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Across the Universe

Across the Universe

2007
Drama, Fantasy
2h 13m
A musical inspired on Beatles's songs. A dock worker Jude (Jim Sturgess) travels to America in the 1960s to find his estranged father. There he falls in love with sheltered American teenager Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood). When her brother Max (Joe Anderson) is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, they become involved in peace activism. (imdb)
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Across the Universe

2007
Drama, Fantasy
2h 13m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 44.53% from 3435 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(3435)
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Compact view
Rated 29 Apr 2008
62
24th
There were entertaining bits but for the most part it felt like that. Bits strung together by music. Music should be there to serve the movie, not the other way around. I like the ambition it just wasn't pulled off.
Rated 19 Mar 2008
3
28th
A giant mess. I didn't care about any of the characters, and although the music was obviously decent being a bunch of Beatles covers, I was pretty much staring at the DVD timer counting down the remaining minutes by the end.
Rated 29 Oct 2007
76
69th
It ran a bit long, and to be honest, there have been other Taymor vehicles I've liked better, but three days later I'm still humming Sturgess' rendition of "I've Just Seen A Face", so take it as you will. Bono's part was too forced, but Izzard's was lovely.
Rated 11 Dec 2007
43
1st
What's that sound? Oh, I think it's John Lennon and George Harrison rolling over in their graves.
Rated 21 Oct 2007
86
86th
Running at over two hours I honestly thought it could've used about an extra 10 to 15 minutes to string together certain sections better. With that said I loved Julie Taymor's surreal take on the musical genre. It's not all sunshine and rainbows or clear cut man loves girl, loses girl, gets girl back. Actual important and relavent issues are portrayed in the film. With that said if long, surreal films aren't your bag then you could probably give this one a miss.
Rated 30 Dec 2007
85
73rd
I really enjoyed this. The thing to realize about this film, and films like it in general, is that it isn't really aiming to have a highly complex plot, or nuanced characters with realistic motivations. This is a musical; they follow different rules. I think Across the Universe for the most part does what it wants to do, and what it needs to do. At least it did what I wanted it to do.
Rated 27 Apr 2008
44
4th
A huge trainwreck, but it's impossible to look away. It's amazing that so much money and effort could be put into something and it still comes out a complete mess. None of the characters are likable, the commentary is shallow and the performances are all over the place. I knew it'd be flawed but I hoped it would at least be fun and unique. It was pretty unique but only sporadically fun.
Rated 21 Jul 2009
1
11th
If you like The Beatles you'll love this. If you ACTUALLY like The Beatles you'll hate this.
Rated 14 Oct 2007
90
78th
This is pretty much what I was hoping it would be: a fun, psychedelic musical comprised of nothing but Beatles songs. The acting actually isn't as good as I heard, but it's often good enough. Some covers weren't very good, some were outstanding, but at the end of the day it's the mind-bending visuals that stay stuck in your head.
Rated 04 May 2008
5
0th
GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY
Rated 03 Oct 2007
38
10th
Watching this film felt like listening to a friend of yours sing their favorite Beatles songs to you, with nearly as much of a plot. Overly obvious references, threadbare story connecting musical numbers, and attempts to shoehorn political relevance into a catalogue of music devoid of any torpedoes the few moments of greatness the film can muster (The sequence for "I Want You"). An ambitious, but mortally flawed mess.
Rated 28 Dec 2007
40
23rd
A musical built around a catalog of Beatles songs should be a HELL of a lot better than this
Rated 06 Nov 2007
87
83rd
I really dug it. The story itself is nothing particularly surprising, but the presentation is so clever and varied that it grabs you anyway. It was also very nice to see the actors actually singing (as opposed to the most recent "Phantom of the Opera", in which it was pretty clear nobody was)
Rated 14 Sep 2008
88
92nd
Really, really sweet movie with - of course - absolutely great music! Just don't expect a deep story, that is not the aim of the movie, to tell a great story, but to pay tribute to one of best music groups of all times: the Beatles.
Rated 30 Apr 2009
35
6th
All the songs seem forced, the colours and camerawork weren't as vibrant as I was expecting and it instead seemed really lifeless even when it was trying to be full of life.
Rated 26 Oct 2009
7
0th
I was raped by Julie Taymor's inability to use the Beatles correctly. Horseshit.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
64
39th
A few interesting visuals don't really make up for the goofball story and (mostly) poor covers.
