Photo by: courtesey of Columbia Pictures

Box office hit, “Across the Universe,” is a movie musical based entirely upon tracks written and performed by the Beatles. This film is visually stunning while boasting an amazing rendition of the chosen soundtrack.

Tony Award winner Julie Taymor, known for the Broadway adaptation of “The Lion King” as well as the 2002 bio-drama “Frida”, directed the film. “Across the Universe” features both amazing vocal performances and powerful acting by the cast. Although some of the dialogue falls short, and a few songs seem unusually placed, this is definitely a movie to see.

As the curtain opens, we find lone Brit, Jude (Jim Sturgess), sitting on a beach inviting viewers to hear his story through a beautiful solo of “Girl.” After a clashing interlude of “Helter Skelter” and some scenes with young Lucy (Evan Rachael Wood), their love story has been established.

Early on it appears that Jude and Lucy are destined to be together. But first Jude comes to America in search of his estranged father. His goal is met early, and he becomes an illegal immigrant on the ride of his life. He makes new friends, lives through amazing experiences, and struggles to find the inner artist in himself while battling the impact of the world on his relationship.

However, this isn’t your traditional love story. It is more a story of true endearment during the “free love” era of the 1960s. There are more political implications in this movie as well, as it spans a volatile time in U.S. history.

The civil rights movement is in full swing with a shot of the Detroit riot in 1967. Also, Vietnam has become dominant in American politics, and the characters find themselves in a world full of change. The Students for a Democratic Society, a leftist group, make an appearance holding rallies against the war. These often end in riots and police brutality.

The era was famous for free sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Thus, the movie delves into experiments with LSD, prompting the song “I Am the Walrus,” performed by Easy Rider-dressed, U2 front man Bono. There is also an extravagant circus event to the tune of “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite,” performed by British comedian Eddie Izzard.

Despite all of this, “Across the Universe” isn’t exactly a musical by the standards of “Grease” and “Hairspray.” It follows in the footsteps, albeit more coherently and linearly, of epic rock-based films such as “Tommy,” based on the Who album, and “The Wall,” based on the Pink Floyd record of the same name.

The film turns into quite an interactive event as viewers try to pick out the multitude of references throughout the movie. There, of course, are the characters: Jude is named after the hit song “Hey Jude,” written for John Lennon’s son Julian; and Lucy comes from hit drug-referencing song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Then there are the subtle lines mentioning other Beatles songs, the visages of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, and images such as the cover of Beatles album “Abbey Road.”

Watching this film, it is hard to ignore the possible connections between the politics and fear in the film and the situations prevalent in America today. Although this doesn’t disrupt the message or wonderful love story as it unfolds, it is there nonetheless. Despite the varying criticism, this is one movie definitely worth seeing.