PIRATES 4: ON STRANGER TIDES character posters

see the new posters of the upcoming sequel of Walt Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. the movie comes up in May and here are the individual posters of our favorite pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Angelica (Penelope Cruz), Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and Captain Blackbeard (Ian McShane).



Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica, Jack Sparrow is not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.

opening on May 2011, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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GNOMEO AND JULIET movie review

from Shakespeare's well-known tragedy comes a "cute" retelling entitled Gnomeo and Juliet which opens on April 13 in theaters nationwide.

instead of human beings, we find our lovers as garden gnomes. they take on responsibility of beautifying the garden of their humans. but when they are away, the long dispute between the families, Montague and Capulet are on. the catch is, don't get smashed or broken.

as the original story went, the feud of the two families banned our lovers to meet and even fall in love. but against all odds, they managed to express their love for each other. they have found common things with each other and the folks don't approve of what's going on between them. anger grew upon losing a family member, bit by bit.

but unlike Shakespeare's tragedy, this love story gives a happy and colorful ending. good for young audience to understand Shakespearean masterpiece before they get into the actual piece. delivery is very funny and the soundtrack is amusing. not to mention that Elton John has lent his songs for the movie. other characters show good support for the movie and has identified the differences between the disputing families. but still, they are characterized as cute and colorful gnomes which help you take it light on the story of Romeo and Juliet.

Gnomeo and Juliet also perfect for 3D viewing as the texture of the gnomes are clearly visible. relive the story of Romeo and Juliet with this cute animation.

opening on April 13 2011, in Digital 3D and regular format, “Gnomeo & Juliet” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

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WATCH PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4 NEW TRAILER!

watch the new trailer of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides here!

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed adventure. Crossing paths with the enigmaticAngelica (Penélope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will be in theaters starting May 2011. distributed by Walt Disney Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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CARS 2: scenes and new trailer!

the gang from Radiator Springs is coming to Japan! Cars 2 takes you on another race adventure as Lightning McQueen joins the World Grand Prix and aim for the title of the world's fastest car!

Lightning McQueen is joined by his buddy tow truck, Mater and discover the modern life away from the western country of Radiator Springs. here, they meet also new friends and frenemies who they come face-to-face also at the World Grand Prix.


see also some still scenes from the movie below:

the film hits the track in the Philippines on August 24, 2011, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.

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sneak peek on GNOMEO AND JULIET

a new cute twist on the Shakespeare classic tragedy will come to theaters this summer. Touchstone Pictures presents GNOMEO AND JULIET. instead of real people who enact the timeless feud, gnomes prepare the war -- in the garden!

when humans are away, garden gnomes are brought to life and they have grown to create love which humans do. here, two gnomes from rival families, Montague and Capulet share love which their families do not approve.

featuring the voices of two-time Academy Award®-winner Michael Caine (“Cars 2,” “Inception”) as Juliet’s father Lord Redbrick, Jason Statham (“Transporter” series) as Gnomeo’s nemesis Tybalt, Maggie Smith (“Harry Potter” movies) as Lady Bluebury, Patrick Stewart (“Star Trek”) as Bill Shakespeare, Ashley Jensen (“How to Train Your Dragon”) as Juliet’s friend and confidante Nanette, Stephen Merchant (TV’s “The Office”) as Juliet’s expected suitor Paris, Matt Lucas (“Alice in Wonderland”) as Gnomeo’s best mate Benny, and Jim Cummings (“Winnie the Pooh,” “Shrek”) as the plastic pink flamingo Featherstone.

Julie Walters (“Harry Potter” movies) and Richard Wilson (TV’s “Merlin”) give voice to the human feuding neighbors, Miss Montague and Mr. Capulet; Ozzy Osbourne portrays Tybalt’s sidekick, Fawn; Dolly Parton plays the country gnome Dolly who starts the mower race; and Hulk Hogan lends his voice to the unapologetic beast of a lawn mower, the Terrafirminator.

here's the official trailer:


opening soon across the Philippines in Digital 3D and regular format, “Gnomeo & Juliet” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

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I AM NUMBER FOUR movie review

I AM NUMBER FOUR is sci-fi action suited for teens who like Heroes. also very much like Superman where a boy is raised in an alien atmosphere by his mentor (Timothy Oliphant) and tries to cope up living in our environment. then a pile of another aliens are set to kill him and sooner destroy our planet. of course, any teen movie is not complete with a bit of romance (Dianna Agron) and a kick-ass babe (Teresa Palmer as Number 6). to add to the very cartoon-ey casting is a geeky boy (Callan McAuliffe).

like Heroes, Number 4 learns his powers under hard circumstances and sometimes like Superman, torn between saving the planet or his loved one. he appeared very weak and vulnerable. i even admired Number 6's character than him even though she appeared towards the end.

this movie had a lot of cute elements, not really necessary to the point of the film. actually, it was a weave of different movies and miniseries, Heroes, Superman, even Cloverfield. watch it and spot each scene.

but if you want to check it out, it will hit theaters this February 23 20111.

