Post by Boomzilla on May 24, 2015 10:30:37 GMT -5
With a group of friends, we saw "Tomorrowland" yesterday. The venue was an "XD" large screen cinema that provided a larger picture than typical cinemas (but not so wide as iMax). The XD technology was exceptional - big picture - clear focus, saturated color, and a fine 3-d effect (even though our showing was not a 3-d version).
As to the movie - This is a "science fiction" movie with a happy ending. If you're prone to weepiness at happy endings, this one should do it for you. The characters were well acted, the bad guys were suitably robotic, and the arch-villan got his in the end. After all - it is a Disney film...
On the other hand, two things bothered me extensively about the movie and its message. If you haven't seen the movie and don't want spoilers, then quit reading now.
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The plot used human beings' disregard of our environment as the core of the problem.
[RANT] This is a typical "George Clooney - Airhead Hollywood Actor - Save the Whales - Whatever Feels Good" attitude. Note that I'm not saying that there are AREN'T serious concerns with our environment, only that this movie takes a "hook-line-and-sinker" approach to the current California looniness. La-La-Land thinking is prominently on display. The villain cited "ice-caps melting, rain-forests disappearing, etc." as proof that humans don't listen to their environment. Things just aren't that simple, and having a movie based on these premises encourages a populist disregard for honest science. Just because "everyone says" something doesn't make it true. [/RANT}
The other issue that offended me is an attitude that is "pure Disney:" The idea that optimism is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Again, things aren't that simple. You've got to work for the good outcomes you desire or they're not likely to occur. To give the movie credit, it did show the optimists actually DOING things to prepare for good outcomes, but this was more of a "passive" message. The active message was "be optimistic and succeed."
Now the converse of this coin, I give more credence to: If you're consistently negative, you're more likely to achieve negative outcomes (mostly because your depression led you away from preparing for success).
Nevertheless, despite the two gripes above (and those probably exist only because I can be a curmudgeon), I liked the movie a lot. This and another Disney movie I recently saw, "John Carter," give me hope for the Disney/Pixar franchise. Walt would be proud.
As to the movie - This is a "science fiction" movie with a happy ending. If you're prone to weepiness at happy endings, this one should do it for you. The characters were well acted, the bad guys were suitably robotic, and the arch-villan got his in the end. After all - it is a Disney film...
On the other hand, two things bothered me extensively about the movie and its message. If you haven't seen the movie and don't want spoilers, then quit reading now.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The plot used human beings' disregard of our environment as the core of the problem.
[RANT] This is a typical "George Clooney - Airhead Hollywood Actor - Save the Whales - Whatever Feels Good" attitude. Note that I'm not saying that there are AREN'T serious concerns with our environment, only that this movie takes a "hook-line-and-sinker" approach to the current California looniness. La-La-Land thinking is prominently on display. The villain cited "ice-caps melting, rain-forests disappearing, etc." as proof that humans don't listen to their environment. Things just aren't that simple, and having a movie based on these premises encourages a populist disregard for honest science. Just because "everyone says" something doesn't make it true. [/RANT}
The other issue that offended me is an attitude that is "pure Disney:" The idea that optimism is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Again, things aren't that simple. You've got to work for the good outcomes you desire or they're not likely to occur. To give the movie credit, it did show the optimists actually DOING things to prepare for good outcomes, but this was more of a "passive" message. The active message was "be optimistic and succeed."
Now the converse of this coin, I give more credence to: If you're consistently negative, you're more likely to achieve negative outcomes (mostly because your depression led you away from preparing for success).
Nevertheless, despite the two gripes above (and those probably exist only because I can be a curmudgeon), I liked the movie a lot. This and another Disney movie I recently saw, "John Carter," give me hope for the Disney/Pixar franchise. Walt would be proud.
