Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke, John Clive Directed By: Stanley Kubrick Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Original recording remastered, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Warner Bros. Pictures Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: June 12, 2001 Running Time: 137 minutes Theatrical Release Date: February 02, 1972
Amazon.com essential video: Stanley Kubrick's striking visual interpretation of Anthony Burgess's famous novel is a masterpiece. Malcolm McDowell delivers a clever, tongue-in-cheek performance as Alex, the leader of a quartet of droogs, a vicious group of young hoodlums who spend their nights stealing cars, fighting rival gangs, breaking into people's homes, and raping women. While other directors would simply exploit the violent elements of such a film without subtext, Kubrick maintains Burgess's dark, satirical social commentary. We watch Alex transform from a free-roaming miscreant into a convict used in a government experiment that attempts to reform criminals through an unorthodox new medical treatment. The catch, of course, is that this therapy may be nothing better than a quick cure-all for a society plagued by rampant crime. A Clockwork Orange works on many levels--visual, social, political, and sexual--and is one of the few films that hold up under repeated viewings. Kubrick not only presents colorfully arresting images, he also stylizes the film by utilizing classical music (and Wendy Carlos's electronic classical work) to underscore the violent scenes, which even today are disturbing in their display of sheer nihilism. Ironically, many fans of the film have missed that point, sadly being entertained by its brutality rather than being repulsed by it. --Bryan Reesman
Amazon.com: Stanley Kubrick's striking visual interpretation of Anthony Burgess's famous novel is a masterpiece. Malcolm McDowell delivers a clever, tongue-in-cheek performance as Alex, the leader of a quartet of droogs, a vicious group of young hoodlums who spend their nights stealing cars, fighting rival gangs, breaking into people's homes, and raping women. While other directors would simply exploit the violent elements of such a film without subtext, Kubrick maintains Burgess's dark, satirical social commentary. We watch Alex transform from a free-roaming miscreant into a convict used in a government experiment that attempts to reform criminals through an unorthodox new medical treatment. The catch, of course, is that this therapy may be nothing better than a quick cure-all for a society plagued by rampant crime. A Clockwork Orange works on many levels--visual, social, political, and sexual--and is one of the few films that hold up under repeated viewings. Kubrick not only presents colorfully arresting images, he also stylizes the film by utilizing classical music (and Wendy Carlos's electronic classical work) to underscore the violent scenes, which even today are disturbing in their display of sheer nihilism. Ironically, many fans of the film have missed that point, sadly being entertained by its brutality rather than being repulsed by it. --Bryan Reesman
Massive Headaches, WTF moments abound Please, please stay the heck away from this dog. Basically, it's a bunch of street punks running around in diapers and women's makeup talking about "ultra-violence" that never really occurs, and the plot is even worse. This one gave me a massive migraine. I am truly not kidding about what this flick did to me! I remember watching it, hoping there was a point to all of it, but there truly wasn't. If you liked that massive WTF moment at the end of 2001 A space Odyssey, then this one's for you, since you'll get it. I sure as heck didn't, I actually grew nauseous at the end of this one. Right up there with "Natural Born Killers" and "Repo Man" in the badness scale.
A Masterpeice Stanley Kubrick (R.I.P) does it all - cameras, lights, sound. He is a one man show. They should do more movies like that in the futer. Malcom McDowell is a genius. Four Oscar nominations. A brilliant peice of film making.
THIS WILL MAKE YOU THINK I AM 22 AND FOR ABOUT 7 YEAR I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE CLOCK WORK ORANGE MOVIE, I HAD BEEN DESCRIBED PARTS OF THE MOVIE AND WAS VERY INTERESTED BY THE MOVIE. ONE I HAD FINISHED WATCHING THE MOVIE I FOUND THIS TO BE BIZZAAR, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT IN ITS DAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY GOOD MOVIE. PREWARNING:- BE PREPARED FOR RAPE AND VIOLENCE AND IF YOU LIKE THE SONG 'SINGING IN THE RAIN' IT WILL CHANGE YOU VEIW ON THE SONG FOREVER. BUT IF YOU HAVENT SEEN IT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO DO SO.
Shocking! Mind-Blowing! Classic Kubrick! This movie is truly timeless and although certain elements betray its age e.g. use of cassettes in the future instead of cds, use of a typewriter instead of a desktop pc by the writer etc, this film transcends time and its message is still very thought-provoking and evokes strong responses from viewers just like modern avant-garde artworks are supposed to. From "Dr. Strangelove" to "2001: A Space Odyssey" to this, Stanley Kubrick's brilliant directing genius can only be described as producing cinematic high works of art. Just like in the great "2001:...", Kubrick forces you to think about serious issues, stunning and shocking you to come to your own conclusions and to stimulate your senses all the while refusing to tell you what to think.
Some may feel Alex got off too easy and for all his major offences against society should be severely punished ala capital punishment and may actually come to this conclusion from watching the film. Others may actually feel sorry for and happy for Alex that he returns to "normal" and that the powers that be get what they deserve with the threat of a loss of power. Either way, the film disturbs you enough to elicit strong responses making it difficult to remain indifferent or to not have an opinion which is the definition of good modern art.
This film could also be a metaphor for thought control and governance asking the question: is it proper to force people to accept an ideology even if they don't truly believe it themselves? Whether it is Communism or even Capitalism or any religion should people be given a choice which one to go with or should society take all steps to penalise even to the point of using physical pain and suffering to ensure compliance? It is telling at the end when Alex becomes "healed" only when he realises that the very powers that are trying to "heal" him are sick and maybe even sicker than he is; a different sort of corruption but corruption nonetheless.
This film as time has shown is the true winner of the Oscar for the Best Picture, Director and Actor awards for that year and how "The French Connection" won for these categories is beyond belief. This film is certainly a lot more rewarding on so many levels and has certainly aged a lot better to rank among the best ever films.
The great news is that the digital restoration and remastering has been done very well making both the picture and sound quality of this dvd very, very good indeed. Although the Special Features are nothing to speak about, I'm hoping the newly-released Blu-Ray version will have extras such as making-of and other sorts of documentaries as well.
By far a film masterpiece by the great Kubrick and a must-have for every film buff's dvd library.
Highly recommended!
Masterpiece! C'mon.. if you are a fan of movies, this is an ESSENTIAL purchase.
You will never forget this movie once you watch it. NEVER.
I read Heath Ledger was watching this movie to prepare for his Dark Knight Joker role... thats very cool.
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