Tomorrowland Review

[216bruce]

Tomorrowland had several nice moments, but it wanders aimlessley through its second act, leading to a rushed and exposition heavy third act as if to say "oh no, we only got 20 minutes left!" The movie was poorly structured and as a result the writing was weak at times because the main goal was clearly getting the point across, no matter how blunt or awkward.

It simply wasn't a great movie. Trying to pass off any criticism as the result of biased critics or cynical audiences is laughable, especially when Cinderella (and even Furious 7!) fared so well with both just 2 months ago.

Mr. Scott of the NY Times said it best:

"It's important to note that "Tomorrowland" is not disappointing in the usual way. It's not another glib, phoned-in piece of franchise mediocrity but rather a work of evident passion and conviction. What it isn't is in any way convincing or enchanting."

But, ya know, he's probably just fishing for likes amongst his clique.

I really don't see a problem in the structure. Some flashbacks, some exposition towards the beginning. Action and plot builds, climaxes and there is a denouement. Pretty traditional storytelling. Is the writing Shakespeare? No, but considering the present movie audience it was daring in that it takes a stand and has a very obvious point of view. It's fine to not like the movie..both you an "Mr" Scott are certainly welcomed to not enjoy it but the inestimable "Mr." Scott in saying it isn't "enchanting" kind of proves the point of the film...folks aren't interested in a positive and upbeat, dare I say, enchanting future. By the way...saw Cinderella and loved it. It did well because it was "Cinderella" and familiar, just as much as because it was well made. Tell "Mr." Scott we said toodles.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I really don't see a problem in the structure. Some flashbacks, some exposition towards the beginning. Action and plot builds, climaxes and there is a denouement. Pretty traditional storytelling.

Meeting a checklist of items is not the same as telling an effective story. You can classify scenes as being a "climax" or "denouement", but that does not mean they work well on their own or help to build a cohesive whole.

but the inestimable "Mr." Scott in saying it isn't "enchanting" kind of proves the point of the film...folks aren't interested in a positive and upbeat, dare I say, enchanting future.

Again, having a message and a positive tone does not alone make for quality storytelling. High School Musical had both, but that didn't make it a good movie.

Take the time to read some reviews by "top critics" on Rotten Tomatoes. Many praise the movies for its visuals, ideas and opening sequence, but ultimately feel that the movie doesn't give a good enough pay-off for its set up. It's a common theme amongst audiences who saw it too, including other members on this board.

 

[prberk]

Agree.

I have convinced a lot of friends to check it out solely based on my enthusiasm over the film.
Two of them are now interested in seeing it in IMAX with me, when previously they barely recall having even the slightest previous interest.

The pre-release marketing was quite confusing....nobody knows about what this is supposed to be.
I keep hearing from people i work with say they thought it was a kiddie movie about the Theme Parks!

I know few marketing execs would understand this these days, but I truly think that this would have been an excellent example of the time when having the Wonderful World of Disney back on the air would have been helpful (or even a special). You see, Walt Disney himself regularly used the weekly show to showcase their movie projects, and sometimes the parks, while offering a program (sometimes a drama, sometimes something about science or other thing). In this case, I think a good buildup like that (a modern show about Tomorrowland and Walt's historic interest in futurism, and about the innovations he and the imagineers put into the 1964 World's Fair) would have done wonders to set up the movie and to continue the narrative of Disney's heritage of mixing entertainment with education and forward-thinking.

They even did this with the World's Fair itself. The episode called, "Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair," is a great example of why this program mattered, both as entertainment and as a marketing tool.


The series was a stroke of genius that helped build up Disney's name in a lot of long-lasting ways, while still providing some entertainment value. It really helped us look to the world with wonder. It had the same viewpoint that Tomorrowland the film longs for. And, ironically, it would have been useful to set up the film if it were on today.

And even a TV special could have done the same. All better than the standard guest shots on Jimmy Fallon.