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hunt NUMBER 4, hunt ALEX PETTYFER!

DreamWorks Pictures takes a big gamble on young actor Alex Pettyfer and gives him a star-making lead role in the new sci-fi action-adventure “I Am Number Four.”

Based on the best-selling book by Pittacus Lore, “I Am Number Four” revolves about an extraordinary young man, John Smith (Pettyfer), who is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events—his first love (Dianna Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.

For the role of John Smith, aka Number Four, director D.J. Caruso (“Eagle Eye”) knew he had to find someone with a strong personality who also had a sensitive side to portray the character. “John’s extraordinary abilities make him very different from the other kids in school, which in turn makes it very hard for him to fit in,” Caruso says.

“A lot of teenagers can relate to that, particularly those who have to move to a new town at that age,” he adds. “Trying to integrate into high school is tough for anyone. There is a universal aspect to his character that the audiences can hang on to because even though he is superhuman, the emotions that he has are something that a normal teenager would be experiencing.”

Many weeks went into the selection process as the filmmakers looked for that one actor who would have the attitude and physical prowess to bring John Smith to life. When Alex Pettyfer had his first read, D.J. Caruso knew that he had someone special on his hands. “I feel that Alex has a really special gift,” Caruso says. “As interesting, attractive and dynamic as he is, he has an incredible vulnerability that really works for the character. I think it will make audiences fall in love with him.”

Producer Michael Bay (“Transformers”) says of Pettyfer: “I’ve been watching Alex for a long time. He’s got a ton of charisma and physicality. As Number Four, he brought a mix of strength and vulnerability that not a lot of young actors can pull off.”

Alex Pettyfer was delighted to land the lead role of John Smith for two reasons. The first was Pettyfer’s desire to work with D.J. Caruso. “D.J. is incredible,” he explains. “I came onto this movie because I think he’s got an amazing vision. He brings something different to the table. He brings science fiction into a world and makes it real,” says Pettyfer.

The second was the story and the role. “It’s a really cool premise,” explains Pettyfer. “John Smith is at a point in his life where he has a choice and his dilemma is that he wants to be a normal kid but he has been given this destiny of becoming a warrior. He is initially very reluctant and has a James Dean ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ outlook. He has the kind of temperament that you feel could explode at any moment.

“John is trying to find out who he is and what he wants to do with his life,” Pettyfer concludes. “A lot of kids are going to relate to what he is going through in the story—being an outsider and trying to fit in.”

Opening across the Philippines on Feb. 23, “I Am Number Four” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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watch TANGLED previews on January 24 and 25!

Walt Disney Pictures' “Tangled,” one of the most hilarious, hair-raising tales ever told, will have whole-day sneak previews on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 24 & 25, at regular admission prices, in selected theaters everywhere.

In the film, 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 (named Maximus), an over-protective chameleon (named Pascal), and a gruff gang of pub thugs.

Says producer Roy Conli, “`Tangled' is a wonderful story of two people who don’t really know who they are yet, and in the course of the film, they both discover their destiny. We wanted to break some of the stereotypes that had been done before. Flynn is a guy who’s been there, done that, and seen it all. Rapunzel is a sheltered, naïve-but-smart girl who hasn’t been there, hasn’t done that, and hasn’t seen anything! He helps bring her to a place where she can see herself more clearly, and she helps bring him to a place where he can change some of the mistakes he’s made in life. Together, they fill in what’s missing in each other.”

“It looks like a classic Disney animated film, but it’s also in 3D CG animation,” adds John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, “so it’s really unlike anything we’ve ever done before.”

Opening across the Philippines on Feb. 2 in Digital 3D and regular format, “Tangled” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

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WINNIE THE POOH returns!

welcome back to the Hundred-Acre Wood. Winnie the Pooh and the gang, Eeyore, Piglet, Owl, Tigger, Rabbit, Kanga and Roo returns to the theaters coming very soon after 35 years! Walt Disney releases the poster of this animated movie based on A.A. Milne's classic.

the adventure will reunite the generation which is still child-at-heart as the whole bunch of cuddly toys save Christopher Robin from an imaginary culprit.

