Stanley-Kubrick Movie Reviews

Paths of Glory is a complicated film experience, that on first viewing appears to be an anti-war diatribe, but repeated viewings make it far more complex. The film's plot revolves around the brutality of trench warfare and the total disconnection between the suffering of the foot soldier and the French Army's High Command. The generals, fearing mutiny among their exhausted soldiers, order executions after the failure to take a position. The three martyrs are represented by their commanding officer, who also happens to be a lawyer (Kirk Douglas), but since they are sacrificial lambs, chosen by lot, their fate is preordained. It is the dance of death that Kubrick focuses on, in the trenches, in the elegant chateau that houses the senile General Command, and the courtroom where the farce is played out. This is not the first film focusing on the total stupidity of trench warfare. All Quiet on the Western Front(by Lewis Milestone) and The Road to Glory (Howard Hawks) are equally effective in portraying the madness of WWI. Paths of Glory is equally fascinating for revealing the concerns that Kubrick would focus on throughout the rest of his career. These concerns go way beyond plot and story. Kubrick worked with first rate writers on this film (Jim Thompson and Calder Willingham), but the vision is his own. The endless brutal moving camera as it snakes through the trenches, pulling the characters through the crazed landscape, the lateral tracking shots during the attack sequences, the brilliantly composed close ups of men under unending duress and pressure all help to create a universe that is beyond the control of man. Kubrick's vision is one of the strongest visual creations in modern cinema and should not be forgotten when we get caught up in the compelling storyline. His connection with Kirk Douglas was so successful that when the filming of Spartacus ran into directorial roadblocks, the star was able to convince the producers to bring in the unknown Kubrick to take on the Hollywood mega epic. The producers of Spartacus had never heard of Paths of Glory and it is only through video tape that we can get to see a crucial work from Kubrick's early career. It's also a great companion piece to Full Metal Jacket, another Kubrick war film released thirty years later and a film that continues to display the director's concern with creating a visual world of total entrapment that is outside the comprehension of the ordinary man.

Stanley Kubrick's PATHS OF GLORY is one of the most gripping war movies ever filmed. Its power does nor come from an impressive body count. THE LONGEST DAY and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN have higher counts but what makes this movie so special is the battle that goes on in the courtroom. Kirk Douglas plays Colonel Dax of the French army, a man of bravery and impeccable integrity. When he is given an order to attack, he will obey it since he assumes that the order is a rational one that fits into the larger scheme of winning a battle. His commanding officer, played with sublime officiousness by Adolphe Menjou, orders a suicide attack on a heavily defended German position with predictable results. Dax's men are beaten back with ruinous losses. The general seeks a scapegoat for the defeat since if he has none, then he must shoulder responsibility. He chooses to blame his regiment for cowardice, and randomly chooses three soldiers for a courts-martial. It is Dax's job to defend them. It is during the trial that Kubrick raises some tough questions about the morality of war and the need to obey all orders, regardless of their surface illogic. Despite a solid defense, Dax realizes that the verdict was in even before the trial began, and the three unlucky soldiers are shot by firing squad. As Dax grows to understand the nature of the beast called war, so does the audience. In war, top commanders often regard their armies of men as little more than chess pieces, to be placed here and there on whim. Losses are expected and uncried over. Dax shakes up the entire French High Command by demanding that someone in a high place owes it to the dead to cry over them, even if he is the only one willing to do so. Whatever illusions about fair play in military justice that remain after the guilty verdict is in vanish when he speaks to the commander of the general who ordered the attack in the first place. This general tells Dax that the offending general has been relieved of command. However, he also tells Dax that despite knowing the idiocy of the attacking order and the equal idiocy of demanding the guilty verdict, he still insists that it was more important to safeguard the holiness of obedience to orders than to safeguard the well-being of the men attempting to carry out those orders. It is this closing scene of disillusionment that teaches Dax that though war may be inherently chaotic, human beings must not be so. The events of the war following this war teach us that some lessons humanity will probably never learn.

According to Roger Ebert, French New-Waver Francois Truffaut said it was hard to make an antiwar film because war was exciting even if you were against it. That's why "Paths of Glory" isn't an antiwar movie.

Yet, it IS a masterful work. Why? Kubrick has been criticized for not being an "actor's director", that he was more concerned with composition and lighting than performance. Here, we benefit from early Kubrick, (before he became STANLEY KUBRICK) when perhaps inexperience and youth permitted the actors to bring their own artistry to his film. Because this film is ultimately about the people, not the warfare.

Here Kubrick shows us what happens when people collide in such violent, chaotic and absurd circumstances, when one man's reach for glory becomes other men's destruction, when honor and duty fail to bring an iota of good to the world. Despite all of that, the characters remain very human, sins and all.

Warfare is not a "thing", it's a collection of individual actions, the sum of which almost always is bleak, painful and unjust, made all the more horrible when we remember that all glory is fleeting.

