Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 943 Location: Terra Firma, Ether Sea
Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject: ( }:-D Across The Universe
I watched the movie, Across The Universe last night and had mixed but very definite feelings about it and am curious what any of you others might have thought about it.
I went into this movie virtually blind, having never even heard of it untill 3 or 4 weeks ago and then all I heard was that it is a love story framed around Beatles tunes. Other than that I had no idea of plot, setting, time period, music usage, actors, production, etc. Was this a "period" film? 60's? Earlier? Later? An historical film? A modern film utilising a Beatle soundtrack? Was the music original recordings or interpretive? A love story? A poltical film? An art film?
I had no idea.
But, it obviously had Beatle related values, inspirations, and music, so, of course, I had to check it out.
One thing I strongly feel, after viewing, is that though this film seems geared to entertain today's young, I feel a movie of this subject matter is more relevent, meaningful, and better understood by people closer to my age group.
Especially those who actually lived the elements and plotlines detailed.
I came from the roots of this film. The characters ages were the same as mine during the same period. Many of their experiences revolved around my own. This was the time I moved thru puberty into adulthood. Art/music reflected and voiced my thoughts. I experienced my first serious relationships, loves, political involvements, and the spreading of my independant 'wings'.
I was involved in the Berkeley/Oakland protestations. I grew up in and lived the California hippy experience. I experienced and dealt with the draft, deferments, and military inductions. I fought in the Viet Nam war. I survived, barely, but lost close friends, classmates and loved ones. The Beatles tunes were a major part of my life's youthful soundtrack, mirroring my own life experiences, as they do in this film.
Enough background and qualification... on to my review and critiques.
As far as the film's 'message' goes... plotwise, I saw it in 3 parts.
First, as a love story, it was fairly predictable, especally if you lived those times and so 'knew' the characters and could better relate to and understand their motivations.
Second, mixed in with this was the political statements which seemed, though somewhat relevent to today's "war" climate, more a summary of the 60's-70's situations. Two-thirds of the way into the movie, I found myself in many ways viewing this as very similar to the musical/movie Hair.
And, third, as a cinematic 'art film' I did find it interesting, though it took awhile to get familiar and comfortable with plot and politics before I could start focusing on the visuals, which in many ways, I came away feeling were the strength of the movie.
Production wise, the very choppy storyline took me a while to understand, get into, and follow. Though not necessarily a negative thing (many great movies and novels successfully take the same approach), it's just that, being totally unfamiliar with the film as I began viewing it, this style of editing began immediately and took me awhile to discerne and adjust, thus taking me sometime to get into the flow and movement of the flick as I had no initial idea where it was coming from or going to, resulting in a slow, sluggish, difficult start for me.
A second , more familiar, viewing will, I'm sure, be much less frantic, confusing, and thus hopefully more enjoyable.
Cinematically, I enjoyed and appreciated that the visuals started off relatively tame, though still often stunning as in the ocean shore, or city waterfront scenes. As the movie moved deeper into the frenzy and culteral landmarks of the period, the visuals got suitably artsy. I especially enjoyed the interpretations of the induction center and Mr. Kite scenes. Very creative and entertaining, in my opinion.
Now, the music... arguably the most important element as it frames the story and sets the tone.
Even when specific songs weren't actually used, it was fun catching the references... "Prudence", "Sadie", "Lucy", etc.
Some, such as "Jude", Revolution, apples, and strawberrys, etc., obviously predicted upcoming plot elements and song usage.
However, the following is probably my most negative critique, and I realize it is very subjective and of personal taste.
I appreciated much of the musical interpretations (for example, Joe Cocker's involvement or Eddie Izzards version of Mr. Kite I felt were quite original and enjoyably performed), but a good deal of the performances were very slow, bland, monotonal, and labored... lifeless. They felt as though sung by actors who really weren't inspired by the songs themselves and didn't know, understand, or appreciate both the original motivations for the creation of the songs or the plot motivations for the songs usages within this film.
Overall, I THINK I enjoyed the film.... I will need to view it again, with a more familiar eye, before I give my final judgement.
The mostly droning, mornfully whiny vocals (as in Strawberry Fields Forever or Across the Universe or Girl, etc.) will be a challenge, admittedly.
The Hair (a musical play, movie, and soundtrack that I did, and still do, enjoy... feeling that it was very relevent in it's time), plot rehash will take some acceptance, but the cinematics of the film I found entertaining enough to possibly support the deficiencies I felt in other areas.
I'm curious how others, young and old, 'old school' and 'new', felt about this movie. _________________ B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)
Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:
Daved: Many thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing it soon.
Our lives really did have a soundtrack, and a lot of the brighter, lighter stuff still resonates, but sometimes in darker moments I wonder if we've lived 45 years of Hamilton Camp's "Pride of Man," the Quicksilver version of which alternates with Gordon Lightfoot's in my mental playlist.
But on a more hopeful note, "Don't Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down." One way to boost one's spirit is to put A Hard Day's Night and Help! into the DVD player. Were we really all that young once?
Great to see you after Robben's set in Simi Valley a week ago. Thanks for taking time to chat and update. _________________ - BlueRunner
Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 49 Location: Oklahoma City Ok
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject:
Daved,
I was given the DVD by my 17 YO nephew for my Birthday. When it was released he saw it multiple times at the theatre. While out with his mother they saw it had been released on DVD and he insisted on getting it for me.
My brother had recomended it to me to see as well. His only comment had been the trippy part was his only dissapointment.
I know my nephew would of not gotten many of the historical references embeded in the plot so I'm inclined to think it was more the music and the story that he was taken by.
To me it was way beyond my expectations. Although I agree with my brother on the acid induced scenes I have to strongly disagree with you on the performances of the music. I thought the interpretations of the songs were modern, simplistic in a way that showcased the melodies and had me singing the songs for several days around the house much to my wife's displeasure. To me it is extremely hard to cover a Beatles song the last season of AI contestants proved that, but every song performed in the movie seemed fresh and enjoyable.
Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 262 Location: Las Vegas
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:12 am Post subject:
I finally saw this movie last night and thought it was very cool. I agree with all of Daveds comments and he was so articulate I wont try and ad to that.
One thing I enjoyed about the music was the perfect pitch (probably synthesized for perfection) and harmonies. The changes in time just added to the magic of the original melodies and lyrics of the tunes.
I'm going to watch it again this weekend and dissect it a little more, very well thought out movie.
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Daved: Many thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing it soon.
