Tron Legacy

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If you're trekking out to the theater this weekend to see Tron Legacy (or maybe you already have?), you may also notice something interesting: a striking similarity between Sam Flynn and John Connor of the Terminator series (specifically Terminator 2: Judgment Day).

As I recall, John Connor was a rebellious punk kid whose mom was locked away in a mental hospital, and acts out by hacking ATMs, speeding through the streets of LA on his dirt bike, and spends a majority of his time playing video games at the behest of his foster parents. Comparatively, Sam Flynn lost his dad at a young age (who we find out later has been locked away in a virtual world), and acts out by hacking into ENCOM's computers, speeding through the streets on his Ducati, and battles programs in virtual games inside the Grid. Although John Connor's tools seem antique now compared to Sam's slim and portable Nokia N8 ('memba that computer John used to hack into the ATM?), the themes are pretty similar. Further, although no one likes to talk about Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, you could say that Garrett Hedlund sorta looks like Nick Stahl. Yes? No?

Can you find any other similarities between Tron Legacy and Terminator, or Sam and John? Play along in the comments!

It's a win-win at the movies this weekend, as How Do You Know and Tron: Legacy come to theaters. The good news: you really can't go wrong with either release. To find out why we liked them, just watch our video film reviews!

Check out our review of Tron: Legacy after the jump.

If you've never been to a midnight screening, you need to make an effort and go to one at least once in your life. Not only is the crowd totally pumped for the film they're about to see (staying up till midnight on a work night takes dedication in my opinion), but it's likely that some of them will show up in costume. Yes, it's like Comic-Con lite at most midnight screenings, and the one on Thursday night was no exception. Tron geeks and the Tron-curious came out in force in SF, not only for the 12:00 a.m. IMAX 3D show, but for the 3:15 a.m. screening (can you believe it!?). Here's a few hilarious things I saw while waiting for the magic to begin:

• Kids watching the original Tron on their MacBooks
• DIY light suits made from glow sticks (which were welcomed with thunderous applause)
• A group of retro Tron programs
• A few Cr-48 laptops
• A heated iPhone vs. Android debate
• A dude, who had one too many Red Bulls, describing to the crowd how his work presentation earlier that day was "like a Steve Jobs presentation"

Now that you've probably had a chance to see Tron Legacy for yourself, be sure to share your own funny screening experiences in the comments below!

• Jim Carrey will be the first Saturday Night Live host of the new year — The Wrap
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• Jeff Bridges's 10 best roles; bet you know what number one is — Moviefone
• Watch Anne Hathaway invite the students of P.S. 22 to perform at the Oscars — PopWatch
• Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde, and Charlie Hunnam sign on for thriller Kin — Coming Soon
• John Corbett is joining Parenthood — Deadline
• Rosario Dawson and Lynn Collins cast in Ten Year — The Playlist
• See the most adorable marriage proposal using the Muppets — TrèsSugar

Our Tron: Legacy coverage continues! Obviously, this film has some amazing visuals (you gotta see it in 3D!), but it also has some great design. The woman behind the fabulous costumes, Christine Clark, sat down with me at the Tron: Legacy press junket a few weeks ago to discuss style, light-up fabrics, and those kick-ass rubber suits. Click below to watch!

It's been nearly 30 years since we last saw the likes of Tron on the big screen, and oh my, how things have changed in its sequel, Tron: Legacy. For those of you who are playing catch-up, Jeff Bridges reprises his role as Kevin Flynn, who, in the original film, has been sucked into the virtual world of the Grid and made to compete in gladiator-like games in order to survive. After defeating his foes, thanks in part to his in-game ally, Tron (played by Bruce Boxleitner), he goes on to take over a computer company called ENCOM. Tron: Legacy picks up here, telling us Kevin's story in flashes of news reports. He's gone missing, leaving behind his young son, Sam.

Twenty years later, we find that Sam is rebellious, ignoring his duties as a stakeholder in ENCOM, and still grappling with his feelings of abandonment. This helps drive him along as he tries to rescue Kevin from the virtual world he's created, and battle Kevin's evil (and much younger-looking) virtual twin, Clu, to escape. It's a great setup for a perfect storm of action and drama, but unfortunately for Tron: Legacy, the weight is not always evenly distributed between the two.

Find out more, including why I still think you should see the movie in theaters after the break

If you're planning on seeing Tron: Legacy tonight, prepare to have your minds blown by the lightcycles! I got a chance to sit down with vehicle designer Daniel Simon recently, who told us how those bikes were made, and how the team blended new and old ideas to create the revamped design. Check it out below, and stay tuned for more Tron: Legacy coverage!

After talking with Jeff Bridges and Olivia Wilde, I got a chance to meet up with Beau Garrett and Michael Sheen during the recent Tron: Legacy press junket in LA. We chatted about getting into their respective Tron characters, life in The Grid, and the fan frenzy that is Breaking Dawn. Check it out below!

Olivia Wilde has been circling the globe promoting Tron: Legacy before the film opens this Friday, and we chatted with her during a recent press junket in LA. She talked about catching up on the original Tron during filming, empowering women through her character, Quorra, and rocking that totally "Trontastic" haircut. Get the inside scoop in the interview below, and in case you missed it, check out my meet-up with Jeff Bridges!