Originally Posted By FerretAfros "What was worse was the young generation started making the statement that the music was better than the original Beatles arrangements." Just out of curiosity, what are your feelings on Across the Universe? It came out a couple years ago, but to my knowledge barely hit theaters. I first heard about it last summer, and I really enjoyed it for the most part. There is a segment in the middle that's just plain weird, but what Beatles movie could skip over that? The music is a lot of familiar songs and a ton of songs that I've never heard before, with completely new arrangements. For the most part, I think these versions are at least on par with the originals, and much better in some cases. The way that they're done, they completely change the original meaning (I Want to Hold Your Hand, for example), but they fit within their own story very well. From what I've heard, there was very little invovlment by Beatles with the production of the film. There was some sort of disagreement over parts of the film, so they didn't want to have much to do with it. The distributor thought it was too long (it is almost 3 hours uncut), so they edited it down for theatrical releases, but the DVD has the whole thing. There were lots of disagreements about things, but it ended up working out pretty well, and with a very non-Beatles feel, even though it was using their music to tell a story in the era they were big about something that they would have supported. It's an interesting film if you've never seen it. And fun random fact of the day: According to a Yahoo article I read a couple months ago, do you know which group sold the most albums in the past 10 years? That's right, the Beatles! There was a bit of a resurgence of Beatlemania around 2000/01, and it seems to be back again (with Rock Band and Across the Universe), so I'm sure that helped them out a little, but a 40 year old group (that hasn't been together in 30 years) is still topping the charts, which I think is pretty impressive.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <since it was the same studio that did the dreadful Beatles TV show. > Semi-Disney connection: two of the Beatles' voices on that show were provided by none other than Paul Frees, the Ghost Host himself. My admiration for Mr. Frees' voice work is generally unbounded, but I will say that he couldn't do a Liverpool accent to save his life.
Originally Posted By mele I was bored by "Across The Universe" but I know some people who really liked it. I thought the music was good, though.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I've only heard about "across the Universe", I've never seen it. I have heard both...good and bad...but since I didn't see it I really cannot comment. I will say that of the four...John (who really wasn't one of my favorites) did the best work after the breakup of any of them. Unfortunately, his murder kind of took away that spotlight. When I hear some of them now, I just marvel at the quality and imagination. Sir Paul, in my humble opinion, didn't really do squat after the breakup. He had some good songs but not really spectacular. More than once he would go on talk shows and rave about how such and such a song just came to him in his sleep or while eating breakfast or whatever, and pat himself on the back for it. Just about all that he bragged about were absolutely awful. Icon, comes to mind. For whomever questioned the things I heard about Sgt. Peppers Movie, all I can say is that was the prevailing message that I heard during that time. Granted they were mostly from hormone crazed Peter Frampton fans, but they were plenty at the time.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I'm sure you heard it from crazed fans, but to everyone else, and certainly the critical consensus, was that it was awful.
Originally Posted By DAR <<Just out of curiosity, what are your feelings on Across the Universe? It came out a couple years ago, but to my knowledge barely hit theaters. I first heard about it last summer, and I really enjoyed it for the most part. There is a segment in the middle that's just plain weird, but what Beatles movie could skip over that?>> When I first saw it it was kind of hit and miss. But it was one of those films where I wanted to see it again and since then I've grown to love it. The woman who is supposed to represent Janis Joplin has a killer voice.
Originally Posted By DAR <<I will say that of the four...John (who really wasn't one of my favorites) did the best work after the breakup of any of them. Unfortunately, his murder kind of took away that spotlight. When I hear some of them now, I just marvel at the quality and imagination.>> Lennon's solo stuff didn't impress me all that much. And Give Peace a Chance is an annoying song, not the message, just the melody itself. <<Sir Paul, in my humble opinion, didn't really do squat after the breakup. He had some good songs but not really spectacular. More than once he would go on talk shows and rave about how such and such a song just came to him in his sleep or while eating breakfast or whatever, and pat himself on the back for it. Just about all that he bragged about were absolutely awful. Icon, comes to mind.>> Paul was good early but then sort of fell off I agree with that. But he does have the best Bond theme song. The best Beatle with the group and solo was Harrison, he was by far the most talented of the group.
Originally Posted By Bellella All four Beatles are immortal through their work in the group and after.
