Review 346: Tomorrowland
Admittedly flawed but visually stunning, thoughtful and ambitious sic-fi film, Tomorrowland represents another addition to Brad Bird's weird and wonderful filmography.Despite what initial reports would lead you to believe, this is not an adaptation of the Disney theme parks of the same name. It's very much an original sic fi film with a plot that is equal parts fascinatingly, intriguing and hopefully optimistic.
Writer/Director Brad Bird and co-writer Damon Lindelof were reportedly influenced by Walt Disney's optimistic philosophy of innovation and utopia, particularly his conceptual vision for the planned community known as EPCOT and it shows.
It's about how the ideas of science and exploration are able to grow to make the world a better place. It shows us that the future is what we make it to be. No one is going to make that change for us, we have to go out and make that change ourselves. It’s those ideas coupled with the awe inspiring visuals that makes this film worth seeing, even if it’s arguably better as an experience than a story or a message yet wants to be all three.
Another positive about Tomorrowland is whilst watching it, we as an audience don't get any idea where it's going and Brad Bird has described this movie as more about the journey there than the actual location.
It's about how the ideas of science and exploration are able to grow to make the world a better place. It shows us that the future is what we make it to be. No one is going to make that change for us, we have to go out and make that change ourselves. It’s those ideas coupled with the awe inspiring visuals that makes this film worth seeing, even if it’s arguably better as an experience than a story or a message yet wants to be all three.
Another positive about Tomorrowland is whilst watching it, we as an audience don't get any idea where it's going and Brad Bird has described this movie as more about the journey there than the actual location.
That's very creative and shows us that it is important for us to enjoy the journey wherever we are going. This is a daring and bold move on his part. This element of mystery and unpredictability keeps us as an audience on the edge of our seats and makes for an exciting viewing experience because it leaves us dying to know what happens next.
It's a film that evokes imagination and hope, hope that together, the future can be what we make it out to be and that we can make the world a better place.
Imagination: What Tomorowland shows us is that imagination is important. It's important because it helps us think up new things, original things. It also helps us come with new ideas for our everyday life and can help us succed
Discovery: Tomorrowland is depicted as a place where the ideas of science and exploration are able to grow to make the world better. Whenever Casey touches the pin, she's transported to Tomorrowland and she discovers all of these new technologies and inventions.
Curiosity: Casey is naturally taken aback by her experiences but when she lets go of the pin, all of those ideas and experiences are gone and she suddenly feels a desperate need to find out everything she can about this
Hope: The main question posed by Tomorrowland is What if the best and brightest parts of mankind: the Scientists and the Artists were able to come together and make the world a better place. It's this hopeful and optimistic message about the human race that makes this film so uplifting.
Thats all fine and dandy... until the final act of the film. The problem with this movie is that premise is intruiging, but the payoff is lackluster. The whole time, the movie keeps building up and building up and then all of a sudden... it ends with no real/satifying payoff, the ending just left something to be desired and felt very rushed. Not to give anything away here, but the way I would have done it, I would have liked to have seen Tomorowland before Tomorrowland. The way the film concluded just felt too simplistic for a film with such stunning visuals, rich ideas and such a talented director behind the camera. The whole conclusion felt rushed and it didn't bring its ideas properly to the forefront and ultimately weren't given the proper food for though that they deserved.
Finally, everything about this films final would have had more payoff had the characters just sat down and had a more emotional but authentic conversation with each other and sorted out their ideals.
Writer/Director Brad Bird's direction is fantastic, the cinematography is beautiful, the special effects are spectacular, the score by Michael Giacchino is magical, the production design is extraordinary (Brad Bird's vision of Tomorrowland is mind blowing featuring jet packs, monorails and zero-gravity swimming pools) the costumes are superb, the action scenes are exciting, the tension is killing, the scenery is brethtaking, the props are terrifically crafted.
The acting is fantastic, George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy and Hugh Laurie all nail it in their roles.
George Clooney nailed it as grizzled inventor Frank Walker, a really interesting career choice for him. The character of Frank Walker is a broken man, he started off as a dreamer but has since become disenchanted and it takes him a long time for him to trust anyone and Clooney portrays that effortlessly.
