Rating: 
Summary: Masterful restoration of 60's Classic
Review: After reading the New York Times article about the restoration process for Yellow Submarine, I had high hopes for this DVD. I was not disappointed. The color saturation is sumptuous. There are some imperfections, but on the whole this is a first class restoration. If you want appreciate the restoration, look at the original theatrical trailer or the "making of" documentary extras. The re-mastered audio brings new complexity and detail to familiar Beatle material (even on my strictly middlebrow home entertainment system). The opening a cappella chorus of "Nowhere Man" sounded like it was recorded yesterday. For a generation that has not seen this film, Yellow Submarine is a perfect time capsule for 60's psychedelic era. The film begins in under the sea in Pepperland, an idyllic musical community, which is attacked by the music-hating Blue Meanies. "Young Fred" manages to escape the attack in the Yellow Submarine, which takes him to England. He recruits the Beatles to return with him to Pepperland to join the battle between the forces of order (the Blue Meanies) and the forces of creativity and love. The plot is pretty much as hokey as it sounds, but it is merely a vehicle for the music, humor, surrealism, artistic and social sensibilities of the psychedelic 60's. And it is there that the movie emphatically succeeds. The animation is certainly not as sophisticated as some more modern efforts, but it stands up remarkably well. There was a lot of revolutionary (for the 60's) integration of animation and live action. The colors are gorgeous. Visually, this is still a very entertaining film. If you don't like the Beatles music, or are bored by animation, stay away. If you are on the fence about getting this DVD, buy it. You won't be disappointed. And if you love the Beatles, this DVD should move to the top of your list.
Rating: 
Summary: Fab
Review: More of a series of Beatles videos than a film, this is excellent for what it is, and it has Beatles music in it, so it can't be bad. I'd forgotten how good 'Nowhere Man' was, in particular, until I saw this again on DVD. George Harrison does a really good guitar solo near the beginning of the song, so top marks to George. The other songs are usually described as lightweight throwaways, although I think that's a bit harsh. 'Hey Bulldog' is fun, and although 'Only a Northern Song' and 'It's All Too Much' aren't as good as 'Eleanor Rigby', they fit the images very well. 'All Together Now' is dire, though. The extra DVD bits are nice to have, but not really worth buying the disc for on their own. The 'Making of' documentary is from 1968, doesn't tell you much, and only goes on for 17 minutes. The commentary is a bit dull too, and Heinz Edelmann only appears for five minutes at the end. The 'isolated music score' simply turns off the speaking voices and sound effects - you don't actually get the full soundtrack in order, you get snatches of George Martin's instrumental music and the Beatles' songs. The remastering is a bit iffy in places - there are film scratches and blobs were there shouldn't be any - and although it could be my speakers, the Beatles' dialogue seems to be drowned out by the orchestral score. As for the film, you've probably already seen it. It looks and sounds wonderful, but it has a long, dull bit in the middle; there isn't really much of a plot; and I still can't make out what the Beatles are saying most of the time. But that's just me. The bit at the end, where the Beatles appear, makes me wince, as they seem so self-conscious and embarrassed.
Rating:
Summary: So Weird! So Entertaining!
Review: Oh sure, I knew going in that this was The Beatles, this was "artistic", "psychadelic", and a bit "bizarre", but nothing could ever have prepared me for this. Between the unique animation, the vibrant, colorful worlds, the gaggle of strange creatures, stranger characters, and oddly-visualized Beatles tunes, this movie goes far beyond all expectations, and leaves even the mouth newest to the Beatles hanging wide open. The story concerns a magical, musical, colorful paradise known as Pepperland. A peaceful place until the day The Blue Meanies, led by one of the most demented, over-the-top villainous freaks around, attack turning the city into a place full of bleakness and despair. In a desperate effort, the plucky hero "Young Fred" escapes in the town's ancient Yellow Submarine to seek help. Help is foud in Liverpool, England in the form of none other than Ringo, John, George, and Paul themselves. The mellow, wisecracking group of singers set out with Fred and brave many strange dangers and obstacles of the sea to save Pepperland and fill it with cheer and music once again. Despite being a relic from the psychadelic era of the 60's, the movie is still as eye-popping, catchy, and delightful today when elaborate CGI animation reigns. The classic Beatles tunes and unforgettable lines, puns, and characterization essential to any film starring the Beatles combine to ensure the timelessness of the film. Among the highlights of the film are the scene in which Ringo is followed home by the Yellow Submarine, meets Fred, and calls on the other 3 (Although the Beatles themselves don't provide their own characters' voices, the voices are so well done in the film, it makes very little difference), the introduction to the "Nowhere Man", Jeremy (Although he does get a touch irritating as the film progresses, his first scene is superb), and the scene in which the Fab Four are lost in the "Foothills of the Headlands" (Set to "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", it is easily the weirdest scene of the movie). The abovementioned songs, as well as "Eleanor Rigby", "When I'm Sixty-Four", "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band", "All You Need is Love", and others including the title track are pure delight and make this film the fantastic adventurein music it is. The only song that falls a bit flat is "All Together Now", a rather uninspired tune that the Beatles grudgingly threw together specifically for the film. It certainly sounds as though their hearts just weren't into it. Still it's not that bad. It doesn't harm the film, and hey some may like it. In conclusion, this movie is definitely a beauty. It's like nothing you've ever seen before or will ever see hence. It is quite easily among the top most bizarre movies ever made, and will definitely entertain. So sit back, relax, and prepare for an adventure like no other.
