I recently purchased this DVD and I must say that I'm a little p**sed off. This doesn't mean that I didn't like the film. I was just irritated that the film was not a very good translation of the book. Somehow, I had imagined a more surreal type environment filled with odd costumes and props. I also felt that they didn't focus on the gangs enough. Oh well... all in all I love the film and Roddy Mc dowell is a true master of his domain. Oh, and yes... this is the real first time I've seen this flick un-edited.
I think there was a lot they had to change in order to tranfser the book to the film, especially some of the gang violence that would probably hurt valuable film time. It seems they chose to stick with Alex as the central character to convey the book's story/message of mankind's decision to chose good or evil and society's attempt to control that through brainwashing or technology. However the film's violence is so intense, especially for the 70's, people were distracted by the story's meaning. Kubrick himself even decided to withdraw the film from english theatres after threats were made against him and his family. Filmmaking can get real personal sometimes.
I love this film!
It's one of my favorites.
Of interesting note is that Anthony Burgess, the book's author, was a dialogue writer for Quest for Fire. Y'know, ugh-ugh, ook-ook, grunt.
I like this movie. I have never read the book, but I have to ask:
You were expecting it to be MORE surreal? I'm a little thunderstruck at that...
This was a deeply disturbing movie, but I did enjoy it. I would have to think someone was on acid when they made the movie and for that matter when the book was written that it was based on.
HAHA. it seems Burgess has a knack for making up his own languages, i heard he did that with another book he wrote too.
it is a great film. if the DVD had better extras on it i'd buy it, but it doesn't even have the "lost footage" people talk about that was edited out.
Come on, Grumpy Guy... You mean to tell me that the surrealism of the film was enough to be convincing? I felt that it was poorly done. If you read the book carefully, you'll clearly see that. I don't know, I just imagined a better scenario from the descriptions in the book. Oh yeah, the gang fights would not take away from the story.... Are you people insane? ; )
rent b4 u buy?
Ahem. Speaking as one who has read the book and seen the film - well, if I may enlighten you ...
... Stan (as We Who Knew Him Personally were allowed to call him) .. Stan once said that a book was merely a peg to hang a story from. Obviously he elaborated from the original book, since he saw it merely as the starting point of a story.
Urban legend in the UK has it that Clockwork Orange was banned, when it was actually withdrawn by order of Stan himself - sorry - Stan *Himself*, as you say. I have corrected several personal acquaintainces on this aspect of CW.
Oh - Mr Burgess did not invent the "Nadsat" language. It is simply Russian, rendered either phonetically or in the Roman alphabet instead of the Cyrillic. E.g. when Alex mentions "Horrorshow" - this is the English transcription of the Russian "Horrosshcho", which means "very good". Any Polish or Russian members of the website can probably render this far better than I could.
Sdra Vyootsyee!
You want surreal?
Smoke some good bright green chronic and then sit down to watch it!
OMG!
Especially the scene where Dim and the other guy take Alex out into the woods, stick his head into the water and beat him.
"Well well well.....Well well well well....If it isn't little Alex!"
The sounds that are made each time they strike him will mess with your head if you're baked outta your mind!
Post Edited (01-03-04 19:13)
>Roddy Mc dowell is a true master of his domain.
I think you mean Malcolm...
This is one that probably should go under the topic of movies I liked when I was younger. I don't think it holds up well today...it's really dated and Alex and his droogs don't see as threatening these days after a lot of the teenage crimes that have happened in real life.
This is one of my 10 favorite movies.
Ahhh.... I stand corrected. Then where in the hell did I get Roddy McDowell from?! What am I smoki'n? ;)
I read the book in high school, and saw the movie years later. IMO, they are both great.
If the movie was too surreal (say, on the order of Barbarella), then it wouldn't hold up for the future, it would be too dated and disconnected from everyday life.
Oh, that should read "Alex and his droogs don't SEEM as threatening after all the teenage crimes that have happened in real life."
>Ahhh.... I stand corrected. Then where in the hell did I get Roddy McDowell
>from?! What am I smoki'n? ;)
Somehow I can't see Roddy playing a thug. :)