Robbing Disneyland of its color is an artistic decision with rather dramatic effects. Escape From Tomorrow is a movie I’ve been pushing even though I’m not sure how much I actually enjoyed it, or enjoyed the experience of watching it. I’m not even sure it’s a good movie.
The primary reason I urge people to watch it is that the existence of this movie is so bizarre and unlikely. It gained attention for being shot guerilla-style at Disney’s two American theme parks, piecing together a surrealistic plot from a set of secret shoots across various famous spots. The surreal experience of seeing Disneyland depicted in a film that didn’t receive Disney’s permission to be made is mirrored by a reality-distorting story at the movie’s center (which is where it lost me a little bit).
Somehow, shooting the park in black-and-white forces the audience to see it in a completely different way. One of the amazing things about Disneyland is its attention to detail, and the colors are a big part of this design. The monochromatic presentation makes it feel sort of Disney-like and, at the same time, nothing like Disney. This technical touch makes the movie more than just a gimmick of legality. If nothing else it highlights just how weird Disney actually is when you strip away its veneer of magic.
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