A Clockwork Orange 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 76
from 7 reviewers
Review Date:
A Clockwork Orange's 4K release: visually stunning, audio mixed; a must-have for fans.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
DTS-HD MA
Video: 84
A Clockwork Orange's 4K restoration excels in color accuracy, depth, and film-like texture, presenting Kubrick's vision with unprecedented clarity and detail, while retaining its unique cinematic aesthetic.
Audio: 71
Despite technological advances, the harsh treble and artificial feel of A Clockwork Orange's DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix disappoint, while the original mono offers a natural, balanced alternative.
Extra: 66
A Clockwork Orange's UHD and Blu-ray release features insightful commentaries by Malcolm McDowell and Nick Redman, alongside detailed documentaries and featurettes exploring the film's making and impact, all housed within captivating packaging.
Movie: 90
1971's A Clockwork Orange, by Kubrick, remains a jarring cinema piece, diving into dark societal themes with stunning visuals, evoking shock and deep reflection decades later.
Video: 84
A Clockwork Orange, captured on 35mm film and now remastered in 4K, presents a visual feast unparalleled in its cinematic history. Shot using Mitchell BNC, Newman Sinclair Auto Kino, and Arriflex 35 IIC cameras with spherical lenses, this Ultra HD edition brings Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece to life with meticulous attention to detail. The native 4K DI transfer, presented in the director's preferred 1.66:1 aspect ratio, is sourced from a new 4K scan supervised by Kubrick’s former assistant Leon Vitali. Enhanced by HDR10, the film exhibits deep and vivid colors, stronger contrast, and a balance of brightness that breathes new depth into each frame. The color grading leans towards a colder tone, reflecting the film's dystopian setting more naturally, with the HDR enhancement drawing out the gaudy interiors and bleak exteriors in striking clarity.
Detail in this release is remarkable, betraying a fine layer of grain that remains faithful to the original filmic texture without veering into over-processing. Close-ups reveal intricate textures in costumes and setting, while wide shots uncover previously obscured background details. Blacks are profound and solid, ensuring that shadows and night scenes are rendered with excellent nuance. Whites burst with brightness, offering a crisp contrast that was hitherto unseen in previous releases. The application of HDR not only accentuates the dynamic range but also sharpens the image quality, allowing for an immersive viewing experience that showcases the unique artistry of Kubrick's vision in ways never before appreciated on home video.
Despite the inherent softness and stylistic choices of the original filming, this 4K UHD presentation maintains superb clarity throughout. Colors are richly saturated, from the iconic red of the droogs' outfits to the more subtle hues of the dystopian landscape. The restoration respects Kubrick's meticulous craftsmanship, ensuring that every frame retains its intended impact without succumbing to unnecessary digital alteration. Moreover, the careful preservation of natural film grain and avoidance of digital noise ensures that A Clockwork Orange remains an enduring legacy in film history, its visual complexity enhanced rather than diminished by the passage to ultra-high definition.
Audio: 71
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "A Clockwork Orange" offers a divisive auditory experience, primarily through its English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track, which, per consensus, often feels overly front-focused and occasionally burdensome due to its heightened treble and somewhat aggressive mixing. The mix's inclination to elevate the front three channels invariably results in a soundstage that may test the auditory endurance of its audience, especially during scenes where the dialogue suffers from an excessive sharpness, thereby diminishing the otherwise engaging score's role in the narrative's procession. Despite this, the orchestrated music and electronic scoring by Wendy Carlos manage to maintain a presence, benefiting slightly from the mix’s wider soundstage, though not without its flaws regarding fidelity and balance.
Alternatives to the primary audio track present an essential relief, with the inclusion of an original English mono track in Dolby Digital format. Though arguably constrained by its lossy nature and vintage recording limitations, this mono option emerges as a preferable auditory choice for purists seeking a more authentic and less abrasive listening experience. Its more natural levelling creates a balanced concord among dialogue, effects, and score, thereby salvaging the film's intricate audio landscape from the pitfalls of the main 5.1 mix. This juxtaposition highlights a common critique across various assessments—while advancements in soundstage expansion are acknowledged, they often come at the cost of aural harshness and a compressed dynamic range.