Paths of Glory is a complicated film experience, that on first viewing appears to be an anti-war diatribe, but repeated viewings make it far more complex. The film's plot revolves around the brutality of trench warfare and the total disconnection between the suffering of the foot soldier and the French Army's High Command. The generals, fearing mutiny among their exhausted soldiers, order executions after the failure to take a position. The three martyrs are represented by their commanding officer, who also happens to be a lawyer (Kirk Douglas), but since they are sacrificial lambs, chosen by lot, their fate is preordained. It is the dance of death that Kubrick focuses on, in the trenches, in the elegant chateau that houses the senile General Command, and the courtroom where the farce is played out. This is not the first film focusing on the total stupidity of trench warfare. All Quiet on the Western Front(by Lewis Milestone) and The Road to Glory (Howard Hawks) are equally effective in portraying the madness of WWI. Paths of Glory is equally fascinating for revealing the concerns that Kubrick would focus on throughout the rest of his career. These concerns go way beyond plot and story. Kubrick worked with first rate writers on this film (Jim Thompson and Calder Willingham), but the vision is his own. The endless brutal moving camera as it snakes through the trenches, pulling the characters through the crazed landscape, the lateral tracking shots during the attack sequences, the brilliantly composed close ups of men under unending duress and pressure all help to create a universe that is beyond the control of man. Kubrick's vision is one of the strongest visual creations in modern cinema and should not be forgotten when we get caught up in the compelling storyline. His connection with Kirk Douglas was so successful that when the filming of Spartacus ran into directorial roadblocks, the star was able to convince the producers to bring in the unknown Kubrick to take on the Hollywood mega epic. The producers of Spartacus had never heard of Paths of Glory and it is only through video tape that we can get to see a crucial work from Kubrick's early career. It's also a great companion piece to Full Metal Jacket, another Kubrick war film released thirty years later and a film that continues to display the director's concern with creating a visual world of total entrapment that is outside the comprehension of the ordinary man.

Stanley Kubrick's PATHS OF GLORY is one of the most gripping war movies ever filmed. Its power does nor come from an impressive body count. THE LONGEST DAY and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN have higher counts but what makes this movie so special is the battle that goes on in the courtroom. Kirk Douglas plays Colonel Dax of the French army, a man of bravery and impeccable integrity. When he is given an order to attack, he will obey it since he assumes that the order is a rational one that fits into the larger scheme of winning a battle. His commanding officer, played with sublime officiousness by Adolphe Menjou, orders a suicide attack on a heavily defended German position with predictable results. Dax's men are beaten back with ruinous losses. The general seeks a scapegoat for the defeat since if he has none, then he must shoulder responsibility. He chooses to blame his regiment for cowardice, and randomly chooses three soldiers for a courts-martial. It is Dax's job to defend them. It is during the trial that Kubrick raises some tough questions about the morality of war and the need to obey all orders, regardless of their surface illogic. Despite a solid defense, Dax realizes that the verdict was in even before the trial began, and the three unlucky soldiers are shot by firing squad. As Dax grows to understand the nature of the beast called war, so does the audience. In war, top commanders often regard their armies of men as little more than chess pieces, to be placed here and there on whim. Losses are expected and uncried over. Dax shakes up the entire French High Command by demanding that someone in a high place owes it to the dead to cry over them, even if he is the only one willing to do so. Whatever illusions about fair play in military justice that remain after the guilty verdict is in vanish when he speaks to the commander of the general who ordered the attack in the first place. This general tells Dax that the offending general has been relieved of command. However, he also tells Dax that despite knowing the idiocy of the attacking order and the equal idiocy of demanding the guilty verdict, he still insists that it was more important to safeguard the holiness of obedience to orders than to safeguard the well-being of the men attempting to carry out those orders. It is this closing scene of disillusionment that teaches Dax that though war may be inherently chaotic, human beings must not be so. The events of the war following this war teach us that some lessons humanity will probably never learn.

According to Roger Ebert, French New-Waver Francois Truffaut said it was hard to make an antiwar film because war was exciting even if you were against it. That's why "Paths of Glory" isn't an antiwar movie.

Yet, it IS a masterful work. Why? Kubrick has been criticized for not being an "actor's director", that he was more concerned with composition and lighting than performance. Here, we benefit from early Kubrick, (before he became STANLEY KUBRICK) when perhaps inexperience and youth permitted the actors to bring their own artistry to his film. Because this film is ultimately about the people, not the warfare.

Here Kubrick shows us what happens when people collide in such violent, chaotic and absurd circumstances, when one man's reach for glory becomes other men's destruction, when honor and duty fail to bring an iota of good to the world. Despite all of that, the characters remain very human, sins and all.

Warfare is not a "thing", it's a collection of individual actions, the sum of which almost always is bleak, painful and unjust, made all the more horrible when we remember that all glory is fleeting.

