Clockwork Orange

If there's one thing I don't get, it's why some people prefer Anthony Burgess's Clockwork Orange to Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of it. For the most part, I do tend to agree with the idea that the book is always better than the movie. But for this movie, I've really got to bend the rule and say that Kubrick pretty much outshone Burgess.

Because really, what does the book have that the movie doesn't? Most would probably point to the language of the book. But though I find Burgess creating a teenage dialect fascinating, we see plenty of that dialect in the movie. In fact, I like the way the movie uses its dialect better: because it's combined with visuals, the dialect is more easily understood in the movie than in the book. Also, I really felt like the accents of McDowell and his "droogs" really richen the language.

Then there are all the things Kubrick put into his film which weren't in the book, like that chilling scene where Alex was singing, "Singing in the Rain," while he commited a violent act.

Also, the reason why so many people liked the film was because of the beautiful visuals Kubrick is so well known for. Sure, the violence of the book was pretty gruesome, but I would say Kubrick's depiction of the violence was even more gruesome.

It must be said, Burgess's Clockwork Orange did come first and it therefore gets some credit. However, just because it came first doesn't mean it's better.* And it's not even like Burgess would defend his novel: he's blatantly stated that it's not his best work. He even said that he wrote the book in three weeks. So really, Kubrick actually spent more time in the creation of his Clockwork Orange than Burgess did.

And it shows. Kubrick's work is just more deeply thought out.

It showed in the scenery: who can forget that opening scene at the milk bar, with the nude female statues which spat out milk? Sure, it was strange and sexual, but that was what made the movie what it was.

Really I just don't get why some people prefer Burgess's book: Kubrick gives Orange so much more.

*If that rule were true, I guess Epic of Gilgamesh would be the greatest work of all time. Ummm...

No.