Britt Robertson shows strong potential as Casey Newton, she's almost a polar of Frank, she's an optimist, she believes that there is a possibility to save the future. She's also intelligent, clever, smart and Robertson portrays her excellently. She's a character who, when we meet her in the film, hasn't really found her footing yet. She's wanted to be a part of NASA but there's no place for her because the system is now obsolete and she's this outgoing, go getter - that is until she meets Frank Walker and the adventure begins.
Raffey Cassidy so surprised me in this film as Athena, she's mysterious, wise, intelligent, enigmatic and also very optimistic. The way she brings those qualities to life, for a child actress, is just astonishing.
Hugh Laurie's is also solid as David Nix, but he's not in the film as much as I would've liked and his motivations come across as half baked as result. Bird and Lindelof seemed to be making bold moves with his character and portraying him in a more morally grey but unfortunately they fail to keep those promises and just back away from instead of embracing them.
Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn and Keegan Michael Key round out the cast in supporting roles, some incorporated/handled better than others but overall make do with what they are given.
Tomorrowland is flawed but genius - and optimistic filmmaking, 4.5/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
It's a film that evokes imagination and hope, hope that together, the future can be what we make it out to be and that we can make the world a better place.
Imagination: What Tomorowland shows us is that imagination is important. It's important because it helps us think up new things, original things. It also helps us come with new ideas for our everyday life and can help us succed
Discovery: Tomorrowland is depicted as a place where the ideas of science and exploration are able to grow to make the world better. Whenever Casey touches the pin, she's transported to Tomorrowland and she discovers all of these new technologies and inventions.
Curiosity: Casey is naturally taken aback by her experiences but when she lets go of the pin, all of those ideas and experiences are gone and she suddenly feels a desperate need to find out everything she can about this
Hope: The main question posed by Tomorrowland is What if the best and brightest parts of mankind: the Scientists and the Artists were able to come together and make the world a better place. It's this hopeful and optimistic message about the human race that makes this film so uplifting.
Thats all fine and dandy... until the final act of the film. The problem with this movie is that premise is intruiging, but the payoff is lackluster. The whole time, the movie keeps building up and building up and then all of a sudden... it ends with no real/satifying payoff, the ending just left something to be desired and felt very rushed. Not to give anything away here, but the way I would have done it, I would have liked to have seen Tomorowland before Tomorrowland. The way the film concluded just felt too simplistic for a film with such stunning visuals, rich ideas and such a talented director behind the camera. The whole conclusion felt rushed and it didn't bring its ideas properly to the forefront and ultimately weren't given the proper food for though that they deserved.
Finally, everything about this films final would have had more payoff had the characters just sat down and had a more emotional but authentic conversation with each other and sorted out their ideals.
Writer/Director Brad Bird's direction is fantastic, the cinematography is beautiful, the special effects are spectacular, the score by Michael Giacchino is magical, the production design is extraordinary (Brad Bird's vision of Tomorrowland is mind blowing featuring jet packs, monorails and zero-gravity swimming pools) the costumes are superb, the action scenes are exciting, the tension is killing, the scenery is brethtaking, the props are terrifically crafted.
The acting is fantastic, George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy and Hugh Laurie all nail it in their roles.
George Clooney nailed it as grizzled inventor Frank Walker, a really interesting career choice for him. The character of Frank Walker is a broken man, he started off as a dreamer but has since become disenchanted and it takes him a long time for him to trust anyone and Clooney portrays that effortlessly.
Britt Robertson shows strong potential as Casey Newton, she's almost a polar of Frank, she's an optimist, she believes that there is a possibility to save the future. She's also intelligent, clever, smart and Robertson portrays her excellently. She's a character who, when we meet her in the film, hasn't really found her footing yet. She's wanted to be a part of NASA but there's no place for her because the system is now obsolete and she's this outgoing, go getter - that is until she meets Frank Walker and the adventure begins.
Raffey Cassidy so surprised me in this film as Athena, she's mysterious, wise, intelligent, enigmatic and also very optimistic. The way she brings those qualities to life, for a child actress, is just astonishing.
Hugh Laurie's is also solid as David Nix, but he's not in the film as much as I would've liked and his motivations come across as half baked as result. Bird and Lindelof seemed to be making bold moves with his character and portraying him in a more morally grey but unfortunately they fail to keep those promises and just back away from instead of embracing them.
Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn and Keegan Michael Key round out the cast in supporting roles, some incorporated/handled better than others but overall make do with what they are given.
Tomorrowland is flawed but genius - and optimistic filmmaking, 4.5/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
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