The US Air Force, National Command Authority and Pentagon take a big hit in this satirical feature about the Cold War when a deranged Air Force General orders his B-52 bomber wing to attack the Soviet Union without authorization of the President. A madcap series of events unfold as the President and his military forces attempt to find the communication codes to recall the B-52 crews. The humor is very dark as it follows events in the Pentagon War Room, the air force base of the renegade General, and the cockpit of a lone B-52 crew. Peter Sellers dominates the movie, starring in three roles as the President trying to prevent nuclear war, Colonel Mandrake the airbase executive officer attempting to get the recall codes from his psychotic commander, and Dr. Strangelove, the ex-Nazi scientist on the President's staff. George C. Scott steals some scenes as General Turgison, the senior Air Force General who tries to make the situation less than it is, and then later recommending full-scale attack as a course of action. Sterling Hayden is very funny as General Jack Ripper, the one responsible for issuing the orders to the B-52 crews, and Slim Pickens is excellent as the cowboy pilot flying his B-52 bomber into Soviet territory. The movie pulls no punches in its portrayal of the leaders attempting to find a solution to the monumental crisis they face. The humor makes light of the impending disaster and delivers a message about the irony of nuclear warfare and the danger of having so much destructive power on tap. In one sequence, an Army airborne division is ordered to attack General Ripper's airbase and locate him for the recall codes, what follows is a large battle between Air Force security personnel and Army paratroopers. Out of this chaos at the Pentagon and the airbase, the only person who appears to know what he's doing is the B-52 pilot. The movie sets are impressive and an interesting portion of the movie is the B-52 crew scenes. The set looks very realistic with the crew enclosed inside a claustrophobic flight deck, going through their drills to find the target and avoid Soviet air defenses. It's a landmark movie that is remarkable for its controversial treatment of the Cold War, witty screenplay and final message. This could arguably be Stanley Kubrick's best work. For viewers interested in a more serious approach, the movie "Fail Safe" is worth seeing. It was released some months later in 1964 and offers a remarkably similar story, but in a more dramatic and shocking atmosphere.

Like most of his later films, Kurbrick's excellent black comedy on nuclear war was filmed in England. Dr. Strangelove is the gold standard of dark comedies and remains funny to this day. Made in the early '60s at the height of the cold war it savagely skewers the paranoia of the era.

Sterling Hayden's portrayal of the pathologically paranoid General Ripper is second to none. His expression of concern towards Peter Sellers with "precious bodily fluids" and their contamination by communist inspired fluoridation of the water system is one of the funniest moments ever put to film.

Ripper's decision to send nuclear bomb carrying bombers towards Russia without releasing the recall code sets up the stage for Dr. Strangelove. The US president attempt to warn the Russians and at the same time preparing for the inevitable with his paranoid and dysfunctional advisors.

There are so many memorable characters. George C. Scott's General Buck Turgidson adds some great humor with his anti-Soviet posturing in the famous "War Room" scenes and with his mistress. Sellers is great in his three roles, Group Captain Mandrake one of the only sane individuals in the film who attempt to get the code from Ripper, President Muffley and the hilarious Dr. Strangelove an ex-nazi scientist who keeps confusing just whom he's working for- the Third Reich or the US.Don't miss James Earl Jones as Lt Lothar Zogg and Slim Pickens as Maj "King" Kong.

Dr. Strangelove is still retains its humor. This due to the excellent casting, comedic and smart scripting and Kubricks direction. Kubrick was always a technical genius (see 2001 or Barry Lyndon), but Dr. Strangelove is also less cold than many of his films can sometimes be. It is his only comedy and one of the great films of all time.

The highest recommendation.

It's on every list of the greatest comedy movies. Even though it was made back when movies were still limited to two colors, three if you count grey, it's humor is still...humorous. People today think it's cool when Mike Meyers does multiple characters, but he's nothing compared to Mr. Seller's. Despite a sort of slow start, you soon come to realize why this made it on so many lists. If only because of the great ending.

I admit the fact that I don't enjoy Stanley Kubrick films as much as other people. While technically brilliant, I tend to find Kubrick films empty emotionally and devoid of much passion. Paths of Glory, Spartacus, 2001, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut all have their moments but never have truly satisfied me. These movies all seemed too sterile and lacking that intangible spark so crucial in developing a love for a film. However, I did enjoy watching the most conventional film Kubrick ever made - The Killing. The Killing follows a group of mismatched criminals - led by Sterling Hayden - who band together to knock over a racetrack. The heist is planned down to the minutest detail but distrust among the theives and the cruel hand of fate eventually undermine all their work. The cast features steller turns by Hayden, Jay C. Flippen, Timothy Carey, Marie Windsor, and Elisha Cook Jr. who all manage to create distinct and tragic characters. These aren't the slick criminals of Ocean's 11 but rather desperate and sad people who need this caper to succeed to have any hope of getting anything out of life. The sacking of the racetrack is mesmerizing and the final sequence at the airport is a classic moment in cinema history that will cause you to always double check the locks on your suitcases every time you head to the airport. While not the most notable film in Kurbick's filmography, The Killing is nevertheless the easiest of his films to enjoy.

Back in the days when Stanley Kubrick was still a relative unknown, he made this gem of a film which has since earned a reputation for being one of the best crime caper films ever made. The film is tightly structured and well-paced with an eye on increasing the tension until the very end. A wonderful movie, and those who have seen "Reservoir Dogs" will immediately recognize the influence "The Killing" had on the latter film. The plot-line is simple - a band of crooks, each with his own motivation, conceive of a plan to rob a racetrack. The plan works fine...until something goes wrong. Kubrick filmed this classic with a minimal budget, but his genius is evidently on-screen in how he arranges the furniture and lighting and actors to get the most out of his limited funds and to augment the clastrophobic sense of suspense. Truly a great film.

I purchased the DVD of this film, and it looks quite good. The picture quality is pristine (unlike in the DVD version of Kubrick's later films, alas). I had no problems with the sound, either, though it is monophonic. There aren't any real extras on this DVD except for a trailer, but the presentation is somewhat cool and adds to the tension of the film. So, I will recommend this DVD of "The Killing" to fans of Kubrick and good crime films.

