All you need is - Across the Universe

Rating: 10/10 (16 November 2007)

I am an unabashed unashamed Beatles fan and have been since the early 60's. I am so wrapped in the Beatles that I hate it when other artists sing their songs (sacrilege) - until now! I went to see Across the Universe after seeing the preview. My expectations were more inquisitive than high.
After the first 10 seconds I was totally wrapped in this movie. The actors come singers were sensational. I particularly liked the way 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' was turned into a lament and 'Strawberry Fields Forever' became an anti-war song. Completely new meanings to well known songs.
These and other songs in the movie were incredible re-inventions of the songs I have known and loved for most of my life. I didn't think it would be possible to impress me in this way. Another stand out song is 'I Want You', changed from the original love song to 'Uncle Sam wants you' but ending up as a love song again.
I laughed out loud several times (when no one else in the cinema did) when I noticed movie events were reflecting actual Beatles movies or events. A good example was when Prudence was hiding in her room. Her character is named after Mia Farrows sister Prudence, who, when they were with the Beatles in India, hid in a room and wouldn't come out. This resulted in the writing of the song 'Dear Prudence' In the movie the song 'Dear Prudence' was sung to entice her from the room.
I got thinking later that, well, the Beatles have gone but their songs are still there. We can only listen to the Beatles themselves in so many ways (the last I heard was the too tricky Cirque de Soleil show 'Love'. To me this was a total failure, but that's another story). Surely then, it is now time to let these songs be re-invented. If done in such a fantastic way as with this movie then there are still further chapters to be written in the Beatles amazing story.
This review purposely avoids reviewing the actual movie but discusses the songs. The reader should read some of the earlier reviews for comment on the movie itself.