What if I told you that A Clockwork Orange was THE SEQUEL to 2001: A Space Odyssey? After first hearing this, you might think it was absurd. But upon further investigation, you may find that there’s more to it than you might think. Consider the scene in 2001 in which Moon-Watcher throws the bone into the air which transitions to a shot of a nuke in orbit. Now compare this transition to the shot at the end of 2001 in which the Starchild turns toward the screen, versus the shot that opens A Clockwork Orange with Alex looking right back at us. An inter-film transition, perhaps? Creepy, no?After all, A Clockwork Orange was the film made directly after 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as you’ll find out in my video review, there are plenty of fun facts that support claims of a connection between the two films. Some argue that Kubrick’s earlier works take a more optimistic view of human nature, which I can see in certain films like the ending of Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Killer’s Kiss, and 2001. The films that come after, such as A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, and Full Metal Jacket, all take a grim turn. Eyes Wide Shut, which encapsulates all of Kubrick’s interests into one New York City dreamscape, seems to be the exception.
But instead of me listing off these similarities, why don’t you just watch the review and let me know if anything else pops out at you? Some have suggested that these ideas are also incorporated into Dr. Strangelove and possibly Lolita. So maybe Kubrick, the chess player, had a plan in the back of his mind, yet didn’t know exactly how it was going to pan out. If so, that’s good for him. Who would want to know the future anyway? Where’s the fun in that?
Comments
14 responses to “Puppet The Critic Show – 2001: A Clockwork Odyssey”
you are close. according to kubrick, barry lyndon was the past, clockwork orange the present, and 2001 the future as represented in his satirical trilogy of human history.
Source?
So is ‘Clockwork Orange’ a prequel, or a sequel? Now I’m really confused…
Nice to ‘see’ you, Bill. Hope all’s well.
Good to have your input in this debate too. Looks like I’m on the ‘wrong side’!
no right or rong sides. jusr many ways of looking at something. hope all is well with you too, pete. i am busy 24/7 with the baby and fall asleep whenever i try to watch a movie
I cannot see the similarities myself, and writing lots of articles about anything doesn’t make it true. One film is based on the novel by Arthur C. Clarke, written in conjunction with Kubrick, so he could make a film about it. The other is from The 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess, about a vision of a dystopian future in Britain. I used the word ‘nonsense’ affectionately, I assure you, and I always enjoy your excellent ideas.
That doesn’t mean I always get the point though, and on this occasion I just cannot agree.
Keep it up though. Those clips are great!
Best wishes from England. Pete.
Absolutely agree. I guess my other question would be do you see similar themes in each film? Forget about a sequel, and let me know about the idea of the Starchild, and Alex.
I do appreciate your argument, I really do. I just don’t see it, and think that the concept is making what you want to believe fact by using the examples given. It’s not unlike religion. If you want to believe, you will draw your own beliefs from disjointed ‘evidence’. I won’t be converted, but I enjoy and appreciate the debate, and repeat that I love your puppet reviews, and never miss one.
It’s a shame Kubrick is dead. He might have added a comment, and proved me wrong! (Or right…)
Best wishes, Pete.
Do me one last favor, give this a read, and I promise I will stop knocking on your door with the word of God. Thanks again and stay well
http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/0013.html
Reading it and thinking about it. Will let you know!
OK, I read it. (Twice) So Kubrick is ‘filming Nietzchse’s thoughts’? If he was, I didn’t see it, or of course just failed to understand it, dolt that I am. Sometimes, I yearn for the days when you could just watch a film, without having to drill down into the psychology (or implied psychology) behind it.
‘Blade Runner’ is one of my all-time favourites, but I am sure that many film ‘experts’ would have a lot to say about that one too. What happened to being overwhelmed by visuals, and actually enjoying a story? I am getting old, and it seems I will have to bow to the thinkers, and just be content with my own simple interpretations instead.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this break from my weekend routine.
Best wishes, Pete.
A clever idea, and fun to watch. Nonsense, but no less enjoyable for that.
Best wishes, Pete.
Ha, why do you say it’s nonsense? They’re plenty of articles discussing the similarities between the 2 films, so why couldn’t this idea hold true?
Sorry, I mis-clicked reply. It is above as a comment instead.