my Movie

Movie Details

Title:   Tomorrowland
Director:   Brad Bird
Year:   2015
Genre:   Science Fiction
Times Seen:   1
Last Seen:   11.08.15

Other Movies Seen By This Director (3)
- The Incredibles
- Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
- Ratatouille

Notes History
Date Viewed Venue Note
11.08.15InternetThis Screening is part of event: DVRfest 2015
I've picked out three more movies that I feel fit the general DVRfest theme of movies that I've been wanting to see but haven't gotten around to yet, starting with this Brad Bird hopeful sci-fi love letter to the imagination and innovation of Walt Disney. I feel like, in terms of box office and this movie's public reception, the optimistic and inspirational nature wasn't very well received and the cynical toxicity of places like Twitter melted it down with acid, not helped at all by its defenders basically trying to guilt trip the world into having better taste in movies. It's true that this isn't a comic book movie, sequel, or remake and yes, in a perfect world, everybody would be open to something like this. But it's also a super hard sell of a movie that's half retro-futuristic nostalgia, half environmental proselytization, and half sci-fi thriller. This movie seems destined to become a cult favorite liked by people who already like Brad Bird in a not-as-good-as-iron-giant type way.

I liked it more than Iron Giant (aren't I special!?). I love meta Disney stuff, love anything having to do with Disneyland, and love that some movies aren't afraid to have a message (even though they still do make me groan when i see all that on-the-nose nihilism). It's very easy to tear this movie down for daring to be about something, anything more than CGI, but I have to give it kudos for trying. Except I also see the marketing department drooling over collectible pins and pre-worn NASA hats and George Clooney toy jetpacks... but since the movie kind of bombed then we didn't get to see any of that stuff. YET.

I thought it was good though. I thought the actors, including the children, did a great job for such an effects-heavy movie and the tomorrowland design was fantastic. I like that George Clooney can be in a movie and not have to be on every page of the script, I like that Brad Bird wasn't afraid to dive into live action and try something new. And, a few global warming commentaries aside, I didn't groan at any stupid turns or glaring holes which seems to be less and less common these days.

Up next is another sci-fi, followed by the final film of the fest! I hope I can fit them both in and still make it to work in the morning.