TRON 3 In The Works - Probable 2014 Production Start

Music to my ears! I loved TRON: LEGACY and so without reservation I have been looking forward to a sequel especially because the principals are still there: Joseph Kosinski is directing and it looks like the top line actors are returning.

Here is what Bruce Boxleitner had to say on the subject:
"It’s in the works. Anything could happen, but all I can say is, it’s in its formative stages. [Joseph] Kosinski, who is slated for it, he’s shooting another movie now, and then they’ll get around to doing that. I think somewhere around 2014, maybe. I’m talking way out of school here, but they can’t shoot me because I’m Tron."

He added further:
"The last movie didn’t end. It actually started the next movie and then went to black."

Boxleitner has been the only one from the LEGACY production to let us know about a potential sequel and continues to do so. Though the first time he told us he was thinking a release in 2013, which obviously isn't going to happen.

Source: IamRogue

TRON: LEGACY Advanced Review - 8 Stars

There are no spoilers in this review, but you are open to discuss anything you wish in the comments section.

Click on the images to enlarge.

I just revamped my Star Analysis movie review categories to include stereoscopic 3D and some other minor tweaks and here is the final result that I will be using to review future S3D movies.

TRON: LEGACY delivered on my "Most Anticipated Movie of 2010" from my list of last February. If you haven't seen this movie, do it. If AVATAR was the first bleep on the live action 3D radar screen (quite a massive blip!), then TRON: LEGACY would be the second. Massive tent poles like these will ensure the continued growth of 3D until ubiquity.

Fine 3D conversions and animations certainly play a key role in the success that S3D has been enjoying, especially ALICE IN WONDERLAND, TOY STORY 3 and HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. But live action 3D is the crown. We need these projects and we have been getting them steadily. TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, THE HOBBIT, TINTIN, the Marvel and DC comic universes all are apart of the future.

Stereoscopic 3D (10 stars):
TRON: LEGACY proudly joins this list with the best S3D visuals since AVATAR. In many ways it is superior to AVATAR - next generation technology was used and the geometry of The Grid allowed for outrageously wonderful 3D shots. I have the same urge to go back to see LEGACY many times, just as I did for AVATAR. When that happens, its magic. The Vince Pace / James Cameron FUSION 3D camera system was used with some small additional post production work done by Prime Focus as is customary in most live action 3D productions.

Story (7 stars):
It could have been much better thought out. Right from the moment that I heard (in the trailers) Bruce Boxleitner say that he got paged from a number that was disconnected 20 years ago I had issues. Phone companies reuse phone numbers after a small waiting period. This little fact bothered me quite a bit. The story itself was not fully fleshed out and is more skeletal than anything else. It picks you up and delivers you, but not in the ride that you would have expected with such a tentpole. The story has ties to past atrocities and some will say even STAR WARS. It may cause some cringing because of those similarities. I cringed. Still, in the end I was smiling.

Acting (7.5 Stars):
Sub par. We all know Bridges can deliver the goods with true grit, but something was missing. Hedlund was ok. Not great. Olivia Wilde carried the movie for the most part - she was an amazing casting choice. I will say I enjoyed Michael Sheen channeling Ziggy Stardust tremendously, unfortunately it was too brief.

Character Development (6 Stars):
Almost absent. The most disappointing element to the movie for me. Not enough visual storytelling as the director seemed to be taking the easy way out of telling the audience what to believe rather than showing them. TRON: LEGACY is a visual masterpiece but it could have been even better had they worked in visual character development WITH the spectacle. A wasted opportunity.

Suspension of Disbelief (9 Stars):
Well done! It all felt very authentic because of the wonderful level of CGI and stereoscopic work that was achieved. That is a not a trivial thing to accomplish either as you have to get audiences to forget the fact that these characters are inside a virtual game world. My hat is tipped.

