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    <title>Across the Universe's Recent Activity - Spout</title>
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      <title>Across the Universe's Recent Activity - Spout</title>
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      <title>Film:Across the Universe</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/films/Across_the_Universe/266434/default.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<table width='100%' style='font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><tr><td><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' /></td>
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<strong>Title:</strong> Across the Universe<br/>
<strong>Year:</strong> 2007<br/>
<strong>Director:</strong> Julie Taymor<br/>
<strong>Plot:</strong> Set against the anti-war protests, rock and roll revolution, and mind-expanding psychedelia of the 1960s, Julie Taymor's hallucinogenic musical follows the arduous journey of star crossed lovers Jude (<a href="/players/P___367556/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jim Sturgess</a>) and Lucy (<a href="/players/P___235707/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Evan Rachel Wood</a>) as they and a small group of musicians are swept up in the raging waters of the volatile counterculture movement. Guided through their journey by a pair known only as Dr. Robert (<a href="/players/P_____7314/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Bono</a>) and Mr. Kite (<a href="/players/P___215552/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Eddie Izzard</a>), Jude and Lucy are eventually forced to find their way back to one another after being split apart by powerful forces beyond their control. The music in the film consists exclusively of songs made popular by <a href="/players/P_____4797/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>The Beatles</a> during the time period depicted in the movie. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide<br/>
<strong>Times Tagged:</strong> 123<br/>
<strong>Number of Lists:</strong> 44<br/>
<strong>Number of blog posts:</strong> 34<br/>
<strong>Number of discussion threads:</strong> 4<br/>
<strong>SpoutRating:</strong> 3<br/>
</td></tr></table>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:30:52 GMT</pubDate><spout:Title>Across the Universe</spout:Title><spout:Year>2007</spout:Year><spout:Director>Julie Taymor</spout:Director><spout:Plot>Set against the anti-war protests, rock and roll revolution, and mind-expanding psychedelia of the 1960s, Julie Taymor's hallucinogenic musical follows the arduous journey of star crossed lovers Jude (&lt;a href="/players/P___367556/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Jim Sturgess&lt;/a&gt;) and Lucy (&lt;a href="/players/P___235707/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Evan Rachel Wood&lt;/a&gt;) as they and a small group of musicians are swept up in the raging waters of the volatile counterculture movement. Guided through their journey by a pair known only as Dr. Robert (&lt;a href="/players/P_____7314/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Bono&lt;/a&gt;) and Mr. Kite (&lt;a href="/players/P___215552/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Eddie Izzard&lt;/a&gt;), Jude and Lucy are eventually forced to find their way back to one another after being split apart by powerful forces beyond their control. The music in the film consists exclusively of songs made popular by &lt;a href="/players/P_____4797/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;The Beatles&lt;/a&gt; during the time period depicted in the movie. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide</spout:Plot><spout:TimesTagged>123</spout:TimesTagged><spout:taglevel>Tag Target (&gt;10)</spout:taglevel><spout:Numberoflists>44</spout:Numberoflists><spout:NumberOfBlogPosts>34</spout:NumberOfBlogPosts><spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads>4</spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads><spout:SpoutRating>3</spout:SpoutRating><spout:FilmCoverURL>http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg</spout:FilmCoverURL><spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL>http://www.spout.com/films/Across_the_Universe/266434/default.aspx</spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL><spout:type>Film</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Almost perfect.</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/rebelprince89/archive/2009/4/22/41698.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/149328/default.aspx'>rebelprince89</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/rebelprince89/default.aspx'>rebelprince89 Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 4/22/2009 7:18:58 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> If it wasn't for a half an hour in the middle of 'Across the Universe' where the whole cast of the movie (plus Bono) is on drugs and tripping, which makes the movie a tad too long and the visuals a bit too much, it would be perfect. Propelling vehicle for Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood, with amazing new Beatles' arrangements and performances. And if you haven't seen Julie Taymor's 'Frida', shame on you.