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.

Here’s the breakdown of films to look out for this year:

January

Kicking off the year with a gruesome start: Daybreakers sets a plague loose transforming the human race into vampires (preview here) whilst romantic comedy It’s Complicated about a very complicated love triangle starring Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin (preview here).

The Road, a hotly tipped Oscar contender, is a post-apocalyptic thriller about a nameless man and his son trying to survive by any means possible – starring Viggo Mortensen out 8 January 2010. Also contending for Oscars is Up in the Air - a drama starring George Clooney originally due for release in 2009 but will now be hitting UK cinemas on 15 January 2010 (preview here).

Another two contending prize winners are Peter Jackson‘s supernatural thriller The Lovely Bones and Precious - a drama about a pregnant teenager given a second chance to change her life around, both out 29 January 2010, whilst gritty action/thriller Edge of Darkness – an adaptation of a TV series following a detective investigating the murder of his daughter, starring Mel Gibson (preview here).

February

Originally slated for release in 2009 but had been delayed til 2010 are Shutter Island – a horror/thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio and The Wolfman (preview here) will finally hit cinemas mid February 2010.

March

Children’s classic Alice in Wonderland gets a superb remaking by director Tim Burton – quirky, crazy and fantastical – plunge into a land of mysteries, wonder and danger with Alice and let your senses be rattled in 3D come 5 March 2010.

Another remaking gracing the big screen is a new version of 1981′s Clash of the Titans with Avatar star Sam Worthington as Perseus, out 26 March 2010 (preview here).

April

Hotly anticipated and guaranteed to be a bunch of laughs – Kick-Ass, a comic book-inspired action comedy starring Nicolas Cage and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (preview here).

May

Come 14 May 2010, get ready for the epic remake of Robin Hood - legendary archer hero in the army fighting against invaders starring Russell Crowe, whilst another hero in the form of Iron Man 2 will see Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson face the formidable new foe played by Mickey Rourke (preview here).
Also, the best-selling Disney game Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time transforms into an action adventure film starring Jake Gyllenhaal (preview here).

June

As if they couldn’t release any more remakes, 1980′s favourite Footloose will be getting a re-imagining come 18 June 2010, and rom-com When In Rome, which reaches our screens in June, is about a young girl (played by Kristen Bell) who is unlucky in love but whilst visiting Rome gets more whirlwind romances than she bargained for.

July

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – the third instalment of the Twilight franchise is sure to have the box-office booming when it arrives 9 July 2010, whilst a reimagining of The Karate Kid from the 1980′s comes in the form of The Karate Kid (2010) – an action drama starring Jackie Chan and Will Smith’s son Jaden Smith as a young kid who moves to China and is made to adapt and embrace kung fu taught to him by a master.

August

Christopher Nolan (director of Dark Knight) is being very secretive about the science fiction thriller Inception starring Leonardo DiCaprio – out August. In the meantime, check out the trailer:

In contrast, The Expendables plot should be fairly easy to guess – an action adventure starring Sylvester Stallone and a host of action stars from past and present including Jet Li, Mickey Rourke and the late Brittany Murphy.

September

September is looking a bit dry in terms of well known remakes, sequels etc, but here’s a refreshing look at some new titles such as The Other Guys – an action comedy starring Will Ferrell and a horror/thriller Priest about a priest who disobeys church law and goes after vampires who kidnapped his niece – interesting indeed.

October

An adorable animation for all the family to “aww” and “ooooh” at is Despicable Me about a trio of orphan girls and a plan to steal the moon!

November

Finishing off our year is the penultimate Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 with Part 2 scheduled for 2011, preview here.

December

Children and adults alike will be waiting with bated breath for the third Narnia film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which will be hitting the big screen around Christmas alongside Tron Legacy - the hugely anticipated sequel to 1982 Tron film. Tron Legacy is a science fiction with exceptional visual effects looking to end our year off quite nicely in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D (preview here).

