Tron Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi

See it if you liked: Avatar (2009), Speed Racer (2008), The Matrix (1999)

Certificate: PG

Release Date: 17 December 2010

Burlesque

Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to LA. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a cocktail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club’s proprietor and headliner. Burlesque’s outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingenue, who vows to perform there one day. Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of Jack (Cam Gigandet), a bartender and fellow musician. With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal…

Genre: Romance/Drama/Musical

See it if you liked: Nine (2009), Chicago (2002), The Notorious Bettie Page (2005)

Certificate: 12A

Release Date: 17 December 2010

Catfish

In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel’s brother, Nev. They had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives. A reality thriller that is a shocking product of our times, Catfish is a riveting story of love, deception and grace within a labyrinth of online intrigue.

Starring: Yaniv Schulman, Ariel Schulman, Melody C. Roscher, Megan Faccio

Genre: Documentary/Drama

Certificate: 12A

Release Date: 17 December 2010

The Plot

Kevin Flynn has been missing for 20 years, disappearing one night leaving his only son Sam (Garrett Hedlund) parentless in the care of his grandparents. Years later Sam is all grown up, one night Alan (Bruce Boxleitner), a good friend of Flynn’s receives a page from Flynn’s arcade. He then sends Sam to investigate and whilst there Sam is digitized and sent to a cyber world which his father has been inhabiting for the past 20 years. However, the world Sam enters is far from the world his father envisioned. The new Master Control Program Clu, (a program created by Flynn) rules over the ‘computer world’ in a dictatorship style that has programs fighting against each other in gladiatorial type games. It’s up to Sam, Flynn and Quorra (Olivia Wilde) to bring Clu down and save both their worlds.

The Thoughts

When I was about to watch Tron Legacy, to say I was excited was putting it mildly, however after the first thirty minutes or so my hot excitement simmered down to lukewarm. Let me first say Tron Legacy has some of the most breathtaking visuals that I’ve seen in a movie of late, a feast for the eyes indeed, but to have had anything less than this would have made this movie pretty much unbearable.

Tron Legacy cast is notable with the key characters returning such as Flynn and Tron plus some very interesting new ones in the form of Olivia Wilde as Quorra and Michael Sheen as Zuse. Garrett Hedlund (Four Brothers) is very nice to look at, but I was somewhat confused about the role he was supposed to be playing – a super smart geek? Arrogant and cocky young billionaire? Who knows? (Who cares?).

Another returning feature to Tron Legacy was the plot. Yes, the same plot (with a few minor changes) that made the original such a success with its fans. I guess there’s not a lot to do in the ‘computer world’ other than take over all the other programs and have them adhere to your way of living or be deleted. Don’t worry though all the good stuff they could have used again in this sequel they did such as the light cycles and the glowing Frisbee discs that all return in a new and much more thrilling form.

Legacy’s soundtrack is also pretty much awesome and who better than Daft Punk to take the helm with their synth-inspired sound that fits with the tone of the movie to perfection, if you haven’t heard it yet, I encourage you to go listen now.

With all of this in mind let us not forget that Tron was a Disney film, Tron Legacy is a Disney film and the Tron franchise will forever be Disney films (oh yes, I definitely saw moments in this film that had smacks of sequels to come). Be warned there is enough cheese and roll your eyes moment in this to make even the most dedicated Tron fan hide their face in shame. Tron Legacy has been let down by poor and somewhat lazy writing with enough plot holes to make Swiss cheese.

If you have kids I encourage you to take them to see this and make sure it’s in 3D, they will love it but while you may find yourself disappointed with the way Tron Legacy has turned out, your children will be thoroughly satisfied.

The Film Buzz Rating: ******½~~~ (6.5/10)

UK Release Date: 17th December 2010

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Writer’s: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz, Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal, Steven Lisberger, Bonnie MacBird

I cannot wait for this to hit theatres it looks fantastic. Unfortunately we have to wait around a year or so to see this, but make sure you book your IMAX tickets as soon as readily possible, because this looks like one of those movies that has to be seen on a big ass screen.

Tron Legacy stars Oscar fresh Jeff Bridges, John Hurt, Michael Sheen and Garrett Hedlund.