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Somehow I don’t
feel totally qualified to review “A
Clockwork Orange.” Not because I don’t
know anything about movies (because I do),
or am not up to the task (I am), but more
because there are so many ways to view this
film that I don’t think anyone is
fully capable of properly reviewing it.
“A Clockwork Orange” is a classic,
but unlike most classics which are pretty
straight forward viewing experiences; this
film is different things to different people.
Hell, it’s a different film every
time you watch it.
Keeping in mind that I am not the biggest
fan of Stanley Kubrick’s films (I
understand that there is an audience out
there for them) “A Clockwork Orange”,
even by my standards, sits above every other
piece of work he directed.
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It is ultra-violent but for the sake of showing
violence alone, like a lot of terrible films today
are, but for the sake of social commentary. I
have found it interesting to note however that
while audiences today are highly de-sensitized
to the slew of ‘torture porn’ movies
being marketed as ‘horror’, a great
many of these people still cringe while watching
“A Clockwork Orange.”
The handful that can watch “A Clockwork
Orange” and not be a bit disturbed by it…
well, they are more than likely a little disturbed
themselves. Much like the fans of the afore-mentioned
‘torture porn’ who laugh and cheer
at rape, murder and mutilation (when the intention
of the filmmaker is not to make you cheer).
That said, for the few of you who may have never
seen “A Clockwork Orange”, it is based
on the Anthony Burgess novel and it is a fairly
faithful adaptation at that. Unlike Kubrick’s
bastardization of Stephen King’s “The
Shining”, here he felt the need to stick
to the story as close as theatrically possible.
In it, we are pulled into the lurid world of Alex
(Malcolm McDowell) and his band of ‘droogs’
as they skip and dance through a life of anarchistic
glee. On a nightly basis they roam the city, raping
and pillaging with abandon… leaving a wake
of violence and destruction in their path. All
something has to do to is exist, and it becomes
a plaything for their wanton desires.
Through Alex’s narration and the glaring
atrocities that are filmed by Kubrick there is
little doubt in the mind of viewers that these
‘droogs’ are the ultimate sociopaths.
And while the story attempts to put forward why
they do what they do, ironically they do it simply
to ‘do.’ This comes to s screeching
halt at one pivotal point in the film where Alex
is literally forced to come to terms with his
actions, and the sequences devoted to his ‘rehabilitation’
are nearly as difficult to watch as his earlier
actions.
I refuse to say much more about “A Clockwork
Orange”, after all if you’ve already
seen it then you know how it affected you. If
you haven’t seen it, then you need to go
into it with as little foresight into what you
are going to experience.
A few days ago, Warner Brothers released a terrific
‘Digibook’ edition of “A Clockwork
Orange.” This ‘40th Anniversary’
edition delivers an amazing transfer, one that
I understand is nearly indistinguishable from
the Bluray release back on 2007. But this in itself
is not a bad thing, considering the transfer is
gorgeous (considering the film’s content),
with colors that nearly pop off the screen. The
audio is extremely well-balanced and every tone
nearly perfect. But it is not primarily the transfer
you should pick up this set for, it is the extras.
Included on the 1st disc is a terrific commentary
by Malcolm McDowell and historian Nick Redman,
with Redman acting as interviewer. McDowell, who
is a delightful storyteller shares memories with
relish and there is rarely a dull moment. You’ll
also find “Still Tickin”, which is
full of fascinating interviews with filmmakers
who offer their thoughts on the film, both in
terms of their experiences of seeing it and what
they felt the film was trying to accomplish. “Great
Bolshy Yarblockos! Making A Clockwork Orange”
is as it sounds, with various filmmakers and authors
telling the story of how the film went about being
created. This is followed by “Turning Like
Clockwork” which is a sort of continuation
of “Still Tickin” and includes additional
insight from even more filmmakers. Finally, there
is a nice featurette which puts Malcolm McDowell
at a table full of posters, pictures and the like
and he tells even more stories about the experience
of being involved in the film. Actually, that
wasn’t finally. There also a Theatrical
Trailer on this disc.
The set’s 2nd disc has two features length
documentaries that would whet the appetite of
any Kubrick fan, and if like me you’re not
a fan, then the cinephile in you will still have
lots to enjoy. The first, “Stanley Kubrick:
A Life in Pictures”, is a loving ode to
the filmmaker narrated by Tom Cruise (as it was
created around the time Cruise was working on
“Eyes Wide Shut”). Coming in a nearly
2 and half hours, it is about as comprehensive
of a look at Kubrick’s work as you’re
liable to find anywhere. Then “O Lucky Malcolm”
takes a look at McDowell’s colorful career
all the way from his first works to some of the
more ‘questionable’ roles he has taken
in recent years. Add to this a digital copy of
the film and you have a must own set.
“A Clockwork Orange” is not for the
squeamish. You may hear some ‘younger’
audiences (those who have only been watching movies
for the last 20 years or so and think they understand
film) say that it doesn’t pack the same
punch it did back in the 60’s… but
they’d be wrong.
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Adrienne
Corri, Miriam Karlin
Special Features: Malcolm McDowell Looks Back;
Turning Like Clockwork; Commentary by Malcolm
McDowell & Historian Nick Redman; Still Ticklin’
– The Return of Clockwork Orange; Making
A Clockwork Orange; Theatrical Trailer; Stanley
Kubrick – A Life in Pictures; O Lucky Malcolm;
Digital Copy
Release Date: 5/31/2011
Studio: Warner Brothers
http://www.warnerblu.com
We'll give A Clockwork Orange: 40th Anniversary
(Bluray) an A.
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