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:18:58 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>rebelprince89</spout:postby><spout:postto>rebelprince89 Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>4/22/2009 7:18:58 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>If it wasn't for a half an hour in the middle of 'Across the Universe' where the whole cast of the movie (plus Bono) is on drugs and tripping, which makes the movie a tad too long and the visuals a bit too much, it would be perfect. Propelling vehicle for Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood, with amazing new Beatles' arrangements and performances. And if you haven't seen Julie Taymor's 'Frida', shame on you.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Across the Universe the best Musical I have seen in along time</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/acheisey/archive/2008/12/18/38561.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5873/default.aspx'>acheisey</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/acheisey/default.aspx'>acheisey Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 12/18/2008 3:57:52 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> After a year has gone by I have finally seen Across the Universe the film director Julie Taymor takes the Beatles songs to a whole new level.  It is the best reinvented version of the Beatles songs.  Plus we finally see Bono in a new movie which his performence is awesome.  He plays a hippy that is out of this world plus he also sing in this movie.  The best song I though was my favorite was come together.  I will always love the original but this version is smoking.  I will definitly buy the soundtrack to this movie and I do recommand others to watch this movie as well and don't delay.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:57:52 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>acheisey</spout:postby><spout:postto>acheisey Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>12/18/2008 3:57:52 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>After a year has gone by I have finally seen Across the Universe the film director Julie Taymor takes the Beatles songs to a whole new level.  It is the best reinvented version of the Beatles songs.  Plus we finally see Bono in a new movie which his performence is awesome.  He plays a hippy that is out of this world plus he also sing in this movie.  The best song I though was my favorite was come together.  I will always love the original but this version is smoking.  I will definitly buy the soundtrack to this movie and I do recommand others to watch this movie as well and don't delay.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Important and Tumultuous Periods of History? Who Cares!</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/the_american_dream/archive/2008/8/31/34594.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/17849/default.aspx'>The_American_Dream</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/the_american_dream/default.aspx'>The_American_Dream Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 8/31/2008 4:52:39 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> There is not a great deal to be said for this movie. And it is not because of the sex which is what I was afraid of. But I hoped that this one would, in its epic standing, that it would pull a large amount of material across time and people to make it interesting. Unfortunatly "Summer Palace" is really more than a let down to the point of almost being a waste. "Summer Palace" swings back and forth from what it gets made out to be. That being and political and sex charged drama spanning most of the dramatic periods in China's history. Well strictly speaking, it does that. This story of people does weave itself (or rather its characters) across distance and events rather completely. However, maybe only half way in or slightly more I was really wondering why I was supposed to care. Frankly, this is something that can be done very well and in a manner where I really do care. "A Beautiful Mind" is an example of a movie about people that really does span events and changes very well. "A Beautiful Mind" is perhaps not as politically charged as a modern Chinese drama is bound to be, but that is not the point here. "Summer Palace" really wants to tell a story about people and less about a time, this is what ramps it up to its 140 minute runtime, and it is really uninteresting. "Summer Palace" wants its audience to feel the trails and hardships, internal and external, faced by a small group over the corse of more than a decade. What is wrong with that? Nothing really, only that every time some little thing happens it takes several minutes of a character at sunset trying to work out why their friend stole a book from the library. Needless to say, you are in for far more of this kind of stuff when say someone throws them self off a building. There is also the pretense that this movie actually captures something about the time. Although it might, between dates, locations, stock footage, and an epilogue, there is not so much the emotion that one feels when there is actual empathy for the situation from the actors. "Across the Universe" encounters this, but makes up for it by being visually stunning beyond use of colors or focus (and also being very trippy). "Summer Palace" does in fact maintain genuinely good photography. However the constant recycling of formulaic shots does not make the movie any more interesting. With all this, what is there really to say is good? Well not allot. at the start, interesting camera moves and a heavy grit did grab my attention. But for its qualities, "Summer Palace" really falls short of expectations unless you came just for the sex (which is mostly buried under the afore mentioned lengths of sunset shots). "Summer Palace", perhaps grasping at the greats of historical fiction in film such as "Forret Gump", and the epic romance such as "The English Patient", does not impress. "Summer Palace" falls below the films of its county of origin as well, which often speak more volumes about China's history (as in "Hero") and create more connection between actor and audience (despite all the Kung-Fu hullabaloo). So I have to give this movie an overall negative review, not that I am the first it seems.