Directing (7 Stars):
For a first directorial effort, Joseph Kosinski hit a home run I believe. It could have been a spectacular flame out but in true Disney magic all is good. Again, there are flaws but this is a massive production - items slipped through the cracks. I believe Disney should have hired someone with a little more tentpole pedigree than Kosinski but it certainly was not a failure. I will say that he needs to focus more on his character development for future projects.

Sound / Score (9.5 Stars):
Wow. Stunning score wasn't it? Daft Punk smacked us in the head over and over again with riveting audio moments that truly matched perfectly with LEGACY's taste and tempo. Well done.

Cinematography (8.5 Stars):
Claudio Miranda (THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON) did a wonderful job. Of course many of the shots were green screened and the work must have been staggering. Again, my hat is tipped.

Special Effects / Stunts (9 Stars):
Digital Domain, Mr. X, Prime Focus and Quantum Creation FX (specialty costumes and lighting effects) all worked on the movie with the lions share going to Digital Domain. What can I say? Go see the movie and you will see the magic that was achieved. In my opinion you NEED to see this in the theater at least once. Home theater will then trigger awe inspiring memories for you later :-)

**The system I used to derive my star ratings is not all that complex but should cover the bases. Essentially I assigned a weight to each classification that I deem important for a GOOD movie. So I am saying that a good story is over 3 times more important than good 3D. Of course bad 3D can ruin a movie and for that reason I will allow NEGATIVE scores (ratings that will reflect unprofessional finished work - like the 3D CLASH OF THE TITANS).

Note that each category gains its star rating via the success factor column: A success score of 100% earns a 10 star nod. The Stars Rating is merely used to generate the total star rating (after weight considerations) for the entire movie.

Like to see some other categories included in future reviews? Let me know what you think is important to you in the comments!

Special thanks to Empire Theatres for the IMAX screening.

TRON: LEGACY 1/6 Scale Light Cycle Being Developed By Hot Toys!

Hot Toys is developing a sure fire hit within the movie collectibles world with its "TRON: LEGACY: 1/6 Scale Sam Flynn Collectible Figure With Light Cycle". And yes, it does light up!

Click images to enlarge.

Here's the official announcement:
~ Movie Masterpiece Series ~
Hot Toys is proud to present the 1/6th scale Sam Flynn Collectible Figure with Light Cycle from the TRON: Legacy movie. The set is specially equipped with the Light Cycle with LED light-up function, together with the highly detailed Sam Flynn collectible which is specially crafted based on the image of Garrett Hedlund in the movie, highlighting the newly sculpted heads and light-up Tron Warrior suit.

The 1/6th scale Sam Flynn Collectible Figure with Light Cycle specially features:
- Two (2) newly sculpted heads with authentic likeness of Garrett Hedlund as Sam Flynn in the movie TRON: Legacy, including one with undetachable helmet
- Approximately 42 (L) x 16 (W) x 18 (H) cm (Light Cycle with Sam Flynn Collectible)
- Body with partial movability
- Highly detailed hair sculpture
- Movie-accurate facial expression with detailed wrinkles and skin texture
- One (1) pair of gloved palms for driving the Light Cycle
- Three (3) pieces of legs including:
- One (1) pair of bending legs for riding position (left leg is interchangeable)
- One (1) extra piece of interchangeable straight left leg for breaking position
- Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

Costume:
- One (1) one-piece undetachable black-color Tron Warrior suit with LED light-up function (white light, battery operated) with data disc at the back
- One (1) pair of undetachable black-color boots

Accessories:
- One (1) black-color helmet
- One (1) 1/6th scale Light Cycle with LED light-up function (white light, battery operated)

Artists:
- Head Sculpted by Jeon Young Tae
- Head Painted by JC. Hong
- Head Art Directed by Kojun

Technical Support:
- Light Cycle Technical Supported by Wing Chow and Eddie Lo, Soritis Limited

*Product shown is not final, pending licensor approval
**Battery included for Collectible Figure, button cells are required
***Battery not included for Light Cycle, 3A batteries are required

Additional images can be found here. Look for this very cool release sometime between April and September 2011! Stay tuned for more collectible news when I get it :-)

REACTION: TRON LEGACY - What Did You Think?

