Clock work orange ( book & movie)?

Question

Is the clock work orange book and movie as horrid as they say? and would it be appropriate for young adults?

Answer 1

I haven't read the book, but I remember the movie being very intense, violent and sexual in nature. You're talking about a group of guys that enjoy hurting and raping, and then one goes through "treatment" after getting caught - aversion therapy.

I don't know how old I was when I saw it, but I wouldn't show it at a school (for sure) unless we're talking college level. It's a strong R.

P.S. I agree with the previous answerer - definitely maturity level would be a factor.

Answer 2

The movie, A Clockwork Orange (1971), is a bit dated and was rated R. The DVD's are in their original content and are rated X, mostly for explicit violence. I didn't read the book. But I saw the movie years ago and will try to do it justice...

It's supposed to be somewhat futuristic, but it primarily focuses on the ill-behavior of the main character rather than the environment (which looks very much the same as modern England). He basically acts as a gang leader (Alex) who ends up on his own because his behavior is so strange. His buddies betray him during a robbery. Alex engages in various acts of rape and murder. It's also a study of societal responsibilities. How should society intervene? In this case, it tries an experiment to "cure" him, but the cure ultimately fails. The movie makes heavy use of a movement from Beethoven's 9th symphony to highlight the contrasts in his mind.

The book goes into much more detail about his attitude and other experiences, including prison and attempted suicide. It stretches the imagination from unreal to believable. This couldn't really happen, yet it seems like it could.

Maturity is required to understand the behavioral psychology nuances and exposure to Alex's own profile being developed and given personality. It is not so much about being sheltered from the violence, which is very strong and weird.

I think a much "sicker," more contemporary and realistic movie, is American History X. This is about a younger brother of a violent racist. He starts to follow his older brother, but then faces his own monsters along the way. The contrast is that this movie is more shocking and believable than A Clockwork Orange. Yet, the inner struggles of the main character are not as developed.

In this case, however, count on losing some innocence simply from witnessing the utterly ignorant hatred of one toward another. This is real and more frequent than Alex's behavior. Both are important movies because they flat out expose a truly ugly side of humanity.

If you see either of these movies, ask yourself why do people become this way? How would you help them or intervene? It can't be easily explained by drugged milk (ACO). It can't be resolved by sitting down and telling them there's a better way. If you're not prepared to ask yourself these questions, skip the movies/books and move on to something that is gentler on the mind. You're not an outcast if you don't see them.

Trivia: Bart Simpson once dressed up as Alex on one of the halloween episodes of The Simpsons.

Answer 3

I saw the movie *A Clockwork Orange* when I was a young adult....and I thought it was very good. I was about seventeen.

It was violent...after all..it is about gangs in the future..

My brother liked it too, which surprised me.

Never read the book, though.

I have never heard anyone way it was horrid...only that it is a classic.

Answer 4

It was violent when first released. I watched it again a couple of years ago and it seemed quite tame. Much of the "violence" is implied, or psychological. This is a sad indictment on the explicit violence in modern movies. Nonetheless, I would watch it again before I let my daughter watch it and assess the movie against the sole criterion of its suitability for her.

Much as I like the work of Anthony Burgess it is one of very few examples that I know where the movie is better than the book.

Answer 5

I just saw someone on YA today who had Alex for his avatar!

I saw C.O. when I was 14. When I think back to how young I was when I saw it, it's a bit scary. But I was mature so it's not like I went out and did the things I saw in the movie. I would say it's okay for teens/young adults who are emotionally and intellectually mature for their age.

The book was great, but if you haven't go a talent for slang it might be hard to read. There's so much slang in it that's supposed to be the current slang of Alex and his peers. There is a dictionary in the back of the book, at least the one we had at home. Yeah, my mom let me read the book. And see the movie.
And I turned out JUST fine! Now excuse me while I go beat some people to the tunes of classical music.

Answer 6

It is violent, and to some a little weird and out there. I am sure it is something that when it was made was thought of as way worse then it is now where we have a lot worse things in movies then they did back then.

Answer 7

"the two works are classics of their respected artwork varieties. One will come away with a much better appreciation by using analyzing the e book and viewing the action picture". yet once you had to p.c., easily the action picture. you're able to desire to observe it. that's a cult. you're able to savor it greater effective than the e book itself, and that i think of that's the 1st time ever i want to advise a action picture over a e book! The e book is large in spite of the undeniable fact that it demands a appropriate quantity of staying power and that's not straight forward to comprehend each and every of the slung written there. that's greater handy in the action picture and that i won't have the ability to stand as much as to Stanley Kubrick's means as a out of the common director. I repeat, you're able to desire to observe it. and then, in line with threat examine the e book.

Answer 8

Clockwork Orange is one of the most violent movies I have ever seen. Also one of my favorites. I let my daughter watch Psycho for her 13th birthday but I don't think I would let somebody 13 years old watch Clockwork orange.

Answer 9

I know the movie not the book. Wouldn't recommend it. Extreme gratuitous violence and rape.

Answer 10

I probably read it in high school. It was weird and if too young you would not understand it.