So, going into doing a blog series like this, one of the pratfalls I've always worried about when it comes to reviewing certain things is feeling like I'm lacking in the skills to fully convey how I feel about something. Especially when it's something acclaimed. That general sense of the final product not being this magnum opus of a review. So when it comes to something like the latest movie I've watched, I definitely feel that sense of doing a disservice to it. But damned if you do, damned if you don't I guess. Because I want to convey that I really, REALLY liked Yellow Submarine, and give a thousand words and some change, I think I can do my best to type that down.
Yellow Submarine is a 1968 animated musical directed by George Dunning and created by Apple Films and King Features Syndicate based on the music of The Beatles and starring in the loosest sense the Beatles themselves. Though that's really only in the songs themselves and the live action bit at the end. Though the actual voice work for the fab four in the film is fine, doing as best as you could in being a reasonable facsimile. It's tricky to really describe this movie in the easiest terms because the word that really comes to mind when watching it is "trippy". It is a surreal film in its animation and style with a heavy focus on pop art and colorful psychedelic flavor in way that definitely feels of its time, but also feels timeless.
The plot sees the land of Pepperland being invaded by the Blue Meanies, music hating creatures, who freeze the people of Pepperland and trap Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The only survivor, Fred, is sent on a yellow submarine to find the only people who can save the day, those being the Beatles. And thus, John, Paul, George and Ringo embark on an adventure in the yellow submarine in a sea where time and logic can change in an instant, and where they deal with crazy creatures and befriend a Nowhere Man named Jeremy Hillary Boob Ph.D. Eventually they arrive in Pepperland where they deal with the Blue Meanies, including the Terrifying Glove, the Apple Bonkers, the Bulldogs and the leader, the Chief Blue Meanie.
What I love about this movie is that it's honestly one of the better paced movies I've watched for the blog so far. We get enough time to set up the Meanies taking over Pepperland, we get enough time in Liverpool to introduce us to the Beatles and give us the gist of their characters. Paul is the charming one, John is the philosophical one, George is the spiritual one (it's all in the mind you know?) and Ringo is the comic relief/heart of the group, often speaking in puns. To be fair, that's like 90% of the dialogue in the movie with the Beatles often speaking in very pun-like manner. I also like the designs of the Beatles in general, being a close facsimile while also looking very animated and unique.
We then get just enough time to travel through the strange seas and inside the yellow submarine on the way to Pepperland for the finale, which also gets just enough time. All while also being filled with Beatles songs. The only one I was mixed on was the Sea of Science "Only a Northern Song" part. Again, not a knock, the song is great and I like the visuals, but it gives me "make quota" vibes that I wasn't fully invested in as I would have other scenes. But then again, if I have those reservations, why don't I for stuff like the "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" scene, given I liked that one? Again, not fully sure, but the latter feels like it still flows with the movie more. Lord, I'm probably committing a cardinal sin even saying that. See what I mean with the whole spiel earlier?
What I really loved were the designs of the Blue Meanies and the many unique creatures aligned with them. There's a genuinely creepy vibe to all of them, especially the Meanies themselves, that they feel like something out of a nightmare. Especially the shrill, creepy voice of the Chief himself. And given this was the voice that inspired Mark Hamill's take on The Joker, I can definitely see how much inspiration was taken. I do also like how the conflict is resolved, that it isn't just about defeating the Meanies, but having them change their ways and embrace peace, love and music. You could argue the resolution and the turn for the Meanies is a bit rushed, the only real case of feeling rushed I got from the movie, but it still feels satisfying. Besides, you'd lose the message of the film entirely if it ended with the Meanies just losing and that's all.
So in the end I really liked Yellow Submarine and while yes, this isn't the deepest review, I think I covered my reasoning well enough. It succeeds in terms of visual splendor, its plot is easy to follow without feeling too simple, the musical numbers are great, and even for a movie of its time, it's a fun movie to watch and enjoy. Maybe if I was someone who, you know, got high, I might have liked this one more as I think that was the one necessary key missing in a full experience, but I think what I got out of it still worked fine. I also finished the movie with the feeling of "oh thank god Robert Zemeckis didn't remake this like he wanted to because it would have never worked." Because it's honestly something you could never recreate. So it's a high recommend, albeit maybe not for epileptics due to some flashing imagery. I wish it didn't take me this long to watch the movie, but I'm very glad that I did. ****1/2.
No comments:
Post a Comment