NationStates Jolt Archive


Jules, Lucy, Sadie, and Salma Hayek as five separate simultaneous nurses

Klonor
23-10-2007, 05:41
Bono in a wig, Eddie Izzard freaking out in a carnival tent, and Prudence sneaking in through the bathroom window. Jules crossing the Atlantic, JoJo roaring on the guitar, and Max eating all those cotton balls without one single X-ray. Ripened strawberries, choreographed bowling, and All You Need is Love blaring from the rooftop.

Either I've just come off one freaky ass acid trip, or I saw Across the Universe yesterday.

A piece set in the '60's and arranged to the songs of the Beatles, with copious influences from the likes of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, too, this move is something you really do not want to see while high; it was almost too trippy for me, and I was stone cold sober. Still, it was an experience that I think's going to stick with me for a long, long while.

I've been a lifelong fan of the Beatles, since the day I learned how to work that portable CD player we had back before iPods, and as soon as I saw the previews for this film I knew, I knew, that even if it was God-awful garbage (And let's be honest, Hollywood could screw up even their timeless classics), I would have to see it. Even if it was horrendously awful, it was something I'd need to do, and I'm glad I did.

I'm not going to gush and wail about how it was the greatest movie experience of life, and I'm not going to be screaming for 17 Oscars and three sequels. It was a little bit too long (Really just a little) and there were a few songs that I think really didn't add anything to the story, it seemed like they were just trying to wedge some random bit of Beatle-ness into the film. However, being imperfect is far from being a bad film, and this film certainly wasn't. They blended the music into movie very well, sometimes it was actually music in the movie, the performances were lovely (Not as good as the originals, of course, but come on, that would simply be asking too much), and there were so many subtle inclusions that went beyond the obvious copied names. The movie didn't try to deliver a message, but it still contained one (Hard to do), and it showed the good and the bad of the '60's all together. Music and images to touch the soul, bring a tear to your eye, and have you practically dancing and singing along in the theatre (I certainly couldn't stop myself from mouthing the lyrics along with the cast).

A sensory masterpiece that's going to simmer in my mind for days/months/years to come.

Plus, and we can't overlook this gem, it had five Salma Hayeks on-screen at once in revealing nursing outifts. I don't care who you are, that's just wholesome, quality entertainment.