A Clockwork Orange (1971)

A Clockwork Orange is my favourite film of all time, and deservedly so; I've watched it 10 times, and it never fails to disappoint. Whether you love it or you hate it, you will never forget it. It's a disturbing and dark film, but if you can stomach it, you'll almost certainly like it.

The film is an adaption of the novel of the same name. The story follows Alex Delarge, a young boy who participates in the old "ultraviolence" with his "droogies" (or, in other words, he beats up, steals from and rapes people with his friends). The "ultraviolence" is, indeed, ultra violent; the "Singin' In The Rain" scene is sickening, taking a sweet song that we all know and love and changing the way we think about it forever.

Georgie, one of his fellow droogies, talks about the "Cat Lady", an old woman who runs an health farm off in the countryside. On the weekends, she's all by herself; the perfect target for some ultraviolence, Georgie says! So the next day, they decide to head off to the house. Alex attempts to make his way into the house using the phrase he has always used: "Excuse me, can you please help? There's been a terrible accident!" Alex asks if he can use the Cat Lady's phone to contact the emergency services, but The Cat Lady refuses.

And we soon learn why, as she realises the words the "young man" said at the door were awfully similar to the ones quoted in the newspapers about an incident with an author (which also involved Alex) and so she phones the police who agree to come down to her house (although she doesn't think it necessary). Alex, however, has managed to make his way into her house and, after some talking, fights her and murders her. Alex, for once shocked with what he's done, runs outside to his droogies. But they haven't forgotten Alex beating them up earlier in an attempt to show who's leader, and smash a milk bottle over his head and quickly flee, leaving him to the hands of the police who soon arrive. Alex is arrested and taken to prison.

I won't go any further into the plot, as the plot really starts from there. But I will say this again; the film is very dark and sick. There are some scenes which, even on my 10th viewing, still shock me. It is frightening at times and does not ever hold back. But if you are still willing to see it, then you will love it. Each and every scene in this film is vivid and memorable. The only thing which turned me off initially was the language this film uses. The original book used a unique language called "Nadsat" and it still uses it for this film. First time around, watch the film with subtitles on (unless you've already read the book) or you will not understand it. Read up on the language, there are many sites with a Nadsat dictionary. Other than that, this is a masterpiece with not a single flaw. Some would dispute that fact, calling it over-the-top violence, but for everyone else, it's a timeless classic.