|
|
Your Learning Zone - Across the Universe (Two-Disc Special Edition)
|
List Price: $28.96
Our Price: $14.37
Your Save: $ 14.59 ( 50% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson (VI), Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther (II)
Directed By: Julie Taymor
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Sony
EAN: 0043396194625
Format: AC-3
Label: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: 2008-02-05
Running Time: 133
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: 2007-10-09
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Imagine
Comment: Who would have thought that this could be done? Stringing a story through the soundtrack of our lives could have been trite. The movie though, captures the times between 1964 and 1969 perfectly. The evolution of the politics, music and graphic imagery mirrors what I remember. The references to charactors and historical people is very clever, and it was all done without being a slave to literalism. The interpretations of the songs are novel and imaginative. "I Wanna Hold Your Hand", "Happiness is a Warm Gun" and "Carry That Weight" are totally unexpected, but in an alternate universe, could be just what Lennon and McCartney intended.
As a separate issue, I was bowled over by Diana Fuchs' performance. She channels Janis Joplin and Joan Osborne without imitating them, and is proof positive of the magic of the blues.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A walk back in Time
Comment: I have never written a movie review before, and after reading many reviews realized many people are in love with what they write..
I just watched the movie, had not even heard of it before my son had me sit down to view. I turned on the surround sound, earphones on, and walked back thru time, as that brought back a flood of memories.. I thought it was a great movie, visuals, sound, singers, actors, it was all a well spent two hours.
Now I have to buy it, because it all worked for me. May be a bit much for those that have young ones to watch, but for those with more mature offspring, it is good to have some dialog around the material.
This is a keeper for me.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Disc issues
Comment: Unfortunately, I can't give a review for this movie. The disc will not play in my DVD player or my computer. I received one and returned it after it wouldn't play. Unfortunately, the second one has the same issue. It is not my player because I have no problem with other DVDs.
Customer Rating:
Summary: HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY!
Comment: Help! I need somebody, not just anybody, but the director!
If you must start with disc 1, comparisons will be made. Like the movie "Hair" made you long for the original play and storyline, the movie "Tommy" made you long for the original album and storyline..."Across the Universe" will actually make you long for, or at least appreciate, Stigwood's "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
One surely wonders why the director chose, out of over 200 songs, most of the drug-induced ones The Beatles wrote. With slight musical changes to all the songs, and the removal of the overly-produced musical backgrounds of the originals, it is very easy to tell the difference between Lennon's wit and intelligence; and the lyrics that make no sense what-so-ever, unless you, too, are on drugs and seeing spiders on your hands and walls. The Lennon/McCartney music originally made up for the nonsense words.
The movie, itself, is full of beautiful faces and lovely voices. Some of the images are excellent, but the movie isn't as cohesive as you would think it would be. Some parts make no sense at all on the surface of a first viewing. Some Beatles' songs are just hinted at in a throwaway line, or the easily recognizable opening chords that just go into a different song. And like all `pretty' movies, the heroes are bashed in the head one day and have their lovely faces back the next.
Now, if you choose to watch disc 2 first, you will discover that the movie becomes more comprehensive and makes a little more sense.
Actually, disc 2 comes off more enjoyable than the movie itself, or at the very least, makes the movie seem better than it actually is.
If you just want to tune in, drop out and watch a movie, this is the one for you. Otherwise, stick to "Hard Days Night" and "Help".
Miss Josh
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Bizarre
Comment: What a beautifully bizarre film that brilliantly uses a catchy and heartwarming Beatles soundtrack to show a tempestuous time in our nation's history. Though the movie is at times so bizarre it's confusing, it is easy to get caught up in the stunning and surreal artistic visuals. For me, the best musicals are those that know how to get in your face with pulse-pounding song and dance scenes and can also stir your heart with songs that are sad or romantic.
Across the Universe does all of this, frequently. The musical numbers are effective and abundant. Trying to tell a story with songs that weren't originally written for a musical isn't a new concept (see An American in Paris) but it also isn't a simple one. I give Julie Taymor a lot of credit for tackling such a difficult challenge.
Unlike some others, I'm not sorry the movie didn't win Best Picture, because it does have its faults that keep it just out of "great movie" range. But it is very, very good and deserves to be counted as one of the best musicals of all time.
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
Across the Universe from director Julie Taymor is a revolutionary rock musical that re-imagines America in the turbulent late-1960s a time when battle lines were being drawn at home and abroad. When young dockworker Jude (Jim Sturgess) leaves Liverpool to find his estranged father in America he is swept up by the waves of change that are re-shaping the nation. Jude falls in love with Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) a rich but sheltered American girl who joins the growing anti-war movement in New York s Greenwich Village. As the body count in Vietnam rises political tensions at home spiral out of control and the star-crossed lovers find themselves in a psychedelic world gone mad. With a cameo by Bono Across the Universe is the kind of movie you watch again like listening to a favorite album. (Roger Ebert CHICAGO SUN-TIMES)System Requirements:Run Time: 133 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:Â MUSICALS/MUSICALS Rating:Â PG-13 UPC:Â 043396194625 Manufacturer No:Â 19462
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
