Sunday, April 6, 2008

The Opening Scene of A Clockwork Orange




A Clockwork Orange, like most Stanley Kubrick films, is not for everybody. But if you are a true film buff, its a must have.

You could literally pick about a million scenes in the film that are hypnotic, yet terrifying. I chose this one because it sets the tone of what the rest of the film is about. Its a violent, sexual masterpiece.

Look at the shadows involved in the scene. The shadows make the thugs look like gigantic monsters. The moment you see that you know trouble is brewing. Look how unglorified the violence is as well. Its very to the point. Its supposed to terrify you, because this is something you could actually see in real life: young thugs beating up the poor and the weak, just for kicks.

The scene really epitomizes a lot of Kubrick's work. He is not afraid to shoot things that causes uncomfortable reactions from his audience. This is a sign of a true artist, that he entertains but is not afraid to challenge his audience. As a matter of fact, most Kubrick films that I have seen, I didn't like the first time I saw it. It really requires a second and third viewing to fully "get it".

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