Customer Reviews

Across the Universe (2-Disc Deluxe Edition)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

OK, I've given it 5 stars .. but that's for the effort involved, the visual spectacle, the amazing talent of all the cast. If I was to simply give stars for the story itself, it would get only 4. I was there the first time (1967), and even I didn't understand all the symbolism and imagery in the movie.

It's a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. For me, the most poignant scenes remind me that a time we think back on as filled with love, peace signs and, yes, drugs, was also filled with hate, war and violence. It is important to remember the down side, especially today, with similar wars sending a new generation of young men off to die for their country.

The music is incredible, remarkable, soul-stirring. The talent of everyone involved is amazing, and none of them were even born when this movie is set (well, except Joe Cocker and maybe Bono, watch for both of them to have cameos). The character of Jude reminds me of Paul McCartney in 1967, and the Janis Joplin-style explosion of voice alongside the actor playing incredible guitar a la Jimmy Hendrix sent shivers down my spine.

Even with a happy ending, the movie left me feeling sad, and slightly ashamed that the world is no better than it was 40 years ago. I am incredibly grateful to Julie Taymor for reminding me.

I have to say that Julie Taymor took the stage play to a whole new level with The Lion King. She has done the same thing for movies with this one. Thank you, Julie.

When I first saw the trailer for "Across the Universe" I was pretty sure that I was going to like it. I have dozens and dozens of covers of Beatles songs, having put together playlists for each of the Beatles albums, in many instances having been able to find cover versions of all of the songs on a particular album. Also, in my youth, I contemplated a stage musical that would use the songs of Stevie Nicks to tell the story of the Welsh witch Rhiannon, so I appreciate the inclination. Besides, with 200-plus Beatles songs, the problem would not be finding enough songs for an entire musical but rather drawing a line and getting the finished movie in at under 2 hours.

I would have said that using the music of the Beatles as the soundtrack for a movie is a fool proof idea, but that was because I was taking the idea at face value and had forgotten about "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Then I remember that "I am Sam" used contemporary covers of Beatles songs, but that example is really not on point since they are used in the background, the way Simon & Garfunkle's songs were used in "The Graduate." "Across the Universe" is a more traditional musical, even if it is, in Roger Ebert's memorable phrase, a musical "where we walk into the theater humming the songs."

Before we are a minute into this 2007 movie I knew it was going to work, as soon as Jude (Jim Sturgess), sitting on a stormy beach, turns to the camera and sings: "Is there anybody going to listen to my story, All about the girl who came to stay?" I was reminded of the beginning of "William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet" when the newscaster does the whole "Two households, both alike in dignity..." prologue and I knew this "modern" version was going to work. It is not often when a movie is able to convince you in the prologue that it is going to work, but when it does (e.g., "Beauty and the Beast," "Sleepless in Seattle"), you tend to remember them.

Because the characters all have names from Beatles songs, from Jude and Lucy to Sadie, Jo-Jo, and Prudence, there is an expectation that the songs from which they get their names are all going to pop up during the proceedings (or the end credits). But that does not prove to be the case. Sometimes a single line from a song pops up, so Beatles fans need to pay attention even when characters are not singing. The plot is basic boy (Sturgess's Jude) meets girl (Evan Rachel Wood's Lucy), boy loses girl, on to the requisite happy ending, played out against the turmoil of the 1960s, which means the War in Vietnam, the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the like. Part of the fun is seeing the new contexts in which these familiar songs pop up, both in terms of the times, as with "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "Happiness Is a Warm Gun," and in terms of relationships, like with "I Want to Hold Your Hand."

Julie Taymor previously directed "Titus" and "Frida," it is not surprising to those relatively few souls who have seen both of those films that she pulls this one off. A major treat here is seeing how Taymor makes specific lyrics work so well, from the "Won't you come out and play" from "Dear Prudence" to the "Jude, Judee, Judee" part of "Hey, Jude," and even a "duh" moment when she works in "I Want You (She's So Heavy)." I can also add to the list the nice use of the final chord from "A Day in the Life."

