Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

Home | All Reviews | Festival Courses | Film and Media Studies | SBCC | | Log in

1. Natanya Maskart 02.15.12 / 11pm

   I thought that this was a great Stanley Kubrick film but agree that the second part of the movie was a little hard to watch. Although i was always intrigued to see what was going to happen next since it was my first time seeing the film and very captivated but the uniqueness.
2. Kayla Dobroth 03.11.12 / 9pm

   A Clockwork Orange was a great film, but definitely a disturbing one. It is not the easiest to watch due to the pornographic aspect and the violence. The storyline is what kept me interested. Malcolm McDowell played the part of a psychologically disturbed person so well that it was hard to look away. I was constantly curious as to what he was going to do or say next because he was so unpredictable and strange. The storyline was so absurd that I was never sure as to what was going to happen. Once Alex left the prison and went through the program, I wasn’t ever sure if he was truly a changed man or was just acting. It was all so sci-fi esq that I still don’t even know. I enjoyed the film, but would say that you must be prepared for a disturbing 2 hours before suggesting this film.
3. Jack Sawyer 03.13.12 / 1pm

   I thoroughly enjoyed A Clockwork Orange. Even though I agree some of the scenes might have been very graphic and disturbing, I thought they were necessary to get Kubrick’s point across. The film criticizes society and it’s policies on handling the troubled (or more appropriately criminally insane) youth. Without showing how violent and disturbed Alex and his gang of hooligans were, we would not be able to see what Kubrick is trying to reveal to us about society. This movie also asks us a question about how rehabilitation for these criminals should be handled. Should we have the ability to remove a criminals free will in order to prevent further crimes, or is it against our very nature to deny a fellow human the simple right to free will? Either way A Clockwork Orange is a film that will hit hard regardless of what mindset the viewer is in.
4. Sheerly Tene 03.14.12 / 7pm

   I have watched A Clockwork Orange multiple times because I feel that this film was very creative and unique. It’s different from most films I’ve seen, (yes, romantic comedies). This review of the film was unique in itself. I wouldn’t have portrayed the film this way myself, but it was definitely amusing. This film exposes the very delicate subjects of rape, violence, and sex in such a genius way. He has no shame and definitely does not fear to censor any of it. Films such as these are meant to provide us with a wake up call and stop pretending that such events don’t exist.
5. Bonny Chen 03.16.12 / 10pm

   I have never watched A Clockwork Orange but after reading this review, I thought of this film as a disturbing film because of the violence and the pornography. But after reading the review, I went on to youtube and watch the trailer and I realized it is a really unique film that it shows a different style compared to other films around 1970’s. I f I ever get a chance to watch it, I would love to rent it and watch it because the review seems so interesting.
6. Tameer Orevi 03.16.12 / 10pm

   I couldn’t agree more with this review. After watching this film for a third time, I still had the same reaction as Kris, which is how I felt every time I had seen this film. This film uses sex and violence in a way, which works hand in hand to achieve its goal. The characters are very attracted to this thought of “ultra violence”, which can mean brutally beating someone and even raping a person. By committing act such as these, the film is able to take sex and violence and combine them to create a very disturbing effect. Stanley Kubrick was successful in developing a new twisted dimension to film which I had never seen before.
7. Trevor Swigart 03.19.12 / 11am

   I have seen this movie many time, and yes it kind of odd, but I still think that it is a great film. The film also uses violence as a way to prove or gets its message across, a theme that Kubrick was known for using. Overall I thought this was a great movie, interesting and sometimes disturbing, but pretty good overall.
8. Matthew Rhodes 03.19.12 / 11am

   What a review. Clockwork Orange is an intense movie in itself but your review was pretty damn intense also. Although I didn’t agree with some of what was said towards the end of the review (because I am such a huge fan of the film), your writing kept me wholly intrigued. What was the Field Diversion Experiment? Why did it have you throwing up? I have tried to research into it but have not found anything about it… Were you on some sort of hallucinogenic? That is really all that comes to mind after reading your review and about your experience. Great work overall. Great.
9. Allison Junod 04.04.12 / 9pm

   I feel what this review said was all true, and that’s what makes A Clockwork Orange such a great film. Although disturbing, all the explicit content is necessary to make a point. Watching this movie is an experience, a regular occurrence for Stanley Kubrick films. I remember feeling conflicted about Alex, like the review stated. Should we help these people who clearly are mentally unstable, or simply lock them away for their horrible crimes? Malcolm Mcdowell was excellent as Alex, it made me an official fan of of Mcdowell. I also liked the visuals of this movie, as far as colors and cinematography goes. A Clockwork Orange is a disturbingly amazing film, and I enjoyed reading this review.
10. Rachel SanFilippo 04.26.12 / 10am

