Miloko Plus...A Clockwork Orange Review

My initial intention with this blog was to shine the spotlight on music and films and other related media that don't suck. Well, I've been hitting music pretty hard so , since today is Oscar night, now I'm gonna hit on movies and I'll start with a movie that hits viewers hard ... Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.

Let me begin by saying that there is much more to this film than a few rape scenes. Whenever I tell someone that I love this movie, they cringe and say "...isn't that the one with the bad rape scene?" Well, yes, but there's also tons of social commentary in there as well. Not to mention the fact that, in my opinion (and lots of other people as well), Clockwork is a masterpiece of film making. And now I'm going to tell you why with some help from a Scottish man who knows his films.

Kubrick adapted the novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess into a film which follows the life of "our humble narrator", Alex DeLarge. The film begins showing Alex and his droogs relaxing at the Korova Milk Bar and preparing for a night in which they engage in several acts of "ultra-violence" before returning to the milk bar for a nightcap. 


Alex asserts his role as their "droogan leader", even ends up resorting to violence to prove his point. Eventually this leads to Alex being betrayed by his droogs. He is caught, arrested, convicted, and sentenced to prison. 


Aaah, but there is hope for "our humble narrator", as he learns of the Ludovico technique which if Alex agrees to, will have him free in a matter of a few weeks. This Ludovico technique is a form of psychological conditioning which trains Alex to be repulsed by even the thought of violence, and thus will "cure" him.

Alex is subsequently released, but soon finds that his "cure" has left him unable to function in society. He is outcast by his family, his former droogs are now police officers and they beat him, and in an ironic twist he lands at the home of one of his former victims who turns out to be  the only one who will help him. 


In the end, Alex has become a political pawn, and the government who was behind the Ludovico technique is exposed and the public sees how the "cure" is more of a curse. They reverse the effects of Alex's conditioning, and he he is back to his old was declaring "I was cured alright."


What is fantastic about Clockwork is partially the message and themes, but more importantly, how that message is communicated. Kubrick is a master of symbolism and foreshadowing, and nothing, I mean nothing, is accidental. The colors in a room, the positions actors have on screen, words, everything is done with intent.


I hope you'll give this film a chance, or if you've already seen it then give it a second chance and ask your self:

What is the function of violence?

How are we "conditioned?"

What is the origin of "goodness?"

So, without further ado, I would like to present a series of videos which explain some of the brilliance of Clockwork and will have you viewing film differently from now on...


P.S. there's scenes of ultra-violence and nudity from the movie so if you don't like that type of thing, get outta here


the first 4:20 is a foreward by the reviewer Rob Ager. The good stuff starts after that



there's naked people in this one, so don't watch if easily offended... 






Yeah yeah yeah, some of that is far-fetched, but overall this guy does a great job of decoding this masterpiece.


What do you think? I'd appreciate comments very much and would be interested in your thoughts.


Peace out droogies...