"ACROSS THE UNIVERSE"
Starring Evan Rachel Wood
& Jim Sturgess
Released: Oct. 12, 2007

WATCH THE TRAILER

I WASN'T ALWAYS a fan of The Beatles. In fact, when I was younger, I thought they made annoying old-people music. That was, of course, before I had ever listened to any of their songs other than “Yellow Submarine,” and I didn’t even know that was a Beatles song.

This all changed when my brother bought a laptop, and I inherited his old desktop. I checked out his extensive iTunes library, and was amazed at the sound of The Beatles.

I’m still amazed at the melodies, always stuck in my head, and the simple yet deep lyrics that convey the message of each song perfectly.

However, when a friend invited me to see "Across the Universe," I didn’t really know what to expect. A movie set to the music of The Beatles? Could somebody really write a screenplay that would satisfy so many different messages in so many different songs?

Turns out it is possible. Not only does the movie include a variety of songs with relevant messages, it also depicts important events and situations that occurred in the 1960s and '70s.

Much of the plot and mood is based around the Vietnam War. The characters are all connected to the war in some way, whether a family member is involved or they are working to protest it. It truly depicts what was happening in the world at the time the songs were written.

The idea of intertwining the war and music is demonstrated particularly well during a song called “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” During the scene, the meaning of the song is twisted to relate to the infamous Uncle Sam recruiting posters. Thick-chinned soldiers march about declaring that they “want you so bad.”

However, the song becomes softer at the end. The meaning changes as the cleverly named lovers Jude and Lucy start to sing. The names correspond to the songs “Hey Jude” and “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.” There is also a character named Prudence, as reflected in the song “Dear Prudence.”

I found myself trying extremely hard not to sing along so that the other moviegoers wouldn’t be annoyed. It reminded me of watching ""The Rocky Horror Picture Show." My friends are always annoyed when I sing along, especially if it’s their first time seeing it.

The most extraordinary part of the movie, however, wasn’t the amazing cinematography, or the intriguing dancing businessmen, or even the attractive British actor who played Jude. It wasn’t even the fact that Eddie Izzard played Mr. Kite!

The most amazing part was the energy that I had after the movie. During the credits, I ran up to the front and danced with my friends until I could barely breathe. I jumped around in the lobby, ecstatic. I nearly skipped the whole way from Savoy 16 to the Marble Slab Creamery.

The fact that I had that much energy after sitting in the dark for two hours makes me absolutely positive that I will never forget the Beatles, or the night I first saw "Across the Universe."

"Across the Universe" is currently playing at the Goodrich Savoy 16 Theatres, 232 W. Burwash, Savoy, and the GKC Beverly 18, 910 Meijers Drive, Champaign.

"ACROSS THE UNIVERSE" AT A GLANCE

• Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Eddie Izzard, Salma Hayek, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs
• Directed by: Julie Taymor
• Written by: Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais
• Genre: Musical
• Rated: PG-13 for language, sexuality, drug content, violence
• Runtime: 131 minutes
• Summary: A musical based on the songs of The Beatles, "Across the Universe" tells the story of Jude, a young Englishman, and Lucy, whom he meets when he travels to America to find his estranged father. Their love story is set against the background of the social upheaval of the 1960s.
• Now showing: GKC Beverly 18, Goodrich Savoy 16
• Showtimes: Click here
• External sites: IMDb entry, official site
• Gargoyle A&E Hitlist: Click here