Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange from 1971 is a masterpiece in psychological cinema. The film follows a leader of a gang named Alexander Delarge who thrives on chaos. After Alex's arrest he is put through a psychological aversion therapy known as the Ludovico Technique. Alex is released back into society as a "reformed" person and eventually attempts suicide where he wakes up in a hospital after surviving. Due to his suicide attempt the general public is against the technique as they believe that it is inhumane. Alex is soon reverted to his natural violent state.
This film explores themes of government control and free will. Is it better to be forced to be good or be evil by choice? This is the question that the film asks us. Honestly I think that it is better to be evil by choice. By forcing someone to be "good" you are taking away the human aspect of a person. Although this may reduce crime it is unethical and bad for society to implement.
When this film was released it was seen as something to steer clear of. When it released no one had seen anything like it. The world was not ready for this film but the film was ready for this world. It's like that one Back to The Future quote: "I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet, but your kids will love it." The ultraviolence depicted in the film was too much for audiences in the past but as we see now in films it is more widely accepted. This film is not violent just to be violent, it is violent in order to make a point. There is a difference. People seem to gloss over this fact and take the film for what they think it is rather than what it really is. People don't see the message, people only see the violence. Although modern films are violent we still rarely see anything like this.
The violence is choreographed in the same vain that a Broadway show would be. The film is also accompanied by beautiful music which is in contrast to the dark and gloomy atmosphere that this film provides us with.
Although this film may not be for everyone I still believe that it is worth a watch.
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