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Captain Jack Sparrow's back ON STRANGER TIDES

Catch the first trailer of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ sweeping comedy adventure “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”

Directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”), “On Stranger Tides” is the fourth entry in the blockbuster franchise which has already reaped $2.7 billion in worldwide box office from the previous three films, and the first to be filmed and presented in Disney Digital 3D™.


In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Opening across the Philippines on May 2011, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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experience TRON's GRID in IMAX 3D

Presented in Disney Digital 3D™, and IMAX® 3D, Walt Disney Pictures' new sci-fi adventure “TRON: Legacy” features cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology, effects and set design that bring to life an epic adventure coursing across a digital grid that is as fascinating and wondrous as it is beyond imagination.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, “TRON: Legacy” stars Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner and Michael Sheen. The film is scored by Grammy® Award–winning electronic music duo Daft Punk.

At the epicenter of the adventure is a father-son story that resonates as much on the Grid as it does in the real world: Sam Flynn (Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father, Kevin Flynn (Bridges), a man once known as the world’s leading tech visionary. 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 grid where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years.

The 3D experience of “TRON: Legacy” will bring viewers into the Grid, and along for the ride, more than any other film in cinematic history. Using the next generation of 3D technology developed after “Avatar,” “TRON: Legacy” will allow the audience to experience the digital grid and be part of the action in the highly stylized landscape.

Shooting in 3D achieves an immersive experience for the audience that mimics the immersive experience Sam has inside the computer; the audience does not simply witness Sam’s journey inside the Grid, they travel alongside him. The effect is enhanced by opening in 2D for the real-world scenes then switching to 3D when Sam enters the digital grid.

As Kosinski explains, “Ours is sort of a ‘Wizard of Oz’ approach. Ninety-eight percent of the 3D is in the digital TRON grid. The 3D really starts once we get into the Grid.”

“TRON: Legacy” will also be presented in IMAX theaters, so the filmmakers are making preparations to enhance the audience’s enjoyment by providing a unique experience. Specifically, they are finishing several sections of the film in a tall format—not letterbox—and in an IMAX theater, that means black bars at the top and bottom of the frame will disappear and it will become a full-screen sequence.

Kosinski elaborates: “In IMAX theaters there are several sequences, amounting to about 35 minutes in the film, that will open up to an expanded aspect ratio. We’ll be switching from 2.35 to 1.78, which will provide more image at the top and bottom of the screen. This will create an even more immersive 3D experience.”

The “TRON: Legacy” audiences will discover an exciting, evolved grid that pulsates with the latest technology, stunning visual effects and leading-edge design. With an insightful father-son story that’s grounded in cultural reality, a strong, relatable female lead and a unique, one-of-a kind style, “TRON: Legacy” blends what’s real with super-imaginative, eye-popping visuals and 3D action.

Opening across the country on Friday, Dec. 17, “TRON: Legacy” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines.

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newcomer OLIVIA WILDE joins cast for TRON: LEGACY

Actress-on-the-rise Olivia Wilde plays Quorra, a unique computer program that acts as confidant and sometimes warrior to exiled video-game developer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), helping him survive his life in The Grid, in Walt Disney Pictures' “TRON: Legacy.” The film is a high-tech 3D action-adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen.

The unique program Quorra is like a surrogate daughter to Kevin —a confidant with intelligence, inquisitiveness and the fighting ability to blow just about anyone away. He teaches her of the outside world and in return, she offers him undying loyalty. As a result of her education, however, Quorra adopts Kevin’s yearning for knowledge and now longs to experience the ‘user’ world that lies far beyond the realm of possibility.

Wilde articulates her thoughts on “TRON: Legacy” in the following interview:

Q: What is the human theme of this story?

Olivia Wilde: At the center of “TRON: Legacy” is a family story -- about a son searching for his father and becoming a man. Many of the great tales are about coming into your own, coming into adulthood, and this is no different than that, it’s just in an alternate universe. But what makes the story work is that despite all the incredible effects, at its core, it’s a solid human family story. That's why people will relate to it.

Q: Talk about the incredible world of “TRON: Legacy.”

Wilde: Nothing about the film is organic. It’s the real world translated into a digital universe, very high contrast, very slick blacks and bright colors and lights, and it’s just very futuristic. And very beautiful, clean and crisp. I really enjoyed embodying that style. It was great for me, because I got to completely transform.

