This restored, animated valentine to the Beatles offers viewers the rare chance to see a work that's been substantially improved by its technical facelift, not just supersized with extra footage. Recognizing that its song-studded soundtrack alone makes Yellow Submarine a video annuity, United Artists has lavished a frame-by-frame refurbishment of the original feature, while replacing its original monaural audio tracks with a meticulously reconstructed stereo mix that actually refines legendary original album versions.

What emerges is a vivid time capsule of the late '60s and a minor milestone in animation. The music represents the quartet's zenith--Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The story line, cobbled together by producer Al Brodax and a committee of writers, is a broad, feather-light allegory set in idyllic Pepperland, where the gentle citizens are threatened by the nasty, music-hating Blue Meanies and their surreal arsenal of henchmen, with the Beatles enlisted to thwart the bad guys. Visually, designer Heinz Edelmann mixes the biomorphic squiggles, day-glo palette, and Beardsley-esque portraits of Peter Max with rotoscoped still photographs and film; Edelmann's animated collages also nod to Andy Warhol and Magritte in properly psychedelic fashion, which works wonderfully with such terrific songs.

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.

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.

The Beatles in their psychedellic colorful animated best!

I saw this movie for the first time when it came out as I was growing up. So I decdided to plunk down my money to purchase my copy. It was great to relive the animated treasure that Yellow Submarine was known for nearly 40 years ago. The music, and those sinister Blue Meanies!!! Enjoyed every minute of it! I think you already know the voices in the movie are NOT the Beatles but the Fab Four are featured in the closing minutes! I just wish the animated Beatles TV series was on DVD! You will enjoy Yellow Submarine and watch out for the Meanies!!