I knew this had a good reputation; it's frequently mentioned in books about cinema in general, and film noir in particular. Nothing prepared me, though, for the propulsive plot, great acting and the tangible atmosphere of menace so important to these films. I thought this blew away contemporary caper movies, and stood up to more ambitious films like Quentin Tarrantino's. This is really, really good!

I admit the fact that I don't enjoy Stanley Kubrick films as much as other people. While technically brilliant, I tend to find Kubrick films empty emotionally and devoid of much passion. Paths of Glory, Spartacus, 2001, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut all have their moments but never have truly satisfied me. These movies all seemed too sterile and lacking that intangible spark so crucial in developing a love for a film. However, I did enjoy watching the most conventional film Kubrick ever made - The Killing. The Killing follows a group of mismatched criminals - led by Sterling Hayden - who band together to knock over a racetrack. The heist is planned down to the minutest detail but distrust among the theives and the cruel hand of fate eventually undermine all their work. The cast features steller turns by Hayden, Jay C. Flippen, Timothy Carey, Marie Windsor, and Elisha Cook Jr. who all manage to create distinct and tragic characters. These aren't the slick criminals of Ocean's 11 but rather desperate and sad people who need this caper to succeed to have any hope of getting anything out of life. The sacking of the racetrack is mesmerizing and the final sequence at the airport is a classic moment in cinema history that will cause you to always double check the locks on your suitcases every time you head to the airport. While not the most notable film in Kurbick's filmography, The Killing is nevertheless the easiest of his films to enjoy.

Back in the days when Stanley Kubrick was still a relative unknown, he made this gem of a film which has since earned a reputation for being one of the best crime caper films ever made. The film is tightly structured and well-paced with an eye on increasing the tension until the very end. A wonderful movie, and those who have seen "Reservoir Dogs" will immediately recognize the influence "The Killing" had on the latter film. The plot-line is simple - a band of crooks, each with his own motivation, conceive of a plan to rob a racetrack. The plan works fine...until something goes wrong. Kubrick filmed this classic with a minimal budget, but his genius is evidently on-screen in how he arranges the furniture and lighting and actors to get the most out of his limited funds and to augment the clastrophobic sense of suspense. Truly a great film.

I purchased the DVD of this film, and it looks quite good. The picture quality is pristine (unlike in the DVD version of Kubrick's later films, alas). I had no problems with the sound, either, though it is monophonic. There aren't any real extras on this DVD except for a trailer, but the presentation is somewhat cool and adds to the tension of the film. So, I will recommend this DVD of "The Killing" to fans of Kubrick and good crime films.

I knew this had a good reputation; it's frequently mentioned in books about cinema in general, and film noir in particular. Nothing prepared me, though, for the propulsive plot, great acting and the tangible atmosphere of menace so important to these films. I thought this blew away contemporary caper movies, and stood up to more ambitious films like Quentin Tarrantino's. This is really, really good!

I was ambivalent about buying this one. I had already plunked down more than a ... on the first release of the collection, then systematically rounded it out with the other films that were available (Killer's Kiss, The Killing, Paths of Glory, Spartacus, and Eyes Wide Shut). I was not sure if it was really worth shelling out MORE money just to get brighter colors and stereo sound. But it was. It was worth every penny. For the following reasons:

1) You really have to SEE the added quality of films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Barry Lyndon to believe it. Every film was digitally re-mastered. It really is like someone wiped years of grime off of them.

2) Making the Shining, daughter Vivian Kubrick’s documentary about the making of her dad’s 1980 horror opus, has been cleaned up, too, and now sports a disarmingly sweet commentary by her.

3) The Dr. Strangelove disc, is, indeed, the newer “Special Edition” version that includes some wonderful extras (documentary and interview material).

4) The controversial Dolby 5.1 remixes were planned by Kubrick, anyway, according to his assistant Leon Vitali, who personally supervised the creation of the new sound tracks from the original elements. Like Kubrick's original mono tracks, they have clarity and excellent balance. But now they also have great fidelity, and - amazingly - DEPTH. For the first time, you can really find yourself (at least aurally) INSIDE A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, and Full Metal Jacket.

5) The included documentary, Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures, is no slapdash "extra feature" tossed in strictly for marketing. It is a feature-length (142-minute!) tribute to the late master by his friends, family, and admirers (including Martin Scorsese, Stephen Spielberg, and Woody Allen). Kubrick's widow, his daughters, and many of his closest collaborators share their thoughts. No tabloid stuff, here. It's all handled with remarkable taste and respect. It has also forced me to rethink a lot of what I thought I knew about the man, and underscored how priceless Stanley Kubrick really was.

If you are fan, spend the money. You will not regret it.

When the original Kubrick box set was released, it was a nightmare. Kubrick's classics on DVD looked anywhere from decent to VHS-quality, thanks to the rush job (presumably to capitalize on the great director's death). This rerelease is what Kubrick would have wanted. Every film from the beautiful masterpiece "Lolita" to the misunderstood "Eyes Wide Shut" is presented here, along with a documentary, "Stanley Kubrick: a Life in Pictures," which is fantastic -- a completely absorbing and entertaining history of the director's life and work.

Kubrick was not a traditional filmmaker. He shunned Hollywood and retreated to his adopted country of Great Britain in the early sixties, making films entirely on his own terms. His films were feasts for the eyes and spanned every conceivable genre, from comedy ("Dr. Strangelove") to sci-fi ("2001: a Space Odyssey") to period pieces ("Barry Lyndon") to war pictures ("Full Metal Jacket") and everything in between. He was not afraid to experiment and take the actors as far as they could go.

