Yellow Submarine
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Movie Reviews of Yellow Submarine
Movie Review: "... and I've got a hole in me pocket!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Ah, "Yellow Submarine". I had wanted to see this movie for ages ... and so I was very happy when, last January, my mom and dad got me a copy of this for my birthday. Since I received it, I've watched it several times, and enjoyed each one a little more than the time which came before. If you're a Beatles fan, a music fan, or an animation fan, you need look no further than here if you're at Amazon.com today just searching for something you might like. While the plot of this movie is really nothing special, the music, visuals, and characters more than make up for it, and so you'll be guaranteed to be entertained whenever you pop this into your dvd player. Basically, a musical, magical, mystical place called Pepperland, located far beneath the ocean waves, is under attack by a race of music-hating creatures called Blue Meanies. One fellow, able to escape Pepperland before the Blue Meanies turned him to stone, sets off to find help for his fellow citizens, and makes his way to Liverpool. There, he (naturally) enlists the assistence of four musicians, and together they journey back to Pepperland in order to fight the Blue Meanie Menace. That's about it.
Along the way, however, they journey through some amazing (and to my knowledge, unknown) places, such as the Sea of Monsters, the Sea of Holes (classic line found here, together with a lot of ... holes ...), and a little (and big) place called Nowhere. This journey up to the arrival in Pepperland is actually my favorite part of the movie. Very episodic and varied, with some interesting sights and some great lines. This is a VERY quotable movie.
I was disappointed to learn that the real Beatles didn't actually do their own voices, but I was pleased to see them in a live-action ending sequence to finish the movie (as long as the real Beatles were involved somehow). Of the four we here, the guy doing Paul's voice did the best job, very recognizably emulating the man he was trying to sound like. Ringo's was quite good too, though John's was getting to be a little 'iffy', and I have to say that George, at least to my ears, sounded nothing like George at all (aside from the accent). I learned from this very same DVD, in one of the supplements, that they actually found the guy to do George's voice in a bar, totally by chance. Apparantly they thought he was perfect ... I disagree, but that's not really a huge complaint as far as this movie goes.
The musical selections are great (but then, how couldn't it be?). We get some favorite songs like the one that gives this film its title (naturally), along with "Nowhere Man", "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", and "All You Need is Love", plus many more. Also, the dvd includes a scene originally cut from the film, which features a song I had never heard before called "Hey Bulldog". It's a shame it was cut before, because it's a rather nice tune. I am glad they decided to include it again here.
The dvd has some nifty extras, including interviews with some of the production crew and a couple of the guys providing the voices, plus a 'making of' that dates back to the time the movie was made. It's interesting to watch, but the film quality is terrible. I really wish they had cleaned it up before putting it on the disc. There's an interesting commentary from the lead animator (which I would probably get more out of if I was an animator or a film student, but I'm neither), a trailer, and a few minor easter eggs on the main menu. I was disappointed to discover that while this film really has more than one ending, whichever one wasn't used was not included as a bonus feature on the disc (I would have appreciated it). Also, I was sorry to see that there were no comments by Sir George Martin or even any of the surviving Beatles (not that I was expecting to hear from Paul or Ringo, as I believe that anything to feature them must come from Apple Records, but surely that isn't the case with Sir Martin!), which I know I would have enjoyed.
I will finish by saying that "The Yellow Submarine" is a tremendously fun thing to watch and listen to. It's definitely worth the money it costs to include with the rest of your dvd collection, and you'll be singing songs and quoting lines you heard from it for a long time after it's over ... but it won't be long before you go back to see it again. It's a lot of fun, bright and colorful and strange, and if you go for it than I know you won't be sorry.
Carry on Carry on,
MN
Movie Review: So Weird! So Entertaining!