I know what I think! How about you? Now that TRON: LEGACY has now been released I am anxious to hear your thoughts on it. Post them below and I (and others I am sure) will debate it out with you!! :-)

HAVE AT IT!

New TRON: LEGACY Featurette: VEHICLES!

Got the new Disney featurette on TRON: LEGACY's vehicles - very cool to see the director Joseph Kosinski, Jeff Bridges and Olivia Wilde talking about the various modes of movement in the film.

The light cycle for me is my most anticipated - obviously very perilous on the grid!

Here's the featurette:



Are you primed yet? December 17 can't come soon enough!!

MUST WATCH: Final Trailer For TRON: LEGACY!!

Guys - this is probably the final trailer for Disney's TRON: LEGACY but no promises! There has been a constant barrage of marketing materials for the movie since Comic Con so who knows for sure. The release date is looming large though! Can't wait.

Click image to enlarge...

This, the third trailer for the movie, reveals more of Clu 2.0 who is unsurprisingly Flynn's nemesis. More astounding visuals too.

Here is the storyline:
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), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world’s leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn’s Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-or-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before-imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape. Presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and scored by Grammy Award®-winning electronic music duo Daft Punk, TRON: LEGACY hits U.S. theaters on Dec. 17, 2010 in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D.

Have a look:



I am just about saturated with anticipation for TRON: LEGACY and was sold a LONG time ago :-) With this much build up, look for a HUGE opening weekend when December 17 unfolds!

New TRON: LEGACY Posters Featuring Jeff Bridges!

Gotta love the guy! Best Actor Oscar for CRAZY HEART, now TRON: LEGACY dual roles and the upcoming TRUE GRIT. Jeff Bridges is NOT slowing down. Which brings me to these two new TRON posters from Disney.

I am assuming the eventual battle between Flynn (old Bridges) and Clu 2.0 (young Bridges) will be fantastic! So stoked for this film...

You can check out the hi-res shots at Bleeding Cool.

December 17 can't come soon enough... My most anticipated movie of the year!

New TRON: LEGACY Poster: Jeff Bridges As Clu 2.0! AND...

Wow! Very cool Jeff Bridges as Clu 2.0 poster indeed (via MySpace).

Says Bridges: "Both this one and the first one, you were dealing with cutting edge technology within your industry, and that was very exciting. This one makes that one look so … there were no cellphones on that one, no internet, but the essence was the same of “doing this new thing.” This technology that’s used here, is very exciting to me as an actor, because now I can play myself at any age. I can be a four year old kid and the actor would be me. That’s pretty wild!"

"It is kinda spooky, you know. The, uh, same guys who were involved with, uh, “Benjamin Button” film, they were involved in this one as well. And, uh, I remember they - they showed me, uh, Brad Pitt’s head in a - you know, a glass box. And it was - it wasn’t anything like you’ve ever seen before. It was, like, you know, Madame Tussaud’s or that. It was just - you expected him to, you know, say, "hey, how you doing?" You know, it was just so real looking."

Want more? Check out five new international posters (via Collider)!

WANT EVEN MORE? How about the reunion between Sam and his father! SPOILER ALERT!! Click here if you still want to see it...

TRON: LEGACY is coming at you December 17. Be ready!! I'm serious...

TRON UPDATE: TRON Night Announced AND ElecTRONica Opens!!

Disney is opening the vault to market TRON: LEGACY and why not, it is clearly going to open a lot of eyes and remains my most anticipated movie of 2010.

Here are a couple more MAJOR marketing schemes implemented by Disney:

First up is TRON Night (ala AVATAR Day). Disney and IMAX are teaming up on October 28 to screen 20 minutes plus from the movie!

I suspect it is the same footage I saw at THE 3D EXPERIENCE - and let me tell you, it is spectacular!! The geometric environments of the TRON universe and the astounding action sequences are going to leave us spellbound. The 3D rivals if not bests AVATAR!