The picture quality in this long-overdue reissue is nothing short of stunning. Particularly noteworthy is the "Barry Lyndon" disc. Kubrick's use of natural light in this gorgeous period drama give it a unique beauty never captured in any other film before or since.

As extra material goes, the box is pretty sparse (except for the documentary, of course), but you do get the mini-documentary of the making of The Shining, complete with optional commentary. But what counts here are the pictures themselves, which are all, without question, masterpieces.

Discover Kubrick's world. Sure, it's a lot of money, but worth every penny. Buy it on a Friday, cancel your weekend plans, and explore the amazing world of these films. This box set is why DVDs were invented.

This extraordinary collection cotnains such essential films as 'Full Metal jacket' the original controversial 'Lolita', and the little known 'Barry Lyndon'.

Most important is the documentary that comes with this great collection. THis details the life of the mysterious Kubrick, his exile in England and his work on Eyes Wide Shut and AI. Amazing!!!

This essential collection has several landmark films. 'Shining' is arguably one of thwe simplest and best horror films ever made, and no one will forget 'Here's Johnny'. 'Barry Lyndon' has been praised for its costumes and portrayal of battle. 'Full Metal Jacket' is one of th best war films on Vietnam. '2001' is one of the most interesting and odd space films ever made with long sequences of song without dialoge. 'Dr, Strangelove' is one of the funniest films of the cold war with a great political commentary too boot. Both 'Lolita' and 'Clockwork Orange' were very controversial when they were released for thier portrayal of rape and sex and pedaphilia. Simply a landmakr collection!!! A must have for the enthusiast. Makes a great gift!

Even though the entertainment business has been developing into a more profane and demoralized industry, this so-called movie is still too vulgar to be put on the shelves in stores. This movie is closer to pornography, and that is what it should be sold as. It is distasteful, has a weak storyline, and holds no educational or entertainment value other than sex and violence, which should not be considered valuable material. When it was first released in 1971 it was rated X, so it was edited and re-rated R. Rated R movies, however, should not be able to contain scenes where a woman is shown being raped in front of her husband and a threesome involving countless sexual positions is clearly shown on the screen for a long period of time. No one should be subjected to such nauseating images. If a person wants to see these things, they should have to go out of their way to get it, instead of being able to pick it up at the local video or electronics store. This movie glorifies sexual violence and murder. It portrays these "ultra-violent" acts to be an ultimate-high. This film sits out there waiting to be bought by a teenager interested in violence, since most electronics stores don't check ID for the purchasing of rated R videos. Anyone who watches this movie will have some part of them corrupted in someway, and there are already too many things in this world to corrupt pure minds. I strongly suggest never watching this movie. If you must, please do not let your children view a single moment of it. I couldn't even finish watching this pornography because of how sick it made me feel, but it is still by far the worst movie I have ever had the displeasure of seeing.

Where do you start with this movie?It is dark,funny,satirical,repulsive, and has enough food for thought to keep you coming back again and again(I've seen this movie at least 20 times and it keeps getting better).Kubrick is the master at creating moods and this film shows him at his best.Note the contrast of Alex's world in the beginning of the film:the scenes almost burst with vibrancy and color.The bold and busy scenery,ecstatic music,the outlandish dress of Alex and his Droogs,gang fighting,Alex's romp with two girls he picked up at the record store,the beating of an old man to the tune of "Singing in the Rain" and the subsequent rape of his wife,and the prevalence of sexual imagery i.e. the graffiti in Alex's apartment building(big white penises painted over characters on wall murals),the white naked sculptures at Alex's hangout, and the big white penis and scrotum sculpture which is used to murder a woman.When Alex is sent to prison the prevailing imagery and music turns solemn,stark and grey,and the pace of the movie is no longer frantic.The central point of the film is the age old questions of Good vs. Evil and Free Will or Not.With the aid of drugs and treatment Alex is changed into a not fully human,but no longer harmful being(except to himself as he can no longer defend himself)which is good for the state and the politicians, but of what cost to human freedom?This question is more relevent and will become even more so in the coming century as science is making it more and more possible for humankind to be altered genetically.Will mankind play God and make the human race more automated, or allow nature and individual choice to continue despite the messiness that's bound to continue as it always has?Do we have the wisdom to know where to stop or what limits should be imposed or even know what human rights mean?The movie seems to say yes to Free Will,however much ugliness comes with the territory,because without personal choice life is inherently meaningless anyway.Note:the soundtrack is without doubt the best of all time.Every piece perfectly fits the scene to which its matched.Second note:When Alex is at the record store talking to the clerk you can see the 2001:A Space Oddyssey album at Alex's waist level.A little Kubrick self reference!

The story is set in a near future society that has unthinkable methods of crime and punishment. Alex ( Malcolm McDowell)is a man that loves to fight, rob, rape, and kill. However, his luck finally runs out and he is captured. While imprisoned, he undergoes treatment to render him " safe" to the world around him, which is refered to as a " Clockwork Orange". While Alex is made to look perfectly normal on the outside, he is crippled by reflex mechanisms beyond his control on the inside. This prevents him from committing any acts of violence whatsoever. After Alex's release, things go from bad to worse however, when his "cure" leaves him defenseless to the revenge of his victims.

