Review of A Clockwork Orange (1971) by Cara H — 11 Feb 2014

An interesting and thought-provoking perspective on psychological reform of the criminally insane, that is, if Alex is actually insane (which as preposterous as it may sound, I don't think he is). The film has some large flaws, it's main one being that Alex is supposedly heavily influenced by society - thus the Nadsat and gang culture - though by Kubrick's definition of 'criminally insane', isn't almost every character in "A Clockwork Orange" criminally insane? Alex's crimes are committed under the influence of drugs that enhance violent nature, not to mention a mob mentality. The novel is notorious for its ---SPOILER AHEAD---.

"well indeed he can change... If he wants to" 21st chapter. Most hate how it seems to disrupts the rhythm of the last third of the book, but hell, it makes a lot more sense than "he can't change the fact that he's a juvenile delinquent, oh how unfortunate.".