In case anyone's wondering: Yes, I did go on a bit of a Stanley Kubrick kick during the vacation over the 4th. :)

Where to begin with this one.... Is there such a thing as an incurably violent mind? If it were possible to reverse violent and criminal tendancies through medical and/or psychotheraputic means, would this be the right thing to do as a form of sentencing? Can and does human choice play a role, and if so, should it not be respected, as acting otherwise might have a damaging effect our very essence as human beings?

This movie has a tough job: The main character and narrator is a criminal, guilty of some of the most disgusting sorts of acts. The movie brings the audience to understand him, even if we don't necessarily like him. Ironically, given his brutallity, part of the reason for this is because we get the feeling he is such an immature little sap that he might not know any better.

During the "treatment" sequences, I found myself wondering whether such a thing is really possible. Has it been tried? If so, what were the results? Successful? And perhaps more to the point, if it were proven to work, what effect would it have on society if such a thing were deployed on a large scale? Would we really be better off, or worse?

(And perhaps the more jarring question: If it works with criminals, why not use such means on everybody as a safeguard? That's when things get really scary.)

Oh well. Aside from all my blathering, this movie is quite the cinematic masterpiece. Or at least I thought so.