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comment by kleinbl00
kleinbl00  ·  3393 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Trainspotting 2! Danny Boyle confirms plans for the sequel to be his next project.

I read The Wanting Seed but have yet to read Clockwork Orange. I guess Burgess is proud of everything he ever wrote except ACO...





b_b  ·  3393 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I read the 25th anniversary edition of ACO, which Burgess wrote a new intro to. He actually is proud of his story. What he hates is the version that was originally released in the US, and which was adapted into the Kubrick. Apparently, the editor (according to Burgess, the editor strongly disputes this) cut the final chapter in the US version, so instead of a book in 3 parts, each part with 7 chapters, there were 2 7's and a 6, both breaking the symmetry and killing the redemptive part of the story. Burgess' problem with that version is that nothing changes, no one learns anything, and the world is all the worse for it. In the original 21 chapter version, the final chapter sees Alex grow up.

Personally, although I see Burgess' point, I think Kubrick's movie is a goddam masterpiece, and I'm glad it is what it is. It's not Burgess' story, but it's a good story nonetheless. Still, I can't imagine how painful it would be to create what you consider a great piece of art only to have it ripped to pieces by others. I guess any author who options a movie might suffer the same fate.

thundara  ·  3393 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    In the original 21 chapter version, the final chapter sees Alex grow up.

I went into the book hearing Burgess didn't like Kubrick's changes, but frankly the last chapter just feels amoral and out of place. Alex doesn't recognize good or feel remorse... he kind of just grows bored and grows up, like ultra-violence is just another phase.

kleinbl00  ·  3393 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Stephen King hates the hell out of Kubrick, too.

b_b  ·  3393 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yeah, and I would rather watch The Shining a thousand times before reading it once, so I guess I'm just a fanboy.