View Full Version : A Clockwork Orange
The local Cable Co. had this on demand.
Back when it came out I thought it was a brilliant
movie version of an outstanding book.
Its better than I remembered.
Burgess is (was?) prophetic, His
use of language ranks right up there
with Nabakov. In a way I see this as
a proto cyberpunk novel, I see alot
of Burgess in William Gibsons novels (i.e.
the russian conncetions).
I'm of the opionion that this is Kubricks best work
(that and 2001).
oh and yes my brothers, Malcom Macdowel
as Alex, perfect.
What say you my droogs?
Marty
I was stunned the first time I saw it 20 years ago.
I saw it again recently and was stunned again-- except this time I was stunned because much of what is in the film as far as violence goes is now common reality in many cities. The violence in the film was intended to be farce, but it no longer is.
I agree with everything you say, The music was also brilliant. All time classic!
KrisPistofferson
03-11-05, 09:00 AM
Any Burgess fans out there? He's a WILD-MAN! I seem to remember one vision of the future that involved packs of cannibal, homosexual cops...Sort of a cross between Hannibal Lechter and David Bowie!
The message isn't about the violence, nor the decay of cities etc.
Its more the pavlovian treatement of Alex, O my brothers, I don't want
to get all political but reminds one of what the state can/will do to
protect itself (gitmo bay? ).
Similiar in vein to "the painted bird" by Jerzy Kozinski. disturbing.
Cheers
nick burns
03-11-05, 09:14 AM
The message isn't about the violence, nor the decay of cities etc.
Its more the pavlovian treatement of Alex, O my brothers, I don't want
to get all political but reminds one of what the state can/will do to
protect itself (gitmo bay? ).
Similiar in vein to "the painted bird" by Jerzy Kozinski. disturbing.
I agree. I was very disturbed by the movie's message the first time I saw it. It took me a while before I could watch it again.
Most definitely a great film.
"I was cured, all right."
one of my top 10 favorite films
Every time I hear "Singing In The Rain" I get mind-flashes of milk and phallus art, oh the memories....
Serpico
03-11-05, 10:36 AM
I need to buy this, it's been awhile. Kubrick is my favorite director, and I have about 50 favorite directors.
I even loved eyes wide shut.
-=Łem in Pa=-
03-11-05, 11:12 AM
Whatever it's (C.O.) deep meaning is its too violent for me..........
Very disturbing. Ill stick to 70's Kung Fu when a dose of violence
is need 'cuz at least you can laff at that stuff.
That was my first Kubrick movie, although I saw it on cable for the first time when I was in junior high. It was good stuff. It did take me a long time to figure out what the heck was going on, since I think I was too young to get it. It wasn't until I was in college that I saw it again and understood fully what the heck was going on in that movie. It was genius! Genius, I tell ya!
Totally awesome movie, though.
Koffee
jeff williams
03-11-05, 12:34 PM
The message isn't about the violence, nor the decay of cities etc.
Its more the pavlovian treatement of Alex, O my brothers, I don't want
to get all political but reminds one of what the state can/will do to
protect itself (gitmo bay? ).
Similiar in vein to "the painted bird" by Jerzy Kozinski. disturbing.
Cheers
Isn't 'The painted Bird' autobiographical of Jerzys life as a child in Poland minus parents?
Not sure how it relates other than it is also disturbing..in a real way.
Not a book I'd ever recommend to read unless you want to know the awful truths about children\ people affected by war and poverty. Sad stuff.
Jeff,
yah, Painted bird is semi autobiographical, took place during WWII poland, Brutal book.
The similiarity I see is the turn around of roles in both.
Who is the deviant in painted bird? the kid? the people he sees or the Nazi government
who at the time was exterminating people?
In C.O. who is deviant? surely Alex and his droogs (as well as the other gangs),
but what about society that allows the Ludovici treatment? The Writer (and his
wife) who seek revenge on a now helpless Alex?
Both question morals of both society and individual members.
What is deviant when the entire society is deviant?
interesting questions, no?