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:52:39 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>The_American_Dream</spout:postby><spout:postto>The_American_Dream Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>8/31/2008 4:52:39 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>There is not a great deal to be said for this movie. And it is not because of the sex which is what I was afraid of. But I hoped that this one would, in its epic standing, that it would pull a large amount of material across time and people to make it interesting. Unfortunatly "Summer Palace" is really more than a let down to the point of almost being a waste. "Summer Palace" swings back and forth from what it gets made out to be. That being and political and sex charged drama spanning most of the dramatic periods in China's history. Well strictly speaking, it does that. This story of people does weave itself (or rather its characters) across distance and events rather completely. However, maybe only half way in or slightly more I was really wondering why I was supposed to care. Frankly, this is something that can be done very well and in a manner where I really do care. "A Beautiful Mind" is an example of a movie about people that really does span events and changes very well. "A Beautiful Mind" is perhaps not as politically charged as a modern Chinese drama is bound to be, but that is not the point here. "Summer Palace" really wants to tell a story about people and less about a time, this is what ramps it up to its 140 minute runtime, and it is really uninteresting. "Summer Palace" wants its audience to feel the trails and hardships, internal and external, faced by a small group over the corse of more than a decade. What is wrong with that? Nothing really, only that every time some little thing happens it takes several minutes of a character at sunset trying to work out why their friend stole a book from the library. Needless to say, you are in for far more of this kind of stuff when say someone throws them self off a building. There is also the pretense that this movie actually captures something about the time. Although it might, between dates, locations, stock footage, and an epilogue, there is not so much the emotion that one feels when there is actual empathy for the situation from the actors. "Across the Universe" encounters this, but makes up for it by being visually stunning beyond use of colors or focus (and also being very trippy). "Summer Palace" does in fact maintain genuinely good photography. However the constant recycling of formulaic shots does not make the movie any more interesting. With all this, what is there really to say is good? Well not allot. at the start, interesting camera moves and a heavy grit did grab my attention. But for its qualities, "Summer Palace" really falls short of expectations unless you came just for the sex (which is mostly buried under the afore mentioned lengths of sunset shots). "Summer Palace", perhaps grasping at the greats of historical fiction in film such as "Forret Gump", and the epic romance such as "The English Patient", does not impress. "Summer Palace" falls below the films of its county of origin as well, which often speak more volumes about China's history (as in "Hero") and create more connection between actor and audience (despite all the Kung-Fu hullabaloo). So I have to give this movie an overall negative review, not that I am the first it seems.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Across the Universe (2007)</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/aidanbrack/archive/2008/8/3/33477.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/135864/default.aspx'>aidanbrack</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/aidanbrack/default.aspx'>The Bigger Picture</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 8/3/2008 9:27:02 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Spoilers follow Across the Universe is a film that threatens to get it right at numerous points in its two and a quarter hour running time, but never really is sure what it wants to be about. Set in the 1960s, it begins as a quest for a father, then becomes about making a new friend, then about meeting a girl, then about the friend being drafted, then about American drugs culture... I could go on. The result is a bit of a mess that simply feels like an attempt to force as many Beatles songs into a plotline as is humanly possible. A simple glance at the characters' names will tell you which songs are going to come up. Asian girl named Prudence? I suspect we'll be getting "Dear Prudence". Lead character called Jude? "Hey Jude"! What frustrates me is that there are decent stories here but in combination none feels like they are given the time they need to develop (despite its engorged running time). The one I would have liked to have seen more of was Max being called up and the absence of a friend for Jude and a brother for Lucy. Its hinted at but