Get Ready to Ride The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine in 3D
Aug 26, 2009 by Paul YoungHollywood is getting gimmicky again – although some could argue that they never stopped. You can trace back the past 2 scores (that’s four decades …
Hollywood is getting gimmicky again – although some could argue that they never stopped. You can trace back the past 2 scores (that’s four decades for the numerically challenged) of movie history and there is a clear pattern of Hollywood studios and directors copying each other according to the most popular trend of the time. In the 70′s Kung-fu, Blaxpoitation and cop/mob films ruled supreme; the 80′s brought about the birth of the raucous comedy and over-the-top action hero (Norris, Schwarzenegger, Stallone). The only thing the 90′s managed to influence was run times with films like Braveheart, Dances with Wolves, Forrest Gump and The Fugitive all breaking the two hour mark. You could say The Matrix influenced other directors with its bullet-time-style filming, but no one got a chance to copy that until after the year 2000.
The new millennium started with studios filming in a new digital format, and then moved onto Imax and 3D filming and remakes. Hollywood shows no signs of slowing down on either, and will in fact cover all four bases at once with Disney’s announcement to release The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine by 2012.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis (A Christmas Carol), Yellow Submarine will be a remake filmed in “Disney digital 3D” (which I guess is different than plain ol’ normal digital 3D) and will make use of the same live motion-caption (mo-cap) that Zemeckis used on A Christmas Carol and Beowulf. I suppose that means Zemeckis is actually copying himself.
The original Yellow Submarine was an animated LSD adventure directed by George Dunning set in the undersea town of Pepperland. When the Blue Meanies capture Pepperland’s protectors, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Fab Four dive into their yellow submarine and set off to rescue the imprisoned musicians. Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all appeared in the end of the film’s only live-action scene, but with Paul and Ringo being the only surviving members, the chance of that happening again are probably pretty slim.
The movie deal has been in the laps of lawyers for months, trying to sort out all of the legalities involving the use of the original Beatles’ songs, “Baby You’re a Rich Man”, “All You Need is Love”, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and many others. The deal isn’t stopping at a movie either; Disney also has plans for a Broadway show, and a new Cirque du Soleil performance.
The Beatles haven’t been together since 1970 but their music still remains popular, which is evident by the release this September of some re-mastered Beatles albums and The Beatles: Rock Band video game, which will have over forty songs to play. No doubt both the albums and game will be great money makers.
There has been no word on what voice actors will play a role in Yellow Submarine nor if the script and story line will closely follow the original; but I am sure we’ll hear something concrete come September. If done right, this version should be as fun to watch as the first one – so long as Zemeckis doesn’t go overboard with all the technology. The first was nothing but a Limited Animation cartoon and people ate it up. Remember that, Zemeckis, and use the technology to enhance the story, not destroy it.
What do you think about seeing a 3D remake of Yellow Submarine?
Yellow Submarine has no official release date but Disney is aiming for before the 2012 Olympics.
Source: Variety
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Hopefully the world will end before this or the next Olympics occur…
Disney is the Walrus !!!
I wish they would just rerelase the original on DVD. The plot is weak, but its a marvel of animation.
When is this never ending unnecessary remaking of films going to end? What was wrong with the original? Isn’t it just perfect the way Peter Maxx envisioned it?
I love the original, it holds a special place in my heart as what got me into the Beatles originally. Disney remaking it? No. Just, no. And in 3D too. Why must they ruin good things? Please Hollywood, no.
The original is on DVD, I have it. It’s just difficult to find, I think I shelled out about 40 bucks for mine. But it was worth it.
As one of the few out there old enough to have seen in first run, all I can say is OMG NO!!!! If there was a say to 3D the original artwork, that might be cool, otherwise all I can say is USE YOUR OWN IMAGINATION AND COME UP WITH YOUR OWN WORK? Has all the creativity gone out of Hollywood?
I have seen the original and the art And animation is absolutly great. My opinion is Disney shoundnt mess with a good thing. Admittingly I probably will see the remake but I highly doubt it will be better than the original. Hopefully Disney will change their mind and GET THEIR OWN MATERIAL! Oh and if Disney is going to make a remake, should it really be one most likely inspired by drugs?
@Hero Supreme, it IS on DVD. I remember renting it from Blockbuster sometime 6 years ago or something.
Must Disney ruin every classic they come apon? Disney can screw with Alice In Wonderland and other junk like that, but when they mess with the Beatles work, HELL NO. This is just going to be another stupid failure of Disney. They've released who will be playing the Beatles. Check it out here: http://yellowsubmarinemovietrailer.blogspot.com/
Anyways, Disney has offically ruined great music.
is there a reason that EVERY commentator on this so-called “film” pooh-poohs the original Yellow Submarine as “JUST a Limited Animation” piece of junk, “and look how well it did?” Yellow Submarine is considered a pinnacle of British Animation. That’s right, Disney is buying up the Beatles catalog and destroying British artwork in the process too. You guys should learn up on a subject of a classic film before shooting off about it. Then again, the author discusses 90′s film as if it were ancient history so presumably he hasn’t seen any classic animated films.