Additionally, secondary audio options further annotate the release's efforts to cater to a diverse audience, including multiple Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks in various languages and a comprehensive selection of subtitles aimed at enhancing accessibility. Nevertheless, irrespective of these inclusions, it’s the core audio experience that defines this release’s mixed legacy. While some find merit in the efforts to reinterpret the film’s sonic environment through modern mixing techniques, others yearn for the original's simplicity and directness, culminating in a polarized reception that underscores the challenges of reimagining classic cinema audio for contemporary home theater systems.
Extra: 66
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "A Clockwork Orange" presents an enticing package for cinephiles and fans alike, pairing the film's ultra-high-definition presentation with a collection of compelling extras that delve deeply into its production, impact, and legacy. Noteworthy is the inclusion of an audio commentary by Malcolm McDowell and historian Nick Redman, offering fascinating insights that will undoubtedly enrich the viewing experience. Further enhancing the package are documentaries and featurettes available on the accompanying Blu-ray disc, including the in-depth "Still Tickin’: The Return of Clockwork Orange" and "Great Bolshy Yarblockos! Making A Clockwork Orange," alongside "Turning Like Clockwork" and "Malcolm McDowell Looks Back," providing a comprehensive exploration of the film's creation and its enduring influence. The set's packaging also deserves mention, featuring hypnotic cover artwork that encapsulates the film’s essence. This release ensures that both newcomers to Kubrick’s masterpiece and long-time fans have plenty to discover and enjoy.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: With Malcolm McDowell and Nick Redman
- Still Tickin’: The Return of A Clockwork Orange: Channel 4 documentary
- Great Bolshy Yarblockos! Making A Clockwork Orange: Featurette
- Turning Like Clockwork: Covers the violence and media response
- Malcolm McDowell Looks Back: The actor reflects on his iconic role
- Theatrical Trailer
Movie: 90
Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, a cinematic adaptation of Anthony Burgess's novel, remains as shockingly relevant and unforgivingly visceral as it was upon its release in 1971. The film's portrayal of violence and social engineering dives deep into the dark crevices of human nature and the dichotomy of free will versus societal control. Depicted through the eyes and nefarious deeds of Alex DeLarge, portrayed with unnerving conviction by Malcolm McDowell, the film challenges viewers with its graphic violence and moral ambiguity. The use of "Nadsat," a fictional slang developed by Burgess, alongside the removed final chapter from the US novel edition, serves to both distance and draw the audience into Alex’s twisted psyche, making for a complicated viewing experience.
Kubrick, known for his meticulous attention to cinematic detail, leverages lighting, framing, and naturalistic settings to paint a dystopian England fraught with gang violence, reflecting societal fears of the time. This grungy, urban backdrop starkly contrasts the polished aesthetics of Kubrick's previous work, 2001: A Space Odyssey, demonstrating his ability to masterfully shift thematic and visual tones. Amidst this chaos, Alex's journey from perpetrator to victim, subjected to controversial aversion therapy, explores complex themes of accountability, redemption, and the ethical limits of governmental intervention in curbing individual behavior. The film navigates these themes with a blend of irony, satire, and discomforting insight, refusing to provide easy answers.
A Clockwork Orange's presentation on 4K UHD Blu-Ray further enhances Kubrick’s deliberate stylistic choices, offering a restored visual quality that intensifies the film's immersive experience. The meticulous transfer honors the original film's gritty textures and vibrant contrasts, ensuring that Kubrick’s vision is conveyed with the clarity and depth it necessitates. Surrounded by controversy, banned in several countries for its explicit content, the film stands as a polarizing yet undeniably influential piece of cinema that continues to provoke debate concerning societal violence and the nature of human conditioning. Whether viewed as sensationalist trash or a profound satirical masterpiece, A Clockwork Orange endures as a testament to Kubrick's fearless filmmaking prowess and his enduring impact on the landscape of cinematic storytelling.