On a separate issue, I do wish that the movie had spent just a little more time in the setup, at Frank's childhood home and in the World's Fair. I do wonder if a lot of it were filmed but it just got too long, and they had to cut a significant amount of stuff. It feels that way.

 

[imagineer boy]

Saw it yesterday and I agree with the complaints. Very preachy, exposition heavy, boring villain, barely takes place in tomorrowland. I do like the ideas its trying to get across like taking pot shots about how everything in the media these days is all doom and gloom, but it wasn't done very well. Its not a bad film, its probably worth seeing once but over all its very, very just okay.

 

[Epcotbob]

I really enjoyed the film, my only complaint was that I would liked to have seen more scenes in Tomorrowland since it was so visually stunning. As someone said, maybe by more building on the young Frank, Athena story which would have given more time in the incredible city.

I'm sure Walt Disney would have loved to have had some of the current technology at his disposal back to do some of the future living shorts he produced instead of having to use animation.

 

[Eric1955]

Saw it yesterday and I agree with the complaints. Very preachy, exposition heavy, boring villain, barely takes place in tomorrowland. I do like the ideas its trying to get across like taking pot shots about how everything in the media these days is all doom and gloom, but it wasn't done very well. Its not a bad film, its probably worth seeing once but over all its very, very just okay.

The film being too preachy seems to be a common complaint. Perhaps it was preachy, but watching the film all I could think was "Amen! Preach it brother!"

 

[imagineer boy]

The film being too preachy seems to be a common complaint. Perhaps it was preachy, but watching the film all I could think was "Amen! Preach it brother!"

True, though sometimes I find that in movies that get preachy about things that I agree with I still get annoyed because I don't want to be spoon fed the movie's messages.

 

[Figments Friend]

I know few marketing execs would understand this these days, but I truly think that this would have been an excellent example of the time when having the Wonderful World of Disney back on the air would have been helpful (or even a special). You see, Walt Disney himself regularly used the weekly show to showcase their movie projects, and sometimes the parks, while offering a program (sometimes a drama, sometimes something about science or other thing). In this case, I think a good buildup like that (a modern show about Tomorrowland and Walt's historic interest in futurism, and about the innovations he and the imagineers put into the 1964 World's Fair) would have done wonders to set up the movie and to continue the narrative of Disney's heritage of mixing entertainment with education and forward-thinking.

They even did this with the World's Fair itself. The episode called, "Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair," is a great example of why this program mattered, both as entertainment and as a marketing tool.


The series was a stroke of genius that helped build up Disney's name in a lot of long-lasting ways, while still providing some entertainment value. It really helped us look to the world with wonder. It had the same viewpoint that Tomorrowland the film longs for. And, ironically, it would have been useful to set up the film if it were on today.

And even a TV special could have done the same. All better than the standard guest shots on Jimmy Fallon.

On a separate issue, I do wish that the movie had spent just a little more time in the setup, at Frank's childhood home and in the World's Fair. I do wonder if a lot of it were filmed but it just got too long, and they had to cut a significant amount of stuff. It feels that way.

Disney actually DID do this....but only in the Theme Parks as part of the pre-show for the currently running 'Tomrorowland Preview'.

At Disneyland, the 'Tomorrowland Preview' going on at the Magic Eye Theatre has a 18 minute pre-show that plays pretty much like you describe.
They even cut in some segments of this very program you shared...with Uncle Walt taking us through his latest projects at that time ( CoP was focused on ).
It was a well done short introduction to Walt's attitude towards pushing the boundaries and touching on his interest in futuristic concepts.
I can only assume the same pre-show is running at EPCOT's showing.

It would have been a nice piece of promotional material if it was extended to show as a short television special , or more probable for today's times, via YouTube/social media.
Instead of just releasing the trailers...which in itself seemed to cause some confusion in potential viewers, put together a 'mock special' similar to the pre-show used above and show some of this fabulous footage to the masses
A nice way to introduce a little background to the 'Walt connection'.

