Oh, I’m not saying that technology, space travel, and science for science’s sake shouldn’t be a part of the future. Quite the contrary! In fact, I wish the movie would have spent a lot more time in that version of Tomorrowland—the version Casey saw in her “pin vision”—because I found it tremendously inspiring. I was…

This is encouraging. Looks like Casey didn’t have so much to worry about after all.

I agree with your points—aside from the fact that I rather enjoyed the prequel novel. :) I see the movie not so much as being nostalgic for the 1960’s view of the future, but more about acknowledging that while the flying-cars-and-jetpacks vision of the future didn’t become a reality, we haven’t really come up with…

In a way, though, I think the movie does make that point. The initial “vision” Casey has of Tomorrowland is of a very white-washed, 1960’s view of the future. But at the very end of the movie, you’ll notice they’re no longer handing out Tomorrowland pins to white American kids with jetpacks: they’re now handing them…

From “The Tin Woodman of Oz” by L. Frank Baum (illustration by John R. Neill), 1918. Ku-Klip puts Nick Chopper’s original body parts back together with “Meat Glue.” (I wonder if they’ll ever make this book into a movie....)

Having seen the movie, I’d say that there’s some truth to that. The backstory they put out for the movie—which, unfortunately, wasn’t really covered in the film itself—describes the real sense of struggle that went into the creation of Tomorrowland and the ideals and intentions behind it. But in the movie, we see how…

This movie had a fascinating concept behind it and attempted to ask some really important questions, even though it suffered from incredibly clunky exection in places. (I actually enjoyed some of the supplemental materials they put out, such as the prequel novel Before Tomorrowland, much more than the film itself).…

It’s not a stupid question at all; it’s something we will genuinely have to address once we start colonizing the solar system and/or contact alien life, and you’re right that it’s not addressed all that often in sci-fi (at least not the sci-fi I’ve read). Much like the common “all aliens speak English” trope, it seems…

Peeta and Gale’s characters are pretty similar in the books and the movies.

I live in the Seattle area and have been in that library. The outside doesn’t do much for me, but the inside is pretty amazing.

I’ve always wondered what Hoyle thought of the term “Big Bang Theory” being adopted as the accepted name, given that he had originally coined the term sarcastically to make fun of something he didn’t agree with.

I remember reading that the escape velocities on Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, are on the order of 15 miles per hour (a little higher for Phobos, a little lower for Deimos)—meaning you literally could jump into orbit. I forsee this becoming a major tourist activity once we’ve colonized the solar system: jump into…

we haven’t yet found a way to tell stories about this issue — at least, except in books

I like stories with upbeat endings, but to me it’s about more than just escaping harsh reality. I had a conversation with a friend recently who said he prefers sci-fi stories that depict a dystopian future, because he considers it “more realistic,” and he couldn’t understand why I prefer stories with a more positive…

Not really sure... I just found the picture with Google (though I definitely had at least one of these when I was a kid!).

I love how R2-D2 looks like the vintage 1970’s action figure.

I really want that movie to be good. Lindelof as one of the writers is my only concern. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

This, exactly, is my concern about the upcoming “Tomorrowland.” Even with Lindelof involved, though, Bird as director gives me some hope for that movie.

I went back and watched the credits from the original, pre-Special-Edition version last night, and you’re right—it does give Kenny Baker credit. I distinctly remember seeing “R2-D2 as Himself” on something when I was a kid, but maybe it was a TV special or something. In any case, I stand corrected.

Also on the Trek vs. Wars front, this was on YouTube last week... kind of stupid, but fun enough for what it’s worth.