Rated 29 Aug 2017
1
0th
Thanks for bastardizing The Beatles. We really wanted that to happen.
Rated 06 Feb 2009
60
65th
If you love Beatles music your obviously going to like this movie. Also its refreshing to see a movie where the veitnam vetren comes back changed but not destroyed and useless, a movie stereotype that is tired.
Rated 07 Oct 2013
34
39th
aw man i love tslipnkot. shouldve been =bout slipnkkot lol
Rated 17 Sep 2007
69
26th
When are people going to understand! Musicals consisting of covers of already existing music DONT WORK! They just don't! Contrived plot and characters and often stupid usage of bland Beatles covers. Often not making any sense at all. However, the film is at its best when it's not making any sense. Despite its faults it is still visually stunning and fun. In fact, the imagery is so beautiful that it justifies everything stupid about it. I love Julie Taymor's previous work, but ....WTF?
Rated 28 Mar 2008
37
14th
Wonderful concept, horrible execution. A trainwreck of a plot has you wondering: If they weren't signing Beatles songs would I be watching this? (no). Would work better as a theatrical event where the music and choreography could have overcame the plot problems. Some visuals are indeed stunning, but these are clearly drawn Taymor's successful live theater productions, why is this a movie again? Jim Sturgess is very good - he vocals are spot on without imitating any specific Beatle.
Rated 16 Sep 2007
89
80th
It is the most stunning, astounding, original film I've seen in years. If you don't love this movie, you officially have no soul.
Rated 10 Nov 2007
66
36th
Seemed less like a movie and more like a plethora of wonderful music videos with a less then average love story barely lacing them all together. Very ambitious and the youngs actors show a lot of talent; Bono's cameo is easily the most memorable moment.
Rated 22 Feb 2012
30
12th
I was pretty much bored the whole time. And lets be honest, the Beatles are and were overrated. Were they one of the most important bands in rock and roll history, sure, but should John Lenon be idolized as one of the greatest musicians in the past 100 years, probably not. Things got worse than boring when Bono showed up. Then they started doing drugs and the film actually got annoying. This is shit, like the shit you take when you have to drink that stuff the night before a colonoscopy. Painful
Rated 15 Feb 2008
0
3rd
Marxist propaganda
Rated 06 Dec 2008
50
37th
GREAT MUSIC BUT A BAD MOVIE.
Rated 09 Dec 2007
85
66th
Very interesting indeed. Julie Taymor has lots of ingenious little ideas, and each and every song's video has a distinctive feel to it, which is great. Some of them are amazing ("I Want You" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" are particularly powerful), some of them rather bland. The real problem, however, is that the underlying structure is very rickety and can't really hold the weight of 130 minutes. I think it would be much better to leave three or four songs out altogether. Recommended, though.
Rated 24 Oct 2010
70
67th
Nearly three dozen Beatles songs are the basis for a series of highly creative, visually stunning musical numbers; which are strung together by generic sixties plot #45. If underdeveloped characters and the lack of an original story turn you off, this movie probably isn't for you. But if you want to see a gorgeous modern musical that lets you drink in the the atmosphere (unlike oh, I don't know *cough* Moulin Rouge) or if you just really love The Beatles, this is absolutely worth checking out.
Rated 18 Feb 2009
2
16th
"All you need is love - and a good script."
Rated 01 Oct 2008
70
63rd
Sacrifices plot for more Beatles' songs. Fortunately, I like the Beatles.
Rated 19 Aug 2010
84
59th
A story that is rich and beautiful tells an story of a budding romance through the deep and powerful lyrics of perhaps the greatest band that ever recorded. Across the Universe is a musical that tells a story of war and peace, of love and friendship and finding your own path. Across the Universe is filled with talented young actors and actresses whose vocal limits are put to the test. Great Chemistry all around, a solid work of art inspired by The Beatles. Great entertaining fun-filled movie.
Rated 16 Feb 2008
72
32nd
Beautifully shot with wonderful music, but something about it just felt empty. Maybe think about it as a long, pretty music video...
Rated 03 May 2008
35
12th
Beatles for High School Musical fans
Rated 22 Feb 2008
92
97th
This movie made me whip out my Beatles CDs. Each song was visually awazing in the movie. Joe Cocker singing "Come Together" is worth seeing alone. It was fun watching with my dad and trying to call what song was going to come up. I thought Jude was gonna end the movie singing "Lucy in the Sky...". It was "Love", I lost.