You have to register at TronNight2010.com to get tickets and do so at 1pm (Eastern) on Tuesday, October 12. Not all IMAX theaters will be screening it - check the website's listings.

**AND**

Disney launched their new TRON: LEGACY Disneyland California Adventure theme park known as ElecTRONica last night!

This area of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot will be open on Fall weekends (Friday through Sunday).

Here are the details from Disney:
The fun starts in Sunshine Plaza at 6 p.m. when music, video, projections and a dance party welcome guests (a.k.a. Programs) and prepare them to enter the world of “TRON: Legacy.”

The second performance in Sunshine Plaza starts at 6:45 p.m., and following that, the portal will officially open and all aspects of ElecTRONica will be available, including Flynn’s Arcade, TRON: Legacy Exclusive 3-D Sneak Peek, End of Line club, face painting and the TRON: Evolution video game area.

There’s a great line-up of DJs this weekend. DJ GiangStar will be spinning tonight; DJ Michael Paul will change things up Saturday night, and DJ Derek Dunbar will be heating things up on Sunday evening.

This weekend you can see Laserman at 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For future dates, check the show guide for the schedule.

Buildings in Hollywood Pictures Backlot will be mapped with “TRON: Legacy” images. Light cycles will zoom across the building facades, while other dynamic images from the film fill the street.

Before entering the studio area, guests will pass under the iconic Recognizer, the vigilant sentry on the lookout for unclassified “Programs” in the digital world of “TRON: Legacy.” With smoke and lights emanating from it, this ever-watchful vehicle seems to hover above the ground as it scans those who pass below.

At the center of the party is a DJ platform, complete with a laser beam beckoning guests of all ages to the fun. Here, professional DJs will keep the energy going with electronic party music while dancers costumed as “Sirens” and “Programs” from the movie rock out at locations throughout the party.

Also appearing on the Backlot Stage adjoining the dance floor will be Laserman, a performer who does amazing tricks to music with impressive lasers and light.

Near the dance floor, guests will find a re-creation of Flynn’s Video Arcade, a key location in the adventure of “TRON: Legacy.” At Flynn’s, gamers will shoot for the highest scores as they enjoy classic 1980s arcade games. Outside the Arcade, guests will be able to play the unreleased “TRON: Evolution” video games for popular home consoles, and take part in a nightly tournament. The new video games, which feature the iconic light cycles and light discs in stories that bridge the gap between the two TRON films, will be released on December 7.

Guests will get an extended glimpse of the upcoming film at “TRON: Legacy, Exclusive 3D Sneak Peek” (presented in the venue which, by day, houses Muppet*Vision 3D). The 3D preview has special effects exclusive to this theater.

Guests will be able to purchase food from a specially-themed food truck, along with glowing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at the End of Line Club, inspired by an iconic new location in the world of “TRON: Legacy.”

Bring it on guys! We all know TRON: LEGACY is going to kick it up a notch so I don't feel these things are over the top at all. Movie opens December 17.

Sources: FirstShowing | /Film

EXCLUSIVE: Extended Footage From TRON: LEGACY, TANGLED And MEGAMIND Lands At THE 3D EXPERIENCE! Cool Contest Details Too!

Great news for the Executive Forum attendees of THE 3D EXPERIENCE in Times Square: Extended footage will be screened for Disney's TRON: LEGACY and TANGLED! PLUS Dreamworks Animation's MEGAMIND! Obviously these three tentpoles are highly anticipated and an early look at extended footage is a great way to experience what is possible with today's and tomorrow's 3D.

Further, Consumers will be able to enter contests to win entry to these very same screenings! THE 3D EXPERIENCE are also giving away 3D glasses, 3D cameras and 3DTVs!! Plenty of surprises are in store.

It is the balance of exciting material for consumers and industry professionals alike that has been so pumped about the 3 Day festival running September 24 - 26! Join us!! More information can be found right here.

