elicopperman The Beatles have delighted and enchanted audiences ever since their long lasting run in the 1960s and early 70s, so it's no wonder they would have some movies based off their success: one great (A Hard Day's Night), one sub par (Help!), and then this flick. Requested by producer Al Brodax to be animated, this feature was put into an 11 month production with a shoe string budget and animator George Dunning helming the director's chair. Upon the film's release, not only was it both a big commercial hit and a critical darling, but to this day, many consider it to be one of the greatest animated films ever made, and I couldn't agree more.The basic plot summary revolves around the Blue Meanies terrorizing the peaceful Pepperland, causing a captain named Young Fred to recruit the Beatles to help save it. That's the best way to describe the "story", because believe me, this movie lacks a lot of coherency in its narrative. However, the basic goal of the film is not what this movie is actually about; instead, the crazy surreal environments that the Beatles go around are the film's true center of attention. Whether it'd be a land of monsters, a strange psychological creature named Jeremy Hillary Boob, or even a sea of time, the film embraces all the zany worlds that the fab four go to. With all the illogical logic that comes afloat, it helps give the movie an unpredictable edge where everything psychedelic always flows at an enjoyable/breathtaking pace, rather than becoming obnoxiously tiresome.Now the characters aren't fully dimensional, but they don't need to be; they just need to be as strange as the movie itself. The Beatles themselves are very basic in terms of characteristics, although Ringo exhibits a kind hearted nature that helps carry the film, while also having great chemistry with John, Paul, and George. As for the rest, Young Fred is the abnormal sailor trying to guide the Beatles to Pepperland, Jeremy is very knowledgeable but lacks a proper point of view, and the Blue Meanies are fantastic representations of nasty people who hate everything peaceful and happy. The leader himself is very tumultuous, mainly by how he can switch from being calm and subtle to very loud and pompous. Given the film's themes of love over hatred, we could always try spreading peace and harmony to those who can't stand it, and that's what makes the characters so endearing albeit straightforwardGiven that this is a Beatles film, there are plenty of songs that appear, and despite the large amount, they actually help construct the story to feel relatively complete. Some are used as plot elements like All You Need is Love, others describe a certain character like Nowhere Man, or are based on a specific scenario like When I'm 64 and Eleanor Rigby. That being said, each musical number works perfectly as its own separate music video, particularly Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds for its versatile usage of styles and harmonious lyrics that fit perfectly with the film's surreal nature. In addition, there are a few songs that debuted in this film such as All Together Now, Only a Northern Song, Hey Bulldog (which was initially cut from the film's U.S. release), and It's All Too Much, so I'm sure die hard fans were as ecstatic to these new songs as much as everyone else. The songs in the film have already been deemed classics, and they emulate the film's psychedelic nature and joyous tone to amazing heights. Besides, they're Beatles songs, who could ask for more?As for the animation, the biggest form of art that this film embraces is pop art, which makes it arguably the most colorful animated feature ever made. While the designs are relatively simple, there are several artistic touches and details that make them stand out well on their own. The character animation can be choppy at times, but it works for the film's surrealistic reality that gets away with everything. The backgrounds all feel like surreal paintings come to life, and I'm sure every artist has looked at some of them at one point. Also, every song featured in the film displays at least one iconic visual highlight, such as the usage of rotoscoping in Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, the experimental usage of bizarre artistic visuals in Nowhere Man, and even a distinct pop art style in Only a Northern Song. It's not everyday where you see an animated film embrace the artform as much as this.Sure, this movie makes no sense, but that's what makes it so special, and I love every minute of it. Yellow Submarine not only embodies the Beatles superbly, but is one of the several animated features that treats itself as a legitimate work of art, complete with its luscious animation, charming characters, and timeless songs. If you're a huge fan of the Beatles, you're into the psychedelic age, or you just love animation and art house films, this film is a must watch for all of you, if not everyone in general. There has never been a surrealistic film like this where practically everything flows on screen at an unforeseeable flow, and even if you don't get it at first, it'll still be one hell of an entertaining ride. As a monument to both the history of animation and the Beatles' legacy, it still remains a dated/timeless classic for all the right reasons.