    I have only seen bits and pieces of this film and just have agreed that this is just not a film for me. Although I do have to agree with this review, it is a disturbingly fantastic film but for certain viewers only. There is ultimately a weird twist to this film and behind what the reality of, well, reality truly is. This film makes a great claim on how to interpret people whom have committed crimes, to where they stand in society and how they should be treated. When I have time again, I would love to give this film another chance, hopefully this time, having a stronger stomach.
11. Sara Marlow 10.01.12 / 11am

    There very first time I saw Clockwork Orange I was lost for words. As Kris Mendes points out it is very difficult to figure out what Stanley Kubricks message is at the beginning of the film. This is definetly a nonclassical narrative and I think we are to ask from a social point, how much sex and violence is too much? Kubrick takes us on this adventure where we watch hooligans perform horrible violence and we can see how desenitized they are. The act as if it were a game and laugh as they commit the crimes. What I like best about this movie is when the psych ward performs an experiment on Alex to see if they can connect negative feelings and thoughts to violence by forcing him to watch violent movies nonstop for hours. What also I think is funny is everytime I listen to beethoven I cant help but think of Alex and his violent rampage.
12. Kristina Khersonsky 04.13.13 / 5pm

    Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange” juxtaposes violence and sex in a way to evoke the squeamish in its viewers, yet they find themselves unable to look away because no one can predict what psychologically disturbed main character, Alex will do next. A distorted commentary on a society striving to achieve utopian ideals, Kubrick’s masterpiece facilitates its social remarks on youth gangs, sex and rape. Kubrick’s brilliant use of slang in the film that is comprised of examples such ‘droogs’, which means ‘friends,’ and the interwoven classical music that is comprised mostly of Beethoven, creates a truly obscure and uneasy feel, when paired with phallic sexual props throughout the film. Furthermore, the bright, psychedelic sets the film stays true to the time period, thus adding a more twisted, colorful effect to the film. Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange,” is truly a classic in my book because of its unique nature to convey a message other directors have nearly attempted to effectively express.
13. Victoria Firestone 07.25.13 / 9am

    This movie was disturbing yet interesting at the same time! Overall I thought it was a great film. One thing that really stood out for me was the music. I thought the music played a huge roll in this film. The song “Singing in the Rain” was a reoccurring song. It was first played in the beginning as he’s raping his residents wife. Years later in that same house where he raped the woman he’s in the shower and his singing that song. It was unsettling! Right as I heard the song again it linked the events together for me. I think Kubrick did a good job with that!
14. Erika Navarro 04.14.14 / 10am

    I also completely agree that in the beginning as well as throughout the entire film I was disturbed by the explicit and abundant sexual imagery, however only in the beginning was I confused in the message. The film while it starts with Alex and his droogs causing trouble involving violence and rape. Then eventually we learn Kubrick’s message of caring for social deviants. The discussion of whether or not there should be rehabilitation, or even if it would work. The very hard to watch scenes that Kubrick films make the audience so disturbed and yet so intrigued in how the film could possibly end on a positive note or rather are so very interested in the wrong way it will end.
15. Cameron Dennis 07.17.15 / 6am

    A Clockwork Orange, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is British film about an appealing sick-minded delinquent whom has rapped, murdered and assaulted. The first couple scenes of the movie are very disturbing as they thoroughly portray Alex, the main character, and his crew of criminals brutally assault homeless man and gang rape a woman while her husband watches. Alex would constantly abuse his henchmen, which cause them to revolt against him and smash a bottle of a noxious chemical over his head, just as Alex murdered a woman with a huge ceramic penis. As his henchmen get away, gets caught by the police, and is sentenced to 40 years in prison. Alex, being a swift and keen man, he seeks to befriend the priest to have a higher chance of being chosen for a government run scientific study to change criminals into active members of society. Luckily for Alex, he gets chosen and the tests cause him to go crazy every time he hears Beethoven’s 8th symphony. After he is released, he encounters all of the people’s lives he affected when he was a killer and rapist. These people harass him and cause him to jump out of a window. After the news press makes Alex seem like the victim to the governments experiments, he is released and promised a government job.
    The main the themes of the movie represent forgiveness and second chances. I really enjoyed how the movie highlights if man is capable of being conditioned to do well. It alludes to the nature vs. nurture debate.
16. Yingxin Chen 07.12.16 / 11am