Total: 76
Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" continues to draw attention and debate, half a century after its original release. With Warner Bros.' latest venture into the 4K UHD realm, this masterpiece receives an Ultra HD makeover that magnifies its visual and thematic potency. The native 4K image leaps off the screen, replete with vivid colors, deep blacks, and pristine whites, all the while preserving the quintessential 'Kubrick' feel through its inherent softness and grain. This edition, released as both a standalone and part of the Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Studio Collection, ensures Kubrick's dystopian vision is more accessible and stunningly detailed than ever, though it retains previously seen extras without adding new material.
However, the audio aspect of the release presents a rather mixed bag. The original mono track offers an authentic auditory experience, in contrast to the DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix, which some may find excessively harsh due to its amplified frontal channels. This discrepancy in audio fidelity can detract from the otherwise immersive viewing experience, although enthusiasts with a preference for the mono soundtrack may still find it satisfactory. The preservation of all legacy extras, despite their familiarity, adds a layer of appreciation for long-time fans, offering a semblance of continuity across releases.
In conclusion, "A Clockwork Orange" in 4K UHD by Warner Bros. marks a significant upgrade that befits Kubrick's controversial yet undeniably influential classic. While it excels in delivering an outstanding visual restoration that showcases the film's vivid imagery and stylistic nuances like never before, the audio experience leaves room for improvement. Nonetheless, for devotees of Kubrick's work and cinephiles eager to experience this seminal film in the highest quality possible, this release represents a worthy addition to any collection. The balance between maintaining the film's original aesthetic integrity and utilizing modern home entertainment technology makes this 4K UHD edition highly recommended, despite some reservations regarding audio treatment.
avforums review by Simon CrustRead review here
Video: 90
Detail is, baring softness from the filming process, excellent; skin texture, clothing weaves (check out the eyes on Alex’s cuffs) the wall coverings (artwork, gaudy wallpaper) are clear, the grime of...
Audio: 70
The original track was recorded live with little or no ADR so there was always a grungy effect to the sound; this has been maintained but there is still good layering within the mix and nothing is lost...
Extras: 60
Making of A Clockwork Orange - Featurette Turning Like Clockwork – Featurette Malcom McDowell looks back Theatrical Trailer...
Movie: 90
Burgess’ novel is a tough read, not only due to the ghastly subject matter but because it is told in first person by the protagonist, Alex, in his own language, termed Nadsat, a deliberately obtuse shorthand...
Total: 80
The sound, on the other hand, has issues – the DTS-HD MA 5.1 is harsh and grating, even if well separated, luckily the disc has the ‘original’ mono which is a far better listen....
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 90
It's a fine upgrade that offers moderate to strong improvements in all key areas, the most obvious of which are color, density, and film grain....
Audio: 70
While that older surround track didn't exactly offer many notable improvements over its original one-channel source -- even adding in trace amounts of ambient noise to several scenes -- I'd take it any...
Extras: 50
The bonus features (listed below in name only) are identical to both previous releases, with the only exemptions being two feature-length documentaries exclusive to the Digibook edition's bonus disc....
Movie: 80
Raw, visceral, and uncompromising, A Clockwork Orange is one of the worst date movies ever released by a major studio and still has the capacity to shock audiences five decades after its theatrical release,...
Total: 70
The audio is a different story: while it's nice to have a mono track (albeit lossy), the default 5.1 mix is a downgrade from the Blu-ray with boosted front channels that make most of the dialogue sound...
The Digital Bits review by Todd DooganRead review here
Video: 90
The color palette has always had a somewhat chilly appearance befitting the dystopian setting, but the expanded gamut adds a bit of vibrance and more subtleties, with deeper, detailed blacks and coldly-bold...
Audio: 80
The 5.1 mix widens the soundstage a bit, but the mix is heavily front-biased, with the surrounds mostly employed for ambience and music....
Extras: 75
...
Movie: 95
Oh my brothers, it should be said that of all of Stanley Kubrick’s sinny, A Clockwork Orange is probably the most dorogoy....
Total: 85
And though it’s a little chintzy extras-like, it’s still a worthy disc to kupet, my brothers, especially if you can find it at a nice mark-down....
DoBlu review by Christopher ZabelRead review here
Video: 60
While more refined, the video provides a modest improvement in definition and clarity over Blu-ray....
Audio: 60
While Kubrick’s action and movement are intimately linked in A Clockwork Orange to the powerful score, this doesn’t compare with modern recordings....
