Escape From Tomorrow

[James885]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 2:40pm

Keeping in line with the other two Disney threads on this board, has anyone seen this film? The initial concept sounds promising and the way it was so stealthily shot at both Disney World and Disneyland is really interesting, but the reviews I've read seem to be mixed-to-negative.

Surprisingly, there hasn't been a peep from Disney about the film which is probably a smart strategy, since they probably don't want to give the film and its director any free publicty.

Here's the review from The New York Times:



In ‘Escape From Tomorrow,’ a Disney Park Feels Out of Kilter

Updated On: 10/14/13 at 02:40 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 3:09pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?page=1&boardid=2&boardname=off&thread=1064448#4212687


https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?page=1&boardid=2&boardname=off&thread=1064790#4214805

[James885]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 3:43pm

Oh Sorry! Didn't see those other threads and I didn't even think to do a search. I think I have a very bad case of the Mondays!

[strummergirl]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 4:18pm

Let me just say, since it appears few have seen it than just talking about the guerrilla/punk rock element of filming illegally at Disney, it personally felt more like a movie closer to Troll 2 than any surreal David Lynch/Midnight movie fever dream. I was so disappointed.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 4:49pm

I rented it from Amazon last night but I haven't watched it yet. I heard Disney isn't suing because they figure that's just giving the movie free publicity.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 5:04pm

"I was so disappointed."

What did you expect, Strummer?

[strummergirl]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 6:07pm

Sundance hype (should have been a warning sign) had it as sort of a mix of David Lynch, midnight movies, elements of The Shining, and lo-fi DIY surrealism. I was sort of expecting another Shane Carruth type of genre voice found at Sundance with Randy Moore. Instead the movie just felt like juvenile, broad, dumb, and, despite the setting, I felt no real sense of atmosphere. Also the central character's arc that includes following a bunch of teenage girls through the park just feels icky. Yes, we are watching a breakdown but it is as visceral or emotionally felt as one hopes. I can dig stuff that is unpolished but there is nothing really charming or kickass about the movie.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/15/13 at 12:01am

I just watched it and I agree with strummergirl. I thought it was actually rather nice to look at. The black and white really popped and a lot of shots were artfully staged and I actually liked the noticeable green screen stuff at points, but after a while, I realized ingenuity only goes so far. Unfortunately, the plot doesn't go very far in this.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 10/15/13 at 1:16am

Phyllis, I'm going to suggest that Disney quietly signed a deal to let this actually be released. The initial critical reaction was "wait until Disney shuts this down before Sundance is over." Disney didn't go for the Streisand effect. But now, references to Disney rather than "the Happiest Place on Earth" or "a Magical Kingdom" are all over the promotional material. The film just screened in Disneyland. They're holding a contest to give away a $500 gift card to the Disney Store (which, admittedly, is not run by Disney at this point). This is a far cry from earlier in the year when the director and producers were afraid to directly reference the parks at all. They never named them; the media did.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 10/15/13 at 1:30am

There is a disclaimer at the beginning of the movie that Disney and Siemens (the sponsor of Spaceship Earth) did not authorize the filming and associations with the movie.

And there is a bleep of when Disney is said in a scene and Walt Disney is referred to as 'W.D.' The rides that feature the iconic characters are also vaguely referenced and 'It's a Small World' ride does not have the song playing but some stock song.

The film is honestly a much more enjoyable experience when you watch it and play a game of self-censorship in your head than what is actually going on in the movie.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 8:33am

I saw it last night and loved it. It has stayed with me much longer than "Gravity," which spent a lot more money to create its "trapped someplace lovely but hostile" environment.

I have a crush on the dad, and the ambulatory dad in the rest room. I think it's closer to a John Warers movie than anything else, and everyday objects seemed a bit sinister to me for a half hour after the film.

Updated On: 10/16/13 at 08:33 AM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 8:56pm

I saw this tonight at the IFC Center. It was unbearable. I have never wanted a movie to end so abruptly as I did ESCAPE FROM TOMORROW.

None of the characters had any motivations for the actions they took, except for the pedophallic father following the young teens around. The film was bizarre and never made any sense. The acting was hideous.

It was cool to see a film like this shot in the Disney parks. I know every square inch of those theme parks. I can navigate them blindfolded. I can picture exactly how they staged every one of those shots.

Unless you're a complete Disney nerd as I am, don't waste your time on this one.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 11:33pm

I loved it. It's one of my favorite movies of the year.