SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic

Posted: May 08 2007 12:14 pm

When I saw Spider-Man 3, I saw a trailer for some movie called Across The Universe that heavily features covers of Beatles' songs and takes many of its plot points from Beatles' lyrics. That sounds like a GREAT idea.

Oh wait... NO IT DOESN'T.

Apparently the people responsible for this movie don't remember Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is easily one of the worst movies ever made. But at least the 70s shlockfest managed to give us outstanding covers of "Come Together" and "Because", whereas the covers features in the trailer are boring and predictable.

Across The Universe looks like it wants to be The Wall, but it'll never be The Wall. It's going to be a shitfest that rivals Moulin Rouge in its outright stupidity and awfulness.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

I dunno Syd, it's gonna take a lot to convince me that a movie directed by Julie Taymor is bad.

She directed the magnificent "Titus" [Andronicus] and "Frida", and she's also responsible for Broadway mega-hit adaptation of "The Lion King." I'm gonna give her the benefit of the doubt on this one, but time will tell.

Posted: May 08 2007 01:50 pm

Syd, do not judge lest ye (and your absolutely atrocious DVD collection) be judged.

Posted: May 08 2007 02:13 pm

Let the flaming begin:

I personally have never liked the beatles, as I think they are the world's most overated band. Therefore, I will not see this film.

Posted: May 08 2007 02:21 pm

DarkMaze wrote:

I dunno Syd, it's gonna take a lot to convince me that a movie directed by Julie Taymor is bad.

She directed the magnificent "Titus" [Andronicus] and "Frida", and she's also responsible for Broadway mega-hit adaptation of "The Lion King." I'm gonna give her the benefit of the doubt on this one, but time will tell.

God, I hate Frida Kahlo...

Not related in any way, just sayin'.

Posted: May 08 2007 02:23 pm

True, but I have no illusions that movies like Van Damme's Street Fighter: The Movie are good in any traditional sense of the word. Besides, as the webmaster of a pop culture site, I am required to maintain a collection of less-than-stellar movies so that I can grab screens from them for random sight gags and possibly review them. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I think the thing that bugged me the most about the Across The Universe trailer was the fact that it touted itself as the "most original film of the year". That sort of self-aggrandizing bullshit turns me off, especially when it's coming from a film that looks to be a mish-mash of Moulin Rouge, Vietnam movies, and Gilliamesque nightmare sequences. Of course, when a movie claims to be original, it's really claiming to clever, because originality isn't a virtue in and of itself. If you want to see a movie that's actually original, watch Happiness. It's original all right, but it's also very repellant, and you'll probably hate yourself for having watched it. Meanwhile, movies that extoll themselves as clever are rarely anywhere as near as clever as they think they are... look at Vanilla Sky, The Last Kiss, or I Heart Huckabees.

Posted: May 08 2007 02:28 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

True, but I have no illusions that movies like Van Damme's Street Fighter: The Movie are good in any traditional sense of the word. Besides, as the webmaster of a pop culture site, I am required to maintain a collection of less-than-stellar movies so that I can grab screens from them for random sight gags and possibly review them. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I think the thing that bugged me the most about the Across The Universe trailer was the fact that it touted itself as the "most original film of the year". That sort of self-aggrandizing bullshit turns me off, especially when it's coming from a film that looks to be a mish-mash of Moulin Rouge, Vietnam movies, and Gilliamesque nightmare sequences. Of course, when a movie claims to be original, it's really claiming to clever, because originality isn't a virtue in and of itself. If you want to see a movie that's actually original, watch Happiness. It's original all right, but it's also very repellant, and you'll probably have nightmares for weeks afterwards. Meanwhile, movies that extoll themselves as clever are rarely anywhere as near as clever as they think they are... look at Vanilla Sky, The Last Kiss, or I Heart Huckabees.

100% agree. Just wanted to bust balls. I might see the movie because I enjoy the Beatles' music, but I gag a little in my mouth when I hear "the Most Original (fill in the blank)".

Posted: May 08 2007 03:03 pm

Also, I hate the Beatles

Again, just pointing it out.

Posted: May 09 2007 12:25 am

My actual transcripted experience watching it in front of Hot Fuzz:

Tebor: Hot sister!? I'm in... Cheerleaders! I'm so in... Vietnam? What is this movie?... Protesting... This film is promising to be like four different genres already... *Hey Jude starts playing as things get tragic on screen* why can't anyone make a good cover of a Beatles song?... Uh-oh, a female director - I'm rooting for you... *Things really start getting weird* WHAT THE HELL IS THIS MOVIE!?
Friend: I think it's a movie that's supposed to show what it's like to be on acid.
Tebor: Whoaaaaa... We're making some weird ass films... OH! BALLS OF FURY!

*scene*

So I wasn't so offended watching it. I just didn't know what to make of it. The other guy I was with called it a "film student [reject/grad] who decided to tell a movie about the "streets" in the most pretentious way possible". But this kid hates everything, so...

She did "Titus", eh? Alas, I have a disdain for said film... Only because around when that film came out, I portrayed Titus in my theatre arts class. Best part: I had broken my hand, so it really was a stump Very Happy

Second best part: We totally got the highest grade in the class. Cool

Oh, and I totally love "Moulin Rouge". COME WHAT MAAAAAAAAAY!!!