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fabrisse ([personal profile] fabrisse) wrote2015-06-21 11:28 am
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Review: Tomorrowland

First of all -- if you haven't seen it in the theater and it's still playing near you, go see it. The scene in Paris alone is worth the price of admission.

I'll be honest. I'm not entirely sure what I expected from the film. I know that the three adults I've met who'd seen it would only say some variation on "it's a head trip" with no spoilers. Now that I've seen it, I completely agree. I can't give away spoilers because I think it will reduce the impact of the movie.

So. This is Brad Bird's first live action movie. It's well directed and cast. He's also one of the screen writers with Damon Lindelof.

The young actors are all excellent, particularly Raffey Cassidy who's only 12 (probably 11 when it was being filmed) and is still able to carry a good portion of the action -- both in terms of plot and kicking ass -- on her shoulders.

The effects, since many of the gadgets are supposed to be prototypes from home inventors, are very imaginative. Plus, that scene in Paris. *sigh*

I cried at the end. I see too many people talking about "the millenials" as self-centered. (One report on the Charleston shooting suggested that it was at least partially because the shooter was a millenial and trying to be "unique" which is a hallmark of the generation. Working in employment services, I can show you that the millenial generation is the only age group who's hiring level has not increased in the last two years. We may be in a burgeoning economic recovery, but not for them.) I see them, in general, interested in ideas, in learning new things -- whether it's programming, knitting, or both -- and, in my city at least, working locally to make things better for themselves and their younger siblings. This movie sees this generation in the same way, but what I found thrilling and touching was that people my age and older were also seen as part of Tomorrowland's ethos.

[identity profile] elainasaunt.livejournal.com 2015-06-23 09:36 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for your thoughts about this film. I've sort of been putting it off; I love Brad Bird's work (even Mission Impossible 4; I'm guessing you may mean Tomorrowland is the first live action movie he's originated himself rather than being a hired gun?), but I do pay a certain amount of attention to reviews to keep from wasting way too much time, and they have been soooo mixed for this.

Totally agree with you about millennials. They are my students, plus my nieces and nephews, and overall I am pretty impressed.

ETA: Just noticed Bird's long-delayed project called 1906 is listed on the IMDb as being back in pre-production. It was meant to be his first action film but he never seemed to be able to get it rolling. Ah, and I may be wrong about Tomorrowland being his project: apparently Disney had Lindelof attached for quite some time before BB came on board. Anyway, I'm excited about 1906 if it ever gets off the ground.
Edited 2015-06-23 10:01 (UTC)

[identity profile] fabrisse.livejournal.com 2015-06-25 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
No, I'd just completely forgotten about MI:4.

I'm tempted to say that the critics who are giving poor reviews are the ones who don't get it, but that's facile. I loved it. And once you've seen it, I'd love to get your reaction, too.

[identity profile] elainasaunt.livejournal.com 2015-06-27 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
Well, shoot. Looks like I've missed it, at least for now. It's no longer playing anywhere near me in English. I prefer seeing movies on the big screen, but may have to wait till the DVD becomes available.

[identity profile] fabrisse.livejournal.com 2015-06-27 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, the run was winding down here, too.