New Technology Reviews!.: beyond

5 awesome 3D things to do this weekend and beyond

It's been a long time coming for many of us – 28 years to be precise – but Tron: Legacy finally hits cinemas in the UK this week. The movie has been shot in 3D from the ground up, so it is a very good showcase of what the technology is capable of. Couple this with the fact that you get two Jeff Bridges for the price of one (a bearded and younger version) and what you have is a recipe for three-dimensional success Tron: Legacy may be our number one 3D thing to go and watch this week, but there's also four frankly awesome more things 3D-wise that you can see and do. Don't believe us? Then read on… <H4>1 Tron: Legacy</H4> <img alt="Tron legacy" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/images/tron/TRON_Legacylogo-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> It may have a first time director and no sign of Tron Man, but Tron: Legacy does a decent job of taking up the slack left by the original Tron movie. Yes that does mean an almost incomprehensible plot and the most bizarre Michael Sheen performance you will ever see, but the 3D visuals and soaring Daft Punk soundtrack more than make up for one or two niggles. For the best experience, head down to an IMAX to see the movie. Reasons to watch: <UL> <LI>It's got Jeff Bridges in it <LI>The 3D Tron bike face-off is pretty special <LI>Olivia Wilde popping out of the screen is not bad thing</LI></UL> <H4>2 Chelsea vs Man Utd</H4> <img alt="Sky 3d" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/Sky_3D/Sky3d_football-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> It's arguably the biggest game of the season so far between two teams who have had mixed bag of fortune of late. Man Utd are certainly the favourites to win, given they are top of the league and celebrating the fact they haven't lost this season. Chelsea will be wanting to exorcise the demons, however, and put an end to their worst streak in 10 years. Sky is showing the game in 3D, so get yourself to a pub or switch on your shiny new 3DTV to get close to the action. When's it on: Sunday 19 December, 3.30pm Reasons to watch: <UL> <LI>It's the biggest game of the year <LI>3D football is mighty impressive <LI>Watching Drogba firing in the winning goal in 3D will be satisfying (hopefully)</LI></UL> <H4>3 Dance, Dance, Dance</H4> <img alt="Dance, dance, dance" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/Sky_3D/sky_ballet_3d_cam-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> So good they had to name it three times, Dance, Dance, Dance is a Sky Arts production that's filled with – you've guessed it – dance choreography. Arlene Philips is the host and folks from the English National Ballet will be dancing for your 3D entertainment. Even if you are not a dance aficionado, the spectacle of seeing it in 3D is more than enough to keep you entertained. Reasons to watch: <UL> <LI>Ballet in 3D – check out those pirouettes <LI>It's a decent change from watching sport or movies <LI>Sky told 3DRadar it is some of the best footage they have ever filmed</LI></UL> <H4>4 The Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader</H4> <img alt="Voyage of dawn treader" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/images/Voyage-Of-Dawn-Treader1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> A big screen adaptation of CS Lewis' classic book hits cinemas this week, offering up a decent slice of fantasy that will get your kids to stop talking about Christmas for at least two hours. Most of the cast from the previous two outings are back and they are joined by animated mouse Reepicheep and cousin Eustace. It's the first 3D outing for Narnia, but don't expect it to be the last. Reasons to watch: <UL> <LI>Aslan is back – and he is in 3D <LI>Director Michael Apted is one of England's finest <LI>The CGI couple with 3D will keep kids captivated</LI></UL> <H4>5 Buy a Panasonic 3D TV – get Avatar 3D</H4> <img alt="avatar" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/world%20of%20tech/images/Avatar_image-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Panasonic dropped the bombshell this week that to get yourself a copy of Avatar 3D, then you will have to purchase a Panasonic 3D product. The company has the rights to the movie tied up all the way till 2012, so buying one of its products is the only way to get a Blu-ray 3D copy of the movie – unless of course you want to go to eBay and buy one for a few hundred quid. Our choice of a Panasonic 3D? It's got to be the TX-P65VT20B. Reasons to buy: <UL> <LI>Avatar – it's the best 3D movie around. Still. <LI>3D has meant a resurgence for plasma tellies <LI>No 3D TV, no 3D content – simples</LI></UL>

5 awesome 3D things to do this weekend and beyond

It's been a long time coming for many of us – 28 years to be precise – but Tron: Legacy finally hits cinemas in the UK this week. The m...

