Yellow Submarine
|
List Price: Our Price: $13.99 You Save: $15.99 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $9.95 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Yellow Submarine
Movie Review: Classic 60s pop nostalgia...Beatles in Surround!
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember seeing this one on TV when I was a kid in the 70s, then it disappeared for years. It resurfaced on videotape, and finally, DVD.
First, the film itself. It's one that could be enjoyed by little children, although older kids used to current animation will be kind of bored by it, but anyone who likes the Beatles will love the visuals that go along with the songs. It's not "groundbreaking" animation, but it IS vivid and colorful. It's also in widescreen....
The storyline is a pretty thin one: Beatles need to go save "Pepperland" from the Blue Meanie and get there on a Yellow Submarine, and have (mis)adventures along the way. Some of the Fab humor is there, even though other people did their voices (who are on the extras).
The orchestral music sounds great in surround, and for those watching it in surround, you get to hear The Beatles for the first time (and so far, nowhere else) in Surround. You can take out all the talking and just put the music on.... The effects like the flying glove are also fun to hear in Surround as well... I like it a lot, you hear things you haven't heard in their songs before. The CD soundtrack for the film is also a nice remix of the original tapes.
The addition of "Hey Bulldog" made it an even better treat to watch it on DVD. However during the time they put the DVD out,they also found the clip of The Beatles doing "Hey Bulldog" in the studio (the footage of which was used instead for "Lady Madonna"), which was shown on MTV one time, for the release of this DVD. I really wish they put that clip on here on later pressings.
The commentary and documentaries will be of interest to fans of animation more than Beatle fans, although John Coates does give a lot of info out without being boring whatsoever. It gives you a lot of backstory on the film, such as Al Gore's college roommate Erich Segal (who also wrote Love Story, supposedly based on Al and Tipper) wrote the story. There are some storyboard sequences worth checking out, and a storyboard for the alternate ending, which was never filmed.
Pick it up. A splendid time is guaranteed for all....
Movie Review: A visual and aural delight!
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoy listening to The Beatles. I bought the DVD because I wanted the improved sound DVD offers over vinyl and CD formats. I wasn't disappointed. The sound track is amazing, and far superior to any other Beatles tracks I have found, except perhaps for my used audiophile Mobile High Fidelity half speed master vinly pressing of Abbey Road. This alone is reason to buy the DVD.
However, it is not the only reason. The movie stands up very well in its own right. For one thing, it is written on multiple levels. On one level, it is simply an enjoyable children's cartoon wherein four musically gifted lads from Liverpool run around in a flying yellow submarine, through the sea of monsters, the sea of time, and other strange places, and eventually land in Pepperland, where they defeat the Blue Meanies, Apple Bonkers and other assorted bad guys.
On another level, the movie extols the naive liberal (hippie) belief that love, music and a little marijuana would prevail over the evil governmental forces of war and business forces of greed. For example, one of the the Blue Meanies' machines of distruction is the evil Flying Glove which is a thinly veiled substitute for jet fighter aircraft which blows up things and kills people. The malicious Glove goes around smashing various objects which give people pleasure such as statutes and trees. Lennon defeats it as follows: 1) he by says the word "GLOVE," which comes out of his mouth as letters, 2) grabs the word like a big fat cigarette (probably made out of unusual herbs), 3)smokes off the "G," leaving the word "Love," and 4) breaks off into singing the song "All You Need is Love." Every time he says the word Love, more letters spew from his mouth, which eventually trap and defeat the Flying Glove.
The cartooning is original and classic, clearly influenced by psychodelic and pop art of the mid to late '60s. Its unusual style contributes to making this movie appealing to adults as well as children.
A great movie for children and music fans of all ages. Peace!
Movie Review: Surreal Beatles! Psychedelic Sixties!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a delightful Beatle fantasy film and I am so happy that it is now available for future generations to enjoy. For inveterate Beatle fans, this is a must have!
The restoration of this film is nothing short of excellent. The movie has fresh animus and fun, thanks to the work of those who made this available.
The re-mastered audio literally brings the Beatles closer to home; I love the George Harrison masterpiece, "It's All Too Much!" And we can't forget "Hey, Bulldog," an obscure treat that deserves much more air play and attention than it got at the time.
"Yellow Submarine" is a purely 1960s movie. The animation, the surrealism and the vivid, intense colors are like a day-glo explosion. I love it! The whole movie is intense, from the bizarre characters, e.g. Snapping Turks, Blue Meanies, et al. and the floating clouds and flowers. I love it!
