A Clockwork Orange Archives

“The Simpsons” Parody of Stanley Kubrick’s Films

This week, The Simpsons ran its 25th “Treehouse of Horror” episode. One of the three segments in the show was “A Clockwork Yellow,” which spoofed films by director Stanley Kubrick. This clip includes references to A Clockwork Orange (1971), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Full Metal Jacket (1987), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and Barry Lyndon (1975). [2019 Update: Unfortunately the clip from “Treehouse of Horror XXV” is no longer available for embedding.]

Leave your two cents in the comments.

Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (short review)

Director’s Guillermo del Toro’s Latest Work: A Simpsons Opening

The Perfect Song for Every Film: “Walk of Life”

Movie Tributes on “The Simpsons”

10 Most Memorable Movie Edits

Montage of Movie Final Scenes

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Pop Culture Roundup for December 2012

In case you were too busy getting ready for the holidays or trying to avoid a fiscal cliff the last few weeks, here are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed.

— Movies —

The Atlantic featured production storyboards from 15 beloved films.

What if there were an animated series called “Clockwork Orange Babies“? Here’s what the promo posters would look like.

The “Honest Trailer” for The Dark Knight Rises was released. Even though I liked the movie, the “Honest Trailer” is funny and captures a number of plot issues. (Thanks @PopcornJunkies.)

Dan Aykroyd on Ghostbusters 3 in Esquire. (Thanks @ravenval.)

Clerks III will be Kevin Smith’s last movie.

— Music —

The 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are Albert King, Donna Summer, Heart, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, and Rush.

E Online wrote about the 5 Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2013 Grammy Nominations.

Eddie Van Halen remembered how he came to work on Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It.’

Q&A: Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham Revealed Lingering Tensions in Fleetwood Mac.

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke will release his new album February 25.

A new book tells the story of the band the Smiths.

Popdose chose its Best Pop And Rock Albums of 2012

Read about the Monkee Magic of Micky Dolenz at Popdose.

Actor James Franco has released a music video.

Watch a video of Moses vs. Santa, Featuring Snoop Dogg.

A couple broke up and then decided to sing about it.

Kinky Friedman on Folk Music, Politics, Mass Murder, and His Bipolar Tour. (from No Depression)

Beck is trying to revive the days of singing ‘round the piano.

The A.V. Club wrote about how Townes Van Zandt’s song “Lungs” veers from platonic epistemology to magical realism. I can’t explain what that means. You’ll have to read the article.

And then there is the strange new John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John holiday song video.

Here is a list of the best (and best-worst) of new Christmas music.

— Television —

Check out an interview with Martin Short about his upcoming return to Saturday Night Live as host.

The original 1966 Batmobile is going up for auction.

The Walking Dead took top honors at the Spike VGAs.

David Chase talked about The Sopranos and that maddening finale.

By chance, Newt Gingrich happened into a guest appearance on Parks and Recreation.

Vanity Fair features an oral history of the awesome one-season series Freaks & Geeks.

— Other Pop Culture News —

Stephen Colbert is not going to be appointed to the Senate. But actress Ashley Judd may run for the U.S. Senate.

Star Trek‘s George Takei is coming to Riverdale in Archie Comics’ Kevin Keller books.

The Pope (@pontifex) is joining Twitter.

Finally, the “IKEA Monkey” — a little monkey in a coat found outside an IKEA — became in Internet sensation and started a meme.

What is your favorite recent pop culture story? Leave your two cents in the comments.

This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Nov. 5, 2011)

Willie Nelson & Ray Charles: Who are the “Seven Spanish Angels”?

Pop Culture Roundup (for Early February 2012)

Groundhog Day (and Ghostbusters?) 2012

Pop Culture Roundup (Mid-January 2012)

Guy Clark’s Life and Music in “Without Getting Killed or Caught”

(Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)

Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (short review)

If you are a fan of director Stanley Kubrick, check out the documentary Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001). Although the film does not feature interviews with the notoriously reclusive Kubrick, the late director’s voice comes through clips of his movies and through many people who knew and worked with Kubrick.

I recently re-watched one of Kubrick’s early films, Paths of Glory (1957), the outstanding WWI film starring Kirk Douglas. Seeing it for the second time, I noticed many of the Kubrick touches in the camera angles and story themes and fell even deeper in love with the great film. I have always been a fan of Kubrick’s films, but watching Paths of Glory made me want to know more about the director, so I rented A Life in Pictures on Netflix.

At 2 hours and 22 minutes, director Jan Harlan’s A Life in Pictures is not a lightweight overview of Kubrick’s career, but covers all of his movies with comments from many who worked with the director such as Jack Nicholson, Nicole Kidman, Malcolm McDowell, Steven Spielberg, and Tom Cruise, who narrates the film. Martin Scorsese, a director who is knowledgeable about film history, provides additional insight, as does Kubrick’s widow (who had a small but important role in Paths of Glory).

The documentary covers films such as The Killing (1956), Spartacus (1960), Dr. Strangelove (1964), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971), The Shining (1980), Full Metal Jacket (1987), and Eyes Wide Shut (1999). I particularly enjoyed the insight and behind-the-scenes stories about the underrated and misunderstood Eyes Wide Shut. While A Life in Pictures may not change your views of the films or tell you exactly who Stanley Kubrick was, the documentary helps peel back a few layers to give you a greater appreciation of Kubrick’s works.

Conclusion? Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures is an entertaining documentary about one of the great American directors that is worth your time if you have any interest in film history or in Kubrick’s films.