If you are lucky enough to be able to get out without the snow hampering your every movie, then you be pleased to hear that there's plenty of 3D treats in store for the weekend and beyond. And the best thing is, you don't have to go searching for them as <a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/">3DRadar</A> has come to your rescue, comign up with five things to do and see that will make you fall in love with 3D... <H4>1 Try out some mind expansion</H4> <img alt="megamind" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/images/megamind1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Despicable Me may have hogged the limelight when it comes to being the first 3D movie centring on bad guys trying to outwit each other, but Megamind goes one better with super-villains and aliens. Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill and Brad Pitt lend their voices to this animated movie that <a href="http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/megamind">Total Film</A> gave the movie an impressive four stars, who say that the 3D does the movie justice and doesn't look like an afterthought – which means it gets 3DRadar's seal of approval. Out in cinemas now Reasons to watch: <UL> <LI>The IMAX is showing it</LI> <LI>Ferrell, Pitt and Ben Stiller get vocal</LI> <LI>The director used to work on The Ren & Stimpy Show</LI></UL> <H4>2 Give your movie watching food for thought</H4> <img alt="cloudy" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/high-definition/images/CloudyChanceMeatballsGrab-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Sky 3D is showing this weekend one of the first of the 'new generation' of 3D films to get released in the home, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. The plot is silly: man develops a way to change weather into food, but there's many laughs to be had in the movie, even if most of them do revolve around oversized snacks falling from the sky. Sony bet big on this movie to do well and it was bundling Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs with some of its 3D TVs as a reference disc earlier in the year. Showing on Sky 3D 4 December Reasons to watch: <UL> <LI>Will keep the kids happy</LI> <LI>Makes you respect junk food</LI> <LI>Fantastic 3D scenes</LI></UL> <H4>3 Put some boing boing into your life</H4> <img alt="sky 3d" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/sky-3d11-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> West Brom V Newcastle is being shown in 3D on Sky 3D this weekend and the game should be great to watch. Both teams may be new to the Premiership this year, but they have showed the big guys how football should be played. Newcastle is currently ninth in the league and WBA a modest twelfth, but only goal difference separates the teams. You can watch the game at home on Sky 3D or at one of the many pubs that show Sky 3D games up and down the country. The action will be so close. You'll be able to see what woodland creatures Andy Carroll keeps in his stupidly long hair. Showing on Sky 3D Sunday 5 December Reasons to watch: <UL> <LI>West Brom and Newcastle have hit four and above past opponents this season</LI> <LI>Football in 3D needs to be seen to be believed</LI> <LI>Whoever wins could end up in a respectable seventh place</LI></UL> <H4>4 Visit Wonderland</H4> <img alt="Alice" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/images/Alice%203D.jpg.jpg" width="420"></IMG> There's not been too many 3D Blu-ray releases to hit the shelves, so when one does get released it's hard not to make a song and dance about its arrival. Alice In Wonderland may not be the best Tim Burton movie ever made, but it has all the thrills and spills you expect from the director who just gets curiouser and curiouser. Surprise, surprise long-term collaborators Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter also make an appearance, as does Danny Elfman on the soundtrack. The 3D may have been done in post, but there's enough down-the-rabbit-hole shots to make your eyes pop out. Out 6 December on 3D Blu-ray Reasons to watch: <UL> <LI>Depp is great as the Mad Hatter</LI> <LI>The actress playing Alice is one of the best of her generation</LI> <LI>Burton's twisted visuals bring Lewis Carroll's world to life</LI></UL> <H4>5 Kit yourself out with pixelated camouflage </H4> <img alt="BLACK ops" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/COD-Black-Ops-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> GT5 may have knocked it from the top spot but Call of Duty: Black Ops is still a 3D game that's a joy to play and one you should (heat)seek out this week. The plot is the most coherent of all the Call of Duty franchise and the addition of 3D gives you the accuracy of a sniper's bullet. And it's not just the PS3 that's offering the game in 3D, you can also get a 3D version for the PC too. Out now

5 awesome 3D things to do this weekend and beyond

If you are lucky enough to be able to get out without the snow hampering your every movie, then you be pleased to hear that there's plen...