The cast are relative unknowns, with Evan Rachel Wood the most familiar fact (but when Taymor suggests on the bonus disc that nobody knew Wood culd sing I have to respond that everybody who saw the final episode of the second season of "Once and Again," where Wood sang "Red Red Robin" after the wedding was well aware Wood can sing). It says something of the quality of the singing if I say that Wood might be the weakest vocalist in the cast and I have no complaints regarding what she does on . Dana Fuchs' Sadie was my overall favorite, belting out "Helter Skelter," "Oh, Darling," and "Why Don't We Do it in the Road?" But I could listen to Sturgess sing just anything and some of my favorite parts here are the harmonies, most notably on "Because."

Yes, I know all of the songs are available on the soundtrack, and that is fine for driving around in the car, but listening to these songs on the DVD is way better. Despite all the visual treats, "Across the Universe" is a great movie for playing in the background.

The DVD comes in a small plastic a bit teared off with no protecting sticker on the top. Th DVD as no root menu and is bugging at 2-3 places. Bad Quality. Although product is working.

A great story to go with classic Beatle songs; producers give us some priceless surprise cameos to make this video a keeper. Joe Cocker, the '60s - '80s English Blues singer, appears as three incarnations of street-wise people while singing Come Together, Bono gives us a Magical Mystery Tour and throughout the movie there are references to tunes not otherwise included. What a treat!

I cannot help but think, given the quality of musicals like Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Phantom of the Paradise, and more recently, Moulin Rouge!, Sweeney Todd: demon barber of Fleet Street, & Repo! the genetic opera, that if this is what we can expect from new musicals.. the future is bright!

I saw this movie four times in theatres and even braved a snowstorm for it.
It will keep you entertained and captivated and the music is fantastic.
A must see for Beatles fans and non fans alike!

This movie was a visual spectacle, exhilirating and one of the most enjoyable 2 hours I have spent in a theatre...would recommend to anyone...

Across the Universe is a musical directed by Julie Taymor (Titus, Frida). The film incorporates over 30 songs from The Beatles into it's story and is loaded with endless references to other Beatles' songs and associated lore. As a tribute the film is outstanding. As a film it is as visually beautiful as any movie released in 2007 and is definitely worth owning on blu-ray if you are a Beatles fan or, at the very least, you're familiar enough with their catalogue that the many references to their music are not over your head. The other big bonus in Across the Universe is its young cast. The film includes great performances from Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood especially. I did not know that Wood could sing and evidently she can.

The story may sound secondary and it isn't particularly important, primarily because it is not the film's strength. So I won't dwell on it too much. It is set in the 1960s as Liverpudlian Jude (Sturgess) heads off to the states to find his father. When he gets there he befriends Max (Joe Anderson) and his sister Lucy (Wood). He falls for Lucy amid a backdrop of the Vietnam War and the timely protests. There are subplots involving other supporting characters with names referencing Beatles songs (i.e. Sadie, Prudence, Jojo) as well. In addition, there are many other interesting details I should leave out. Suffice to say, Bono as Dr. Robert singing I am the Walrus is great, and Eddie Izzard's entry as Mr. Kite is fun and perhaps appropriately reminiscent of some of Monty Python's work. The film also includes cameos from Joe Cocker and Salma Hayek.

There are things that might dissuade someone's interest in this movie. Firstly, if you don't like the Beatles, then you probably won't like this. It is saturated in everything Beatles. Secondly, if you don't like Taymor's work then you may not appreciate this either. Taymor tends to put style first and Across the Universe's greatest strengths, even beyond it's amazing soundtrack, is how the film appears. Taymor's films are visually immaculate and she wants everything about the story and the characters to melt into the visual elements. She succeeds here of course and Across the Universe is undeniably a beautiful looking and sounding movie but the viewer is left to decide if they care about that or not. There are also flashes of her theatrical influences that might strike some viewers as odd but I actually wanted even more of it. Overall, I enjoyed the film very much and rank it up there as among the best of 2007.

I realize that you probably have to be a certain age with a certain life experience hence some poor reviews. For me it touched my soul!

My family has watched this movie and sung along with it many, many times. We love the characters, the music and the way the producers have told this story. i love it because I have always enjoyed Beatle music and it takes me back to the day.

This movie is by far the most spectacular piece of work I have seen in a long time.
Step by step through the journey, it draws you in closer and closer till you fall in love.
Bravo!!!!!