Have You Seen The Beatles-Based Movie "Across The Universe"? wOw!
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Artist:
I finally had the pleasure of watching "Across The Universe" and I believe I have a new favorite movie. It comes as a total surprise because I usually don't like musicals and I'm not a HUGE Beatles fan, though I do dig their music. "Across The Universe" is based entirely on songs by The Beatles, but performed by the actors in the movie and each song perfectly suited to the plot where it appears. Not only that, but the cover versions bring a whole new dimension of pathos and impact to the originals. The Beatles soared to the top of the charts with upbeat pop music, but the songs themselves hold a lot of meaning about a tumultuous era. Despite my ability to recite the lyrics to each of these songs verbatim, I never realized how powerful were the emotions embedded within; until I heard them sung differently. And that's just speaking of the soundtrack, while the visuals in the movie are equally stunning and the cinematography brilliant. Anyone with doubts about Rachel Evan Wood's acting or singing ability (this girl) need only watch this movie; she plays her part with such depth and understanding that I easily forgot I was watching a movie. My favorite line of the movie: "Music is the only thing that makes sense anymore. Play it loud enough and it keeps the demons at bay."
If you've seen the movie, please share your thoughts in the comments.
For those who haven't seen the movie, here are some highlights. Though, trust me when I say these clips taken out of context hardly do the movie justice...
Bono (of U2) as Dr. Robert, psychedlic guru, performing "I Am The Walrus" at an electric kool-aid party ("look at this- pink punch!):
A boys night out to the tune of "With A Little Help..."
Proof that Rachel Evan Wood is one to watch, performing "Blackbird":
Also see Rachel performing "If I Fell"
Prudence pining about unrequited love to the tune of "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
Cinematography highlights:
Probably the most powerful part of the movie:
All of those clips are straight from the movie and you can watch about 40 more at this "unofficial" youtube channel dedicated to the movie:
http://www.youtube.com/AcrossThUniverse
Have you seen this movie? What did you think of it? Did you mog about it in amazement like me? (If so, include links!)
If not this one, what music-based movie really grabbed you and didn't let go after the credits rolled?
Comments (10)
Hi, I made a point of seeing this on the big screen and have since bought the DVD. I loved it. There are lots of people who are Beatles purists, though, and won't like the cover tunes. Others might think the choreography was quite contrived, but I was willing to suspend my disbelief. I really liked the performance by Jim Sturgess. All in all, I'm glad this is in my collection and I will be coming back to it and watching it again!
I MOGged about it when it was first released in the theaters, and did not like anything about it except the eye-candy: Evan and the other hotties - and the spectacular, award-worthy computer animation. I have a real distaste for so-called "jukebox musicals" - from "Mamma Mia! to "Movin' Out" to that horrible Dylan one, and this half-ass redo of the excreble "rock musical" "Hair" (with Beatles tunes). Forgive me if I'm contemptuous of shoehorning/repurposing catalog by a specific artist into a heavy-handed reverse-engineered theatrical plot to profit off of a new royalty stream. It's just not my idea of art. Of course, your mileage may vary - and apparently does! ;-)
I enjoyed this one in the theatre, having been a Beatle fan back in the day (ahem...meaning junior high) and I too could recite every lyric. I loved the imagery and I shook my head a couple times with all the character names, but it was ok. My only regret was that I did not take LSD beforehand.
Rightly or wrongly, this film was foreshadowed by unusually large amounts of negative hype. This seems to have unnerved the makers, because it was actually possible to go to the movies the year this appeared, see the coming attractions for it, stay away from movie theaters for six months, go see a movie, and be confronted by the trailer again. The same brand of cold feet seized the makers of that silly William Hurt assassination potboiler which may still be cooling its heels somewhere, for all I know. I have seen its trailer a dozen times though, so I expect credit for time served if and when it is actually released.
i only wish i had seen this on the big screen. LSD would hardly have made a difference tho LOL! that's how trippy some of the visuals are. i am DEFinitely going to buy this on DVD and watch it again and again. having never been a Beatles purist, i find the cover versions totally enlightening.
thanks for your comments so far! it's great to hear the differing opinions, especially because i was clueless to the existance of this movie until i happened upon it over the weekend...
Petey: Where ya been? "Vantage Point." It came and went. Not terrible. A little too much narrative trickery for mainstream audiences though. Hurt wasn't bad though, and neither were his castmates, which included Forest Whitaker and Matthew Fox.
My point was that (like ATU) it did a whole lotta coming before it went.
i didnt particulary love this film and i love the beatles. there was so much hype behind i thought ti was going to be epic, but it seemed like it was cut and pasted in areas jsut so they could get through it.
It was AMAZING!!!
great to hear the differing opinions, thanks all!