I've seen the future (again)

There's a new trend around here when studios release films ("movies") they hope are going to be giant, money-printing blockbusters - the extended preview.  Avatar did it, Toy Story 3 did it, and tonight we enjoyed 20+ minutes of Tron: Legacy, which isn't out until mid-December.  You turn up at a nearby cinema with your specially printed free ticket, sit in front of an IMAX screen, put on your 3D glasses, watch, and get a few goodies at the end.  You're then encouraged to Facebook and Tweet about it all, whip up the hype, and so extend the marketing budget into a record opening weekend.  It worked for James Cameron...

This Tron is a sequel to the original, which came out when I was 6 and was about a person who got sucked into a computer and met lots of programs there.  I don't need to say more, it was obviously completely cool!!  With middle-aged geeks now recognised as an important economic group with their own money (or, at least, their wife's) to spend, I'm happy to still be a marketeers target.

The Tron Night 2010 screening attendance was a little disappointing.  We'd been told to arrive an hour in advance to avoid huge queues, but actually got there ten minutes before it started and found a quarter-full screen.  We had our phones taken, and were wanded down airport style.  Still, there was a ton of whooping and hollering when things got going (American audiences: the best), the highlight being some joker shouting out "you can't tell me what to do!" when the message to put on your 3D glasses appeared on the screen.

Was my six-yr-old-self sold?  Well, it's again about someone who gets sucked inside a computer and meets lots of programs, so obviously.  Duh.

We got security wrist bands!  I'm going to wear this FOREVER.

Hmmm...not that impressive, but I'll take whatever freebies I can get.