h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A Clockwork Orange keeps popping up in theatres here in Aussie every so often ... usually more arty ones admittedly. It was a big favourite at the movie theatre at the uni I went to.
Bran.

I wish it was the case here, but alas not.
So, what do you all think of it, those of you lucky enough to have seen it?

I think it's ingenious. One of my all time favorite films. Not to be viewed by children though. I think it's got one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. And anyone who's seen it, go out and see A Young Poisoners Handbook. It's a true story, but odly enough, there are some parallels between it and A Clockwork Orange (mainly in the music, and the way he impresses a doctor and gets into an experimental program or something).

I first saw Clockwork Orange when I was 18 or 19, and at the time thought it was an outstanding film - as well as putting me on to classical music, as I was studying psychology, the behaviourism gone wrong was kind of ironic.

I have seen it a couple of times since then, and each successive time I have been more and more troubled by the film - which is what I expect Kubrick tried to do: create a disturbing portrait of sociopathy in an amoral society (who knows?). As a parady of prison reform and rehabilitation it is brilliant.

I took my then girlfriend and now defacto to see it (my last viewing), and she seriously worried about the sort of person who would rave about a film like Clockwork Orange - that was a sobering reaction (and she is by no means prudish!). Horses for courses, I suspect.

Talk about last date films, I brought an ex-girlfriend of mine (who I was seeing at the time) to see Kuberick's Full Metal Jacket.

Hmm, thanks for the opinions. I definately want to see it at least once in my life, as I do admire all of Stanley's other work that I've seen. It would be interesting to see how alike Anthony Burgess's book it is, which I read, and how Kubrick interpreted that vision.

I'm not sure what she said, I inferred that it was a proposition of some kind *wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean *

Definitely a movie worth seeing. It really does take something out of you though. I always feel like I've just played a game of Rugby after it.

Courtesy

Well, I definately hope to see it one day - hopefully they will release it. The British censor's releasing several banned films such as The Exorcist and Driller Killer, & Texas Chainsaw Massacre nowadays.
Not that they can compare with Kubrick's style and his masterpiece!

Say no more.

it wasnt soft porn at all it was just s**t!!!!

Well I would have to disagree with you on that, gemmolly.

I will admit that if you are not a Stanly Kubrick fan then you probably would not like it. If found it interesting and provacative, definitely something to strike up conversations about.

Why, may I ask, do you feel this way about the movie?

Courtesy the Curious

I agree with Courtesy, although I think I can see Gemmolly's view. It all depends on what you went into the cinema to see. Just like "A Clockwork Orange" - many people go to see a story about violence, and that's not what "A Clockwork Orange" really is about, and so come out feeling that the film was bad. "2001: A Space Odyssey" is science-fiction, yet anyone who sees it wanting something like "Star Wars" will be disappointed. It is a classic film, but you have to see it for what it is.

Agreed Blue, of course most of film watching is that way. There have been countless movies that I have gone to and enjoyed, then met people who are breathing fire about it. It turns out that it wasn't the movie that was bad, it's just that it didn't live up to their preconceived notions of what the movie should be.

I generally try to go into a movie with the "uncarved block" attitude. I just take it as it comes and try to enjoy what the director and actors bring to the stage. Of course there is some definite c%$p that comes out of Hollywood.

As for Eyes Wide Shut, I knew that Kubrick would take me on a journey and I knew that I would never be able to guess where it might lead, so I just sat back and enjoyed. Some of the cinematogrophy (sp?) was amazing!

Yes, you are right that people will be able to like anything if you try hard enough. As for the uncarved block, that's how I try to watch films, and I seem to enjoy films a lot more than those who do nothing but, it seems, complain about every film they see. Every film has good points, normally, and you have to look for them. But you're right about the mass-produced Holleywood rubbish that's often last year's film with a new title.
(BTW is it spelt cinematography?)

Was the last time I checked.

It definitely wasn't pornographic in any way shape or form - to my mind it was more a film about relationships and trust than anything else. Not all films should be hollywood blockbusters with Bruce Willis running round in a vest. I have several friends who've seen the film, and ALL of them have different insights into it - THAT is it's greatest strength as far as I'm concerned - it's a complicated message, it requires some thought, and Kubrick doesn't try to make you sympathize with one character more than another - it's all to do with the way that YOUR mind works. I loved it. One of my friend's wives HATED it, but he's always been unfaithful to her, and she KNOWS it. He, on the other hand also loved it. Nuff said.

I agree Pea, the best movies are the ones that make you think and cause discussion. I am tired of the hollywood movie where you can figure out the entire plot in the first few minutes. While it's fun sometimes to just go and enjoy the experience, I'm usually looking for more from a flick.

Exactly, and that is what Kubrick is good for.
I had a friend who saw "Paths of Glory" and said the film was bad because it didn't have a happy ending as the men were shot (without which, the film would be meaningless!) and that the very end with the German girl (Christiane - to be Mrs Kubrick) was pointless and didn't tie in with the rest of the film - but that is such a narrow and short-minded view.

It is a masterpiece because it includes what you would not normally get, and is a very unique war film which does not show you an "enemy" except your own people.