"A Clockwork Orange" is Stanley Kubrick's best film, and one of my favorite films overall. It is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, and still be amazed everytime. I have never been as shocked as I was when I saw this film. The first 20 minutes involves two brutal beatings and an extremely graphic rape scene. It only gets more shocking from there on out. The story also offers a hilarious sense of irony. Alex is supposedly cured of all his afflictions, but is thrust back into a world of violence when forced to deal with his victims. The camera work used in this film is amazing, and the music is wonderful. All of the actors do an outstanding job in this film, but Malcom McDowell gives one of the most memorable performances ever as Alex. I have never experienced such a use of my emotions before when dealing with a fictional character. He will make you hate him and shock you with how he acts before he is captured. But then Alex makes you feel almost sorry for him with what he has to go through afterwards.

Stanley Kubrick has made some great movies with "2001: A Space Oddesey", "Full Metal Jacket", "Barry Lyndon", "Paths of Glory", and "Dr. Strangelove...." In my opinion however, " A Clockwork Orange" is his best film. The overall story, acting, music, camera work, and truly shocking scenes set it apart from the rest. It is definately a must own, because it only gets better with repeated viewings. The DVD however, is very mediocre. The quality of the film itself is just above average, and there are no extras at all.

Even though the entertainment business has been developing into a more profane and demoralized industry, this so-called movie is still too vulgar to be put on the shelves in stores. This movie is closer to pornography, and that is what it should be sold as. It is distasteful, has a weak storyline, and holds no educational or entertainment value other than sex and violence, which should not be considered valuable material. When it was first released in 1971 it was rated X, so it was edited and re-rated R. Rated R movies, however, should not be able to contain scenes where a woman is shown being raped in front of her husband and a threesome involving countless sexual positions is clearly shown on the screen for a long period of time. No one should be subjected to such nauseating images. If a person wants to see these things, they should have to go out of their way to get it, instead of being able to pick it up at the local video or electronics store. This movie glorifies sexual violence and murder. It portrays these "ultra-violent" acts to be an ultimate-high. This film sits out there waiting to be bought by a teenager interested in violence, since most electronics stores don't check ID for the purchasing of rated R videos. Anyone who watches this movie will have some part of them corrupted in someway, and there are already too many things in this world to corrupt pure minds. I strongly suggest never watching this movie. If you must, please do not let your children view a single moment of it. I couldn't even finish watching this pornography because of how sick it made me feel, but it is still by far the worst movie I have ever had the displeasure of seeing.

Where do you start with this movie?It is dark,funny,satirical,repulsive, and has enough food for thought to keep you coming back again and again(I've seen this movie at least 20 times and it keeps getting better).Kubrick is the master at creating moods and this film shows him at his best.Note the contrast of Alex's world in the beginning of the film:the scenes almost burst with vibrancy and color.The bold and busy scenery,ecstatic music,the outlandish dress of Alex and his Droogs,gang fighting,Alex's romp with two girls he picked up at the record store,the beating of an old man to the tune of "Singing in the Rain" and the subsequent rape of his wife,and the prevalence of sexual imagery i.e. the graffiti in Alex's apartment building(big white penises painted over characters on wall murals),the white naked sculptures at Alex's hangout, and the big white penis and scrotum sculpture which is used to murder a woman.When Alex is sent to prison the prevailing imagery and music turns solemn,stark and grey,and the pace of the movie is no longer frantic.The central point of the film is the age old questions of Good vs. Evil and Free Will or Not.With the aid of drugs and treatment Alex is changed into a not fully human,but no longer harmful being(except to himself as he can no longer defend himself)which is good for the state and the politicians, but of what cost to human freedom?This question is more relevent and will become even more so in the coming century as science is making it more and more possible for humankind to be altered genetically.Will mankind play God and make the human race more automated, or allow nature and individual choice to continue despite the messiness that's bound to continue as it always has?Do we have the wisdom to know where to stop or what limits should be imposed or even know what human rights mean?The movie seems to say yes to Free Will,however much ugliness comes with the territory,because without personal choice life is inherently meaningless anyway.Note:the soundtrack is without doubt the best of all time.Every piece perfectly fits the scene to which its matched.Second note:When Alex is at the record store talking to the clerk you can see the 2001:A Space Oddyssey album at Alex's waist level.A little Kubrick self reference!

The story is set in a near future society that has unthinkable methods of crime and punishment. Alex ( Malcolm McDowell)is a man that loves to fight, rob, rape, and kill. However, his luck finally runs out and he is captured. While imprisoned, he undergoes treatment to render him " safe" to the world around him, which is refered to as a " Clockwork Orange". While Alex is made to look perfectly normal on the outside, he is crippled by reflex mechanisms beyond his control on the inside. This prevents him from committing any acts of violence whatsoever. After Alex's release, things go from bad to worse however, when his "cure" leaves him defenseless to the revenge of his victims.

