Clockwork Orange
Approval Rate: 60%
Reviews 42
by frankswildyear_s
Thu Jun 23 2011It would be hard to pick Stanley Kubrick's best film, but this would have to be a serious contender. The look of it, the stylized dialogue, cinematography, perspective, everything, makes it a completely unique viewing experience. Never copied, its so out there that I don't think anyone ever dared try. Its horrifying and comical in the same strokes. It's been a decade at least since I've watched it, but I'd bet that the theme and telling would come off as completely contemporary today. It's simply brilliant.
by scarletfeather
Sat Jul 26 2008This is probably Kubrick's best film. Its focus on gangs is somewhat prophetic. I was troubled by the violence, but the violence was essential to the movie's plot. I felt sorry for Alex when the scientists turned him into a milquetoast who was afraid of everything. Seems they could have arrived at a happy medium. Definitely not a feel-good film, but a classic.
by spike65
Sat Jul 26 2008A pretty fair rendering of the novel. Malcom McDowell gives the performance of his life. This movie is not about the 1970's, it is set in the future somewhere in an English urban area. The young people have developed their own slang which combines many different cultural elements. Bored with their mundane lives where any and all drugs are freely available at the "milk bars" they resort to "ultra-violence" to fill their empty lives. The violence is accompanied with loud classical music. Interesting film for those of at least average intelligence. Not for kids.
by fb710637574
Tue Nov 06 2007Most excellent...
by fb61200893
Sun Nov 04 2007Yes, a fascinating film. I prefer the second half, especially Alex's visit to his parents and the fact his droogs have become cops. When he goes crazy to the sound of Beethoven I really feel for him. Burgess apparently hated the film.
by kelticman
Fri Oct 27 2006Stanley Kubrick's finest movie, in my opinion, and also one of my all time favourites. I saw it three times in the early 70s before Kubrick decided to withdraw it from British cinemas indefinitely due to reports of copycat violence. To a modern day film audience the violence appears tame and is certainly not as gratuitous as many claim; being stylistically choreographed, which is almost ( at times deliberately) comic book in nature. Malcolm McDowell gives his best screen performance: he is positively charismatic, mesmeric and utterly watchable as the amoral, ultra-violent, Beethoven loving youth, Alex: only his portrayal as Mick Travis in Lindsay Anderson's "If" comes close. Kubrick's stunning cinamatography, coupled with a truly magnificent music soundtrack make this tale of choice, manipulation, morality and of course "ultra-violence", one of the best films I have seen.
by oscargamblesfr_o
Wed Nov 30 2005Excellent, creepy, bizarre 1971 film about futuristic violence and a gang of roving thugs in London by the great Kubrick, another member of the exclusive club of movies that are better than the book. It explores violence, but also raises interesting questions about crime, and the response to crime. The book itself isn't very good IMO, and like genghis the hun said, you'll need the glossary in the back of it, and reading it is bound to be an agitating experience. McDowell was great in it, and it's too bad that he never became a big star because he has acting chops, and sadly has been reduced to appearing in Sci-Fi channel original motion pictures and the like.
by genghisthehun
Thu Aug 04 2005I don't know if it follows the book or not. The book is hard to read because of the need of the glossary. The movie avoids this to some extent but still some of the unglossed jargon creeps in.
by iamopinionated
Thu May 26 2005This is a very interesting movie that really makes you think. It's very well-made, but it's really disturbing as well. There's a lot of graphic violence, and lots of naked people. It takes place in Britain in the early 70s when it appears everyone was stoned, and it reflects that culture. I don't really like the movie a whole lot, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Kubrick does some weird stuff, and this is up there, but he did a pretty darn good job.
by halloweenlady
Wed Oct 13 2004Alex -- Ahhh...
by mbmoses
Sat Aug 14 2004One of the best films in history. Also the best directed movie ever. There's nothing else like it... it kicks major ass.