becomes lost in the obligatory and unconvincing romance shoehorned into the middle of this story. Whilst I liked Sadie, Jo-Jo and Prudence - their appearances could all easily be lopped out of this story without being felt. The film may even have been better for a tighter, sharper focus on Max, Lucy and Jude. As it is Julie Taymor throws every 1960s element and stereotype at the main characters to put them through scenario after scenario. Jim Sturgess is so-so as central character Jude, bumbling from each of these scenarios to the next with little sense of purpose. Yet I had trouble really liking his character; whilst Jude is angry at himself for his lack of a cause, I was feeling more annoyed that we never get a sense of what he wants. I remain unconvinced that he is really wanting Lucy - they have remarkably little chemistry together and he spends precious little time in the film having fun with her. Evan Rachel Wood as Lucy is cute enough and she does a good job of conveying Lucy's naiviety about her revolutionary friends and the methods they will use to get what they want. Her fear that she will lose her brother as she lost her boyfriend is one of the few solid emotional hooks to latch onto here and was one of the most interesting areas of the film. Joe Anderson as Max was my favourite of the three. His character is irresponsible and foolish, suffering a little bit from his sister's naiviety yet is so full of energy and so much fun that I missed him during the middle third of the film. His absence is felt and immediately I found myself disengaging. There are some vivid, exciting visuals here, yet at points they feel like a distraction from the weak points of the narrative rather than an attempt to move the story forward. For instance, "I Want You" is a visually exciting sequence reminiscent of the medical in the excellent Hair (1979). Yet these sequences remain inherently predictable and never really surprised me despite their technical brilliance. Indeed, at points the imagery seems far too heavy-handed (such as in the "She's So Heavy" coda to that same song). With less songs and a simpler story structure this could well have been more successful. The film needed a clearer sense of purpose to truly succeed. Despite energetic performances from its cast, this piece falls flat and misses its chance to redeem itself with an unhappy ending, instead opting for the oft-trodden path of romantic reconciliation. This film succeeds in saying nothing fresh about one of the most interesting periods in modern history, relationships or ideas and so disappointed enormously.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:27:02 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>aidanbrack</spout:postby><spout:postto>The Bigger Picture</spout:postto><spout:postdate>8/3/2008 9:27:02 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Spoilers follow Across the Universe is a film that threatens to get it right at numerous points in its two and a quarter hour running time, but never really is sure what it wants to be about. Set in the 1960s, it begins as a quest for a father, then becomes about making a new friend, then about meeting a girl, then about the friend being drafted, then about American drugs culture... I could go on. The result is a bit of a mess that simply feels like an attempt to force as many Beatles songs into a plotline as is humanly possible. A simple glance at the characters' names will tell you which songs are going to come up. Asian girl named Prudence? I suspect we'll be getting "Dear Prudence". Lead character called Jude? "Hey Jude"! What frustrates me is that there are decent stories here but in combination none feels like they are given the time they need to develop (despite its engorged running time). The one I would have liked to have seen more of was Max being called up and the absence of a friend for Jude and a brother for Lucy. Its hinted at but becomes lost in the obligatory and unconvincing romance shoehorned into the middle of this story. Whilst I liked Sadie, Jo-Jo and Prudence - their appearances could all easily be lopped out of this story without being felt. The film may even have been better for a tighter, sharper focus on Max, Lucy and Jude. As it is Julie Taymor throws every 1960s element and stereotype at the main characters to put them through scenario after scenario. Jim Sturgess is so-so as central character Jude, bumbling from each of these scenarios to the next with little sense of purpose. Yet I had trouble really liking his character; whilst Jude is angry at himself for his lack of a cause, I was feeling more annoyed that we never get a sense of what he wants. I remain unconvinced that he is really wanting Lucy - they have remarkably little chemistry together and he spends precious little time in the film having fun with her. Evan Rachel Wood as Lucy is cute enough and she does a good job of conveying Lucy's naiviety about her revolutionary friends and the methods they will use to get what they want. Her fear that she will lose her brother as she lost her boyfriend is one of the few solid emotional hooks to latch onto here and was one of the most interesting areas of the film. Joe Anderson as Max was my favourite of the three. His character is irresponsible and foolish, suffering a little bit from his sister's naiviety yet is so full of energy and so much fun that I missed him during the middle third of the film. His absence is felt and immediately I found myself disengaging. There are some vivid, exciting visuals here, yet at points