'Across the Universe' -- pre-release buzz

[PeterB]

Sony has set a February 5, 2008, debut for 'Across the Universe' on Blu-ray and DVD:

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/acrosstheuniverse.html

Specs aren't in yet, but the DVD will be a two-disc set, so we expect at least some if not hopefully all of those extras will make it over to the Blu-ray.

Retail is $38.95...

[metatron]

damn, it will be region coded. will wait for eu release.

[dvddesign]

Hopefully one of the extras will be a decent version of the film.

From the get go on this movie I felt like I'd done something horrible to the Beatles and this was their revenge on me.

The movie's a waste of time to anyone who loves the Beatles, and perfect for anyone who just wants a so-so musical for their collection.

I'd love to hear from a Beatles fan who DID like the movie and find out what they found so great about it, because I found the movie derivative, boring, plain, and uninspired.

The ONLY two musical numbers that held my interest were Happiness is a Warm Gun and I Want You (She's So Heavy) and that was mostly because it was the only segment that kept any underlying plotline throughout the whole scene.

I'm not kidding, they could've made this film about completely unrelated characters in different time periods and it would've been better.

Sadie and JoJo love each other? Then hate each other? WTF?

And Prudence's character felt insulting the entire run time.

Again, anyone that liked this film, step up and please illuminate me to what I was missing out on...

[HiRez]

Wanted to catch this in theaters, but missed it. I'll probaly give it a rent first. While some musicals have been pretty good (Hairspray), others are just plain annoying (the over-singing fest known as Dreamgirls).

[scream_guy3]

Dvddesign, I'm a huge Beatles fan and absolutely loved the film. In fact, I can't see how anyone who even remotely enjoys The Beatles would hate this film. A lot of people I've talked to now love The Beatles because of this movie. Maybe it was just you?

[BrunoBruin]

Originally Posted by dvddesign

Again, anyone that liked this film, step up and please illuminate me to what I was missing out on...

I actually went into this expecting disaster, from all the pre-release drama. But I ended up enjoying it, by and large. There are parts that are good, parts that are really wonderful, and a few bits that are excruciatingly bad. Taymor goes for the obvious visual too often, and there are scenes that go nowhere and add nothing to the plot. What I liked, though, was hearing the songs in a new context. In all the Beatles BS that we've lived with for 40 years, you forget that they wrote REALLY GREAT POP SONGS. Hearing them in a new way, and by and large well-sung, was a nice reminder of that.

It's a movie that has sort of grown on me since I saw it. It's kind of a mess, but it's an ambitious and interesting mess, and that's more than I can say about 90 percent of the crap in theaters these days.

[Dr_Gonzo]

This is my most wanted title right now on BD. I really love it and I can't wait to buy the disc and take the ride - this was the best trip in 2007 untill now. I believe that the best movie of 2007 will be 'There Will Be Blood'.

[Arrested Development fan]

I loved this film. It isn't exactly flawless, but I couldn't help but enjoy it, I felt really happy afterwards and was humming some of the songs. I'm also a huge Beatles fan. If I can't afford to go neutral by then, I'll buy the DVD.

[Jared]

I missed it in theaters and am looking forward to renting the Blu-ray. I was pretty interested in seeing it but unfortunately just didn't get the chance. The only thing I'm wary of is that it was directed by Julie Taymor, who can be quite visionary but has had difficulty transitioning from stage to screen. I thought that her version of Titus was an awful film. I hope that Across the Universe proves to be much better.

[Billiam86]

absolutely love this film and I'm a HUGE Beatles fan. As for the poster's comments about the Sadie/Jo-Jo thing...they got in a fight because she dumped him as her guitar player...I thought that was pretty self explanatory, unless you are talking about something else then I apologize. I saw this 4 times in the theater and have every intention of picking this up on the day of release in blu and possibly SD too.

[SoulOnIce]

I'm also a huge Beatles fan and I really liked this movie. I thought some of the covers were pretty good such as I Wanna Hold Your Hand and If I Fell. I really wish this was coming out on HD DVD.

[abbazappaplant]

This is one of the few theatrical releases that I hope gets an extended cut when it transitions to home release. I really really loved the movie, and would have liked to have seen some more interaction with the lesser characters. I saw this opening night in union square in nyc and it had numerous people standing up and clapping after it was over with.

[krammer]

The trailer for this on the Spider-Man 3 BD looks & sounds great. Can't wait.

[Joker2025]

I also thought this was great fun. It is not the story of the Beatles, it is the story of the 60's told in a love story, refracted through the words and music of the Beatles. And wasn't that actually the 60's for most of us that were there anyway, so not so far off. the new versions of the songs are given a little more depth and feeling and are performed quite well for a cast of actors. It is no surprise this became a big seling item on I-tunes.
Is it perfect? No. I could have done without the "I am the Walrus" and ESPECIALLY the "Mr. Kite" psychedelia, which are jarringly out of whack with the rest of the movie. Yes, the DSL was an important part of the times and the experience, but if you were seeing crazyness that was a "Koyanasquatsi" warning that you were in the wrong place and the true benifits were much more internalized, appreciation of the world around you, understanding and experiencing joy, very hard to translate to the screen.
Wait for the end though, because although it does get kind of lost there for a bit in the middle it ends real good and will leave you very happy and singing when it is over. And to those negativos who say you can't have a happy ending to this era. Not everybody crashed and burned and a lot of very good things came out of that time and the reason that this movie and the Dylan movie and Chuck Scarbourgh's "1968" book are manifesting themselves right now is because WE NEED IT right now.

[Giles]

this might be a blind buy for me.