by faa07a17
Fri Jun 25 2004This was one of those movies that poser kids at high school went apeshit over so I avoided it. Then one day I saw the book and decided to read it (it was excellent, by Anthony Burgess) My guess is that it would have been an extraordinarily difficult book to transfer verbatim to the screen. Kubrick did a good job in establishing the edgy, post-modern feel that the book had. The devices used to develop character and motivate plot differ between books and movies, although I do wonder what Burgess thought of the movie himself.
by kolby1973
Sun Jun 20 2004I mean honestly, KUBRICK is not that good at all. He has always been overrated, and especially this particular movie of his. It sucked real bad, and this is honestly one of those times when I can say the word suck, and that is exactly what this movie did..it was just horrendous in every way. It started out wierd, and ended wierd. Most people would be confused by this whole atrocity, so I don't recommend it to anyone. It is the beginning of many bad movies by this director....
by jamie_mcbain
Sun Jun 20 2004Weird, a film not for those who get easily weired out.
by brucetopher
Thu May 20 2004a failed attempt at the antagonist as a protaganist genre. Worse than such cinematic bowel movements as Hannibal or Interview With a Vampire. How can we identify with the main character? Alex was a euro-trash fruitcake in bad '70s threads, and despite the inherent fruity factor, he still managed to be a rapist prick. I personally think he should have been caned on public television until he stopped screaming than brokered to a Russian porn ring and forced to serve fat russian men for the rest of his brief, AIDS-infected existence.
by classictvfan47
Sat Jan 31 2004Like all Kubrick films, this movie is completely useless.
by dickweener
Thu Jan 22 2004I didn't see the big deal with this one, it had it's moments, but the english accent thing and trousers makes it a little corney. It has a little bit of thought behind it, but it's out there and overall a bit boring to me.
by irishgit
Thu Dec 18 2003As nasty a movie as was ever made. Nobody in this is even slightly likeable. Brilliant performance by McDowell as Alex. I love it.
by crimson_and_cl_over
Sun Mar 02 2003stanley kubrick is great. this movie is weird but it was great
by sexystreif
Sat Apr 20 2002my second favorite movie of all time and what a great one! wonderfully twisted, smart, and funny. I love the irony(violence mixed with a happy song). they may have over done it with the nudity but that doesn't matter. great acting. this movie is mispercieved by many people, the main idea about this movie is that society wants us to be machines but they have to remember that we are still human, that's what the title is about. one of the best movies of all time.
by movieguy108
Fri Jul 13 2001My all time favorite movie! Pure Kubrick satire and surrealism. Funnier than any "Road Trip" or "Scary Movie" could even dream of. Alex DeLarge is played perfectly by Malcolm McDowell. I wish I could watch it for the first time all over again.
by jareth_4745
Mon Jan 15 2001This was a great rendition of a great book. The mood, story, music and acting all fit together great. It was violent, but contained an important message while pushing the envelope.
by thorne
Sat Jan 13 2001I would not go as far as to call this film Kubrick's masterpeice but it is by far one of his most note worthy accomplishments. A very exciting and thoughtful movie about a strange and equally beautiful and ugly future not too far from ours. "Being the story of a boy whose principal interests are rape,ultra-violence and Beehtoven." is the stinger sentence to the poster and is the summation of the film. It is about a young boy named Alex who lives in this above mentoned future where the laws of earth aren't really paid much attention to because everyone is focused on living in outer space. He enjoys hanging out with the droogies and beating,raping and drinking milk laced with narcotics. Until one night he is caught. You have to see this classic to believe what happens. Watch for the 2001:A Space Oddessy record in the store. Highly recommended.
by brainwave
Mon Dec 18 2000A disturbing and provocative work by Stanley Kubrick based on the book by someone else. A classic. Kubrick also directed "Lolita" in the 1950s and "The Shining" based on Stephen King's book among other classics! If the very sight of gratuitous violence and sex is something you can't stand, don't watch this. But it's a powerful statement about brainwashing and the individual spirit, though troubling.