He_who_lurks Where can I begin? "Yellow Submarine" features fascinating art. It is more of an art film than a cartoon actually. There is a plot but that's mostly there to set up some great visuals, which are sooooo complex for a movie from 1968 that they can even compare with the computer generated animation of today.This movie mixes actual photography (sometimes) with a lot of dizzying animation that could actually kill you if you saw it long enough (and you do, the movie is an hour and a half long). As a result you never feel quite the same after you see it.However, there are some problems. Being about a popular rock group this movie includes lots of songs. Some of them weren't needed while others were decent and were worthwhile. I never did understand why so many movies (Disney especially) use so many dumb songs that never advance the plot. It's just lots of people singing for like 10 minutes, but luckily the songs weren't too long.Mostly though, this movie is worthwhile for the visuals. Like I said, the plot there really wasn't much of. It is very artistic but quite long. Also, you may not be able to think straight after seeing it. I sure can't. I'm having some trouble writing this.In short, I have mixed feelings about this movie. Having just watched it I feel as though I'm gonna have a stroke. Don't see this one if you're having mental issues, otherwise you may never recover.I am only partially kidding when I say that.Also, the accents. The voice actors try to sound British and they do so well that you may lose some of the puns thrown in. The Beatles were British of course but...well, if you've ever suffered from British accents, don't see this! The story is like a Dr. Seuss book. The "Hating Blue Meanies" sound so Seuss-ish that the whole story sounds as though it could've been inspired by him. There's a sea of holes, a nothing-man, etc. And the animation is also rather Seuss-like. It's colorful, and looks almost as though it were taken out of a coloring book. The lines are fine. Sometimes even the style itself changes. It's all outlandish, yet it appealed to me...somewhat.All in all, this is a nice animated movie. It is different and extremely unique. It is dizzying yet interesting. Believe me, after seeing it you'll feel different. The experience will dazzle you. Just don't see it if you've just been to the hospital. (ha_ha_ha).

Pozdnyshev even if you're not a Beatles fan, even if "psychedelia" isn't your thing, I do believe this 60s time-capsule has enough going for it to where it's worth watching. Maybe not multiple times, but at least once.This bears saying because it IS kind of stupid, when you break it down to its bare elements. The idyllic English countryside fantasy-world of "Pepperland" has been taken over by the "Blue Meanies," and only the Beatles can stop them. So it's a surreal but nonsensical journey from the Beatles' Liverpool to Pepperland, punctuated by a bunch of their songs which have very little to do with the story. Plus a handful of jokes which are painfully un-funny.This totally would be an embarrassingly trite cash-grab if not for the truly interesting and unique art direction, which really has nothing to do with the Beatles at all except for them both exploiting a psychedelic look. This Czech guy, Heinz Edelmann, designed everything with this neon-tubed, pop-art, minimalist look that really works.Even better are the weird images and effects that pop up, especially during the musical sequences. Like the Oscilloscope under the face-caricatures in "Only a Northern Song," or the rotoscoped acrobats in "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." I can see how many would find this all to be just artsy-fartsy nonsense, but for me it works. Even without any apparent underlying meaning, it somehow feels both whimsical and sad, in a good way.In summation, this movie is well-financed Outsider Art. It's trite, but it's also well-developed in some ways. And there's nothing else out there quite like it.

Robert Reynolds This is an animated film built around songs by the Beatles. There will be mild spoilers ahead:The plot here is really kind of basic. In a far off land called Pepperland, the Blue Meanies have attacked because they hate music and happiness. They imprison Sgt. Pepper and his Lonely Hearts Club Band in a globe and subjugate the people to their rule. One man, Old Fred, flees in the Yellow Submarine to find help (as the Lord Mayor says, "H is for Hurry, E is for Ergent, L is for Love me and P is for Please!").Fred takes the sub to Liverpool and more Beatles music, "Eleanor Rigby" next, coming upon Ringo walking alone and feeling unappreciated. Fred jabbers incoherently, but Ringo agrees to help and off we go to get the other three, each making an entrance amidst rater whimsical surroundings (lots of strangeness in the house they're in, with things playing with toys and odd things going on behind doors).Paul is last to arrive, completely up to speed on things and referring to Blue Meanies as though he knows what they are. The Beatles join Fred in the sub and proceed though various Seas which serve as musical cues as well as introducing the character of Jeremy Hillary Boob, a rather endearing if bombastic little man.En route to Pepperland, we meet monsters, Indians, the cavalry, a Sea of Holes (where Ringo winds up with "a hole in me pocket" literally. Jeremy is kidnapped by the Blue Meanies in the Sea of Holes, which gives way to the Sea of Green and Pepperland.Pepperland has lost all color and is now a sad, drab and gray place. The Beatles manage to make it to where the other band is imprisoned and Ringo uses the "hole" from his pocket to free them from the globe. Some of the best stuff happens in here, like a conversation between the head Blue Meanie and his toady Max. Max has some great lines here, mostly replies to questions. Jeremy, of all people, neutralizes the head Blue Meanie and the day is saved.There's a short live action bit with the real Beatles cutting up for the camera and ending the film by singing "All Together Now". It's a very fun, if somewhat lightweight film.This is available on DVD and Blu Ray and looks great. It's well worth getting. Recommended.