"A Clockwork Orange" is Stanley Kubrick's best film, and one of my favorite films overall. It is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, and still be amazed everytime. I have never been as shocked as I was when I saw this film. The first 20 minutes involves two brutal beatings and an extremely graphic rape scene. It only gets more shocking from there on out. The story also offers a hilarious sense of irony. Alex is supposedly cured of all his afflictions, but is thrust back into a world of violence when forced to deal with his victims. The camera work used in this film is amazing, and the music is wonderful. All of the actors do an outstanding job in this film, but Malcom McDowell gives one of the most memorable performances ever as Alex. I have never experienced such a use of my emotions before when dealing with a fictional character. He will make you hate him and shock you with how he acts before he is captured. But then Alex makes you feel almost sorry for him with what he has to go through afterwards.

Stanley Kubrick has made some great movies with "2001: A Space Oddesey", "Full Metal Jacket", "Barry Lyndon", "Paths of Glory", and "Dr. Strangelove...." In my opinion however, " A Clockwork Orange" is his best film. The overall story, acting, music, camera work, and truly shocking scenes set it apart from the rest. It is definately a must own, because it only gets better with repeated viewings. The DVD however, is very mediocre. The quality of the film itself is just above average, and there are no extras at all.

Even though the entertainment business has been developing into a more profane and demoralized industry, this so-called movie is still too vulgar to be put on the shelves in stores. This movie is closer to pornography, and that is what it should be sold as. It is distasteful, has a weak storyline, and holds no educational or entertainment value other than sex and violence, which should not be considered valuable material. When it was first released in 1971 it was rated X, so it was edited and re-rated R. Rated R movies, however, should not be able to contain scenes where a woman is shown being raped in front of her husband and a threesome involving countless sexual positions is clearly shown on the screen for a long period of time. No one should be subjected to such nauseating images. If a person wants to see these things, they should have to go out of their way to get it, instead of being able to pick it up at the local video or electronics store. This movie glorifies sexual violence and murder. It portrays these "ultra-violent" acts to be an ultimate-high. This film sits out there waiting to be bought by a teenager interested in violence, since most electronics stores don't check ID for the purchasing of rated R videos. Anyone who watches this movie will have some part of them corrupted in someway, and there are already too many things in this world to corrupt pure minds. I strongly suggest never watching this movie. If you must, please do not let your children view a single moment of it. I couldn't even finish watching this pornography because of how sick it made me feel, but it is still by far the worst movie I have ever had the displeasure of seeing.

Where do you start with this movie?It is dark,funny,satirical,repulsive, and has enough food for thought to keep you coming back again and again(I've seen this movie at least 20 times and it keeps getting better).Kubrick is the master at creating moods and this film shows him at his best.Note the contrast of Alex's world in the beginning of the film:the scenes almost burst with vibrancy and color.The bold and busy scenery,ecstatic music,the outlandish dress of Alex and his Droogs,gang fighting,Alex's romp with two girls he picked up at the record store,the beating of an old man to the tune of "Singing in the Rain" and the subsequent rape of his wife,and the prevalence of sexual imagery i.e. the graffiti in Alex's apartment building(big white penises painted over characters on wall murals),the white naked sculptures at Alex's hangout, and the big white penis and scrotum sculpture which is used to murder a woman.When Alex is sent to prison the prevailing imagery and music turns solemn,stark and grey,and the pace of the movie is no longer frantic.The central point of the film is the age old questions of Good vs. Evil and Free Will or Not.With the aid of drugs and treatment Alex is changed into a not fully human,but no longer harmful being(except to himself as he can no longer defend himself)which is good for the state and the politicians, but of what cost to human freedom?This question is more relevent and will become even more so in the coming century as science is making it more and more possible for humankind to be altered genetically.Will mankind play God and make the human race more automated, or allow nature and individual choice to continue despite the messiness that's bound to continue as it always has?Do we have the wisdom to know where to stop or what limits should be imposed or even know what human rights mean?The movie seems to say yes to Free Will,however much ugliness comes with the territory,because without personal choice life is inherently meaningless anyway.Note:the soundtrack is without doubt the best of all time.Every piece perfectly fits the scene to which its matched.Second note:When Alex is at the record store talking to the clerk you can see the 2001:A Space Oddyssey album at Alex's waist level.A little Kubrick self reference!

The story is set in a near future society that has unthinkable methods of crime and punishment. Alex ( Malcolm McDowell)is a man that loves to fight, rob, rape, and kill. However, his luck finally runs out and he is captured. While imprisoned, he undergoes treatment to render him " safe" to the world around him, which is refered to as a " Clockwork Orange". While Alex is made to look perfectly normal on the outside, he is crippled by reflex mechanisms beyond his control on the inside. This prevents him from committing any acts of violence whatsoever. After Alex's release, things go from bad to worse however, when his "cure" leaves him defenseless to the revenge of his victims.

"A Clockwork Orange" is Stanley Kubrick's best film, and one of my favorite films overall. It is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, and still be amazed everytime. I have never been as shocked as I was when I saw this film. The first 20 minutes involves two brutal beatings and an extremely graphic rape scene. It only gets more shocking from there on out. The story also offers a hilarious sense of irony. Alex is supposedly cured of all his afflictions, but is thrust back into a world of violence when forced to deal with his victims. The camera work used in this film is amazing, and the music is wonderful. All of the actors do an outstanding job in this film, but Malcom McDowell gives one of the most memorable performances ever as Alex. I have never experienced such a use of my emotions before when dealing with a fictional character. He will make you hate him and shock you with how he acts before he is captured. But then Alex makes you feel almost sorry for him with what he has to go through afterwards.

