Across the Universe

[Comrade]

Taken from the offical website Across The Universe - Official Site:

A love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n' roll, moving from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. The star-crossed lovers, Jude and Lucy, along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with Dr. Robert and Mr. Kite as their guides. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy--against all odds--to find their own way back to each other.

Trailer.

So this movie looks sweet. It's a musical, which, for those musical lovers, is a fresh breath of air from all the talk of High School Music. I'm hoping this is going to be a good one.

Something I am dissatisfied with is that for a movie coming out under the Apple lable, all the Beatles songs are covers. So you'd figure they purposely chose the new works, which seems a bit crazy to me. And the movie is only playing in select areas around the country, so you might not even be able to see it until it hits DVD or Blueray.

But regardless of that is looks like a good, cute movie to bring your gal, or drag along your guy, with you.

So, opinions anyone?

[Princess Tsunata "Amnya" of Pen Island]

The commercials and trailers captured my interest entirely. Though I don't think any theatre near me will have it. Curse this small state.

[LoserMaster]

So I noticed that one of the characters is named "Max." If he's majoring in medicine I'm gonna lose it.

[Galedeep]

I saw the trailer for this what seems like a year ago, and it piqued my interest because...well I love The Beatles, have as far back as I can remember, from when my mom would sing "Golden Slumbers" as a lullaby and we'd listen to their music on the classic rock radio station every Sunday.
Then when I was at a movie last month, a new trailer consisting of the cover of "I've Just Seen A Face" comes on and I remember it, and realize how badly I want to see it.

My mom and dad were lucky enough to catch the premier at the Toronto Film Festival last week, but since I was away at school I couldn't go. According to them, it was sort of like a long music video, and the story was kind of weak, but I'll still see it (because, to be fair, my parents hate music videos, while I appreciate a good one). It's just unfortunate that it probably won't be playing in the town I go to school in, so I'll have to wait to rent it, and it really does seem like one of those movies that is best seen on the big screen.

[UZ!]

Originally Posted by LoserMaster

So I noticed that one of the characters is named "Max." If he's majoring in medicine I'm gonna lose it.

I'd be more worried if he has a girlfriend named Joan.

[Comrade]

So I noticed that one of the characters is named "Max." If he's majoring in medicine I'm gonna lose it.

I wouldn't doubt it. The entire movie is looted with Beatles references. Lucy (Lucy in the Sky With Diamones, Jude (Hey Jude), Dr. Robert (Doctor Robert), and Mr. Kite (For the Benefit of Mr. Kite!).

[Lly]

It's on limited release, so I had to drive a hellova distance to see it. But man, was this film worth it.

I'm not going to say that it was a "great" movie, but personally, I really adored it. Jim Sturgess (Jude) and Joe Anderson (Max) are great vocalists, (and fooooineeeee!) and Dana Fuchs has such a distinctive voice. Evan Rachel Wood (Lucy) isn't nothin' to sneeze at either. The vocals are overall really strong.

A lot of the song incorporations is pretty good. "Strawberry Fields"- a song which seems to be about nothing but drugggggzz- is basically my favourite scene in the entire movie. It's just so powerful- there was a lot of symbolism there. I was also really fond of "With a Little Help From My Friends" (it was pretty amusing). Jim Sturgess' best vocal showcase would in my opinion be "All My Loving". The only song that I really didn't like was "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". It just got so heavy-handed in terms of "symbolism" I got a little annoyed, feeling as if it were a personal attack on my intellegence.

It's also a little bit plot-light. Things just sort of happen to the characters, and there are a couple things that aren't explain and a lot of things left completely hanging.

It was also veeery "artsy."

I loved it, but it was't the best movie ever. If you're a fan of The Beatles and but willing to give it a little wiggle room, I'd definately reccomend it. Get ye to the thearter!

[Sheikahchica]

I saw the trailer for this the past few times I've been at the theatre, and I must say that I have high expectations for it. And as Comrade said, I agree that we are due for a good musical after High School Musical. XP

[Galedeep]

Just got back from seeing this after waiting a long time for it to come to my town. I really enjoyed it. While the main storyline was pretty average and typical, the setting of the 60s and Vietnam War and Civil Rights movement was a nice touch. I actually would have liked to see more of the Prudence, Sadie, and JoJo storylines. For the most part the songs were excellent, and the re-imaginings of some of them are really good. My favourite sequences are:

"With a Little Help From My Friends"
"I've Just Seen A Face" (partly becaues I just love the song)
"Let It Be," the gospel rendition was particularly good.
"Dear Prudence"
"Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" (Eddie Izzard is awesome)

I also really liked the "All You Need Is Love" closer, because they actually kept the "She loves you, yeah yeah yeah" outro, which I wasn't quite expecting.

So, overall, quite a good movie and worth a watch if you're a Beatles fan.