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Across The Universe; The Movie
Topic Started: Sep 14 2007, 05:06 PM (981 Views)
JeffLynnesBeard
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I watched it last week and thought that it was just shy of being completely awful, with one or two interesting sequences as redeeming features. Not surprisingly, my main objection is to the use of the music. Most of the singers' voices (with the exception of the 'celebrity' performers) were so over-produced and vocodered in order to make them perfect (ironic how attempting to make something perfect can completely ruin its artistic value), it took away any natural nuances of their voices, with 'Jude' being the major offender.

Joe Cocker's appearance was fantastic. Eddie Izzard and Bono less so. For me, the film played to its strengths when it was being especially creative, for example, the army recruitment (I Want You/She's So Heavy) sequence, as well as the visuals in Strawberry Fields Forever. Still, those things could only touch on making up for the rest of the movie which seemed unfocussed, groaningly awful when it came to tying in Beatles references to the very loose and erratic plot line and some very questionable interpretations of Beatles classics.

It was a nice idea, but - in my opinion - it just didn't work on any level: politically, it was too lightweight. As a comedy, just not funny enough. As a romance, I didn't care about the cartoonish lead characters enough to care. As a musical, it failed in the worst possible way - it just made you want to stop the film and listen to the original songs. I wanted to see the whole movie so that I could say that I've watched it, but there were quite a few moments when I was really tempted to stop torturing myself and take the DVD out of the machine.

As there are obviously many differing opinions about this film, it's not really up to me to recommend that people watch it or avoid it - I can only tell you what I think... but, frankly, I think it is quite a stinker.
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
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mspeel 007
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Personally......I loved it!!!!! :yes: :whistle:
[AND IN THE END.....THE LOVE YOU TAKE...IS EQUAL TO THE LOVE YOU MAKE
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JeffLynnesBeard
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I have found the original thread and combined the two.

After re-reading it, I'm surprised at how many people loved it.

I'm even more surprised that so many people have praised the vocals, especially 'Jude's. Can't anyone hear how much studio trickery has been employed to tidy his voice up? It is my theory that if you heard the original tapes before the "production", they would bear little resemblance to what you hear on the film.
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
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Dorfliedot
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Beatlelicious
I loved the movie.
Usually, I not fan of people doing Beatle songs. Because, in my eyes no one can do their songs better then them. However, I did love the movie. I love how they did come together. It was cool. Different. Nevertheless, cool.

I am not great on reviews about movies and stuff. however, I gave my short review of how I thought of the movie.
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BeatleBarb
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I received the movie and cd as a present months ago and have no desire to watch it again or listen to the cd :cry: .

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maccascruff
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JeffLynnesBeard
Nov 2 2008, 12:49 PM
I watched it last week and thought that it was just shy of being completely awful, with one or two interesting sequences as redeeming features.
I hated it and do have it on DVD--got it in a trade. Doubt if I will ever watch it. It definitely is a stinker.
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Underwhelming, but some of the songs are amusing.
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BlueMolly2009
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Hmm, maybe I have bad taste then, because I loved it. I think maybe I should get better taste in movies since I love movies other hate. :pinch:
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BlueMolly2009
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JeffLynnesBeard
Nov 2 2008, 04:33 PM
I have found the original thread and combined the two.

After re-reading it, I'm surprised at how many people loved it.

I'm even more surprised that so many people have praised the vocals, especially 'Jude's. Can't anyone hear how much studio trickery has been employed to tidy his voice up? It is my theory that if you heard the original tapes before the "production", they would bear little resemblance to what you hear on the film.
Well, Andy, I'm shocked that people don't like it. I think it's visually beautiful and the songs are great. I cried when I watched the "Strawberry Fields Forever" scene because I thought it was very powerful. Eddie Izzard was great as Mr. Kite and I loved Bono as Dr. Robert.
As I already said I have bad taste in movies and maybe I should hate it....but I don't.
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Bill
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I haven't seen it but I have to say the whole gimmick of using Beatles songs is a turn off. It's not as if it's the first movie to do it. I Am Sam used Beatles songs to great effect but that wasn't the only thing it had going for it. If the whole schtick of the movie is "Hey, look! We used Beatles songs!" then that doesn't impress me.

Put a puppet on it.
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maccascruff
Sing the Changes
I said earlier that I walked out and I wasn't the first to leave at the showing I attended.

The scene where the girl sang I Wanna Hold Your Hand did it for me. Too hokey.
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BlueMolly2009
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Hands up, who liked the movie. *puts hand up and looks around with no other hands up* Oh nice, I'm the only one who liked the movie.
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fab4fan
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I liked it a lot! :yes:
Mnisthiti mou Kurie!
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BeatleBarb
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maccascruff
Nov 3 2008, 01:33 AM
I said earlier that I walked out and I wasn't the first to leave at the showing I attended.