Here is our exclusive Disney press release - you saw it here first! :-)

EXCLUSIVE 3D FOOTAGE OF TRON: LEGACY AND TANGLED TO LEAP OUT AT DELEGATES OF THE 3D EXPERIENCE FESTIVAL
Event to Feature “Special 3D Sneak Peeks” Screening for Registered Attendees

NEW YORK, Sept 20, 2010—The 3D Experience, New York’s first Annual 3D Entertainment and Technology Festival, today unveiled the line-up for its Executive Forum “Special 3D Sneak Peeks” screening, which will feature a special viewing of extended footage from TRON: Legacy and TANGLED, and the U.S. premiere of City of Ruins at 6:00 p.m. on Fri, Sept. 24 in Times Square, New York.

The Executive Forum is the portion of The 3D Experience festival that is geared towards industry professionals, offering them the opportunity to learn what’s next in the world of 3D through presentations, networking opportunities and technical demonstrations. The 3D Experience also features activities for consumers, including the 3D Showroom at the Discovery Times Square Exposition on 226 W. 44th St., and 3D film screenings at the AMC Theatres Empire 25 on 234 W. 42nd St.

“The agenda of events we have planned for our Executive Forum delegates offers them, hands down, the most thought-provoking and visionary, as well as pragmatic look at the 3D industry of today and tomorrow," said Nino Balistreri, managing director for The 3D Experience. "We are excited to add this exclusive footage screening of TRON: Legacy and TANGLED—two of the most anticipated 3D films this year—to that agenda. It’s our way of saying thank you for participating, with entertainment that will further cement the prediction that 3D is here to stay.”

Prior to Friday night’s “Special 3D Sneak Peeks” screening, the full-day Executive Forum portion of the festival will offer registered delegates the opportunity to view presentations from some of the industry’s most respected 3D thought leaders. HP CTO Phil McKinney, NASDAQ SVP Robert H. McCooey, Jr., and IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond are some of the top headliners participating in the inaugural event. For the latest information on the speaker line-up and panels, please visit: http://the3dexperience.org/?page_id=545

Other special features for Executive Forum delegates include the NASDAQ Opening Night VIP Reception Presented by LG Electronics USA on Thurs, Sept. 23; and exclusive 3D technical demonstrations, including a special delegate-only event, the 3D TV “Test Drive”. The 3D TV “Test Drive” takes place for Executive Forum delegates on Sat, Sept. 25 at the NASDAQ MarketSite and offers an in depth experience of the top 3D TV brands.

Space is limited. For more information and to register, please visit: http://the3dexperience.org/?page_id=1352.

ABOUT TANGLED
Walt Disney Pictures presents “Tangled,” one of the most hilarious, hair-raising tales ever told. When the kingdom’s most wanted—and most charming—bandit Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi) hides out in a mysterious tower, he’s taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore), a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn’s curious captor, who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse, an over-protective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs. In theaters this holiday season in Disney Digital 3D™, “Tangled” is a story of adventure, heart, humor and hair—lots of hair. The film hits U.S. theaters on Nov. 24, 2010. For more information, visit Disney.com/Tangled, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyTangled and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/disneyanimation.

ABOUT TRON: LEGACY
“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), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world’s leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn’s Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before-imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape. Presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and scored by Grammy® Award-winning electronic music duo Daft Punk, “TRON: Legacy” hits U.S. theaters on Dec. 17, 2010, in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D. For more information, visit Disney.com/TRON, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/TRON
and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/TronLegacy.