Extras: 80
The Return of Clockwork Orange (43:42 in SD) – Produced by Channel 4, this well-made bonus examines the controversy over Kubrick’s movie, explaining the film’s “demonic level of attention,” and its influence...
Movie: 100
It takes a completely unsympathetic protagonist and uses him for a profound examination of violence and society’s overbearing response....
Total: 75
Stanley Kubrick’s ultra-violent masterpiece about a dystopian future is his most provocative and visually stimulating classic....
High-Def Digest review by M. Enois DuarteRead review here
Video: 90
Specular highlights furnish the visuals with a significantly tighter, crisper glow in the hottest spots like the various light fixtures, allowing for more of the finer details to come through, and the...
Audio: 80
The surrounds remain largely quiet except for some mild bleeding from the music, and when applying the receiver's Dolby Surround or DTS: Neural:X up-mixing functionality, that same music extends a bit...
Extras: 50
The same set of bonus features from the previous release are ported over for this UHD edition and housed in the accompanying Blu-ray disc....
Movie: 100
Meanwhile, the reactionary, conservative bureaucrat Fredrick (Anthony Sharp) seizes on technological advancements when it suits his totalitarian needs, which in this case is aversion therapy as the answer...
Total: 80
Celebrating the film's 50th Anniversary, Alex and his droogs enjoy a bit of the old ultra-violence on 4K Ultra HD with a gorgeous HDR10 presentation that gives fans a remarkable upgrade over previous Blu-ray...
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 94
Brightly lit sequences, such as the one in the prison chapel or lobby of the medical center, had excellent dynamism and visible gradations....
Audio: 84
The orchestrated elements are spread across the front of the room with subtle articulation that blends perfectly with the rest of the soundtrack to create an evenly balanced, multi-dimensional presentation...
Extras: 80
Disc 1: A Clockwork Orange Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc 2: A Clockwork Orange Blu-ray • Commentary by Malcolm McDowell and Nick Redman • Still Tickin': The Return of Clockwork Orange...
Movie: 80
Wow, I can only imagine how this film must have been received upon its release back in 1971....
Total: 85
stands on its own as a classic cinematic work that is justly deserving of the accolades that have been bestowed upon it....
Why So Blu? review by Brandon PetersRead review here
Video: 100
Facial texture and features are rampantly clear and discernible from any given camera distance....
Audio: 80
Height: N/ALow Frequency Extension: Most of the subwoofer’s usage in this adds a little to some of the musical moments and the more natural sounds of doors closing, stomping, crashing and punches/kicks...
Extras: 70
Making A Clockwork Orange (SD, 28:19)Turning Like Clockwork (HD, 26:19)Malcolm McDowell Looks Back (HD, 10:30)Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:03)...
Movie: 90
Kubrick doesn’t take delight in any of this, apparent from how the film plays out, but he is curious and will stop at no bounds to explore the character of Alex DeLarge and the way a society could handle...
Total: 90
I’m honestly surprised this wasn’t last year’s addition to the set and Full Metal Jacket this year’s....
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Actors: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates
PlotIn a dystopian England, a sociopathic delinquent named Alex and his gang of "droogs" partake in a series of violent and sadistic crimes, including assault, robbery, and rape. Alex's love for classic music, particularly Ludwig van Beethoven, contrasts sharply with his thrill-seeking antisocial behaviors. The gang operates under a totalitarian regime, reveling in brutality and indulging in "a bit of the old ultra-violence." Alex is portrayed as both a charming yet deeply flawed character, whose interests in high culture do nothing to quell his violent impulses.
When a heist goes wrong, resulting in the death of a woman, Alex is betrayed by his droogs and arrested by the police. Facing a long prison sentence, he becomes aware of an experimental behavior correction program. This offers him the opportunity for an early release, which he eagerly accepts without fully understanding the consequences. The experimental treatment is a controversial technique aimed at rehabilitating criminals by conditioning them to associate feelings of sickness with violence, thus stripping them of their ability to commit crime.
Writers: Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Burgess
Release Date: 02 Feb 1972
Runtime: 136 min
Rating: X
Country: United Kingdom, United States
Language: English