Stanley Kubrick has made some great movies with "2001: A Space Oddesey", "Full Metal Jacket", "Barry Lyndon", "Paths of Glory", and "Dr. Strangelove...." In my opinion however, " A Clockwork Orange" is his best film. The overall story, acting, music, camera work, and truly shocking scenes set it apart from the rest. It is definately a must own, because it only gets better with repeated viewings. The DVD however, is very mediocre. The quality of the film itself is just above average, and there are no extras at all.

Even though the entertainment business has been developing into a more profane and demoralized industry, this so-called movie is still too vulgar to be put on the shelves in stores. This movie is closer to pornography, and that is what it should be sold as. It is distasteful, has a weak storyline, and holds no educational or entertainment value other than sex and violence, which should not be considered valuable material. When it was first released in 1971 it was rated X, so it was edited and re-rated R. Rated R movies, however, should not be able to contain scenes where a woman is shown being raped in front of her husband and a threesome involving countless sexual positions is clearly shown on the screen for a long period of time. No one should be subjected to such nauseating images. If a person wants to see these things, they should have to go out of their way to get it, instead of being able to pick it up at the local video or electronics store. This movie glorifies sexual violence and murder. It portrays these "ultra-violent" acts to be an ultimate-high. This film sits out there waiting to be bought by a teenager interested in violence, since most electronics stores don't check ID for the purchasing of rated R videos. Anyone who watches this movie will have some part of them corrupted in someway, and there are already too many things in this world to corrupt pure minds. I strongly suggest never watching this movie. If you must, please do not let your children view a single moment of it. I couldn't even finish watching this pornography because of how sick it made me feel, but it is still by far the worst movie I have ever had the displeasure of seeing.

Where do you start with this movie?It is dark,funny,satirical,repulsive, and has enough food for thought to keep you coming back again and again(I've seen this movie at least 20 times and it keeps getting better).Kubrick is the master at creating moods and this film shows him at his best.Note the contrast of Alex's world in the beginning of the film:the scenes almost burst with vibrancy and color.The bold and busy scenery,ecstatic music,the outlandish dress of Alex and his Droogs,gang fighting,Alex's romp with two girls he picked up at the record store,the beating of an old man to the tune of "Singing in the Rain" and the subsequent rape of his wife,and the prevalence of sexual imagery i.e. the graffiti in Alex's apartment building(big white penises painted over characters on wall murals),the white naked sculptures at Alex's hangout, and the big white penis and scrotum sculpture which is used to murder a woman.When Alex is sent to prison the prevailing imagery and music turns solemn,stark and grey,and the pace of the movie is no longer frantic.The central point of the film is the age old questions of Good vs. Evil and Free Will or Not.With the aid of drugs and treatment Alex is changed into a not fully human,but no longer harmful being(except to himself as he can no longer defend himself)which is good for the state and the politicians, but of what cost to human freedom?This question is more relevent and will become even more so in the coming century as science is making it more and more possible for humankind to be altered genetically.Will mankind play God and make the human race more automated, or allow nature and individual choice to continue despite the messiness that's bound to continue as it always has?Do we have the wisdom to know where to stop or what limits should be imposed or even know what human rights mean?The movie seems to say yes to Free Will,however much ugliness comes with the territory,because without personal choice life is inherently meaningless anyway.Note:the soundtrack is without doubt the best of all time.Every piece perfectly fits the scene to which its matched.Second note:When Alex is at the record store talking to the clerk you can see the 2001:A Space Oddyssey album at Alex's waist level.A little Kubrick self reference!

The story is set in a near future society that has unthinkable methods of crime and punishment. Alex ( Malcolm McDowell)is a man that loves to fight, rob, rape, and kill. However, his luck finally runs out and he is captured. While imprisoned, he undergoes treatment to render him " safe" to the world around him, which is refered to as a " Clockwork Orange". While Alex is made to look perfectly normal on the outside, he is crippled by reflex mechanisms beyond his control on the inside. This prevents him from committing any acts of violence whatsoever. After Alex's release, things go from bad to worse however, when his "cure" leaves him defenseless to the revenge of his victims.

"A Clockwork Orange" is Stanley Kubrick's best film, and one of my favorite films overall. It is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, and still be amazed everytime. I have never been as shocked as I was when I saw this film. The first 20 minutes involves two brutal beatings and an extremely graphic rape scene. It only gets more shocking from there on out. The story also offers a hilarious sense of irony. Alex is supposedly cured of all his afflictions, but is thrust back into a world of violence when forced to deal with his victims. The camera work used in this film is amazing, and the music is wonderful. All of the actors do an outstanding job in this film, but Malcom McDowell gives one of the most memorable performances ever as Alex. I have never experienced such a use of my emotions before when dealing with a fictional character. He will make you hate him and shock you with how he acts before he is captured. But then Alex makes you feel almost sorry for him with what he has to go through afterwards.

Stanley Kubrick has made some great movies with "2001: A Space Oddesey", "Full Metal Jacket", "Barry Lyndon", "Paths of Glory", and "Dr. Strangelove...." In my opinion however, " A Clockwork Orange" is his best film. The overall story, acting, music, camera work, and truly shocking scenes set it apart from the rest. It is definately a must own, because it only gets better with repeated viewings. The DVD however, is very mediocre. The quality of the film itself is just above average, and there are no extras at all.