Rating:
Summary: Blue Meanie!!!!!!!!!
Review: This movie was great. The animation is old compaired to Finding Nemo. It was a good movie. The same basic story line, evil takes over and then in the end good and love prevail.In the 60's, evil in movies was featuring Devils such as Rosemary's Baby, and The Meanie is no exception. He is personally my favorite,and he is scary in a funny way. He is what you call a toned down antagonist. The bad guy is not gruesome or anything, like these other bloody gore movies. He makes the movie funny. I give it two thumbs up!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: My 5 Year Old Loves The Beatles!
Review: Treat your child to this wonderful and gifted movie. My daughter recently turned 5 and now sings Beatle songs. She knows their names, sings in the car when their music comes on the radio, and is no longer insterested in Scooby Doo or Sleeping Beauty. What could so great but that?
Rating:
Summary: Yellow Submarine
Review: This is my favorite Beatles movie (2nd is A Hard Day's Night).
Sir and/or Mam,this movie is classic late 1960's stuff! The only movie that used Pop Art everywhere! While the plot is not so great, it was all about the Beatles, the jokes are fun and some places like George said, It's all In The Mind!
Rating:
Summary: "... and I've got a hole in me pocket!"
Review: Ah, "Yellow Submarine". I had wanted to see this movie for ages ... and so I was very happy when, last January, my mom and dad got me a copy of this for my birthday. Since I received it, I've watched it several times, and enjoyed each one a little more than the time which came before. If you're a Beatles fan, a music fan, or an animation fan, you need look no further than here if you're at Amazon.com today just searching for something you might like. While the plot of this movie is really nothing special, the music, visuals, and characters more than make up for it, and so you'll be guaranteed to be entertained whenever you pop this into your dvd player. Basically, a musical, magical, mystical place called Pepperland, located far beneath the ocean waves, is under attack by a race of music-hating creatures called Blue Meanies. One fellow, able to escape Pepperland before the Blue Meanies turned him to stone, sets off to find help for his fellow citizens, and makes his way to Liverpool. There, he (naturally) enlists the assistence of four musicians, and together they journey back to Pepperland in order to fight the Blue Meanie Menace. That's about it. Along the way, however, they journey through some amazing (and to my knowledge, unknown) places, such as the Sea of Monsters, the Sea of Holes (classic line found here, together with a lot of ... holes ...), and a little (and big) place called Nowhere. This journey up to the arrival in Pepperland is actually my favorite part of the movie. Very episodic and varied, with some interesting sights and some great lines. This is a VERY quotable movie. I was disappointed to learn that the real Beatles didn't actually do their own voices, but I was pleased to see them in a live-action ending sequence to finish the movie (as long as the real Beatles were involved somehow). Of the four we here, the guy doing Paul's voice did the best job, very recognizably emulating the man he was trying to sound like. Ringo's was quite good too, though John's was getting to be a little 'iffy', and I have to say that George, at least to my ears, sounded nothing like George at all (aside from the accent). I learned from this very same DVD, in one of the supplements, that they actually found the guy to do George's voice in a bar, totally by chance. Apparantly they thought he was perfect ... I disagree, but that's not really a huge complaint as far as this movie goes. The musical selections are great (but then, how couldn't it be?). We get some favorite songs like the one that gives this film its title (naturally), along with "Nowhere Man", "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", and "All You Need is Love", plus many more. Also, the dvd includes a scene originally cut from the film, which features a song I had never heard before called "Hey Bulldog". It's a shame it was cut before, because it's a rather nice tune. I am glad they decided to include it again here. The dvd has some nifty extras, including interviews with some of the production crew and a couple of the guys providing the voices, plus a 'making of' that dates back to the time the movie was made. It's interesting to watch, but the film quality is terrible. I really wish they had cleaned it up before putting it on the disc. There's an interesting commentary from the lead animator (which I would probably get more out of if I was an animator or a film student, but I'm neither), a trailer, and a few minor easter eggs on the main menu. I was disappointed to discover that while this film really has more than one ending, whichever one wasn't used was not included as a bonus feature on the disc (I would have appreciated it). Also, I was sorry to see that there were no comments by Sir George Martin or even any of the surviving Beatles (not that I was expecting to hear from Paul or Ringo, as I believe that anything to feature them must come from Apple Records, but surely that isn't the case with Sir Martin!), which I know I would have enjoyed. I will finish by saying that "The Yellow Submarine" is a tremendously fun thing to watch and listen to. It's definitely worth the money it costs to include with the rest of your dvd collection, and you'll be singing songs and quoting lines you heard from it for a long time after it's over ... but it won't be long before you go back to see it again. It's a lot of fun, bright and colorful and strange, and if you go for it than I know you won't be sorry. Carry on Carry on, MN