Regarding the Worlds Fair scenes, and how it seemed there could have been more of a set up to young Frank's beginnings there....well, there were other scenes filmed.
An entire segment was filmed at WDW's 'Carousel of Progress' for the film that was entirely cut out.
Who knows what other gems were discarded to the cutting room floor.
The brief scene where we see of young Frank at home working on his jetpack, being heavily discouraged by his Dad, could have been just one of several scenes shot in that setting.
Personally, i think in this case it was good to not focus too much on what was obviously not a happy relationship with his Dad since the film at that stage was all about a great big beautiful tomorrow.
The brief chip, in this case, hits the spot well.


Some fans of the film are hoping for a 'Directors Cut', but i am not sure if that will actually happen at this point.
I heard today people saying 'Tomorrowland's perceived 'box offic failure' is the reason why 'Tron 3' was killed off recently.
Just rumours and fan talk....but if it's true that is just a shame.

 

[prberk]

@Figments Friend , I love what they said they did at Disneyland, but most of the world cannot make it there. I was not suggesting that they run the old special somewhere, even at the park. I was atually suggesting that the company overall has forgotten how to use television the way Walt did. He used TV, especially his weekly show, to show off what he was working on, while still making it fun and interesting television.

THAT is what they could have done here, but also the reason in general why I think the company could still use a weekly "Wonderful World" show coming on. Keep the world of Disney in the public eye, with bright and vibrant host, who sometimes introduces Disney movies or one-hour dramas, and sometimes expository specials on things like the derivation of Tomorrowland, EPCOT, and Tomorrowland, as an example. Some other weeks could be about cool new things at the parks, including a DL 60th anniversary show. Yes, it would be promotional, but so is every guest on any late-night show. But in the case of Wonderful World, it also gives kids some fun entertainment and lets them visit DL and other exotic places and learn about things right from their seat, even if they never get to go. And along the way it reinforces the Disney legacy those of us in older generations understood.

And I was also saying that even without a weekly series they could have done a special about Disney's connection to the World's Fair and Tomorrowland, and even tied it to the 50th anniversary of the Fair last year.

I am lamenting that the company has forgotten how to use television for long-lasting effect.

 

[216bruce]

@Figments Friend , I love what they said they did at Disneyland, but most of the world cannot make it there. I was not suggesting that they run the old special somewhere, even at the park. I was atually suggesting that the company overall has forgotten how to use television the way Walt did. He used TV, especially his weekly show, to show off what he was working on, while still making it fun and interesting television.

THAT is what they could have done here, but also the reason in general why I think the company could still use a weekly "Wonderful World" show coming on. Keep the world of Disney in the public eye, with bright and vibrant host, who sometimes introduces Disney movies or one-hour dramas, and sometimes expository specials on things like the derivation of Tomorrowland, EPCOT, and Tomorrowland, as an example. Some other weeks could be about cool new things at the parks, including a DL 60th anniversary show. Yes, it would be promotional, but so is every guest on any late-night show. But in the case of Wonderful World, it also gives kids some fun entertainment and lets them visit DL and other exotic places and learn about things right from their seat, even if they never get to go. And along the way it reinforces the Disney legacy those of us in older generations understood.

And I was also saying that even without a weekly series they could have done a special about Disney's connection to the World's Fair and Tomorrowland, and even tied it to the 50th anniversary of the Fair last year.

I am lamenting that the company has forgotten how to use television for long-lasting effect.