    A Clockwork Orange is an aesthetic movie which stresses on using the way of stage play to highlight characters. At the beginning of the movie, many actors are exaggerated their characteristic by being worn a heavy-makeup and strange clothes. A Clockwork Orange is a movie that stimulates audience’s nerve with its unique topic and actors’ outstanding performance. What’s more, the movie released in 1970s gives a antisocial behavior character to audience, which makes a new attraction in the history of movies. The phenomenon that people are against of Alex who is released from the prison and cured is crucial. In this circumstance, government chooses to make him back to be the person who committed crime before. This is a typical sexual and violent movie in 1970s.
17. Kendall Larson 07.16.16 / 5pm

    I just watched A Clockwork Orange for the first time last night. I agree that certain parts of the film were not easy to watch, but the fact that almost every single aspect of the film was Kubrick trying to display a deeper meaning made it a lot better for me. I thought tit was interesting that you said you barfed during the second half of the movie because that is exactly the kind of reaction the government was trying to get from their “rehabilitated” criminals. Contrary to what you thought of the movie, I thought it was pretty good and loved the long shots in the film that zoomed in on various people/ objects after important scenes. This film definitely proves that Stanley Kubrick is an auteur because this movie is full on his opinions and outlooks on life. Really great review, I enjoyed reading what you had to say about the film !
18. William Moore 03.10.17 / 2pm

    This film was incredible in my opinion. I agree that nearly every scene has some larger meaning to it, or some sort of symbolism present. What really made this film stand out to me and what made it so memorable was the music utilized. It honestly defined the movie for me, as every scene was so violent or disturbing but the music created such an interesting atmosphere with each scene. Then, this same music thats been used throughout the movie is suddenly Alex’s enemy after the rehabilitation. Kubrick truly is an incredible director and, like the persons comment above me, certainly is an example of auteur in the sense that he makes movies his own.
19. Matty Vicencio 10.18.18 / 11am

    A Clockwork Orange seems to grab your attention for all the wrong reasons. It is great film, however, very disturbing and cringeworthy. This review does a great job in wrapping up the overall message of the film. Kubrick is not shy in the message he is trying to send. This group of degenerate kids commits crimes that are wrong in so many ways. After Alex goes through the program, it is hard to think if he is really changed. You ask yourself… after committing such crimes, how can you fix everything and become civil? Is money worth paying these criminals to try to fix them? It is hard to say and it is one of the underlying messages in the film. This review opened my eyes in how I look at the film. Very interesting read, nicely done!
20. Ian Anzlowar 03.10.19 / 3pm

    A Clockwork Orange was one of those taboo films from when i was a child. Impossibly alluring yet completely incomprehensible during the first viewing and the tender age of 16. I loved it, but I didn’t know why. It grabbed my attention in all the wrong ways, ultra-violence, pornography and classical music called to me like a siren to Odysseus. It was only after a third viewing a few years ago did I truly come to appreciate the disturbing effects of the film in all its glory.
21. Juan Serratos 02.28.20 / 9pm

    This film was absolutely great. Kubrick created a suspenseful film that the viewer could not predict what would happen next — at least I couldn’t. I saw this film when I was twelve, and the uniqueness of it stuck; particularly the language. Further, the performance given by the actors, especially Malcolm Mcdowell, gave the viewer a true observing experience; meaning, the verisimilitudinous of the film gave me an exposure to a plausible dystopian society. The sets! The set design is still one of my favorites: the korona milk bar; the cat lady’s home; Alex’s home; the lobby; Alexanders’ home; the environment; it’s almost unparalleled in its particularity. The costumes are still some of my favorites: the all-white clothing with a black bowler hat, and the masks they put on when at the Alexanders’ home — phenomenal. Conclusion: excellent.
22. Jasmine Rodriguez 07.10.21 / 10pm

    Your review and perspective on how Stanley Kubrick’s twisted mind uses his film A Clockwork Orange to discuss issues of society and how delinquents, criminals, murders, and sexual offenders should be dealt with. This was an idea that I had not thought about. It was extremely enlightening and opened up my perspective on the film. The film itself was difficult to digest but the Auteur director knows how to bring controversy, unpleasantness, and out of the box concepts. Stanley Kubrick is a perfect example of Auteur with the anime itself, you know that the film will have a twisted perspective on things and will make you uncomfortable, yet intrigued at the same time.

Home | SBCC | Class Schedule | Film and Media Studies

Contact: Prof. Nico MaestuCopyright 2007-23 Log in