Rating: 
Summary: 3.5 stars - another weird but enjoyable movie
Review: Yellow Submarine (1968.) The fourth Beatles movie. INTRODUCTION:
The first two Beatles films, A Hard Day's Night and Help!, were great movies. Unfortunately, their third film, Magical Mystery Tour, was a disaster! Because of its short length, it didn't count toward the three film contract they had signed. What they came up with to fill the requirement was Yellow Submarine - an ANIMATED film. How does it measure up? Read on and find out. BASIC PLOT:
Beneath the sea, there is a peaceful kingdom known as Pepperland. But a group of villains known as the Blue Meanies have attacked the kingdom. Fortunately, one member of the society escapes from the attack, and goes out to search for help. Guess who he recruits to save Pepperland. FILM OPINIONS:
This is a very strange movie - but it's also a very good one. I had my doubts that an animated movie would work, but for the most part it does. I have several complaints about the film, though. First of all, too much time is wasted with music videos and the band's journey back to Pepperland - that time could better have been used to make the battle scenes more entertaining. My second complaint is the character of Jeremy. My god, is this guy annoying. But my biggest complaint? The band members don't do their own voices! In fact the REAL band only appears once in the movie, and that's at the very end of the film. Despite my complaints, this IS a good movie, though. DVD:
The DVD has some extras, and they're pretty enjoyable, however they aren't anything extremely special. If you've got the old VHS pressing of the movie, there is really no need to get the DVD. The latest reissues of the movie, however, do feature a scene that was cut from the original movie - the Bulldog scene. Still, these extras really don't make the DVD worth buying if you've already got the film on another format. But if you don't own the movie in any shape or form yet, by all means get the DVD. OVERALL:
Overall, it's a good movie. Sure, it's weird, but that doesn't mean it's not a good film! If you're a Beatles fan, do yourself a favor and check this movie out - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Just make sure you watch it with an open mind.
Rating: 
Summary: they cut it!
Review: Great movie, but they cut a scene on the DVD. It's only about a minute, but the scene which features BABY YOUR A RICH MAN is cut. They played about a minute of this song as the boys revived the pepper band. If you can find an old copy of the VHS (the one in a box, NOT in a case) you can find this scene on it. Oddly, RICH MAN is on the new CD "songtrack", yet it's now cut from the film. I hope they issue a complete uncut version someday.
Rating:
Summary: So Weird! So Entertaining!
Review: Oh sure, I knew going in that this was The Beatles, this was "artistic", "psychadelic", and a bit "bizarre", but nothing could ever have prepared me for this. Between the unique animation, the vibrant, colorful worlds, the gaggle of strange creatures, stranger characters, and oddly-visualized Beatles tunes, this movie goes far beyond all expectations, and leaves even the mouth newest to the Beatles hanging wide open. The story concerns a magical, musical, colorful paradise known as Pepperland. A peaceful place until the day The Blue Meanies, led by one of the most demented, over-the-top villainous freaks around, attack turning the city into a place full of bleakness and despair. In a desperate effort, the plucky hero "Young Fred" escapes in the town's ancient Yellow Submarine to seek help. Help is foud in Liverpool, England in the form of none other than Ringo, John, George, and Paul themselves. The mellow, wisecracking group of singers set out with Fred and brave many strange dangers and obstacles of the sea to save Pepperland and fill it with cheer and music once again. Despite being a relic from the psychadelic era of the 60's, the movie is still as eye-popping, catchy, and delightful today when elaborate CGI animation reigns. The classic Beatles tunes and unforgettable lines, puns, and characterization essential to any film starring the Beatles combine to ensure the timelessness of the film. Among the highlights of the film are the scene in which Ringo is followed home by the Yellow Submarine, meets Fred, and calls on the other 3 (Although the Beatles themselves don't provide their own characters' voices, the voices are so well done in the film, it makes very little difference), the introduction to the "Nowhere Man", Jeremy (Although he does get a touch irritating as the film progresses, his first scene is superb), and the scene in which the Fab Four are lost in the "Foothills of the Headlands" (Set to "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", it is easily the weirdest scene of the movie). The abovementioned songs, as well as "Eleanor Rigby", "When I'm Sixty-Four", "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band", "All You Need is Love", and others including the title track are pure delight and make this film the fantastic adventurein music it is. The only song that falls a bit flat is "All Together Now", a rather uninspired tune that the Beatles grudgingly threw together specifically for the film. It certainly sounds as though their hearts just weren't into it. Still it's not that bad. It doesn't harm the film, and hey some may like it. In conclusion, this movie is definitely a beauty. It's like nothing you've ever seen before or will ever see hence. It is quite easily among the top most bizarre movies ever made, and will definitely entertain. So sit back, relax, and prepare for an adventure like no other.
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