Tomorrowland: A World Beyond (Blu-Ray): Review

The Film

Many  years ago, a boy genius (Frank, played by George Clooney) is invited to Tomorrowland, a wonderful place created by the greatest  minds, free of the negative influence of what happens on Earth. Years later, science-whizz Casey (Britt Robertson) receives a similar invite from the mysterious Athena (Raffey Cassidy).  Run by futurist David Nix (Hugh Laurie), Tomorrowland beckons, however all is not as it seems.

Tomorrowland: A World Beyond is a delightful tale, not only looking to the future, but remembering the past and present. It has a feeling of nostalgia, and a feeling of a cheerful 80’s science fiction story, with a sprinkle of steampunk. The visuals are awe-inspiring, while not intrusive, creating a setting that in contrast to that of every day life, as we are used to it.

Well cast, and directed, Tomorrowland is certainly a fun, family tale. There is a lesson under everything, in that we should be kind, and look after the word we have, with the antagonist not being too evil, but rather misguided in his quest for peace and tranquillity.

Disney has once again delivered a good, fun and wholesome story that can be enjoyed by those of all ages. The young cast are very talented, and are certainly ones to watch out for in the future. George Cloooney and Hugh Laurie are well cast, and bring a wry sense of humour to their characters.

Tomorrowland: A World Beyond, that is very apt for today.

Disc And Bonus Features

A high quality disc, as one would expect from Disney. Menus are easy to navigate.

The video is encoded at a high bitrate, meaning a clear picture with no visible artefacts.

Sound is presented in a 7.1 mix, further drawing the viewer into the on-screen action, enhancing the experience.

Remembering the Future: A look behind the scenes of the film, showing some of the various locations used for the shoot, and some interviews with cast and crew. Director Brad Bird takes us through some of the locations, including some spectacular coincidences during filming with the last flight of the space shuttle and visiting the space launch platform for some man’s first ventures into space. This featurette is very insightful, and one can see the passion the filmmakers have for their story and in sharing that with the world.

Casting Tomorrowland: Some insight from director Brad Bird, talking to the main cast, and showing a little bit of their real personalities (not to mention professionalism).

A Great Big Beautiful Scoring Session: Michael Giacchino takes us through the process of scoring Tomorrowland, and working with the music of legend Richard M. Sherman, scorer of Mary Poppins, The Parent Trap, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and many more that we have all grown to love.

The World Of Tomorrow Science Hour: a humorous feature, looking at some outtakes from the show hosted by futurist David Nix. Well executed, and a fun tie-in to the film.

Animated Short – The Origins Of Plus Ultra: A small look at the Plus Ultra project, providing a bit of additional insight, and another great bonus tie-in.

Brad Bird Production Diaries: Some more behind the scenes material, and insight from director Brad Bird. Looking again at some of the processes of filming Tomorrowland, some comment by the lead cast, and a closer look at some of the locations mentioned earlier. These are rather short, but insightful, and show a side of the director that expresses the enthusiasm he has for his work.

Blast From The Past Commercial: A funny short, in the form of a commercial for the Blast from the Past store featured in the film. It provides a small amount of additional information and background to this location. Following the link to blastfromthepastsuperstore.com will take you to a Tomorrowland sub-store on Amazon.

Deleted Scenes with Filmmaker Introduction: Some deleted scenes, and parts of scenes. These were removed for the purpose of pacing, as explained by Brad Bird. While these are good scenes, it does make sense as to why they would be removed.

Other features include sneak peaks to other Disney films and attractions. One that will excite many fans is likely to be the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer, presented in HD and surround, at the beginning of the disc.

Tomorrowland: A World Beyond is available in South Africa, to buy on disc, from 12 October 2015.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb