Across the Universe

“Across the Universe” is not a musical in the traditional sense – rather it’s a movie where characters sing. Directed by Julie Taymor, creator of the stage version of the “Lion King,” “Across the Universe” is a feast for the eyes and with Beatles’ songs, a feast for the ears. The plot is a series of images that are familiar to audiences of a certain age: psychedelic hippie scenes, the injustice of the draft, a growing discontent with the war in Vietnam, radical student dissent that results in violence, returning soldiers with post traumatic stress syndrome. Nevertheless, “Across the Universe” isn’t for everyone. It’s a little too long and there’s hardly a plot and no character development. See this movie for its visual delights and memorable songs. (9/16/07)