What a surprise

Rating: 10/10 (16 October 2007)

You just never know. My wife and I are Beatles fans. Big Beatles fans. Abbey Road,and everything else. We went to the movies last night with our minds made up to see Elizabeth. When we got there late (probably during previews) after a rushed supper, we spied a movie poster for this movie, and asked the ticket girl what it was like. She said, "Well, everyone seems to like it, it's got a lot of Beatles music in it, that's all I know." We looked at each other, bought two seats and walked in. After endless previews, the movie started and we were a little non-plussed.
The film moves you in very slowly. I am 61 years old, so the Beatles are prime time. Their music is amazing, still hip and relevant, even after more than 40 years, just like good theatre, classical music, etc. The first 10 minutes promised a rather contrived, hokey experience. But we were determined to watch, drawn forward by the amazing vocalizations and incredible productions of Beatles songs that we never believed could be sung by other voices so well (although over the years they have always had varied, some good, some bad, covers).
Then it happened, just when we thought it was too much camp to take, we got sucked in totally. The plot, loose as it was, moved us through endless poignant vignettes of the era. I sang with it (quietly) since I knew almost every word, I cried many times at the evoked memories of a passionate time in life.
The leads, Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess, were made for their roles, combining the idealism of youth with the awakening of meeting a nasty, cynical, hard world reality. They were beautiful, and so was the rest of the cast. How can you explain perfection.
Go and see -- this is a stunning visual and auditory experience.
When we left the theatre, I felt 40 years younger, and as though I were walking above the ground. This morning, I am nostalgic about last night's experience. This is the first movie in a very long time that I may rush out to see twice before the DVD comes out, just because I am so anxious to relive it.
This is the greatest surprise of a movie buffs life. Wow.