Across the Universe

"Across the Universe, which filters the cultural revolt through a blizzard of early Beatles songs, ends up both reductive and smugly condescending to a presumptively know-nothing audience."

"All you need is love -- for the Beatles, for psychedelic visuals, for ideas about being young in the ‘60s -- to fully enjoy Across the Universe."

"Somewhere around its midpoint, Across the Universe captured my heart, and I realized that falling in love with a movie is like falling in love with another person. Imperfections, however glaring, become endearing quirks once you’ve tumbled."

"Julie Taymor's visual gifts are very much in evidence in Across the Universe, an ambitious, only partly successful attempt to reinvigorate the musical genre."

"Here is a bold, beautiful, visually enchanting musical where we walk INTO the theater humming the songs."

"It’s haphazard, at times demented, entirely overreaching, and has experienced a tumultuous conflict over the final cut. Nothing about this film should work. Here’s the good news: it’s wonderful."

"The plot is flimsy and predictable but the film certainly succeeds in reminding the audience how fabulous The Beatles' music was and is _ even when it's sung by somebody else."