Q: What was it like donning the light suit?

Wilde: The suit was amazing to put on, because nothing like it had ever been worn before. It was really revolutionary what the costume and art department was able to do. It had electro-luminescent lamps running through neoprene rubber. We were like little Energizer bunnies with battery packs on our backs. It was an amazing feeling when they would turn us all on at the same time. It was a great way to bring us into the moment of the film. You really felt you were in character once your lights were on.

Q: If you knew nothing about “TRON: Legacy,” what would hook you as a female moviegoer?

Wilde: For me personally, what would hook me would probably be the effects, the look of it—at first glance, just how unique it looks. It’s incredibly beautiful. Joseph Kosinski, the director, is a designer and an architect. He comes at this film with a unique perspective that really creates something new. So I’d say first there’s that, and then the family story, which everyone can relate to. A man or a woman, everyone relates to coming into your own as an adult and discovering a relationship with a parent. And I think also that women are just as into light bikes and other incredible props and cool vehicles that we have in this film as men are. I’d say girls would be into that as well. We also have amazing actors in the movie; I think that's going to be a big pull for a lot of people.

Q: Can you talk about working with Garrett Hedlund who plays Sam?

Wilde: Working with Garrett was great; we've been waiting to work together for a long time. We've known each other since we were 18. When I heard he was going to play Sam, it was really exciting, because he has enthusiasm for this film. It was familiar because I shared that enthusiasm; we were both childlike in our excitement for it and willing to dive in headfirst. We both gave everything we had to this film, physically and emotionally.

Q: What does Daft Punk bring to the mix?

Wilde: Daft Punk is going to attract a lot of fans that we wouldn't have otherwise. I think a lot of people are going to plug into the film because they're into this cyber punk feel that Daft Punk has. They are just so cool. I know a lot of people jumped onboard when they heard Daft Punk was involved. They're also not just involved on a level of, “We asked them to give us some songs for the movie.” They were involved from day one; they were meeting with the director and the producers far before the cast joined, and even before the script was finished. And so their esthetic and their creative energy are woven into the film. It’s got this raw, exciting and sexy Daft Funk feel to the entire film. I think they're ahead of their time, in terms of plugging into a futuristic, cool feeling that people like. I think the film does that as well.

Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines, “TRON: Legacy” will open across the country on Dec. 17 in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular formats.

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SECRETARIAT movie review

from the amazing true story of a horse comes to inspire everyone of us to keep believing, be strong and never lose hope.

SECRETARIAT shows how a plain housewife, Penny Chenery (Diane Lane), believed in her visions in spite of the time where women had nothing much to say. politics in the early 60s to 70s isn't so much easy for women. they are restricted to express their feelings and the major role is to raise a household. but here, Penny Chenery proved to it that men aren't always right. she studied and she fought with diplomacy.

the amazing thing is with Big Red called Secretariat, a horse that eats dirt from the back of the race, but wins in the end. coached by Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), the horse displayed an exceptional performance, winning the Triple Crown in the season. a record no one has ever beaten yet. animals should be treated as people too. that's why Penny believed in him and he gave the best that he can be. from the back of the race, where others laugh at them, they brought their beliefs and reached to the top. they didn't ignore those who belittle them, but they took it as a challenge. soon enough, they are at the pedestal.

from the success of Secretariat, the people continued to live peacefully. with the fame and fortune, they remained humble and simple which is a very good value that we should all possess.

“Secretariat” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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JEFF BRIDGES talks about TRON: LEGACY

Fresh from winning his first Best Actor Oscar for “Crazy Heart,” Jeff Bridges now returns to the screen in the dual roles of Kevin Flynn and Clu in Walt Disney Pictures' high-tech 3D adventure “TRON: Legacy.”

In the film, brilliant videogame designer Kevin Flynn always wanted the best of both worlds—digital and real. After he became the first human being to enter the astonishing digital world of the Grid, he decided that the best way to achieve that was to combine the two. So, he created the sophisticated CLU 2.0 program and used it in secret to help him design a Utopian existence that combined the highest ideals of the human and digital worlds. The daytime corporate wunderkind became the nighttime builder of the Grid. Then, one day in 1989, Kevin Flynn mysteriously disappeared.

Now, he has discovered first-hand how true the warning ‘be careful what you wish for’ is—trapped in the world of his own creation, all he can do is wait and hope that something will change and he will once again have a chance to return to his home and son.