Rated 02 May 2009
70
61st
I think that musicals are boring. But with beatles is pretty good. They transform several songs into a story and that is nice. But it is not perfect, could have a few artists better, less long and improve some aspects of the story. Anyway, worth a look.
Rated 18 Apr 2009
50
10th
I can sum up this film in one sentance: "Hippies, Bono, Eddie Izzard, and Hippies-to-be sing Beatles songs for two hours". The performances were well done, and Taymor's visual direction is superb, but the film's lukewarm script brings the film way down. The lack of a good dialogue or even a coherent plot both makes the film hard to follow along with and ultimately makes it hard to care about the characters. But overall, Across the Universe is visually stunning, but intellectually strained.
Rated 29 Sep 2011
47
64th
#11#, reviews, story.
Rated 30 Dec 2008
54
10th
Badly remade Beatles' songs (even though the Beatles' themselves aren't all that hot) punish an already lacking plot line with disappointing everything. A movie should not hope to win the hearts of the viewing public just by including some past number one hits.
Rated 11 May 2009
91
94th
Even though I'm a big Beatles fan, I was surprised that I enjoyed this film as much as I did. The plot that strings together the series of Beatles covers isn't particularly great, but the songs themselves are really well done in a variety of styles in what ends up being one of the better musicals I've seen
Rated 22 Mar 2008
65
47th
Like Forman's HAIR and Bakshi's AMERICAN POP, this attempts to tell the story of a generation using existing music of the period, to extremely mixed results. More successful as a conversation starter than as a movie, it's best enjoyed when shared with friends. Can't deny that it's got some fabulous trademark Julie Taymor creativity behind it, but HAIR is the better movie.
Rated 05 Feb 2008
90
87th
Convém que é aniversário de 15 anos da estreia de Across the Universe, vi naquela época, adorei, mas nunca mais revi, apesar de ter esgotado a trilha sonora. 2007 é um ano que gosto muito no cinema e sempre dou um voto de confiança a Julie Taymor, mas ele é muito mais entusiasmante do que me lembrava, o vi por completo, logo em seguida vi com os comentários de áudio da Taymor com o Elliot Goldenthal e fica ainda mais claro o brilhantismo que envolve esse filme. Blu-ray Sony.
Rated 13 Feb 2012
96
87th
Well-chosen cast. I didn't think anyone would be able to do justice to the original Beatles songs, but the soundtrack is really phenomenal.
Rated 19 Mar 2012
3
18th
Meh. Most of the covers are good, and some of them give the songs a new meaning, but they just CAN'T top the original Beatles. I was actually enjoying the plot at first, but at some point it all falls flat with silly relationship drama and Sixties anti-war and physcadalia crap.
Rated 19 Nov 2012
51
54th
Interesting approach to the cultural revolution of the 1960s. What a shame the cultural revolution of the 1960s is a self-indulgent mess to begin with.
Rated 23 Oct 2008
2
0th
this movie sucks!! I would never watch this movie again. Has no plot and is a pointless tribute to the Beatles. EWHH!!!! I would not Recomend this movie to anyone.
Rated 08 Sep 2009
50
22nd
Too long. Series of music videos. Acting is poor.
Rated 31 Jul 2008
57
28th
. Maybe i would have liked it more if i were wearing tights???
Rated 22 Oct 2009
25
3rd
I HATED THIS MOVIE
Rated 08 Aug 2008
50
20th
Despite being modern, this film suffers a lot from the trippy era it's based on. While I thought the music scenes were great, the story was so flaky and non-directional (and not to mention so long) that I was drifting off half-way through, with little empathy for the characters.
Rated 05 Jul 2008
1
0th
A movie has never made me more angry. They get one point for having the idea to make a movie centered around Beatles' songs, but they most certainly botched that idea.
Rated 04 Jul 2008
100
77th
If you ever enjoyed music by the Beatles, like to be visually entertained, and can just suspend reality for a bit, you will be engrossed by Across The Universe. There are such diverse reviews of this masterpiece by Julie Taymor, but I was blown away. Musicals aren't my 'cup of tea', but this one just comes together. The characters are delightful, the songs blend right into the script and the romantic story is very touching.
Rated 19 Nov 2016
60
26th
Storylostinterestbythetimehesaidhesjude/founddadlooljusthereforthesongs+thenthewar/blackguystuffandibarelyfollowing
Rated 17 Oct 2011
4
0th
The covers are terrible. Movie was trite and cliche.
