A Clockwork Orange
Alright, after watching this again on Saturday, It's time I finally reviewed it. This is my favorite movie. People have stated that they're concerned with people who like this movie because it contains violence and rape mainly against women, and while there's not much I can say to change anyone's perspective on that, I can say that it was used to such a degree to nail the overall message of the film into your head. leave you with something you'd never forget. something that is truly vile and evil. it's hyperbolic in a sense but still can be applied to the real world.
Now time to explain why I love it and why you should too!!
Firstly, the music. The music in this movie is just phenomenal. Most of it is Beethoven and the way it's used in this movie is just spectacular. It's usually paired with scenes of violence to juxtapose its content. Every scene is choreographed and scored so well that these scenes of murder and rape almost seem beautiful. Kubrick tries to show what violence feels like to Alex as best he can by making it seem like a song and dance. The song at the start of the movie paired with the iconic opening shot is a movie scene I would kill to see again.
Secondly, the production design. This movie is weird. There is no denying that. It's filled with zany shapes, wild costumes, and crazy characters. The scenery in the film is a wild ride for all of the senses, and I personally cant get enough of it. There is a ton of sexual imagery included in the production and sets so maybe dont watch this with your grandma. It feels purposeful and meaningless at the same time. one might say a giant penis statue is simply a prop, others might say it has some intrinsic purpose. the whole movie is beautiful in that way.
The use of language is also phenomenal. Nadsat, which is a combination of Russian and children's slang, is used by the main characters in the movie. You're probably not gonna know all of it on your first watch with just context clues, but if you've read the book or watched the movie more than once then you'll be able to get all of it. It's not too confusing to be able to fully understand the movie, though. It's used as a way to help show a disconnect between the film's world and the modern world. perhaps another way to try and hyperbolize the film to separate Alex's actions from today's world.
The theme. The theme of this movie is about how evil is necessary to human nature. In the movie, the government uses Alex as an experiment to strip him away from evil, but in doing so, they strip him of his free will. Without free will, Alex ceases to be a human anymore. A man must choose to be good, without that choice, he ceases to be a man. That's where the title comes from. You see a nice, juicy living fruit on the outside, but on the inside, it works like clockwork. It's a machine. It's not a fruit anymore. Alex is evil, but his inability to choose being good over evil doesnt make him a good person. It makes him a machine.
good movie I guess idk.