Q: What's it like to approach a character 27 years later?

Jeff Bridges: I never thought of it in those terms, really. I never thought of it as playing the same guy. He hasn’t changed all that much. Well, maybe some of his enthusiasm for technology has been dampened a little bit. After all, he’s trapped inside a computer, so perhaps some of that fondness he had for his technology…maybe reflecting on it, he might think, “Perhaps there are some other things in life that I should have been paying attention to.”

Q: With all of that technology, what's the human story of “TRON: Legacy”?

Bridges: Well, one of the elements of the story is just what we were talking about, technology. It’s so exciting to come to realize all the things that you can do. And what's happening with technology is that it is developing so fast that we haven’t really developed any ethics to go along with it, or knowledge of what some of the ramifications of this technology will be.

Q: What about this project that attracts such attention from the sci-fi world?

Bridges: The fans have been so wonderful, they've really given birth to the film “TRON: Legacy.” Two years ago we showed a small portion of what this film might be, a test reel, and it got such a great reaction from the fans that Disney got behind the project. One of the things that I know attracted me to the first “TRON” and this one as well is that it’s really creating a myth for modern times. Myths can help us to navigate some of our challenges in our life. And as we were talking before, technology is a tremendous challenge, because we're so attracted to things that give us instant gratification.

Q: What's the biggest difference in filming the original “TRON” and now “TRON: Legacy”?

Bridges: Well, 27 years ago, the original was a very cutting-edge movie. Of course looking back, it looks like an old black-and-white TV show. But at the time we were making the original “TRON,” there was no Internet. Our cell phones were these things we carried around in big suitcases. We shot that movie in 70 millimeter black-and-white, and then it was sent to Korea, where a bunch of technicians hand-tinted all the frames to make the suits glow. Now in “TRON: Legacy,” again it’s cutting-edge technology. We're the next-generation of 3D cinematography after “Avatar.” It takes the technology that Jim Cameron came up with to the next level. Now, our suits actually do glow, and they throw light on the other actors, so they’re practical. I think one of the really great things that director Joseph Kosinski, being an architect, brought with him was the ability to marry actual sets with CGI sets. It’s very hard for the audience to tell where one ends and one begins.

Q: Through film technology, you act opposite your younger self. How did that work? As an actor, is that liberating?

Bridges: I love going to movies myself, and whenever I see a big epic film where the character has aged from being a young boy to an old man, traditionally there are different actors playing him in those stages. That’s always a little bump for me as I’m sitting there, when they change from one actor to the next. But now as an actor myself, it’s very gratifying to know that I can play myself or the character that I'm playing at any age, from an infant to an old man. That’s really exciting, especially to be part of this groundbreaking technology.

Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines, “TRON: Legacy” will open across the country on Dec. 17 in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular formats.

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GARRETT HEDLUND interview for TRON: LEGACY

Young actor Garrett Hedlund stars as Sam Flynn in Walt Disney Pictures' new high-tech 3D adventure “TRON: Legacy.” In the film, Sam – a rebellious 27-year-old – is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (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. 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.

At 18, Hedlund made an auspicious motion-picture debut in the pivotal role of Patrocius, the young cousin of Achilles (Brad Pitt) in Wolfgang Petersen’s “Troy.” He talks about “TRON: Legacy” in the following interview:

Q: What is the human story at the center of “TRON: Legacy”?

Garrett Hedlund: At the core of it, it’s a father and son story. My character, Sam, has been without his father for 20 years, and he finally gets to find out where he’s been. Although Alan Bradley, his father’s partner, has been there for Sam, he’s always wanted to know what became of Kevin Flynn. And in “TRON: Legacy,” he finally gets to do that.

Q: How has the overall world changed inside “TRON”?

Hedlund: The world of the original “TRON” was fascinating, but what they've added to the world in “TRON: Legacy” is a grander sense of geography. There are lightning storms and the weather, and there are also the cliffs and the mountains. Add to that the off-grid terrain where a lot of these vehicles can’t perform, and it’s an incredible sight to fathom.

Q: Talk about the light cycle.

Hedlund: The new bike is incredibly flashy and cool, and it’s much more dangerous. It’s faster and it doesn’t have to move in 90 degree angles. It has a lot more tricks.

Q: What did you do to prepare for the role of Sam?