ABOUT THE 3D EXPERIENCE
The 3D Experience is committed to creating large-scale interactive programs that bring together leading minds, leading products and leading experiences. Event Partners for The 3D Experience include NASDAQ OMX, Best Buy, National CineMedia, IMAX, AMC, Technicolor and Discovery TSX. Sponsors include LG Electronics USA, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc., 3ality Digital, Panasonic, NVIDIA, AT&T, Northern Lights Entertainment, 3D Eye Solutions, BodySound Technologies, Texas Instruments, RealD, 3DMedia, Jump 3D, Samsung, Sony Digital Cinema, MasterImage, Spatial View, Polaroid Premium 3D Glasses, Hello Charlie, Legend 3D and Passmore Lab. Supporters include National Geographic Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Red Bull Records, Lionsgate, IMS Research and International 3D Society. The 3D Experience is produced by e5 Global Media, a diversified company with leading assets in the media and entertainment arenas. For more information and to register for The 3D Experience visit www.the3DExperience.org. Connect with The 3D Experience on Facebook at www.facebook.com/3dexperience and Twitter at twitter.com/the3dexperience.

MarketSaw is a media sponsor of THE 3D EXPERIENCE. Jim Dorey is also moderating the festival's Filmmakers Panel.

New Poster For TRON: LEGACY - Olivia Wilde As Quorra!

The marketing folks at Disney have always had a knack for creating awesome posters and this one is no exception.

Here is Olivia Wilde as Quorra, a vital key in Sam Flynn's (Garrett Hedlund) journey in the TRON universe.

A larger image is available here. Look for the massive release of TRON: LEGACY this December 17!

New International TRON:LEGACY Poster: Jem The Siren

A new international poster (supposedly Hungary) has appeared on kinopoisk.ru (via /Film) featuring Beau Garrett as Jem in Disney's TRON: LEGACY. Jem is the lead Siren (a group of 4 Sirens plays the Grid Game's armorers - weapon and armor outfitters) and she interacts rather enigmatically with Sam Flynn (Kevin's son) in the movie's trailer.

Garrett recently told JustJared: “I felt sexy but also claustrophobic. It was a very painful process struggling to move for 15 hours straight. But after I put it on, that’s when I knew how my character would move and talk.”

To top off all this marketing hype and post Comic-con awareness that is going on for TRON: LEGACY, I have heard that the stereoscopic 3D is beyond wild. This thing was made to be in 3D with all those geometric lines and dimensional gameplay - TRON should be on the top of your list this holiday season...

Must See: New International Poster For TRON: LEGACY!!

Stunning new international poster for this year's soon to be mega-hit TRON: LEGACY!

Click to enlarge.

The poster reveals Kevin Flynn (older, not the young CGI version and portrayed by Jeff Bridges) posing with a light disc. It definitely has a MATRIX feel to it with his black outfit and computer run environment. FirstShowing seems to think it is from Vietnam. Originating site is KinoGallery.

Storyline:
Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father's disappearance and is pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years.

TRON: LEGACY (In Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D)
WALT DISNEY PICTURES
Website: Disney.com/TRON
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/TRON
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/DisneyPictures
Genre: Action-Adventure
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release Date: December 17, 2010

Cast: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett and Michael Sheen
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Producers: Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver, Steven Lisberger
Executive Producer: Donald Kushner
Written by: Eddy Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (credit not final)
Based on characters created by: Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird

This movie is going to be a MONSTER. Trust me on this - it's going to have a nice long run. More when I get it!!

SPOILERS!! TRON: LEGACY Footage From Comic-Con Leaked!! 7 1/2 Minutes!!!

SAMEDAY UPDATE: Screencap and leaked footage removed. Sorry if you missed it!

**SPOILER ALERT**

WHOA! TRON: LEGACY looks absolutely stunning!! Wait until we see this in 3D theaters guys!

Note that some at the convention thought the footage looked quite flat but could simply be a matter of them rushing the scenes for the show. In fact, most of the spy footage shown here seems perfectly viewable in 2D, so those thoughts on it being flat ARE correct. I am confident we will have a wonderful experience with this movie however. There are some great people working on this film and there is a lot at stake. This movie WILL blow your mind.

Without further ado, here is the spy footage!

**Video clip removed**

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 same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

Director: Joseph Kosinski
Writer: Eddie Kitsis Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Cast: Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner

Release: December 17, 2010

CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS!!!