Rated 12 Apr 2010
89
86th
the music comes first in this movie, but the story created from otherwise non-related songs is also intriguing
Rated 13 Feb 2009
70
45th
If you love Beatles music, check it out. Besides the music, it was relatively boring.
Rated 23 Jan 2011
70
56th
Good stuff. Predicable story, but well-told, the visual style is great, and the songs are worked in without feeling forced (usually).
Rated 20 Feb 2008
82
65th
Though the middle drags a bit, the beginning and the end of Across the Universe is excellent. A creative spin on The Beatles legendary music keeps this exciting and beautiful looking musical afloat. Not relying on its subpar love story, Across the Universe benefits from a strong cast of good singers and excellent cinematography with some truly creative scenes and adaptations of timeless music. Even in a semi-flawed state it's one of 2007's best and most refreshing movies.
Rated 27 Apr 2012
90
67th
Though the characters are clearly placed within the movie to fill the gaps between Beatles songs, the relationship between the 2 leads aided this wonderful visual and aural pleasure to transcend the almost out-of-control chaos.
Rated 01 Apr 2009
30
37th
"Overall a mixed bag. Good bits. Great bits. Bits in which you want the ground underneath your reclining cinema chair to open and swallow you up."
Rated 11 Jan 2010
80
35th
This movie lacked in the character development and plot that I was hoping for when I saw it. The visuals and the music in it are wonderful.
Rated 28 Apr 2009
80
18th
Doesn't really make sense and doesn't really need to. Great movie so long as you like The Beatles (which you should).
Rated 01 Jul 2009
1
10th
It all comes down to the Beatles interpretations, and while some are decent, most of them are not, and some downright molest the originals. Plus it's a sugar coated clichefest when it comes to the plot.
Rated 19 Jan 2010
24
15th
ughhhhh
Rated 16 Jun 2012
51
19th
I thought this was gonna be great but man was I wrong
Rated 30 Mar 2009
90
72nd
loved this homage to the Beatles, especially enjoyed the brilliant colors and the cover of "If I Fell" performed by Evan Rachel Wood........a real charmer!
Rated 17 Aug 2010
89
77th
go see it for the music. clever use of it.
Rated 17 May 2015
6
32nd
The story and characters are shallow and trite, but "Across the Universe" boasts some neat visual accompaniment to some nice covers of classic Beatles tunes; likely to be a guilty pleasure for any fans of the band.
Rated 18 Jul 2009
45
13th
Boring, I didn't appreciate the covers of the songs.
Rated 06 Apr 2008
72
29th
There's awesome musical numbers, that are best expierenced under the influence, but other than that, the movie itself is weak. It's simply a vehicle to get these awesome music videos with the same cast strung together, and it could have been much better if they had at least tried to have a decent plot.
Rated 26 Jun 2013
25
33rd
I actually enjoyed the new, dreamy arrangements of the songs, but the film suffers from the same problem all these musicals built around a certain artist's oeuvre do: the creators feel the need to cram in as many recognizable tunes as possible at the expense of dramatic cohesion. The result is a bloated soundtrack with contrived song choices. The film is also painfully unsubtle in its use of metaphors ("She's so heavy", they sing as they carry the Statue of Liberty. Get it? America!). (2.5/5)
Rated 09 Jun 2009
96
95th
Oh Man... I love The Beatles. Only someone like me can love this movie. Surely it's not a masterpiece but I really had a good time. What a trip!
Rated 27 Dec 2009
32
14th
Synthetic and unoriginal movie. Real fans of Beatles would be simply offended by the way the songs are covered. Visual effects seems to be made with some really cheap software.
Rated 02 Jan 2010
84
75th
If you have a thing for the Beatles( I certainly do), WATCH it!!!
Rated 20 Oct 2011
90
69th
Great music! I'm overrating this a little cause of it.
Rated 05 Feb 2013
70
64th
7- recommended, good :: Story-wise, it's about as good as you can expect from a musical that uses a bunch of pre-existing songs: there are a couple misses, but a few of the sequences are really great.
Rated 10 Nov 2019
87
75th
I think this film captures something sweet and ineffable about the era by giving the songs a dreamy sheen. And I love everything Julie Taymor touches.
Rated 27 Jun 2012
0
1st
As a Beatle fanatic I thought at the very least I'd get some sort of amusement out of this but turns out I was very wrong. They ham-fist weak ass renditions of The Beatles most popular (and a few deeper cuts) songs into the most generic 60s plot imaginable and expect you to love it because its The Beatles, when in reality this is for teenage girls who use the band as an accessory.
