How to Show Character

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This message has nothing to do with the comic I’m posting to the site today, but it was attached to the comic I sent out to subscribers, which mentions the movie Tomorrowland. I’m posting it here too because if you’re at all interested in my opinion, I want you to hear that opinion while the movie is still showing in theaters.

I never do this, but I’m going to discuss a movie that was made after 1995. I know this isn’t the kind of thing you come to me for, so feel free to stop reading here if you want. You won’t hurt my feelings.

(Note: I no longer work for Disney. My wife has put in her notice {because we are going to move to another state soon}. Neither of us ever had anything to do with the film division. What I’m writing here is just my honest opinion)

I saw Tomorrowland over the weekend.

Right now, the narrative in the press is that Tomorrowland is a huge disappointment. That it didn’t have a good opening weekend, and that the film itself isn’t very good.

The projections were that the movie would be the top box office draw of the weekend, and would make $50 million dollars. It was the top box office draw, but it only made $41.7 million, on a weekend when ticket sales for all movies across the board were lower than expected.

The quality of the movie is subjective. I think the commercials led people to expect a futuristic action/comedy about George Clooney and his young female sidekick. What they got was a throwback to Disney movies like Escape to Witch Mountain, in which two smart young people (both female in this case) evade pursuers on a cross country trip to find a grumpy old crank (Clooney) who can help them reach their final destination.

I can see where someone expecting to see a high-tech Danny Ocean would be disappointed, but that doesn’t mean the movie’s not a good example of what it actually is.

It isn’t the best thing Brad Bird has ever directed (That’d be The Incredibles) and it’s not the best thing Damon Lindelof has written, (Yes, I like Damon Lindelof. Shut up!) but it’s not the “dud” some people would have you believe.

What it is, is a message picture, and despite the film’s flaws (I’ll admit, Missy and I spent some time after seeing it trying to figure out why certain things happened) the message resonated with me to an almost embarrassing degree. I knew a guy who saw Fight Club, then actually talked about starting a fight club. He was an idiot. But, I walked out of this movie wanting someone to hand me a Tomorrowland pin.

If, like me, you think that a can-do attitude is more productive than giving up, and that feeding on negativity might not actually be healthy, than please consider seeing it, preferably with your kids. I’m not promising it’ll be your favorite movie, but there are people who seem to want you to think it’ll be your least favorite, and I don’t think they’re right.

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).

How to Show Character

in

This message has nothing to do with the comic I’m posting to the site today, but it was attached to the comic I sent out to subscribers, which mentions the movie Tomorrowland. I’m posting it here too because if you’re at all interested in my opinion, I want you to hear that opinion while the movie is still showing in theaters.

I never do this, but I’m going to discuss a movie that was made after 1995. I know this isn’t the kind of thing you come to me for, so feel free to stop reading here if you want. You won’t hurt my feelings.

(Note: I no longer work for Disney. My wife has put in her notice {because we are going to move to another state soon}. Neither of us ever had anything to do with the film division. What I’m writing here is just my honest opinion)

I saw Tomorrowland over the weekend.

Right now, the narrative in the press is that Tomorrowland is a huge disappointment. That it didn’t have a good opening weekend, and that the film itself isn’t very good.

The projections were that the movie would be the top box office draw of the weekend, and would make $50 million dollars. It was the top box office draw, but it only made $41.7 million, on a weekend when ticket sales for all movies across the board were lower than expected.

The quality of the movie is subjective. I think the commercials led people to expect a futuristic action/comedy about George Clooney and his young female sidekick. What they got was a throwback to Disney movies like Escape to Witch Mountain, in which two smart young people (both female in this case) evade pursuers on a cross country trip to find a grumpy old crank (Clooney) who can help them reach their final destination.

I can see where someone expecting to see a high-tech Danny Ocean would be disappointed, but that doesn’t mean the movie’s not a good example of what it actually is.

It isn’t the best thing Brad Bird has ever directed (That’d be The Incredibles) and it’s not the best thing Damon Lindelof has written, (Yes, I like Damon Lindelof. Shut up!) but it’s not the “dud” some people would have you believe.

What it is, is a message picture, and despite the film’s flaws (I’ll admit, Missy and I spent some time after seeing it trying to figure out why certain things happened) the message resonated with me to an almost embarrassing degree. I knew a guy who saw Fight Club, then actually talked about starting a fight club. He was an idiot. But, I walked out of this movie wanting someone to hand me a Tomorrowland pin.

If, like me, you think that a can-do attitude is more productive than giving up, and that feeding on negativity might not actually be healthy, than please consider seeing it, preferably with your kids. I’m not promising it’ll be your favorite movie, but there are people who seem to want you to think it’ll be your least favorite, and I don’t think they’re right.

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).