Marty
Karldar
03-11-05, 02:05 PM
Ah, yes, great cinema(with a statement, or two, even)! But, wasn't Burgess upset with Kubrick for excluding the last chapter from the book? I think the film ended better this way, but it wasn't a totally faithful representation. Not that they ever are, I suppose. Still, both make you think....
iamlucky13
03-11-05, 09:01 PM
I only saw it once, about 2 years ago, and that was enough for me. I won't say it was a bad film, but between it being really shocking and the Willy Wonka type craziness of some of it (poses, outfits, scenery, etc), I didn't enjoy it. I might still read the book though, because I do think it is a good story.
sewupnut
03-11-05, 10:09 PM
I thought I was weird or something for liking this movie. Saw it first run.
Very disturbing. Beats you up mentally. That's the ultra violence in it.
sun
Can't go to school today Mum. Got a bit of a pain in the guliver. Best sleep it off and I'll be right as rain by this after!
Rev.Chuck
03-15-05, 05:49 PM
Also a great halloween character in Alex.
Crack'n'fail
03-15-05, 06:28 PM
no time for the ol' in out in out, i've only come to read the meter!
saw this movie a couple of years back and loved it. But why do they call it "A clockwork orange" ?
Serpico
03-20-05, 10:52 PM
Also a great halloween character in Alex.
"Ohh look honey, the Abrahms children dressed up as little droogs. How sweet"
:::kids knock the lady out with a bat and steal all the candy:::
saw this movie a couple of years back and loved it. But why do they call it "A clockwork orange" ?
The controversial film's title and other names in the film have meaning. The title alludes to:
* a clockwork (mechanical, artificial, robotic) human being (orange - similar to orang-utan, a hairy ape-like creature), and
* the Cockney phrase from East London, "as queer as a clockwork orange" - indicating something bizarre internally, but appearing natural, human, and normal on the surface
Google gave me this (http://www.filmsite.org/cloc.html)
timmhaan
03-21-05, 08:49 AM
i admit, i found the book hard to read. i tried a few times, and never quite got through it. the movie version is much more accessible to me. very rare that that happens, i'm usually the other way around.
Karldar
03-21-05, 09:09 AM
i admit, i found the book hard to read. i tried a few times, and never quite got through it. the movie version is much more accessible to me. very rare that that happens, i'm usually the other way around.
I think it can be easier to deal with the language when it's spoken. I had a pronunciation key when I read the book. It was still hard to recognize some of the Russian words without them being in Cyrillic, tho. Phonetic spelling can be weird like that.
Horrorshow, real horrorshow.
I just saw it again recently and it was on again saturday night. Is it the anniversary of Kubrick's death or something? THE SHINING was on the same night on a different channel.
If i recall correctly, the title came from the title of the book that the writer (the man who is attacked in the early scene with his wife) is working on; it's supposed to be some sort of 'subversive' book. THat isn't mentioned in the movie.
I hadn't seen it in a while and had forgotten how good it was, I'd forgotten details, like the sets, and how LOUD it was. ALmost every scene is loud. Funny how controversial it was when it was released. Look at all the dumb stupid violent movies that have been family favorites since.
Unfortunately, ever since, i always associate "The Thieving Magpie" with gang rape. Thank you, Stanley Kubrick!
Well, o my brothers, how about a little bit of the old.. ultra cycling? A little bit of the old round and round? You are invited!
Fantastic film, excellent book. I could see how it might be a tough read with all the nadsat talk. Fortunatly for me, most of it is just a variant on Slavic language, which I just so happen to stem from.
One of my favorite films and deffinatly one of my favorite books.
It begs the question, who was really at fault? Society, or our little droog and humble narrator, Alex?
How old would you say Alex is in the film? I only ask because in the books, he starts out at fifteen, and the girls he picks up in the record store are eleven and ten years old. Disturbing enough in itself.
I am so down for some ultra cycling...kings of the road and all....
They don't really specify his age in the movie, but he's probably an older teenager. I guess it was more realistic to get young adult actors than 14 year olds,and they probably figured people would just not go for a movie where 10 year olds are being raped or having sex (the gang rape scene is supposed to involve a 10 year old). It also would just be logistically more difficult to get little kids to act in that kind of a story. As we all see, it worked out well even with changes. Generally it was very faithful to the book.
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