And any time you feel the pain, hey, Jude, refrain

[thoreau]

I sat tonight - with Miss Kate rolled up next to me - and watched Julie Taymor's visual musical "ACROSS THE UNIVERSE." Musical based on The Beatles songbook and set in the 60s England, America, and Vietnam. The love story of Lucy and Jude is intertwined with the anti-war movement and social protests of the 60s. Over 30 Beatles' songs are woven into the plot together with visual allusions to films Help! (1965), A Hard Day's Night (1964), Magical Mystery Tour (1967) (TV), Yellow Submarine (1968) and Let It Be (1970). It's a visual amazing film - and has some really touching moments. Particularly the "Why My Guitar Gently Weeps" segment. "I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping, While my guitar gently weeps I look at you all, Still my guitar gently weeps." I didn't know the original beatles tune - but it's sung as a gospel sad song.

When it comes around "Hey Jude!" the entire song takes on a new feeling.... its simply wonderful!!

I didn't know what to expect. It is one of the most original movies I've seen in a very long time. I found it perfectly imagined.

Simply breathtaking......

Comments

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

Pete made me watch this "I never heard of it" movie on Saturday...and I loved it too. And when the hero spots Lucy on a nearby rooftop at the end of the movvie..I said to Pete...guess what song comes next...

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

I bought that tonight. :) It really made an impact with me.

My brother introduced me to the Beatles by placing a speaker under my crib with their (and others) music. I grew up with them, so seeing something as intricate as this made me deeply happy.

I love the fact they infused their dialog with lyrics. It was definitely a show that could be watched on many levels.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

this movie touched me so deeply! "I don't know how someone didn't teach you to unfold your love"....

I will have to go buy this DVD - I just Ituned'd the soundtrack. I want to watch whole sections.....piece by piece.

[gorkabear.livejournal.com]

My roomate and me just *LOVED* this film. And he's been to the theater again to see it (it was released very late here).

One of my favourite scenes was "I'm the walrus" (that's Bono singin) and "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite"... Very 60s!

I'm definately buying the DVD!

[budmassey.livejournal.com]

I'll sell you mine cheap. I positively loathed the film.

[gorkabear.livejournal.com]

Is it a Zone 2 playable one? I live in Barcelona, South-West Europe...

[budmassey.livejournal.com]

No, sorry.

[gorkabear.livejournal.com]

*cries*
I guess I have to download it illegally from somewhere...

[quillon.livejournal.com]

If you don't want it, I'll buy your copy off of you.

Let me know.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

can you explain why you "loathed" the film? Are you a Beatles fan? Or is it the "MoulinRouge" style you dislike? I thought a romantic like you would have eaten up like syrup on a pancake!

... Since you asked. (grin)

[budmassey.livejournal.com]

I am an ENORMOUS Beatles fan, especially John Lennon, whom I practically worship, and I think that Moulin Rouge is a postmodern masterpiece.

But this movie?

The songs are randomly and inartfully introduced with nothing more than cliché recreations for story development. A DJ simply reading song titles would have been more artful.

The video/vocal renditions were horribly amateurish, sounding like the contestants that were eliminated from American Idol, full of superfluous warbling and whining, grunting and posturing, that did nothing to feature the once in a lifetime genius of Lennon/McCartney.

And the visuals were so ham-handedly obtrusive, like something out of Natural Born Killers, that I literally couldn't make it through the whole film in a single setting without becoming angry that so much praise has been heaped upon this glorified music video in which neither the music nor the video are particularly glorified.

[pdsexton.livejournal.com]

It has been added to my queue. I grew up listening to the Beatles, but was never an obsessive fan. Oddly enough, I enjoy their music more now than ever, and I love poignant films, so this should suit me well.

[inbhirnis.livejournal.com]

This is on my list of movies to watch, since I've always loved the music of The Beatles. It's good to have a recommendation from someone I know - thanks!

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

Damn, I've been wanting to see that too! I wish we could have watched it together. Oh well. There will be other flicks.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

we could netflix it - I'll certainly own a copy sooner or later :)

[tofercub.livejournal.com]

I loved this movie too! I went to the theatre to see it and the watched it agian this weekend. Its an incredible movie and I even bought the soundtrack this weekend too.
But I did find that it was MUCH better the second time watching it whilest being very high and happy! :o)

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

I assume you saw it in the theater with Mr. Pensacola? :) (wink)

[tofercub.livejournal.com]

Nope. Saw it in the theatre here with my friend Brett.
Watched it with mr. Pensecola high, on his couch in his living room this past weekend.
how was New Orleans?

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

new orleans was very restful. startingly different than SF - and SUPER flat. I had a good time - but I have a hard time traveling "solo" - and made teh best of it. I like getting high when I'm "with someone" too. oh vell.