Summary: 5 Stars
Oh sure, I knew going in that this was The Beatles, this was "artistic", "psychadelic", and a bit "bizarre", but nothing could ever have prepared me for this. Between the unique animation, the vibrant, colorful worlds, the gaggle of strange creatures, stranger characters, and oddly-visualized Beatles tunes, this movie goes far beyond all expectations, and leaves even the mouth newest to the Beatles hanging wide open.The story concerns a magical, musical, colorful paradise known as Pepperland. A peaceful place until the day The Blue Meanies, led by one of the most demented, over-the-top villainous freaks around, attack turning the city into a place full of bleakness and despair. In a desperate effort, the plucky hero "Young Fred" escapes in the town's ancient Yellow Submarine to seek help. Help is foud in Liverpool, England in the form of none other than Ringo, John, George, and Paul themselves. The mellow, wisecracking group of singers set out with Fred and brave many strange dangers and obstacles of the sea to save Pepperland and fill it with cheer and music once again.
Despite being a relic from the psychadelic era of the 60's, the movie is still as eye-popping, catchy, and delightful today when elaborate CGI animation reigns. The classic Beatles tunes and unforgettable lines, puns, and characterization essential to any film starring the Beatles combine to ensure the timelessness of the film.
Among the highlights of the film are the scene in which Ringo is followed home by the Yellow Submarine, meets Fred, and calls on the other 3 (Although the Beatles themselves don't provide their own characters' voices, the voices are so well done in the film, it makes very little difference), the introduction to the "Nowhere Man", Jeremy (Although he does get a touch irritating as the film progresses, his first scene is superb), and the scene in which the Fab Four are lost in the "Foothills of the Headlands" (Set to "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", it is easily the weirdest scene of the movie).
The abovementioned songs, as well as "Eleanor Rigby", "When I'm Sixty-Four", "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band", "All You Need is Love", and others including the title track are pure delight and make this film the fantastic adventurein music it is. The only song that falls a bit flat is "All Together Now", a rather uninspired tune that the Beatles grudgingly threw together specifically for the film. It certainly sounds as though their hearts just weren't into it. Still it's not that bad. It doesn't harm the film, and hey some may like it.
In conclusion, this movie is definitely a beauty. It's like nothing you've ever seen before or will ever see hence. It is quite easily among the top most bizarre movies ever made, and will definitely entertain. So sit back, relax, and prepare for an adventure like no other.
Movie Review: "Once upon a time, or maybe twice, there was an unearthly paradise called Pepperland."
Summary: 5 Stars
From KING FEATURES, creators of such low-budget cartoons as BEETLE BAILEY and KRAZY KAT, comes the full-length animated classic, YELLOW SUBMARINE (1968).
This is a superbly crafted film, one that holds up remarkably well. Intense, vivid colors, complexly designed animations, easy-to-recognize characters and an enchanting story are only a few of the picture's highlights.
Best of all are the visuals that illustrate several Beatles tracks.
"Eleanor Rigby," like the song itself is properly British with its quick flashes of English scenery, crowds of faceless people and glimpses of the rundown neighborhood where this sad and lonely woman lived and died.
"Only a Northern Song," combined with its music is almost trance-inducing. Very trippy right from the outset, the sequence culminates with an arc of slowly-moving Beatles above a large cube that hypnotically pulses every 1/24th of a second between day-glo green and lemon yellow.
"Lucy in the Sky" is an outline of a flapperish-looking girl, animated as a sort of rainbow color blotched Toulouse Latrec poster. She dances on the song's upbeat choruses in her flowing dress and feathers.
"When I'm Sixty-Four" explains in animated text that there are more than 33 million minutes in 64 years, then illustrates how long a minute really is, by using giant numbers in a variety of bizarre designs (including characters from the movie) that click by in time to the song.
There's much more to enjoy here. If you're an animation aficionado and have never seen YELLOW SUBMARINE, please do so. It's a treat for the eyes, ears and soul!
In addition to an epilogue cameo by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, cartoon voices are provided by:
Paul Angelis - Chief Blue Meanie / Ringo
John Clive - John
Dick Emery - Jeremy Hilary Boob, Ph.D - Nowhere Man / Lord Mayor / Max
Geoffrey Hughes - Paul
Lance Percival - Young / Old Fred
Peter Batten - George
Related item--
The one-hour 1967 BBC TV special, MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR is a curious mix of the mundane, comic and surreal. Several excellent music videos are offset by unscripted confusion and ill-at-ease ad libs from all involved.