The scene where the girl sang I Wanna Hold Your Hand did it for me. Too hokey.
Linda, you were smarter than me by getting up and leaving. Regarding that girl singing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" I haven't been that embarassed in a theater since I was spotted watching "Dude, Where's your Car" with four 12 year old boys. :cry:
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maccascruff
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That was exactly how I felt, Barb. I'd had enough when that happened.
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mspeel 007
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BlueMolly2008
Nov 3 2008, 02:21 AM
Hands up, who liked the movie. *puts hand up and looks around with no other hands up* Oh nice, I'm the only one who liked the movie.
I liked it!!!!! :yes:
[AND IN THE END.....THE LOVE YOU TAKE...IS EQUAL TO THE LOVE YOU MAKE
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JeffLynnesBeard
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BlueMolly2008
Nov 2 2008, 08:31 PM
Well, Andy, I'm shocked that people don't like it. I think it's visually beautiful and the songs are great. I cried when I watched the "Strawberry Fields Forever" scene because I thought it was very powerful. Eddie Izzard was great as Mr. Kite and I loved Bono as Dr. Robert.
As I already said I have bad taste in movies and maybe I should hate it....but I don't.
Hi Molly,

About it being visually beautiful - as I said, there were a couple of scenes which I thought worked and one of those sequences was Strawberry Fields Forever, definitely one of the film's redeeming features for me. The Mr. Kite visuals weren't bad, but I didn't like Eddie Izzard's treatment of the song. I felt as if he tried too hard to be wacky. It takes a little more for me to portray eccentricity than to wear funny clothes and speak through a song in an English accent - for some reason. As for Bono, even though I like a lot of what U2 have produced, I simply didn't like his vocals on this track and believe he was miscast.

You know, of course the songs are great, they were written by arguably the world's greatest songwriting team - however, it was the treatment of the songs and the sonic tweaking of the voices that really rubbed me up the wrong way. Barb and Linda mentioned how much they disliked the I Want To Hold Your Hand scene, sung by Prudence, and I have to admit that I found it difficult to sit through that. One thing about the slowing of the song, it really revealed what a beautiful track, musicially, it is, rather than just being a kicky little pop song.

As for much of the rest of the movie, my distaste was generally because I had seen nearly everything before in some form or other. There were very few scenes in the movie which could claim to be original and the script really seemed to strain and struggle to hold together any kind of natural flow while bringing together what were, basically, dozens of unrelated songs. The whole thing had a very 'music video' feel to it and I honestly didn't think they did the Beatles songs justice, with a few exceptions.

Is it only me who can hear just what they've done with Jude's voice? It sticks out like a sore thumb to me.
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
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retrollama
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JeffLynnesBeard
Nov 3 2008, 05:32 PM
Is it only me who can hear just what they've done with Jude's voice? It sticks out like a sore thumb to me.
I'll have to watch it again to see... I was under the influence of something the first time, which greatly enhanced my opinions... :blush: :whistle:
What a long, strange trip it's been....
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JeffLynnesBeard
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Perhaps that's the problem - I watched it sober! :duh:

Why didn't anyone tell me? :P
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
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retrollama
Nov 3 2008, 05:36 PM
JeffLynnesBeard
Nov 3 2008, 05:32 PM
Is it only me who can hear just what they've done with Jude's voice? It sticks out like a sore thumb to me.
I'll have to watch it again to see... I was under the influence of something the first time, which greatly enhanced my opinions... :blush: :whistle:
Send me some and I will definitely give it another shot! :P
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BlueMolly2009
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I was sober when I watched it and i love it, so the "under the influence" and liking it excuse doesn't work for me. This is like Pink Floyd: The Wall, most people who liked it were under the influence of some substance, yet I liked it and I was sober. :duh:
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Emilee
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I haven't seen it yet.
I think theres a free screening on Monday, might check it out.
I wished I could save her in some sort of time machine.
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maccascruff
Sing the Changes
LapisLee
Nov 3 2008, 06:58 PM
retrollama
Nov 3 2008, 05:36 PM
JeffLynnesBeard
Nov 3 2008, 05:32 PM
Is it only me who can hear just what they've done with Jude's voice? It sticks out like a sore thumb to me.
I'll have to watch it again to see... I was under the influence of something the first time, which greatly enhanced my opinions... :blush: :whistle:
Send me some and I will definitely give it another shot! :P
Same here, since I happen to have a copy.
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Bill
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BlueMolly2008
Nov 3 2008, 09:04 PM
I was sober when I watched it and i love it, so the "under the influence" and liking it excuse doesn't work for me. This is like Pink Floyd: The Wall, most people who liked it were under the influence of some substance, yet I liked it and I was sober. :duh:
:frustrated:

Molly, if you liked the movie, just say you bloody well liked it and be done with it. You don't have to be the same as everyone else or justify your tastes. It's not a test. If you liked it then you liked it. Good for you.
Put a puppet on it.
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bluemeanie
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is now a happily married woman x
watched the movie tonight for the first time - I HATED IT !!! no story board - music awful (and yes even bono)

reminds me a bit like mamma mia which is similar - just terrible
Jayne x

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is loving life and is so happy xxx
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maccascruff
Sing the Changes
bluemeanie
Nov 19 2008, 02:50 AM
watched the movie tonight for the first time - I HATED IT !!! no story board - music awful (and yes even bono)

My sentiments exactly. Somebody sent me a link to a video of Obama supporters on election night and said it was set to Let It Be. Turns out it was the Across the Universe version of Let It Be and I couldn't watch the video.
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