If I was any good at posting cool stuff, I'd post the obligatory set of 'clapping hands'. I soooo agree. Even post-Walt, the company hailed almost all new big developments in parks, films, etc. with TV specials or at the very least an episode in the series. I mean, now they own ABC for cryin out loud. Yeah, I know all the cool kids do stuff online and through social media, but the big boys still recognize that network TV is a very, very effective tool to sell things, tweek public opinion and synergize the bujeesus out of a company. I think "John Carter" along with "Tomorrowland" both would have made out much better with some exposure on ye' olde tube. But, those of us in 'older generations' as you so well put it- and I really believe we are the audience that 'gets' "Tomorrowland" the most/best- aren't the cool kids anymore. Oh, well, we got to see all the good bands!

 

[prberk]

If I was any good at posting cool stuff, I'd post the obligatory set of 'clapping hands'. I soooo agree. Even post-Walt, the company hailed almost all new big developments in parks, films, etc. with TV specials or at the very least an episode in the series. I mean, now they own ABC for cryin out loud. Yeah, I know all the cool kids do stuff online and through social media, but the big boys still recognize that network TV is a very, very effective tool to sell things, tweek public opinion and synergize the bujeesus out of a company. I think "John Carter" along with "Tomorrowland" both would have made out much better with some exposure on ye' olde tube. But, those of us in 'older generations' as you so well put it- and I really believe we are the audience that 'gets' "Tomorrowland" the most/best- aren't the cool kids anymore. Oh, well, we got to see all the good bands!

Bruce, the thing to remember about TV and new media for the "cool kids" is that TV feeds the new media. The most popular clips on YouTube are often clips from television. NBC/Universal has harnessed this idea and connected these technologies well with incessant Jimmy Fallon clips from the new Tonight Show, and sometimes SNL. They start off on the Tonight Show (or SNL), get mentioned on the Today Show the next morning, and are already "trending" that day -- not to mention with a hashtag that Carson Daily has mentioned in the Orange Room of the Today Show as he talked about it.

It all started on television, captured in HD with some buzz and crosspromotion the next morning to give it a tailwind, then living on in social media for when the "cool kids" shared it with each other on social media and tweeted about it.

Like I said, though, Walt Disney knew how to light this fire 50 years before the current technology. Seems like the company he created would remember, especially when their competition is doing it so well and showing them how.

And, if done well, a contemporary prime time version of The Wonderful World of Disney may never be as "cool" as Jimmy Fallon bits, but could still be very effective for the company, as could some specials from time to time. Disneyland 60th would be the prime example of a great prime-time television special that would have legs on social media and drive attendance. Instead, though, they would rather go the easy route of simply letting Kelly and Michael broadcast a few days from it (on daytime television) and let the marketing department do a few commercials and move on. It's all related to a lack of cohesive vision and creativity at the top that keeps them from doing this, I think.

 

[Figments Friend]

@Figments Friend , I love what they said they did at Disneyland, but most of the world cannot make it there. I was not suggesting that they run the old special somewhere, even at the park. I was atually suggesting that the company overall has forgotten how to use television the way Walt did. He used TV, especially his weekly show, to show off what he was working on, while still making it fun and interesting television.

THAT is what they could have done here, but also the reason in general why I think the company could still use a weekly "Wonderful World" show coming on. Keep the world of Disney in the public eye, with bright and vibrant host, who sometimes introduces Disney movies or one-hour dramas, and sometimes expository specials on things like the derivation of Tomorrowland, EPCOT, and Tomorrowland, as an example. Some other weeks could be about cool new things at the parks, including a DL 60th anniversary show. Yes, it would be promotional, but so is every guest on any late-night show. But in the case of Wonderful World, it also gives kids some fun entertainment and lets them visit DL and other exotic places and learn about things right from their seat, even if they never get to go. And along the way it reinforces the Disney legacy those of us in older generations understood.

And I was also saying that even without a weekly series they could have done a special about Disney's connection to the World's Fair and Tomorrowland, and even tied it to the 50th anniversary of the Fair last year.

I am lamenting that the company has forgotten how to use television for long-lasting effect.

Understood, but i think today's Disney is more focused on the more perceived immediate reach of social media/the internet to do the trick.
It would be GREAT to see a weekly program on tv do what you are saying, and totally agree with what you and Bruce touched on here.

