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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2426 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-03-03
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Special Edition
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 136 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The controversy that surrounded Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Anthony Burgess's dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange while the film was out of circulation suggested that it was like Romper Stomper: a glamourisation of the violent, virile lifestyle of its teenage protagonist, with a hypocritical gloss of condemnation to mask delight in rape and ultra-violence. Actually, it is as fable-like and abstract as The Pilgrim's Progress, with characters deliberately played as goonish sitcom creations. The anarchic rampage of Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a bowler-hatted juvenile delinquent of the future, is all over at the end of the first act. Apprehended by equally brutal authorities, he changes from defiant thug to cringing bootlicker, volunteering for a behaviourist experiment that removes his capacity to do evil.

It's all stylised: from Burgess' invented pidgin Russian (snarled unforgettably by McDowell) to 2001-style slow tracks through sculpturally perfect sets (as with many Kubrick movies, the story could be told through decor alone) and exaggerated, grotesque performances on a par with those of Dr Strangelove (especially from Patrick Magee and Aubrey Morris). Made in 1971, based on a novel from 1962, A Clockwork Orange resonates across the years. Its future is now quaint, with Magee pecking out "subversive literature" on a giant IBM typewriter and "lovely, lovely Ludwig Van" on mini-cassette tapes. However, the world of "Municipal Flat Block 18A, Linear North" is very much with us: a housing estate where classical murals are obscenely vandalised, passers-by are rare and yobs loll about with nothing better to do than hurt people.

Special Features
Commentary by Malcolm McDowell and Nick Redman, Still Tickin’: The Return of Clockwork Orange(Channel 4 documentary), Great Bolshy Yarblockos! Making a Clockwork Orange, Lucky Malcolm! – documentary about Malcolm McDowell (85 mins), and the Theatrical trailer.

Synopsis
From its opening shot of Malcolm McDowell staring with evil intent directly into the camera (which pulls back to reveal him drinking a glass of milk), Stanley Kubrick's brilliant CLOCKWORK ORANGE announces itself as a completely new kind of viewing experience. Banned in Britain for decades, the film, set in an unidentified future, overwhelms the senses with its almost comic depictions of rape and violence set to an upbeat classical and pop music score; its magnificent, colourful, futuristic set designs; and its utter determination to shock, frighten, and thoroughly entertain its audience. Kubrick based his chilling masterpiece on Anthony Burgess's culture-shaking novel about a young man, growing into adulthood, who has a bit of a problem with authority figures. (Interestingly, Burgess's stunning piece of fiction contains 21 chapters, but Kubrick ends his film after chapter 20). When Alex (a career-defining performance by McDowell) and his droogs go out for a little bit of the old ultraviolence, he is caught and forced to undergo controversial treatment that will make it impossible for him to commit violent acts--but has severe side effects. Kubrick's film purposely confuses crime and punishment, cause and effect, hero and villain, irony and satire, filled with oxymoron and paradox, taking on science, politics, societal mores, education, sexual awakening, and parental responsibility all in a new language (both verbal and visual) that would change the face of cinema forever. No one who has seen it has ever been able to hear ‘Singin' in the Rain’ or Ludwig van again in quite the same way.

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Customer Reviews

what is wrong with this movie.....
'CLOCKWORK' is a remarkable, innovative piece of cinematic anarchy that still demands our attention. However......


------there are more than enough elements contained within it's incendiaritary frames to merit serious discussion as to exactly WHY it has attained such notoriety...including;

-----the very early rape scene; which un-neccessarily lingers for too long on the full-frontal nudity of the 'unfortunate' actress [SHIRLEY JAFFE], ---it is self-evident that this scene involves the smirking, smug, self-satisfied performances of BILLYBOY'S fellow rapists, nondescript actors who clearly can't believe their luck that they are actually being PAID to film this scene [which probably took multiple takes over a long time] ---it is obvious in their triumphant expressions [in which they can clearly view a naked, well-endowed young woman] that they relish their role.

-----ALEX himself, ---who clearly gloats directly to the audience in the [stunning] opening shot: this is a clear [unwholesome] signal to the audience that we are about to witness sadistic, voyeuristic thrills that clearly benefit Mc DOWELL...


--------the bizarre, clown-like 'uniform' of ALEX and his 'droogs',---CLOWNS often disturb, as they are seen to get away with almost anything [they could be plotting behind your back]---and that is clearly the case here.


----the 'HOME' VIOLATION SCENE:

like the much later 'HENRY-PORTRAIT of a SERIAL KILLER', [which has a very similarly-themed segment] this sequence is 'CLOCKWORK'S' most notorious, nightmare-like series of events.
Essentially an unwholesome, nasty depiction of an innocent couple being subjected to the DROOG'S humiliation and [disturbingly] motiveless sadism, this ends with the clown-like McDOWELL soft-shoe shuffling his bizarre dance-turn, ultimately stripping [aother attractive woman; this time ADRIENNE CORRI] fully naked another pitiful victim, [seen from the point of view of her floor-level, armlocked husband].

Sometimes I can sit through these repellent, evil final shots in this sequence; ----other times, I choose to skip through it....I'm pretty open-minded, but these events are unpleasant, non-entertaining acts [at least to me].....RAPE is an evil that undoubtedly exists in society, but I don't want to see it 'dressed up' [or down!] in the name of highly stylized, cinematic 'art': this just seems pretentious and off-putting, the way KUBRICK has handled it in this instance.

--UNEVEN CONTINUITY: ----the first reels of 'ORANGE' are brilliantly eerie, otherworldly and genuinely futiristic-seeming. Much of the film's strength stems from KUBRICK'S twisted vision, especially the sanitized, warped interior of the 'KOROVA MILK BAR' with it's alienating nude sculpture, and flourescent lighting. The opening shot is undoubtedly a striking image; for me one of THE classic openings in all cinematic history.

---------however, after ALEX is finally arrested, all futuristic elements instantly evaporate, there are no further obvious sets, and the remaining two-thirds of the movie are mostly shot on existing 70/71 locations.....fine as a document of the early decade, but visually, this seriously jars with the excellent fantasy visuals of the opening scenes.

------POOR PACING: for the first 40 minutes or so, KUBRICK delivers a riotous, relentless anarcho-fest of energetic mayhem, which slows down severely over the last two-thirds------this is 'spiced up' with brief shots of semi-naked [or fully-naked ] nubiles who are paraded to instil 'shock value' to the proceedings.

Judge for yourself the merits [or otherwise] of this admittedly original movie; however, I feel it contains key scenes of exploitative elements, that visually 'rape' women in the guise of 'entertainment'.

and subtitles ?
Could anyone help pwith subtitles? Postuguese?

amazon must know subtitles are important for people outside UK and US
thanks for help.

FINALLY! IT REALLY IS ABOUT TIME!
My personal favorite form Stanley Kubrick's legendary line up of award shattering films has FINALLy been released in this great and nicely presented special edition DVD.
Along with the shining, in particular, we have been stuck with the tyranny of having to cope with some shocking single disc editions of such undeniable and renowned, infamous masterpieces of cinema by such a timeless director!
These are what i have been waiting for.
The violent, powerfull and surreal visualiseation and portrayal of the classic and brilliant novel is something i dont think i need to review due to the movie's well earned fame and timelesness.
The soundtrack adds an eery and darkly atmospheric tone to the already impressive sets and briliantly directed scenes. 'McDowell is quiet frankly superb as the psychotic schoolboy.
This upgrade to the new special edition DVD doesnt exatlty burn too much of a hole in your pocket either soi suggest you shakea leg and click*ad to basket* now!