I can only comment on the movie I have seen.
I really liked it. The set up is that a struggling songwriter/musician crashes into a bus during a world-wide power blackout, and wakes up in a world in which the Beatles had never existed. Fascinating premise. I liked the movie a lot and would absolutely encourage you to see it.
But there are several problems with the premise of the movie. One is that if the Beatles had not existed, rock music would have proceeded VERY differently. I'm old enough (at 70) to remember very clearly what the music was like in 1960, 61, and 62. The Beatles arrived here in 1964 and IMMEDIATELY everything changed. A world without the Beatles would be very different. I would love to see that explored. It would make a wonderful alternate history novel. And yes, you'd need a novel because a 90 minute or so movie simply wouldn't have the time to investigate those changes.
The other problem with the movie is that the recovered Beatles songs are now released in a rather random order. In our world, the Beatles evolved, progressed musically and philosophically. And that's important. So the real issue is this: how would Beatles songs, any Beatles song, be received in the second decade of the 20th century without the influence of the Beatles in the first place?
Don't get me wrong. I really liked this movie and I'm recommending to all. But the flaws are interesting and worth discussing.
Here's another alternate history. What if Buddy Holly had not died in that plane crash? He likewise made a fundamental change in the music. And then he died. His creative output was cut short. What if he had lived? The Beatles, among others, have acknowledged their debt to Holly. In his short life -- he was only 22 when he died -- he had a huge impact. Imagine another five, ten, thirty years of his songwriting and performing. How would that have impacted the Beatles?
I am a huge fan of alternate history and read it whenever I get the chance.
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