Clockwork Orange

[Berandor]

For me 'Clockwork Orange' is like all of most of Kubrick's other films. Initially they have a visceral impact, but they don't hold up well. 'Clockwork Orange' when you're young is ground-breaking and stunning. Watch it again after a few years and it's trite, unsubtle, and unimaginatively directed.

Of couse, as you may have guessed, I don't much care for Kubrick -- I find him to be the most overrated director (except for maybe Spielberg, who has forgotten how to make a complicated movie).

By all means, though, watch it. It is (good or bad) a classic and influential film. Just be prepared to be disappointed, as it hasn't aged well. Partly that's not its fault, as any influential film suffers from dilution by imitators -- I laugh when I see people who have never seen 'Halloween', for example, complain about how cliche it is.

That might be an even better point.

 

[Richards]

By all means, viddy it and viddy it well, my little droogie. Just be sure to drink down your synthemesc or drencrom at the moloko plus bar ahead of time if the thought of copious amounts of red, red krovvy and the occasional bit of the old in-out in-out drives you bezoomny. It's a zammechat, horrorshow movie, one every chelloveck should viddy -- no fillying. But if you end up feeling bolnoy in the guttiwuts, well then appy polly loggies, my little ptitsa. Best back to your pee and em with you, and forget I said a slovo.

Your Friend and Humble Narrator,

Johnathan

 

[GlassJaw]

Clockwork rocks. So many classic scenes.

I've had LASIK and I'll just say it's pretty close to that.

 

[Droogie]

My name comes from this movie. However, its not my favorite Kubrick film. I prefer Full Metal Jacket.

 

[Mark]

Careful. Not a first date movie, by any stretch of the imagination...

 

[Crothian]

Careful. Not a first date movie, by any stretch of the imagination...

Mark, you are obviously dating the wrong women.....

 

[D+1]

At the time of it's original release it was undoubtedly edgy, shocking, and all that. Except for actual nudity you get as much edgy, shocking, and all that on just about any evening drama (even comedy) show on network TV, so in that sense more than any other it has not aged well. Perhaps that in itself shows that it's messages are still more than relevant, however.

It is a violent, shocking movie in any case and that IS the point of the movie. It is a commentary on violence, social disorder, free will, crime & punishment and it features as the central character a violent, disturbed, useless, rat bastard of a young man. I wouldn't call its messages "profound" by any stretch, but it is intended to provoke thought, discussion, and not a little controversy and it is effective at it.

Viewed from that perspective you have every reason to see it if you have the opportunity. But I would have to agree that Kubrick was overrated. He was undeniably a talented director, but not as great as all that (and I think Eyes Wide Shut was proof of that). In all honesty I think Dr. Strangelove was his best work though this probably is Malcolm McDowell's best work.

 

[Mark]

Mark, you are obviously dating the wrong women.....

Actually, for me, it wasn't a first date but more of a pre-relationship, bunch-of-us-all-going-to-a-show-together date with a girl I did wind up eventually dating, and it was back in the early eighties when there was a Kubrick revival at some arthouse theatre. As strange a movie as it was, the surreal part was the two of us being awoken the next day by the sprinklers on the ninth hole of Countryside Golf Course in Mundelein...

But, yeah, I might had been dating the wrong women and I am amazed how many wrong women there could be.

 

[Pants]

In all honesty I think Dr. Strangelove was his best work though this probably is Malcolm McDowell's best work.

What, no love for McDowell's role as 'a british person' on South Park?

I watched Clockwork Orange about a year or so ago for the first time. Very strange, very violent, but also a movie that kept me thinking after it was over. I liked it.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Wait, what if you watch them in the OTHER order, eh eh might be ok then., whatta ya think?

There's no Earthly way of knowing...

The Auld Grump, but the danger must be growing...