because of the treatment's side-effects. When
Alex finally has a sexual fantasy without feeling sick, we feel as though
he is going to be fine and that he deserves to go back to the old 'in out,
in out' and the 'ultra-violence'. I think this is the only inherent
danger that is bekoning upon unstable viewers, BUT... I love this movie
to death. It's real 'Horror-show'.
"Viddy well, my little Brother.
Viddy well."
There is lots more to be
added to this page. For those of you who enjoyed Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork
Orange, your suggestions and contributions to the site are most welcome.
E-Mail your suggestons and contributions
to:- snaggledude@hotmail.com.
At the moment I am short on images to put in the gallery. Those of you
who can help resolve this will be rightly credited.
Back
to Paul's World
PLEASE NOTE: Images available through this and any associated links
may be protected by US and international copyright laws. They are presented
for research purposes and/or personal entertainment only. No distribution,
reproduction or other rights are given or implied by their presentation.
All pictures from A Clockwork Orange are copyrighted property of Warner
Brothers Pictures and are presented in glorification of the best Sci-Fi
movie ever made. I am not nor do I wish to be compensated in anyway for
the posting of any materials found here.