they feel like a distraction from the weak points of the narrative rather than an attempt to move the story forward. For instance, "I Want You" is a visually exciting sequence reminiscent of the medical in the excellent Hair (1979). Yet these sequences remain inherently predictable and never really surprised me despite their technical brilliance. Indeed, at points the imagery seems far too heavy-handed (such as in the "She's So Heavy" coda to that same song). With less songs and a simpler story structure this could well have been more successful. The film needed a clearer sense of purpose to truly succeed. Despite energetic performances from its cast, this piece falls flat and misses its chance to redeem itself with an unhappy ending, instead opting for the oft-trodden path of romantic reconciliation. This film succeeds in saying nothing fresh about one of the most interesting periods in modern history, relationships or ideas and so disappointed enormously.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Eddie Izzard and John Lennon???</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/mrbuckyk/archive/2008/4/20/27550.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/126128/default.aspx'>mrbuckyk</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/mrbuckyk/default.aspx'>mrbuckyk Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 4/20/2008 2:21:56 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Julie Taymor&#39;s movie musical incorporating the Beatles&#39; music. Loved the interpretations and her visual style is always amazing (Watch Titus!!! AMAZING FILM!!!). The movie was highly entertaining but I wasn&#39;t blown away by it... musicals just tend to work better on stage for me.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:21:56 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>mrbuckyk</spout:postby><spout:postto>mrbuckyk Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>4/20/2008 2:21:56 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Julie Taymor&amp;#39;s movie musical incorporating the Beatles&amp;#39; music. Loved the interpretations and her visual style is always amazing (Watch Titus!!! AMAZING FILM!!!). The movie was highly entertaining but I wasn&amp;#39;t blown away by it... musicals just tend to work better on stage for me.</spout:body></item>
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      <title>Spout Post: The Fall Trailer</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/2/28/25681.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/28/2008 3:00:49 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> 


Call me crazy (again), but I really like Tarsem’s debut feature, The Cell. If I had any complaints, though, it would be that there wasn’t enough visual stimuli. I’m sure others would have preferred a better story instead, but I have a greater appreciation for those films that are primarily meant to be looked at, and not as much followed. Favorites include Terry Giliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Julie Taymor’s Titus and Zhang Yimou’s Hero, though I could probably go on and on. It’s an interesting affection coming from me, a guy occasionally inclined to criticize Hollywood’s spectacle-over-substance model of blockbustering. But I can’t help falling for a combination of beautiful cinematography and art direction. I shouldn’t, but I’ll even admit to enjoying What Dreams May Come – with my eyes wide open and my ears plugged shut, of course.
The problem, though, with filmmakers like Tarsem and the rest is that eventually their painterly visions may dry up or become repetitive or obvious, or they’ll simply fail to reach enough of an audience that they cease to acquire enough funding to adequately present their style believably. I’ve already grown bored with Taymor and Zhang (Gilliam hopefully still has some surprises), and I’m thinking it won’t take long for me to tire of Tarsem, too. As gorgeous as his sophomore effort, The Fall, looks, it also seems a bit cheap, as if it had only the budget of one of his music videos (he directed R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” and Deep Forest’s “Lullaby”). Yet perhaps it only feels like that to me now because I’m viewing the film as a short montage of shots. I’m willing to give any of these visionary filmmakers a chance until they disappoint me enough that I scream (figuratively, through criticism, that is — see any of my mentions of Taymor’s Across the Universe around the web).
 (more…) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:00:49 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/28/2008 3:00:49 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>


Call me crazy (again), but I really like Tarsem’s debut feature, The Cell. If I had any complaints, though, it would be that there wasn’t enough visual stimuli. I’m sure others would have preferred a better story instead, but I have a greater appreciation for those films that are primarily meant to be looked at, and not as much followed. Favorites include Terry Giliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Julie Taymor’s Titus and Zhang Yimou’s Hero, though I could probably go on and on. It’s an interesting affection coming from me, a guy occasionally inclined to criticize Hollywood’s spectacle-over-substance model of blockbustering. But I can’t help falling for a combination of beautiful cinematography and art direction. I shouldn’t, but I’ll even admit to enjoying What Dreams May Come – with my eyes wide open and my ears plugged shut, of course.
