The Looking Planet

This film is incredible. It evoked more emotion in just 16 minutes than 99.9% of full-length movies out there today. Watching it is like listening to a masterpiece of music, including a moment when the music rises and reaches a note so pure and utterly, heart-breakingly beautiful it becomes transcendent. Beyond the fact that the story itself is thoughtful and poetic, the animation is gorgeous and the soundtrack ethereal. No words of praise can possibly do this work of art justice, for seeing it is more of an experience than anything else. Do yourself a favor and see it if at all possible. You absolutely will not regret it!!

I caught a screening of The Looking Planet at the 2015 Phoenix Film Festival. While it was one of many films included in a showing of Science Fiction Shorts, it didn't have to be. What I mean by that is that it could have just as easily been at home screening with non-SciFi shorts and would have easily been at home screening with feature length films. It was that good. The difference between you, as a reader of this review, and me is that I had no idea what I was in for and you have the advantage of being told to seek this out. It can stand with any of those other types of films regardless of its short running time because of what it does with the time it has - and yes, fleshing this out to a full length feature might be an option if the ideas are there... or maybe its perfect the way it is now. What makes this film a joy is that its equal parts smart, humorous, thought provoking, beautiful to watch, and technically brilliant. It proffers one imaginative way in which our universe might have been created... and wouldn't it be grand if scientists eventually discovered that this filmmaker got it right?! Just go find this film, sit back, open your eyes ears and mind, and be prepared to leave the theatre pondering the possibilities while wearing a big grin on your face.

I saw this film at the 2014 Knoxville Film Festival, and I had the extraordinary experience of seeing an audience on pause. The entire film was utterly mesmerizing, but there was one particular moment (and one will know when he or she sees it) where I personally came to the slightly tearful realization that we are ALL in this together. Not sure if my fellow audience members came to the same conclusion, but in that moment, we shared something that silenced us and stilled the air. I had the notion that this film should be translated into every language and shown everywhere across the planet in hopes that everyone would have the epiphany or the aha moment that I did. In the moment, I truly felt that would be the beginning of the shift into world peace. This film spoke a message that clearly to me. But, if the least this film does is put an audience on pause, that is no less extraordinary work.

This was one of the best short films I saw last year. It created a lasting effect upon me and I have used it as an example of short film making in several discussions throughout the year. I have tracked it's progress as it has made it's way through various festivals and garnered several awards. This is a film I would want in my collection for the opportunity to show others what a great short film looks like. I enjoyed the story, the world, the characters, and dialogue. The Looking Planet is both playful and thoughtful. It has an amazing soundtrack and an engaging story.This film is truly worth your time and will enhance your experience of short films.

Ben and Keith (The Two Gay Geeks) who screened this short at the first Phoenix Loves Sci- Fi Film Festival along with 20 other shorts. This was one of the ones they chose as a standout among the crowd. This was part of the second block of films on the program. It is too bad so many people left during the break. This was likely the best on the program. Keith thought it was fun and a humorous look at our planet. I will say in this short, they did a lot of universe building (insert rim shot here). Nice to self expression at its best. Ben's thoughts: One of the most charming shorts I have ever watched with plenty of nods to Magrathea from The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, but drawn from a very interesting premise regarding the science regarding Earth's own moon. It was heartwarming, beautifully animated, and left me with a smile on my face by the time it finished. No wonder this fine short is award winning, it truly is a winner. We look forward to seeing more form this director.