Unfortunately, i have little faith that folks currently running the Disney Company would find it a worthy investment to pursue such a thing now.
I doubt they see it as a significant enough marketing tool...which is ridiculous when you think about it for the points you brought up.

I remember all those great promotional specials Disney USED to produce and air....in the 80s and early 90s.
I have several on VHS ( yes, i said it ) and enjoy going back to view them.
It was a different company even just 20 years ago.

 

[216bruce]

Understood, but i think today's Disney is more focused on the more perceived immediate reach of social media/the internet to do the trick.
It would be GREAT to see a weekly program on tv do what you are saying, and totally agree with what you and Bruce touched on here.

Unfortunately, i have little faith that folks currently running the Disney Company would find it a worthy investment to pursue such a thing now.
I doubt they see it as a significant enough marketing tool...which is ridiculous when you think about it for the points you brought up.

I remember all those great promotional specials Disney USED to produce and air....in the 80s and early 90s.
I have several on VHS ( yes, i said it ) and enjoy going back to view them.
It was a different company even just 20 years ago.

Can't argue with any of that but I really question their marketing of certain properties- John Carter, Tomorrowland, Muppets and I'm sure others I've forgotten. It almost seems like they want some well-made things to fail, for whatever reason. It's like they threw Andrew Stanton and Brad Bird a bone..."OK, guys you can make your 'dream' movies and we'll certainly help out here, but then you have to make what we want you to make (read: sequels of hit Pixar films) if they don't (snicker, snicker) work out somehow. We'll sure push for them (snicker, snicker) though."
Just a crazy thought...

 

[Figments Friend]

Something i came across today i thought would be worth sharing here for fans of the film -

A assortment of random on-the-set clips from the filming of 'Tomorrowland'.
Interesting to see how some key scenes were actually set up and filmed.

 

[Figments Friend]

Can't argue with any of that but I really question their marketing of certain properties- John Carter, Tomorrowland, Muppets and I'm sure others I've forgotten. It almost seems like they want some well-made things to fail, for whatever reason. It's like they threw Andrew Stanton and Brad Bird a bone..."OK, guys you can make your 'dream' movies and we'll certainly help out here, but then you have to make what we want you to make (read: sequels of hit Pixar films) if they don't (snicker, snicker) work out somehow. We'll sure push for them (snicker, snicker) though."
Just a crazy thought...

This is part of the reason why i am so delighted with the 'Tomorrowland' film.
I still can't believe today's Disney, the Disney that just seems to want to copy and re-hash all it's previous successes over and over again in slightly different forms, ACTUALLY made this movie!
I found it to be wonderfully refreshing and unique when compared to the recent un-original fodder churned out over the last few years ( yes, 'Frozen' included...sorry).
I'd like to know the story behind how Brad Bird and friends actually convinced the Studio to MAKE this film in the first place.

Not a 'Disney Princess' film.
Not a sequel.
Not a CGI Pixar flick.
Not Marvel.
Not Star Wars.

Maybe a sly promotion for the Theme Parks...?

Okay, one could possibly argue that the 'Tomorrowland' film might be a excuse to push the branding of Disney Theme Parks...or 'Disney Parks' i guess is the proper marketing term.

I however don't see it that way.

The film has absolutely nothing to do with the Theme Park land as far as the story and overall concept of a 'secret place' for Optimists and Dreamers to build the future.
Sure it was 'inspired by' the Theme Park land, but that is primarily through the film makers being inspired by Walt and his attitudes towards the future and embracing such concepts.
That is one of the cool things about this film too....that overall vibe.

The little bits of eye candy that refer to Attractions at both DL and WDW in the Tomorrowland scenery are of course great bits for us Disney Geeks....but i can't believe for a minute that the film was green-lit just to subversively promote the Theme Parks.