The problem, though, with filmmakers like Tarsem and the rest is that eventually their painterly visions may dry up or become repetitive or obvious, or they’ll simply fail to reach enough of an audience that they cease to acquire enough funding to adequately present their style believably. I’ve already grown bored with Taymor and Zhang (Gilliam hopefully still has some surprises), and I’m thinking it won’t take long for me to tire of Tarsem, too. As gorgeous as his sophomore effort, The Fall, looks, it also seems a bit cheap, as if it had only the budget of one of his music videos (he directed R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” and Deep Forest’s “Lullaby”). Yet perhaps it only feels like that to me now because I’m viewing the film as a short montage of shots. I’m willing to give any of these visionary filmmakers a chance until they disappoint me enough that I scream (figuratively, through criticism, that is — see any of my mentions of Taymor’s Across the Universe around the web).
 (more…) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Across the Universe</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Final_Cut/Across_the_Universe/551/25674/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/89318/default.aspx'>lopezdash</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Final_Cut/551/discussions.aspx'>Final Cut</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/28/2008 11:42:23 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> A thought on Across the Universe: When you remove the amazing soundtrack from the equation, you are left with a mediocre love story set in the 1960s.  Agree or disagree?<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:42:23 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>lopezdash</spout:postby><spout:postto>Final Cut</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/28/2008 11:42:23 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>A thought on Across the Universe: When you remove the amazing soundtrack from the equation, you are left with a mediocre love story set in the 1960s.  Agree or disagree?</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:Soundtrack you *listen* to the most</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Soundtracks/Re_Soundtrack_you_listen_to_the_most/100/25318/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/120383/default.aspx'>laststarfighter</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Soundtracks/100/discussions.aspx'>Movie Soundtracks</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/19/2008 9:13:44 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> No REAL particular order:  1. Star Wars: A new hope (on cassette tape or vinyl)  Repetatively.again somewhat of a big fan of the star wars original Tril. 2. Amelie (love Yaan Tiersen) 3. Wicker park  4. Once  (love the swell season / glen hansard ) 5. I&#39;m not there  6. Requiem for a dream 7. The Fountain (&lt;3 Clint Mansell)  8. Juno  9. Across the universe 10. High Fidelity<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:13:44 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>laststarfighter</spout:postby><spout:postto>Movie Soundtracks</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/19/2008 9:13:44 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>No REAL particular order:  1. Star Wars: A new hope (on cassette tape or vinyl)  Repetatively.again somewhat of a big fan of the star wars original Tril. 2. Amelie (love Yaan Tiersen) 3. Wicker park  4. Once  (love the swell season / glen hansard ) 5. I&amp;#39;m not there  6. Requiem for a dream 7. The Fountain (&amp;lt;3 Clint Mansell)  8. Juno  9. Across the universe 10. High Fidelity</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: One of the best musicals of the 21st century!!</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/treysway/archive/2008/2/10/24940.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/119312/default.aspx'>treysway</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/treysway/default.aspx'>treysway Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/10/2008 5:11:52 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I thought its use of the beatles music was great and its unique visuals left me in awwww!!!<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:11:52 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>treysway</spout:postby><spout:postto>treysway Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/10/2008 5:11:52 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I thought its use of the beatles music was great and its unique visuals left me in awwww!!!</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: my 2007 movie lists</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/wonga/archive/2008/1/10/23719.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s266434.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5180/default.aspx'>wonga</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/wonga/default.aspx'>wonga's filmblog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 1/10/2008 12:19:35 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> i have a wonderful picture of all my movie ticket stubs from this year in a pile but i can&rsquo;t get it transferred to my filmblog (yes, i save my ticket stubs and scrapbook them at the end of the year&hellip;i know, it&rsquo;s sad really)! armed with discount movie coupons, i saw 118 movies this year at the theater and, as usual, it was really hard to narrow them down but here&rsquo;s my list, for what it&rsquo;s worth. some are from 2006 that i didn&rsquo;t see until later. my 15 favorite movies at the theater in 2007the assassination of jesse james by the coward robert fordthe diving bell and the butterflythe lives of othersjunothe painted veilonceno country for old menthe darjeeling limitedwaitressstarting out in the eveningsunshinefirst snow zodiacin the shadow of the moonacross the universehonorable mention (alphabetically)2 days in paris 3:10 to yuma51 birch streetdirty dancing (20th anniversary)dreamgirlshairsprayinto the wildthe jane austen book clubkiller of sheepknocked uplars and the real girlletters from iwo jimathe lookouttalk to me wristcutters: a love story2007 movies i still want/need to seeking of kongthe savagessweeney toddthere will be blood 2007 movies I didn&rsquo;t like so well before the devil knows you&rsquo;re deadfeast of lovei now pronounce you chuck and larryla vie en rosemartian childold joyratatouillespider-man 3other movies (on video) that I fell in love with this yearthe dead girllonesome jimlook both ways<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:19:35 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>wonga</spout:postby><spout:postto>wonga's filmblog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>1/10/2008 12:19:35 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>i have a wonderful picture of all my movie ticket stubs from this year in a pile but i can&amp;rsquo;t get it transferred to my filmblog (yes, i save my ticket stubs and scrapbook them at the end of the year&amp;hellip;i know, it&amp;rsquo;s sad really)! armed with discount movie coupons, i saw 118 movies this year at the theater and, as usual, it was really hard to narrow them down but here&amp;rsquo;s my list, for what it&amp;rsquo;s worth. some are from 2006 that i didn&amp;rsquo;t see until later. my 15 favorite movies at the theater in 2007the assassination of jesse james by the coward robert fordthe diving bell and the butterflythe lives of othersjunothe painted veilonceno country for old menthe darjeeling limitedwaitressstarting out in the eveningsunshinefirst snow zodiacin the shadow of the moonacross the universehonorable mention (alphabetically)2 days in paris 3:10 to yuma51 birch streetdirty dancing (20th anniversary)dreamgirlshairsprayinto the wildthe jane austen book clubkiller of sheepknocked uplars and the real girlletters from iwo jimathe lookouttalk to me wristcutters: a love story2007 movies i still want/need to seeking of kongthe savagessweeney toddthere will be blood 2007 movies I didn&amp;rsquo;t like so well before the devil knows you&amp;rsquo;re deadfeast of lovei now pronounce you chuck and larryla vie en rosemartian childold joyratatouillespider-man 3other movies (on video) that I fell in love with this yearthe dead girllonesome jimlook both ways</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:love</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>love</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 12477</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 336</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 1476</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:46:17 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>12477</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>336</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>1476</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:war</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/war/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/war/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>war</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 