Celebrating The Beatles.

Rating: 10/10 (24 September 2015)

Across the Universe (2007): Dir: Julie Taymor / Cast: Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther McCoy: Exquisite visual extravaganza set to the backdrop of Vietnam. Jude travels from London to meet his father. He befriends Max who is a free spirit threatened with the prospects of being drafted. Jude falls for Max's sister Lucy whose boyfriend dies in the war and she starts an anti-war protest. Other characters include Sadie, a promising singer who becomes involved with her guitarist. Directed by Julie Taymor and highlighted with revised Beatles songs that are given a brand new approach. These musical numbers are accompanied by striking visual images to express the emotion within each scene. A highlight regards a cheerleader walking across an aggressive football field while singing "I Wanna Hold Your Hand." Jim Sturgess as Jude is a free spirit and artist who never intended to fall in love but he does. He is illegally a citizen who fights his way back to his desired love. Evan Rachel Wood as Lucy voices her protests and political agendas before finding freedom in an artist. Joe Anderson as Max is her brother whose reckless lifestyles leads to the serious nature of war where the reality of death and violence leaves wounds, both physical and mental. Dana Fuchs as Sadie finds her place in music. The musical numbers express the era that encase our memory. Score: 10 / 10