Hedlund: The benefit I had on this film was going through an intense amount of training, not just for the physical benefits, but overall, for the character. I had training in Capoeira and parkour, and motorcycle training. But basically, when I step into playing that character, all of those skills have to be ‘new,’ from day one. The first moment Sam gets into this world, he doesn’t suddenly know how to do all of this stuff. There have to be the slight mistakes that he overcomes, and learning from that. Like the disk game sequence—there is something very unfamiliar with everything that he has to do, from the rules to the skills. He’s got to observe and the wheels have to be constantly turning in order for him to excel. When he sees another program ‘de-res,’ he thinks, ‘Well, I can’t let that happen.’ He has to find it within himself to become that hero. He has to have the strength and the defensive skills to keep proceeding from one level to the next.

Q: What was the hardest part of shooting?

Hedlund: You know, everybody always likes to talk about how difficult it is working with blue or green screen, dealing with just the imagination. But this film actually, to our benefit, there were a lot of grand sets, so we didn’t have to pretend so much. We had a lot of the physical things, such as the disks and the swords. When it was blue and green screen, we had great direction from Joseph Kosinski, the wonderful director, because he knew exactly what he wanted to do with what we were just approaching. When we were reading it from the text, we may have had a foggy notion, imagining what it could be, but he was always ten steps ahead of us. It was a game of trust, and we were never let down.

Q: What is your memory of the original TRON?

Hedlund: My memory of the original starts off with a very energetic and youthful Jeff Bridges, smiling and laughing. He had this crazy youthful side to him, in comparison to how we see him now, as the wise, older and incredible actor that he is. In the very first “TRON,” he’s a mad wiz with all this new technology that deals with the creation of video games. He’s also been perfecting a shiva laser, which ultimately ends up sucking him into the computer in the same fashion that Sam is in the beginning of “TRON: Legacy.”

Q: What about the original film inspires such a following?

Hedlund: I think from the original it was Jeff’s character Kevin Flynn getting pulled into the game grid and going on all of these adventures—it was incredible to imagine. Having to fight his way from one level to the next to complete the objective and find his way back out…it really was unlike anything else.

(Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines, “TRON: Legacy” will open across the country on Dec. 17 in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular formats.)

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DIANE LANE to inspire other women in SECRETARIAT

Oscar-nominated actress Diane Lane (“Unfaithful,” “Nights in Rodanthe”) stars as the extraordinary Penny Chenery, the real-life owner of a champion horse whose Cinderella-like story is recounted in Touchstone Pictures' inspiring film “Secretariat.” The critically acclaimed drama will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 & Trinoma) starting Dec. 1.

Based on the remarkable true story, the film chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. In the film, housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing experience. Against all odds, with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), she manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

Director Randall Wallace (the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of “Braveheart”) explains, “What Diane Lane brings to this role is authenticity. She is breathtakingly beautiful, and yet, you feel that she could be someone you know. She is accessible as well as inspiring, ideal, and yet she seems so tangible. I think those dualities were important aspects in bringing Penny as a character to the screen.”

Much of Lane’s research involved spending time with Chenery. “Penny is straight ahead,” says the actress. “She is comfortable in her own skin, certainly with the passage of time. And, wow, at first, I was really nervous to meet her — in a healthy way. I knew that it must be unbelievably surreal to meet the person who is going to portray you in a film. We wound up really enjoying each other’s company. The stories we got into — mother stories, daughter stories, sibling, wife, all the roles women play in life that Penny is and was at that time of her life. I felt very empowered by her trust in me.”

Chenery was certainly a fan of Lane’s. “I am honored and delighted to be portrayed by such a skillful, perceptive actress who is also a lovely person,” she says.

A confessed horse-racing novice, Lane soaked up all as much as she could from Chenery, even sitting with her to watch the footage of Secretariat’s Triple Crown races. “The name Secretariat immediately conjured up the excitement and uniqueness of that horse,” says Lane. “I remember him from my childhood. It was so much fun to do the research, to talk to the people who were part of his life, to feel the glory of the presence of that horse. What’s nice about it too is that humans can be ambitious, greedy and desirous of victory and accolades. But all judgment is removed with Secretariat—his triumphs are pure.”

Lane adds that as a child, she was a huge equine fan — and the little girl inside her was thrilled to be a part of the movie. “I always had a fascination with horses, from the time I was a little girl, to the point of having a fantasy life that involved horses. Some people have an imaginary friend; I had an imaginary horse. Dad would spend the 13 bucks to drive me out to Queens so I could ride some barn sour nag in a circle, which was the thrill of my month. I fell in love with horses as a little girl and I still love them.”

“Secretariat” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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