Yellow Submarine | George Dunning (II), John Clive

Yellow Submarine | George Dunning (II), John Clive | All Too Short a Voyage

DVDs:

Yellow Submarine

	Yellow Submarine George Dunning (II), John Clive MGM (Video & DVD), 1999 average customer review:based on 291 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Timeless Animation

Director George Dunning's "Yellow Submarine" (1968) represents a landmark achievement in the history of animation. Like the Beatles' music, the film has a timeless quality. Though the Fab Four's association with the project certainly helped, it was the endless imagination of Dunning, designer Heinz Edelmann and numerous animators that propelled the film to remarkable visual heights. (Regrettably, the Beatles did not provide voices to their animated counterparts. Instead, the producers hired Liverpool actors, who did a passable job emulating the group's deadpan wit.) Accompanied by the Beatles' classic songs, "Yellow Submarine" exposed viewers to a new and innovative vision of the cartoon medium.

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All Too Short a Voyage

YELLOW SUBMARINE is a great film and was way ahead of its time when it premiered on the big screen. As with most authorized Beatles films it is interesting how short a time the releases are available before further shipments are held up by quarrels between APPLE Corps Ltd. and other involved parties. At the time of this review, YELLOW SUBMARINE joined the ranks of films awaiting re-release.

I own two different versions of YELLOW SUBMARINE. The first is an authorized video cassette version I purchased by mail order in the late 1980s. That particular VHS movie was the version of YELLOW SUBMARINE shown to American audiences in movie theaters and on television for years. For reasons that have never been adequately explained the American version is different than the British release. The primary difference is that the American version is missing the HEY BULLDOG sequence. The 1999 release of the DVD was the first time I was treated to the Bulldog sequence.

YELLOW SUBMARINE evolved out of the Beatles cartoons. Though my father was probably utterly baffled by the movie when he escorted my brother and me to the cinema in 1968 there actually is plot. The undersea world of Pepperland has been overrun by Blue Meanies. The Meanies hate color, art, music and every other sort of happiness and beauty. Fortunately for Pepperland one of its elderly citizens escapes in a largely ornamental submarine in search of help. He stumbles onto the Beatles and convinces them to accompany him back to Pepperland. On the return trip the Beatles and the Yellow Sub encounter various bizzare "seas" before finally arriving in Pepperland and emerging victorious from a musical battle.

Surprisingly the Beatles themselves had very little direct involvement with the film except for a short live appearance at the conclusion.

The quality of the DVD is superb. Most official APPLE collaborations are high quality. For those who missed the release of YELLOW SUBMARINE take strength in the fact that Beatles movies, beginning with A HARD DAYS NIGHT and more recently HELP have been re-released. We can only hope that they will be followed by an official release of MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR, YELLOW SUBMARINE, and the long awaited and much delayed LET IT BE.

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A reverse hero quest

When this film first came out in '68 I found it unwatchable. I thought that it was mind-less, plot-less eye candy. Now, after nearly four decades I finally get it- this is a reverse hero quest.

You have old/young Fred, captain of his magical vessel, voyaging to our world in a desperate search for help. He comes from the unearthly paradise of Pepperland (the paradise of the Devas) which has been treacherously conquered by the Blue Meanies (Asuras.) He finds the earthly manifestations of the champions of his realm (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) on our earth in the form of...the Beatles. Together they voyage back across the seas that separate the two planes (including the Sea of Monsters.) Once they have won their way back, they use the power of music to restore the land through joy and love. That's the twist- in a traditional tale it would be a hero from earth who traveled to the supernatural realms to win a boon for mankind, while here it is a hero from the otherworld that traveled here for help. That's also kind of neat- the angelic coming to us for help for a change.

Perhaps now that our own world is so completely overrun with Blue Meanies Pepperland might send us help in our time of need. It would make an interesting sequel.

The restoration of this film is incredible. It is a visual feast for the eyes with its vivid, intricate, original artwork- and the sound could not be better. Together they make perfect alchemy.

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Excellent for 60s memorabilia enthusiasts.

Though I remembered having seen parts of this movie as it was aired numerous times during my boyhood in the Seventies, back in those days much of Yellow Submarine's plot and symbolism were over my head, and I thought of it as just another animated kids' film which the adults didn't care for.

But nowadays, it's easy for me to pick out some of the movie's themes: the British hurling a little World War I-era humor at the Germans, childhood resentment of over-controlling parents, and Sixties druggie humor, all brought together in an animated version of the style of the Beatles' pop artist, Peter Max, with a workable plot. It's easy how kids would enjoy watching this animated gem from another time, and much of the symbolism is far enough over their heads to make it suitable for them to watch. Those of us who grew up listening to psychedelic Sixties music will enjoy it also, as an immersion into "British invasion" pop art.

I thoroughly recommend Yellow Submarine.

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Greatest Animated Movie of all time

I grew up on Disney animated movies and I will admit there early movies are hard to beat. This movie though does what Disney could not- use Beatles music. The music plays with the scene so well and I love the animation. Although the Beatles do not voice the characters, it doesnt take away the beauty of the movie. If you like animation then you wont be disappointed by the movie and if your a Beatles fan, then you should enjoy the film. Highly recommended.

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