Rated 18 Apr 2013
58
34th
My gift is my song! And this one's for you. Sorry, wrong movie.
Rated 17 Aug 2010
99
98th
One of my favourite films. Love the Beatles, love musicals, love ATU!
Rated 26 Oct 2012
48
18th
* Casting, Acting : 3 * Script : 4 * Directing, Aura : 5 * Ease of Viewing : 6 * Naked Eye : 6
Rated 13 Feb 2009
17
8th
An embarrassment.
Rated 18 Jul 2010
60
54th
Its nice that a modern movie could bring the sounds of the Beatles into this generation... but.... i hated a lot of the covers.... then again i dislike a lot of beatles songs anyway...
Rated 07 Jun 2011
20
1st
Julie Taymor had everything, you know: the greatest and saddest pop songs ever made, a nice social background -- Vietnam War --, and a psychedelic visual, but, eh, what do we get, huh? A boring couple -- with boring arguments and fights --, tons of boring covers -- Glee-like? Ok, I'm overreacting --, boring characters, boring everything. And this review is already boring anyway.
Rated 23 Jul 2018
20
3rd
Hidden behind layers of vague, unmoving symbolism and banal plotting lies a version of "Across the Universe" that works. I see glimmers of it shine through in almost every scene. And yet,the final product proves to be entirely devoid of substance, consisting of characters that aren't introduced to the audience in any coherent way, acting out story beats that seem unending in their monotony. It may be packed with Beatles in-jokes and references, but what it lacks is a story to fill them with.
Rated 11 Aug 2009
60
12th
I was actually surprised about how much I didn't like this movie.
Rated 19 Feb 2008
84
47th
Pour la musique et les com%uFFFDdiens
Rated 19 Dec 2011
59
12th
Being a huge Beatles fan I was really disappointed in this movie. The story is weak and the covers of the songs are not as good as the originals. I would stay this film is a failed interesting idea.
Rated 18 Oct 2007
85
58th
A lot of the song transitions are awkward, and when the musical scenese get overblown (I Am The Walrus, Mr. Kite), the film stumbles. The film is at it's best during the intimate moments. A interesting concept, if a bit flawed. Some of the covers are fantastic (I've Just Seen A Face, Come Together, I Want To Hold Your Hand)
Rated 04 Apr 2012
73
69th
Much better than the reviews indicate. I have to stand apart from the crowd on this one.
Rated 25 Nov 2013
0
4th
A musical of Beatles songs. Couldn't even make it through the trailer.
Rated 18 Jul 2016
82
77th
This movie turned me 180 degrees on the song 'Strawberry fields forever'!
Rated 15 Aug 2008
69
38th
I'm always a bit leery of musicals that try to work songs into plot & dialogue, rather than letting the musical numbers stand on their own. There are entertaining covers to be had here, but ultimately none of the songs are as good as the originals (how could they be?) The plot seems heavily tacked on and serves only to fit another song in. I give it credit for the colorful style, but boo to obvious references. Time would be better spent listening to actual Beatles albums and painting on canvas.
Rated 17 Feb 2009
50
35th
Suffers from the flaws that every other musical does. Songs are average at best and they don't add anything to the movie. Also the story is pretty boring but directing manages to save whats left to be saved.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
60
40th
The movie's beautiful, the actors are beautiful, and the music is beautiful. That said, the movie is poorly-made, skimming the surface of several issues and shallow, token characters without getting into any real meat. With half the characters and actual dedication to one solid theme, this movie could've been something fantastic. In short: fun but shallow.
Rated 04 Apr 2008
55
19th
Ugh. If I wanted to listen to the Beatles, my IPod would have sufficed. It was nice to see Joe Cocker though.
Rated 03 Feb 2010
75
56th
I liked it despite many flaws
Rated 13 Dec 2010
20
41st
"Taymor's signatures are visible throughout, but she is clearly trying hard to gussy up a screenplay that plays more like The Wonder Years without the cultural insight." - Jason Clark
Rated 30 Jan 2008
50
40th
Apart from the lcd -eggman- sequence (which was an obvious reference to Easy Rider and The Trip- and few of the other story transitions, the movie reeks at setting up characters and only managable in its period rendition.
Rated 25 Dec 2008
97
94th
A drug trippy movie with amazingly redone Beatles songs. If you like music and the 70s you should check it out! Sturgess and Wood both have amazing voices that help make this movie!

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