MUST WATCH: New TRON: LEGACY Trailer!!

Whoa. Glad to see that my sources haven't let us down by endorsing TRON: LEGACY early on! Check out this wicked new trailer for the upcoming Disney Digital 3D revisit to the TRON universe and tell me what you think.

The excitement continues for the second year in a row at Comic-Con in marketing TRON. Updates will be ongoing during the show.

TRON: LEGACY will be upon us December 17.

A young Jeff Bridges! Don't forget that the 3D in this movie is supposed to rival if not best AVATAR. Be ready for it!! More when we get it...

Did You See TITANS? How About AIRBENDER? Here Is Why You Should Reserve Judgement On 3D Conversions!

Wow. Can't a guy go on a few days vacation around here? Right now I am sitting on the coast of Nova Scotia with no cell phone service and very limited Internet. Trying to relax, while yet another 3D conversion tries to wipe 3D off the map. Of course that will not happen but still to say it is an irritant is an understatement.

So M. Night Shymalongadingdong releases the snorefest THE LAST AIRBENDER while I am gone. I actually thought at one point, given the exceptional effects and potential for a great story, that he can't miss with this one. Now I have lined up with the masses on drumming this guy out of Hollywood. Or something. I will say this: We don't know exactly whose ultimate decision it was to convert this pile of %#@* to 3D, but they should be forced to watch it on an endless loop for a week straight.

It sounds like executives saw how lousy it was going to be and as it was too late to pull the plug decided to maximize any revenue coming in by making it 3D after the fact. Sounds plausible doesn't it? If this is true, I am sick to my stomach. It would be even worse than the decision to convert CLASH OF THE TITANS because AIRBENDER executives would at least have knowledge of what can go terribly wrong through TITANS.

I have long held this belief: If you have the time (and I said TIME as in a year at least with current technology) then by all means convert your new feature length film using a reputable company. BUT if you do not have time on your side, nor the financial ability to get it done right - LEAVE IT ALONE.

Further, there are enough titles that need to be converted to 3D from a boundless library of studio classics that will keep everyone very busy for the years to come. What is going to fill the programming slots of those brand new S3DHD channels we are/will be getting? Sure 3D sports and live entertainment, but there needs to be lots of work done with those existing movie libraries. More than enough work for everyone.

But will common sense prevail? Apparently not - at least not in the short term. In fact there is a backlash mounting now against 3D conversion and if they are not careful - against ALL 3D conversions.

Here is why you should reserve judgment on 3D conversions:

1. The technology is rather young. Every month there are new strides being made in the process.
2. Certain companies are FAR better than others in converting material. In time, the better companies will rise to the top as in any capitalist market.
3. Inexperience with a new genre leads to bad decisions being made - time corrects inexperience and future decisions will reflect the errors being made today. And THEY ARE being made today.
4. Wait to see HARRY POTTER's finales in converted 3D. Then make a decision.

Are future native 3D projects threatened by this onslaught of stupid conversion decisions? No. We have AVATAR under our belts. We KNOW what a good 3D movie looks like and there is an obvious deep thirst for that entertainment. What is happening now though is that audiences are becoming fluent with 3D terminology and will start insisting on native 3D movies rather than conversions. And whose fault is it? Studio executives. I can't point the finger at anyone else right now. It is a shame. ALICE IN WONDERLAND was done very well. 3D conversion CAN be done very well.

Personally, TRON cannot get here soon enough. Disney - move the launch up will you? ;-) We need a good solid native 3D blockbuster again and I know without a shadow of a doubt that TRON: LEGACY will fit the bill. In the meanwhile I am a tad worried. I have suspected for some time now that PIRANHA is going to suck - I DIDN'T think AIRBENDER would and it did.

So could PIRANHA be a worse decision for 3D conversion? I hope not. Just keep humming the mantra TROOOOOONNNNNN. TROOOOOOONNNNN in your mind and this should all be over in a matter of months. Deal?