But then again....this is 'Today's Disney' we are talking about here...so as a young Frank Walker would say, "anything is possible.." !

 

[Figments Friend]

-

Wow...have you guys seen this yet...?


Did some exploring online related to the 'Tomorrowland' film and came across this -

A animated short produced by Disney to promote the 'Tomorrowland' film....by giving a peek into the backstory of how Plus Ultra began!
A cool little four minute journey...

Check it out -

 

[prberk]

-

Wow...have you guys seen this yet...?


Did some exploring online related to the 'Tomorrowland' film and came across this -

A animated short produced by Disney to promote the 'Tomorrowland' film....by giving a peek into the backstory of how Plus Ultra began!
A cool little four minute journey...

Check it out -

Wow, that IS amazing. It is so well-crafted to be EXACTLY like the style and tone of Disney's educational films of the time period. (Compare to Donald in Mathmagicland or otther educational shorts, especially ANY of the science-and-technology shorts included in the "Tomorrowland" Walt Disney Treasures silver DVD set. Look it up on Amazon if you have never heard of it. It also feels very much like the original EPCOT attractions.)

It was so cool that Brad Bird got to make this. I wonder if it were ever thought to be a part of the film, or just maybe envisioned for the Blu-Ray extras. It looks like it is meant to be a fictional film shown at the 1964 NY World's Fair, referencing the earlier Paris World's Fair ("just like this one").

[SPOILERS below...]

It is clear that this was supposed to fit into the story as sort of an invitation to the selected World's Fair guests (who, I assume, won the invention contest, unlike Frank initially), to experience and work with them to build up Tomorrowland.

I noticed, interestingly, that near the end the narrator says that they plan to show Tomorrowland to the world in 20 years. This would be 1984, then, the year that Frank is said in the movie to have been banished from Tomorrowland. I wonder how much more there was to the story that was left on the cutting room floor.

I would like to have seen more of what happened to Frank, and between Frank and the villain/main scientist (sorry, forgot his name) to build up to Frank's banishment. I'll bet the story had to do with Frank remaining optimistic at first, wanting to share Tomorrowland with the world as promised, but running up against an increasingly misguided and power-hungry villian who may not have seen that he was feeding his own pessimism with his insistence on seeing the future with that thing they shouldn't have built. His doom became a self-fulfilling prophesy, and Frank's banishment the same.

[SPOILERS over...]

Anyway, I love this find, @Figments Friend . Everyone should watch it.

I also REALLY wish they had included more of the 1964 World's Fair scenes in the movie. I think it would have helped the movie tremendously. And this little find only underscores that.

 

[prberk]

By the way, I am increasingly thinking that the marketing people got this so wrong by not engaging the Disney/World's Fair element long before the movie came out.

 

[fractal]

-

Wow...have you guys seen this yet...?


Did some exploring online related to the 'Tomorrowland' film and came across this -

A animated short produced by Disney to promote the 'Tomorrowland' film....by giving a peek into the backstory of how Plus Ultra began!
A cool little four minute journey...

Check it out -

That is awesome!

 

[216bruce]

-

Wow...have you guys seen this yet...?


Did some exploring online related to the 'Tomorrowland' film and came across this -

A animated short produced by Disney to promote the 'Tomorrowland' film....by giving a peek into the backstory of how Plus Ultra began!
A cool little four minute journey...

Check it out -

And there's an Orson Welles imitator doing 'Orson's' voice-over narration. It's brilliant and SHOULD have been in the movie! In the book/prequel, Welles is mentioned a couple of times as being the person who does narration for the earlier version of this film. I think you and I are among the few on this forum that so completely enjoyed this film and 'got it'. Glad to hear. For heaven's sakes...read the book!
The rest of the characters in the book are an all-star team from the '39 era of famous and imaginative individuals. I won't list them, but I will say that a couple turn out to be a little bit of a surprise.
By the way, it was made by the folks at Pixar.