Movie Review: All Too Short a Voyage
Summary: 5 Stars
YELLOW SUBMARINE is a great film and was way ahead of its time when it premiered on the big screen. As with most authorized Beatles films it is interesting how short a time the releases are available before further shipments are held up by quarrels between APPLE Corps Ltd. and other involved parties. At the time of this review, YELLOW SUBMARINE joined the ranks of films awaiting re-release.
I own two different versions of YELLOW SUBMARINE. The first is an authorized video cassette version I purchased by mail order in the late 1980s. That particular VHS movie was the version of YELLOW SUBMARINE shown to American audiences in movie theaters and on television for years. For reasons that have never been adequately explained the American version is different than the British release. The primary difference is that the American version is missing the HEY BULLDOG sequence. The 1999 release of the DVD was the first time I was treated to the Bulldog sequence.
YELLOW SUBMARINE evolved out of the Beatles cartoons. Though my father was probably utterly baffled by the movie when he escorted my brother and me to the cinema in 1968 there actually is plot. The undersea world of Pepperland has been overrun by Blue Meanies. The Meanies hate color, art, music and every other sort of happiness and beauty. Fortunately for Pepperland one of its elderly citizens escapes in a largely ornamental submarine in search of help. He stumbles onto the Beatles and convinces them to accompany him back to Pepperland. On the return trip the Beatles and the Yellow Sub encounter various bizzare "seas" before finally arriving in Pepperland and emerging victorious from a musical battle.
Surprisingly the Beatles themselves had very little direct involvement with the film except for a short live appearance at the conclusion.
The quality of the DVD is superb. Most official APPLE collaborations are high quality. For those who missed the release of YELLOW SUBMARINE take strength in the fact that Beatles movies, beginning with A HARD DAYS NIGHT and more recently HELP have been re-released. We can only hope that they will be followed by an official release of MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR, YELLOW SUBMARINE, and the long awaited and much delayed LET IT BE.
Movie Review: Review of "Yellow Submarine" by a crew member.
Summary: 5 Stars
As one of the animators who worked on the Beatles' animated epic, YELLOW SUBMARINE, I am delighted by the almost universal praise heaped on this recent DVD release of the renovated and digitally remastered version of the movie.
It is immensely satisfying to know that a whole new generation has come to discover the delights of this 1960's flower power masterpiece, and with the legendary "Hey Bulldog" sequence - deleted from all but the original British prints - reinstated in all its bizarre glory, Beatles fans can at last experience the full version of this psychedelic animated odyssey as it was originally meant to be seen.
I know I am totally biased in giving the film a 5-star rating, but I would say that the twelve months I spent working on it (during 1967-1968) was, without a doubt, the single most exciting period in my almost 50-year career in the animation business. It was made even more memorable by the fact that, during production, I became engaged to Diana, my wife of nearly 40 years, who worked on the "LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS" sequence.
The struggle to produce anything resembling a final script while production surged inexorably on past the writers towards an impossible deadline, the creative arguments, the personality clashes, the budgetary nightmares, the physical kidnapping of the film - with the whole thing being propelled by the sheer exhilaration of knowing that we were all taking part in an astonishing revolution in animated films - all made for a heady and never-to-be-repeated experience. For a detailed look behind the scenes during the making of the film, read Dr. Bob Hieronimus' "INSIDE THE YELLOW SUBMARINE" and Al Brodax's "UP PERISCOPE YELLOW".
While the authors differ on some points, both books are packed with detail and anecdotes, and the debate about who said what and who did what on YELLOW SUBMARINE seems set to continue for quite some time. But there is one undeniable fact in all of this - if producer Al Brodax hadn't stuck his neck out and taken a chance on producing an animated feature all those years ago, the phenomenon that was the YELLOW SUBMARINE would never have set sail on its fantastic voyage. For that we all owe him a vote of thanks.