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Psychedelic musical numbers can't mask Across the Universe's clichéd love story and thinly written characters.
All Critics (177) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (93) | Rotten (84) | DVD (8)
The Beatles already survived one attempt by Hollywood to turn them into kitsch -- 1978's infamous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band -- and so you have to wonder what they did to deserve Across the Universe. Sep 7, 2011 | Rating: C- | Full Review…
The Beatles already survived one attempt by Hollywood to turn them into kitsch -- 1978's infamous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band -- and so you have to wonder what they did to deserve Across the Universe.
Owen Gleiberman
If you're a fan of the Beatles and their music, of unconventional musicals (this isn't Hairspray) or even of Bono (he has a couple of songs), this trippy trip Across the Universe is one you won't mind taking. May 13, 2009 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
If you're a fan of the Beatles and their music, of unconventional musicals (this isn't Hairspray) or even of Bono (he has a couple of songs), this trippy trip Across the Universe is one you won't mind taking.
Roger Moore
The imagery is pretty astonishing -- Taymor treats some of the more fantastical moments as if she were making big-screen music videos -- and it's all very intelligently done. But it's kind of a silly idea, very intelligently done Oct 18, 2008 | Full Review…
The imagery is pretty astonishing -- Taymor treats some of the more fantastical moments as if she were making big-screen music videos -- and it's all very intelligently done. But it's kind of a silly idea, very intelligently done
Bob Mondello
Goo goo g'joob; save your money for the Help! DVD. Jan 18, 2008 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…
Goo goo g'joob; save your money for the Help! DVD.
Melissa Anderson
It's more than a nostalgia trip. The real pleasure lies in Taymor's ability to make it all seem brand new. Nov 2, 2007 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
It's more than a nostalgia trip. The real pleasure lies in Taymor's ability to make it all seem brand new.
Sandra Hall
...the long and winding road that is Julie Taymor's opulent, eye-filling, and disappointingly uninvolving musical extravaganza... Oct 19, 2007 | Full Review…
...the long and winding road that is Julie Taymor's opulent, eye-filling, and disappointingly uninvolving musical extravaganza...
Jonathan F. Richards
Imagine that an eminence of creative surgery kidnapped the love of his life to return it transformed into an exact replica of what they hate most. [Full Review in Spanish] Mar 27, 2019 | Full Review…
Imagine that an eminence of creative surgery kidnapped the love of his life to return it transformed into an exact replica of what they hate most. [Full Review in Spanish]
Jordi Costa
Boring and at times soporific. [Full Review in Spanish] Mar 27, 2019 | Full Review…
Boring and at times soporific. [Full Review in Spanish]
Alberto Abuín
Through choreography, animation and all kinds of digital effects, the vignettes are used as supports for a script that, by itself, would never take off from the ground. [Full Review in Spanish] Mar 27, 2019 | Full Review…
Through choreography, animation and all kinds of digital effects, the vignettes are used as supports for a script that, by itself, would never take off from the ground. [Full Review in Spanish]
Fernanda Solórzano
All the musical numbers have their own temperature and the narrative digression is the order of the day, inscribed in a fabulous explosion of colors, music and dance choreography. [Full Review in Spanish] Mar 27, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
All the musical numbers have their own temperature and the narrative digression is the order of the day, inscribed in a fabulous explosion of colors, music and dance choreography. [Full Review in Spanish]
Nestor Hidalgo
Across the Universe is a platinum long-play that makes a kitsch exquisite Jacques Demy caviar. [Full Review in Spanish] Mar 27, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Across the Universe is a platinum long-play that makes a kitsch exquisite Jacques Demy caviar. [Full Review in Spanish]
Fausto Fernandez
If you're willing to love it, you let an ambitious film like this in and you let its faults grow on you. All you need is love indeed. Mar 27, 2019 | Full Review…
If you're willing to love it, you let an ambitious film like this in and you let its faults grow on you. All you need is love indeed.
Dre Rivas
This ambitious pastiche musical is perhaps just too avant-garde - trying to fit so many Beatles songs and tropes into a cohesive, motivated story about war, class, love, politics, (and failing in a narrative sense) - but dang it all if those crazy, trippy symbolic scenes and performances don't just make you want to have whatever Julie Taymor is having, whether sex, drugs, or rock and roll. Jim Sturgess is the most soulful of down-and-out bums, and it's disappointing that he hasn't gotten more high-profile jobs.
Super Reviewer
The idea of a film telling its love story primarily through Beatles songs is great. An d while some versions of the classic tunes work better than others, the same goes for their according scenes. Overall, the film tries a little too hard, especially the political commentary of the late 60s is unnecessary and forced. A shorter, much more focus movie would have worked so much better. That doesn't change the fact that some, not all, of the music sequences are magical.
This may sound harsh, but "Across The Universe" is basically a Beatle-themed "Glee" movie. This isn't necessarily an insult - if you like that show's alternate take on hit songs and how it incorporates the music into its plotlines, then there is no reason not to enjoy this film. If you don't like "Glee", I've probably already talked you out of it.
four stars
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