THE CONJURING, R.I.P.D, & TURBO: CFQ Spotlight Podcast 4:29

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson confront the unknown of THE CONJURING (2013)
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson confront the unknown of THE CONJURING (2013)

This weekend continued 2013’s trend of diversity in fantastic film debuts: You had your choice of an atmospheric, based-on-a-true-story ghost tale with THE CONJURING, or ride along with Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds as afterlife cops in the effect-enhanced action-fantasy-comedy R.I.P.D, or indulge your sense of whimsy as Ryan Reynolds — again — voices a supercharged snail in the DreamWorks’ CG animated film, TURBO. Or you could stay home and read a good book, but c’mon, what sane person is going to do that?
Cinefantastique Online’s Steve Biodrowski, Lawrence French, and Dan Persons put the primary focus of this week’s show on THE CONJURING discussing, director James Wan’s (SAW, INSIDIOUS) handling of atmosphere and scares, and examining whether the real-life angle — allegedly based on the experiences of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren — helps or hinders the storytelling. Then Steve and Larry look into whether R.I.P.D. managed to live up to the potential of its premise, and Steve delivers some surprising observations on TURBO. Plus: What’s coming to theaters next week, and absolutely no book recommendations.

John Barry remembered; Pet Sematary reopened; Jeff Bridges, exorcist: Cinefantastique Round Table Podcast 2:6

cfq round table copy
Yes, once again it’s time for a weekly round-up of news, events, and home video releases brought to you by the Cinefantastique Round Table Podcast. With host Dan Persons missing in action, Steve Biodrowski steps into the driver’s seat, joined by regular contributor Lawrence French and by Arbogast, proprietor of the Arbogast on Film blog. This week’s topics of discussion include the death of Bond composer John Barry; the casting of Jeff Bridges as an exorcist in THE SEVENTH SON; the potential casting of Jackie Earle Haley as Willie Loomis in the proposed DARK SHADOWS remake; and the announcement of Rob Zombie’s THE LORDS OF SALEM; and Paramount Pictures’ plans to re-open the PET SEMATARY franchise. Also on the menu: the upcoming week’s theatrical and home video releases.

'TRON: Legacy' Identity Discs — Clip

Via the LA TIMES, a reminder that the digital characters’ Identity Discs in TRON: LEGACY are not just weapons.

“You will each receive an identity disc. Everything you do or learn will be imprinted on this disc. If you lose your disc, or fail to follow commands, you will be subject to immediate deresolution. That will be all.”

This vital information was imparted by the the bad guy, Sark (David Warner in  TRON (1982). and a re repeated by a female computer voice in TRON LEGACY, as can be seen in this clip from the upcoming film, as the son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) , Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) is made ready for the “games”.
Solid, and made of altered Frisbees in the original movie, the Identity Discs in TRON LEGACY were given a bit of an update. They’re now more like rings, and reportedly were actually easier for the actors to handle during production.
The search for Kevin Flynn’s Identity Disc is one of the plot points of TRON:  LEGACY, which opens this Friday, December 17th from Walt Disney Pictures.

Tron Legacy: December 17

tron-legacyWalt Disney Pictures releases the seuqel to TRON nationwide, including a run at the Disney-owned El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. The first TRON was, to put it mildly, a disappointment – a weak story propped up by (then) amazing computer graphics and an electronic score by Wendy Carlos (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE). Supposedly, the original has developed a cult following, which Walt Disney Pictures hopes will turn out for the sequel. Joseph Kosinski directed from a screenplay by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, from a story by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and Brian Klugmam & Lee Sternthal, based on the original concept by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird. Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner are back, with newcomers Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, James Frain, and Beau Garrett.
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'Tron Legacy' – Trailer #3

Courtesy of Disney’s youTube Trailer page, here’s the third Offical Trailer for 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 Helund), 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.”

Due out December 17th from Walt Disney Pictures.

'TRON:Legacy' – Latest Trailer

Here’s  the latest trailer to TRON: LEGACY, which aired this weekend on  the Disney Channel.
It features more footage of Quorra (Olivia Wilde).
TRON: LEGACY also stars Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges (IRON MAN), Beau Garrett, and Bruce Boxleitner (BABYLON 5)
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
from a screenplay by Adam Horowitz and Eddie Kitsis, with contributions from producer Steven Lisberger, who wrote and directed the original TRON (1982).
Due in theaters in 3D December 17th.

Tron 3 Already in the Works


Promotional image for Tron Legacy
Promotional image for Tron Legacy

TRON LEGACY isn’t even released for another eight months, but according to The Hollywood Reporter Disney are already planning it’s sequel. Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (LOST), who worked on TRON LEGACY, have already begun writing a sequel for the studio.

No further details have emerged yet but rumours suggest that the writers are trying to tie all three films together as a coherent trilogy. Whether this means that LEGACY will have a cliff-hanger ending or whether the third film will focus on an unrelated storyline or spin-off is anyone’s guess at this point. Furthermore, none of the cast or crew have signed contracts for a third film and it hasn’t been greenlit as of yet.
These issues all rest upon the financial success of TRON LEGACY itself but Disney must be happy with what they’ve seen of the film so far if they’ve willing to start writing a third. We’ll know for sure when LEGACY is released on the 17th of December, later this year.

Bridges talks Tron Legacy at Cinematical

Cinematically has posted an interview with Jeff Bridges, who talks about appearing in TRON LEGACY 28 years after starring in the original TRON. Unfortunately, you won’t learn much: in the great tradition of Robert DeNiro (who could give entire interview while saying very little), Bridges keeps mum on plot details, speaking only in generalities:

Well, this is kind of a challenge for me because I don’t want to deprive anybody of the enjoyment of seeing the film with any kind of twists and turns. So I’m probably not goanna answer too many of your questions about [the plot] because I want to make it fun for people without telling the whole plot. But it’s certainly a different deal. We made Tron, there was no internet, man. No cell phones. No laptops or any of that stuff. So it’s completely different world that we’re showing up in here and the look of the film it certainly, you know, benefits from that.