3D storm

As you’ve probably caught on, this year is all about 3D – if it isn’t 3D, it isn’t worth watching – something along those lines. Get a load of this: there will be a third Toy Story, fourth Shrek (Shrek Forever After) and a seventh Saw released this year all using a splash of 3D magic.

And look out, the third Step Up movie, called Step Up 3D is the first dance film to be shot in 3D and features tons of amazing dancers and dance crews, out August 2010.

If that’s not enough hip-popping action in 3D for you, StreetDance 3D is out May 2010, surely fans of talent shows will be interested to check this film out as it was filmed in London featuring dance troupes Diversity and Flawless who came first and second in the talent show Britain’s Got Talent. Not only that, StreetDance 3D is making history twice as it is the first UK independent feature film about street dancing and also the first ever UK feature film to be shot entirely in 3D. Are you proud Britons?

Sequels galore:

Another continuing trend – sequels of successful prequels, with directors and producers looking to remind us of their cash cow predecessors. We have the Meet The Fockers Sequel (yep that’s the actual title – how convenient), Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (god, what the hell were they thinking?) and Sex and the City 2 - join Carrie Bradshaw as she hits the city once again with her dangerously fashionable girl pals, rocking the city with glamour and sex appeal.

Foreign Films

Foreign films that are set to impress us in 2010 include hard-hitting French prison drama A Prophet (out 22 January 2010) and dark Swedish mystery The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (out 12 March 2010).

Films contending for awards

Tis the season of film awards! Just in time for the awards season are a whole array of hotly tipped films all releasing this month including Up in the Air, Precious, The Road, Invictus (preview here) and The Lovely Bones amongst others.

Phew, if that’s not going to satisfy your film hungry tastebuds then I don’t know what will!

What will you be looking out for this year?

TRON is one of those movies back from the 80′s that they show every now and again on TV. The likelihood is you’ve probably seen TRON and not even realised that you’ve seen it. Jeff Bridges (The Men Who Stare at Goats) played Kevin Flynn an arcade owner who wants to hack into his former company’s Encom computer system to find evidence that his former employer stole several of his game ideas. Flynn with the help of some friends manages to hack into Encom’s system but is thwarted by Encom’s powerful artificial intelligence program the MCP or Master Control Program. Flynn is then digitzied by the MCP and turned into a computer file….wait it does gets better, if you can get past all the 80′s cheese.

Flynn is imprisoned by the MCP along with TRON a security program written by Flynn’s friend, and the two together undergo tasks or games set by the MCP. Do they triumph and manage to stop the MCP? Well I won’t ruin it for you, you can find out by watching TRON which is available on DVD, for now let’s get back to Tron Legacy.

Tron Legacy Film Poster

So not great deal is known on the plot of Tron Legacy, but Disney did release a synopsis of Tron Legacy, to sum up: Kevin Flynn’s son Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund – Murtagh from Eragon) looks into his father’s disappearance and is himself thrown into the same world of computer programs and gladiatorial games that are far more advanced than what his father faced 25 years earlier.

Also revealed was that Tron Legacy will show us at least “three or four things that have never been seen before in this movie” says director Joseph Kosinski said. Ah Joe how we are going to hold you to your word. We now expect this film to not just be good but to be awesome.

Tron Still 1

Tron Legacy Poster 2

TRON was also recently immortalised in the popular role play game Kingdom Hearts 2, where Tron himself is playable character. So for those of you who can’t wait till next year for Tron Legacy you can immerse yourself in Space Paranoids, the name of the playable ‘world’ in Kingdom Hearts 2 that the TRON characters feature.

Tron Legacy looks stunning, just check out some of the stills alone. We’re excited for Tron 2 at TFB. It looks like a stellar cast, that joined with some notable writers and visionaries Tron Legacy will surely be a feast for the eyes.

The Film Buzz Anticipation Rating: 7.5/10

UK Release Date: December 2010

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Writer’s: Adam Horowitz, Richard Jefferies, Edward Kitsis, Brian Klugman, Steven Lisberger, Lee Sternthal

Links: IMDB, Official Site

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