All You Need Is...Across the Universe

Rating: 9/10 (16 October 2007)

My first introduction to this movie was when I went to see the film 'Stardust' in theaters. I saw the theatrical trailer and was deeply moved by both the music and the sequences between the characters. My first thought: I have to go see this! And so I did.
I have to admit, I've never been big into Beatles music. They were before my time, but I have always heard the odd song here and there on the radio and my Dad's attempts at recreating some of their most famous works (but don't tell him I said that!). Still, there were a few songs I recognized right off the bat, such as "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "All You Need Is Love", and "Let It Be". The rest were also truly amazing. I was very pleased that there were such good singers in the movie to bring the songs to life.
I really like the idea behind it all, too. It must have taken the movie makers a long time to figure out how exactly to fit a lot of the Beatles' songs into a worthwhile plot. I'm impressed at how well they did just that. Even without the music, the movie would still be good, it just wouldn't hold the same depth it did.
I loved the film's more abstract sequences - I thought they added to it in a great way, especially the "I Am The Walrus" and "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" parts. "Strawberry Fields Forever" was by far the best part, if not the very best song.
I really liked "Revolution"; in fact, it's my favorite song, right before "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (the adaptation was remarkable; the simplicity of the singer had a good effect), "Blackbird" (I had never heard this song before, but it is very good), and all the rest of the soundtrack for that matter! The soundtrack was so great that I got home from the theaters and bought it right away! I couldn't wait to hear all the music again. Now I listen to it all the time.
All in all, two thumbs up! It was a win-win situation; I got to see an incredible movie, my dad got the exhilaration of hearing his teenage daughter is becoming interested in the Beatles, and the theater got ten dollars.
Go see this movie! You won't regret it.