Thursday 24 September 2015

Movie Review: A Clockwork Orange

Oh, A Clockwork Orange...

Before I start this review, I just want to say that this movie is definitely not for the fainthearted!

A Clockwork Orange was one of the most controversial movies of it's time, mainly because Stanley Kubrick glorified a certain type of unprincipled violence, and presented it in a spectacular, colorful and artistic way. The movie follows Alex, a classical music loving thug and his 'droogs' who spend their nights getting high at the Korova Milkbar before embarking on "A little of the old ultra-violence". 

Alex is seen as handsome and charming after he draws you in by narrating his way through the movie. You almost gloss over the fact that his workday acts include thievery and brutality. He is, in effect, inviting us to enjoy; just as we would watching reality T.V, or reading tabloid papers. The film gives you an direction into understanding a corrosion of society, and personally that's why I believe A Clockwork Orange is one of Kubricks finest masterpieces. 

After Alex is throw in jail, he submits himself to the 'Ludovico Behavior Modification Technique' to earn his freedom. He is conditioned thorough watching gory movies, so that his violent thoughts are turned against him. After being returned to the world defenseless, Alex becomes the victim in every situation where he was previously the culprit. Alex's violence may have been horrific, but the state's oppressive 'treatment' is another violent act, rather than a solution. 

The movies is full of vivid eye catching costumes and sets, and half of the dialog is done in slang. I think the aesthetic provides a necessary distancing between the spectator and the acts of horror that are splashed throughout the movie. I think the movies is very engaging, and definitely makes you contemplative about your own sense of morality.
It's obvious that a large percentage of people who watch this film are just in it for the shock value, but underneath all of the violence and horror there's an amazing and artistic film that highlights the bleakest parts of human behavior for us to laugh at in disgust. Some people could argue that nowadays, there's no attention paid to anything, just an endless feeding to audiences who have developed a strong taste for, as Alex would say "The good old ultra-violence".



xx




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