TRON Is Prepping It's LEGACY!

Jim here. Disney is prepping for TRON: LEGACY sequels as of right now. Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz have started penning the second iteration of the newly invigorated sci-fi franchise. Do I hear trilogy in the works?

So far nothing has been heard from director Joseph Kosinski on a return to TRON sequels but I would wager that his return would be a safe assumption.

Obviously Disney is happy with what they are seeing so far with TRON: LEGACY and that fits perfectly into what I am hearing from my sources. The 3D is supposed to surpass even AVATAR. If the story is a good one (and it must be as they are already working on expanding the franchise), then it should be another home run for the mouse house.

TRON:LEGACY is at the top of my most anticipated movies of 2010. I see no reason yet to change that! Bring it on. Opening wide on December 17.

TRON Video Game Sneak Peak!

Jim here. Got a sneak peak at the new TRON video game that has now been confirmed to be in existence and will be unveiled on Spike's award show, Saturday December 12.

There are a lot of unknowns here. Will it be in S3D like AVATAR? Obviously there is a good chance the PC version will be playable with NVIDIA's 3D Vision, but it remains to be seen what will happen with the console games.

The game seems to mimic what we have seen visually from the upcoming stereoscopic 3D movie from Disney, TRON: LEGACY (trailer here) so I am very interested in seeing what will happen on Dec 12. In the meantime, have a look at the short video game teaser:

Alice, TRON: Legacy, Carol, Final Destination + The Hole reactions!

Michael here with some stuff from yesterday's 3D panels.

A new Alice in Wonderland trailer, set to rock music, is leagues above the leaked one. We get some amazing glimpses of Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, taking a shrinking potion, with the Mad Hatter, on a balcony with the White Queen, the Cheshire Cat, and an assortment of fantastic creatures. The overall style was great, and the trailer - which was shown three times - got the audience pumped.

A Christmas Carol masterfully incorportated its 3D, as can be expected by Zemeckis. We were shown an entire scene that progressed from Scrooge plucking the coins off the eyes of his departed friend's corpse, to his solitary walk back to his mansion, to his panic and fright when visited by the ghost of his departed colleague, who promises him visits from three spirits. The stylized CG works and the acting is great, but I must emphasize that there are some pretty dark and disturbing scenes and subject matter.

Lastly, TRON: Legacy looks like it will be a huge amount of fun. They just finished principal photography last Monday morning. They reshowed the test footage from last year's Comic-Con, but this time in 3D. They also showed off a very well-shot live action 2D scene of Sam Flynn (Jeff Bridges' son) entering the arcade, which has been closed for twenty years. Journey’s “Separate Ways” plays in the background as he explores the dated 80’s game machines. At the end of the clip he finds the TRON machine, pushing it aside to find a secret passage.

The movie's plot will involve Sam's search for his father. Olivia Wilde plays a confidante to Sam.

We were shown a lot of concept art from the virtual world, but what struck me as super cool was was that some of the martial arts /sports scenes were shot at 1000 frames per second with a Phantom camera, and then played back at regular speed for an amazing super slow motion effect. We were shown behind-the-scenes footage of martial artists (in 2D) performing amazing spinning flips and kicks. In finished 3D these scenes will be absolutely spectacular.

Here is a short clip to give you an idea of what this will look like:



The Final Destination and The Hole clips both caused many of the 6500 in Hall H to jump up in their seats or squirm in fear. The Final Destination is certainly not holding back in terms of violence and the creativity of its kills. And, other than Avatar itself, it has the best live-action 3D I have seen. Everything is bright, crisp, and framed to perfection to surround the audience with the action. The Hole isn't up to that level 3D-wise, but it definitely has a very strong scare factor: possessed dolls and clowns are always scary.

But The Final Destination footage - which included scenes at a car racetrack, in a mall, and in a swimming pool - was as seamless and immersive as any 3D to date. I could feel the years of knowledge and experience of PACE and the Fusion Camera System in both this and the live action Avatar footage.