6176</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 180</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 607</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:50:24 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>6176</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>180</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>607</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:Loved-It</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Loved-It/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/Loved-It/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>Loved-It</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 509</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 179</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 921</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:56:35 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>509</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>179</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>921</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:romance</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/romance/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/romance/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>romance</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 7160</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 169</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 1002</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:50:40 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>7160</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>169</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>1002</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:awesome</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/awesome/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/awesome/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>awesome</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 187</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 158</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 291</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:23:33 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>187</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>158</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>291</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:friendship</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/friendship/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/friendship/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>friendship</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 6791</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 154</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 978</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:50:40 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>6791</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>154</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>978</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:beautiful</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/beautiful/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/beautiful/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>beautiful</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 258</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 149</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 415</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:42:06 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>258</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>149</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>415</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:music</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/music/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/music/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>music</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 4341</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 144</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 481</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:51:44 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>4341</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>144</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>481</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:death</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/death/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/death/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>death</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 4306</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 140</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 526</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:27:13 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>4306</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>140</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>526</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:drugs</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/drugs/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/drugs/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>drugs</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 1643</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 130</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 488</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:36:00 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>1643</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>130</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>488</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:musical</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/musical/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/musical/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>musical</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 174</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 109</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 356</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:03:25 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>174</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>109</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>356</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:drama</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/drama/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/drama/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>drama</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 524</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 102</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 623</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:04:41 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>524</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>102</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>623</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:adventure</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/adventure/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/adventure/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>adventure</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 227</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 95</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 367</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:34:17 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>227</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>95</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>367</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:violence</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/violence/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/violence/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>violence</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 952</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 82</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 240</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:34:09 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>952</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>82</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>240</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:art</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/art/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/art/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>art</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 674</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 66</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 116</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:09:48 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>674</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>66</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>116</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
  </channel>
</rss>