by free_state
Mon Dec 18 2000Arguably one of Stanley Kubrick's most exciting movies, a Clockwork Orange violently takes on the ideas of morality and sensitivity. While the obscene scenes (which helped to ban the movie for a couple of decades) show how the main character becomes too sensitive to like crime and rape, the viewer becomes desensitized, and vice versa. This movie also shows how evil impulses transcends who people seem to be.
by thomassnot
Sat Dec 16 2000I liked it. A nice slice of british life. Actually a great piece of sci-fi, that's why it's in this category.
by easy_w
Fri Dec 15 2000Not for the faint hearted, but perhaps the best portrayal of modern-societal trends and undertones. Is our world so different from Kubrick's? Very scary, in a contemplative way.
by epcharles
Thu Nov 30 2000The definitive classic cult thriller. Kubrick at his best, with great music, acting, and plot. It is graphic, insightful, meaningful, and mostly accurate to boot. Though as a warning, not for the faint of heart.
by roses2bb
Sun Nov 26 2000A very, very unique perspective which makes one question morality, ethics, reality, and the human psyche. This movie is captivating but disturbing because of the sexual violence. Overall, however, the movie is artfully brilliant and representative of the era in which it was created.
by boonta23
Thu Nov 23 2000Terrible Terrible, o se habla Español, Terrible. What kind of a name for a movie is that, Clockwork Orange. If I went to a movie theater watching this movie, I'd have to wear a paper bag over my head. Nothing about this movie was interesting. I fell asleep, even though the theater was playing in surround sound.
by dada_s
Wed Nov 22 2000Clockwork Orange was the first British cast movie I'd seen and it was so crazy to me. If I was a kind of person that did drugs like LSD and acid and stuff, I'd watch it all the time. Every event that happens in it is wild, like when they broke into that old couple's home, and when the main guy reformed and went back to that same home to try to live there.
by be205e6b
Wed Nov 22 2000This unique science fiction movie is one of Stanley Kubrick's best. His bleak take on the future, and the horrible methods of rehabilitation used on criminals. A must see for anyone with an interest in the darkside of the future.
by mmorgan
Fri Nov 17 2000I love this movie, a very dark futuristic story of government brain tampering. It really shows how we can go too far. I especially like all of the characters' psychotic visions, and the ultra-violence.
by charonzen
Mon Nov 13 2000A classic. The use of colors is especially inspired. A more warped and decadent view of society is hard to come by.
by dalai953
Mon Nov 06 2000Classical music will never be the same again. This is one of the greatest psychological thrillers I've ever seen.
by melena
Fri Nov 03 2000Very much like the book, and a very classic movie. Though lacking the last chapter (which they took out of the American version of the book), it is still a very good movie.
by augustine
Thu Nov 02 2000One of Kubrick's best movies, in which you see a crazy young man with no limits.
by init9859om
Tue Sep 05 2000aging, but still very disturbing !
by samiam
Wed Jun 21 2000Unbelievable film (if you can get through the most graphic and violent scenes within the first 20 minutes!) Those beginning scenes are unlike any other I have seen in a movie, however they are necessary to the film..This is an amazing look into the criminal mind. It is hard to explain the severity and honesty that Kubrik conveys in this Classic.
by wiggum
Tue Jun 06 2000One of the best movies of the early 70s, and clearly Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece. A wild, upsetting, shocking exploration of violence. Don't rent this movie if you're easily offended. But if you're interested in an extremely well-made movie that offers no easy answers, give it a shot.
by taby2526om
Wed Dec 15 1999very strange movie...twisted
by ihs4712om
Tue Nov 02 1999Stanley Kubrick's greatest film about Beethoven, rape, and milk & cookies bars. The most disturbing images I have ever seen on the screen; along with the Shining & 2001, this is a must see for any film enthusiast.