Pepperland, no doubt inspired by "Sgt. Pepper," is a subaquatic community ruled in harmony by Old Fred and kept in check by their foes, the Blue Meanies. The Blue Meanies are weird, blue-humanoid looking creatures with what look like Mickey Mouse hats, large noses and sneers. Fred, one of the central charaters sails his submarine to England where he elists the help of the Beatles to keep the forces of evil (Blue Meanies and their supporters) at bay and to restore Peace, Love & Harmony to Pepperland. Sure, it's a soft plot, but the plot does help to serve as a vehicle to transport the music, talent and images of the Beatles! It is the icon of Psychedelia Sixties!
The animation is well done, with recognizable Beatles in the psychedlic clothing of that time period. The scenes involving color replacing a drab landscape and the Blue Meanies' change of heart add to the delightful 60s essence of this movie.
This is a good film for all ages. Beatle fans will love it and their counterparts are sure to be delighted as well. Seriously, how can anybody hate the Beatles? And how can anybody hate the Beatles and enjoy a Beatle movie?
Movie Review: Campy fun from The Beatles
Summary: 5 Stars
You're browsing the video rental racks, and there it is: a blue background with yellow lettering and a trippy submarine (yellow at that) on the cover. The movie? THE BEATLES: YELLOW SUBMARINE. Having only seen this movie (well, and MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR, which you probably haven't seen, and there's a reason for that....) of The Beatles I cannot compare it to the other 3 (HARD DAY'S NIGHT, HELP!, and LET IT BE). So I can only operate in this sphere of knowledge.
YELLOW SUBMARINE, simply put, is one weird movie. They take elements of The Beatles mythology and throw it all together and end up with a place called Pepperland which, for some strange reason (I don't think the film says why, though I may be wrong) is being invaded by Blue Meanies. Oh yes...... The Blue Meanies want to make everything blue. It has the very hippy or 1960s message of love and music will save the day, which is what happens. Through the way we get several visually dynamic (and altogether strange) music video segments. The Beatles were ahead of their times, let me tell you. I AM THE WALRUS is one of the first music videos.
Anyway, its campy fun, though when watching the film it seems a lot longer than it actually is. The animation portrays a convoluted world, full of unique beings found only in a drug-induced cosmos. Throw that in with the fact its mainly about The Beatles, and we have a very trippy and fun movie. Jeremy is the most memorable character.
And no, The Beatles do not play themselves. In that respect, this isn't really a Beatles movie at all, its just a film produced by their company about them, and they did a little afterword (you see them for like a minute or 2). It also put in the excised "Hey Bulldog" sequence from the American version. They advertised that there was a lost Beatles song that would be included with the new release of Yellow Submarine. It wasn't a song at all, just the lost footage. Liars. No, I'm not bitter at all!
Mike London
Movie Review: Timeless Voyage
Summary: 5 Stars
"Yellow Submarine" is subjectively the best Beatles' film. It may not harbor their greatest portrayals, but it is a fine interpretation of their music and a splendid movie. The animation may not be as flowing as Disney's, but it is visually magnificent. The bright colors have never been embellished better*. No other animated movie has been done like "Yellow Submarine" before or since.
The movie works like an animated musical, with their songs interspersed throughout the adventure. The story takes place in Pepperland, a peace and love utopia that is attacked by the insidious Blue Meanies who hate music in all its forms. A leader sends Old Fred in the title vessel to find "Help!" from a different sea. He ends up at the harbor on Liverpool to summon the assistance of you know who. Most of the voyage and the movie go from sea to sea seeking to return to Pepperland. The best stops along the way are "The Sea of Minds," "The Sea of Holes," and "The Sea of Monsters," but the very best is saved for last in "Pepperland". They acquire the booby "Nowhere Man" who helps them to find their way. Once in Pepperland, they man the music and try to overcome the meanies.
The movie mixes animation and music well. The fantasy causality is also solid and consistent. (The holes, the flying colors, and the MacIntosh apples, for instance, follow a set of rules predictably.) The humor is a personal taste. There is wit and social commentary, but the puns are formidable. (If you like them, they are the best; if you hate them, well...you're on your own.) "I wouldn't do that!" Old Fred warns Ringo before he activates Frankenstein on a lab table. "Can't help it, I'm a born "Lever-puller," Ringo replies. And, so it goes... "Yellow Submarine" is a warm and infectious fantasy and a unique and lovable movie.
*Except possibly for "The Pink Elephant Dream Sequence" in Disney's 'Dumbo,' but even this was handled differently.