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Major trends include sequals, movies that keep that great movie's story going. So you can get ready for even more sequels in the remainder of 2009. Films released in recent years won't be the only ones that will become sequals. Watch for films that came out during the 1990's or even earlier.
You might also want to watch for films called non-sequels, which seem close to a true sequel (e.g. Wolverine which was early declared a non-sequel but now bears the title X-Men Origins: Wolverine.)
2009 will be yet another good year for bringing popular cartoons, comics, and literary works to life. With the success of films like 300 and SinCity, Hollywood isn't going to let the chance to make a few more graphic-novel based films get away.
Next ...comics and graphic novels are hot this year. Note the Watchmen movie; long touted as the greatest graphic novel of all time. Comic-based movies are in. And watch out for the return of some favorite cartoons, including the recently released G.I. Joe.
As the television industry adds new features like streaming Internet movies and 3-D capabilities, manufacturers are fighting a sadder trend. One research firm, DisplaySearch, forecasts global sales of LCD TVs will fall 16 percent to $64 billion during the year 2009, the first sales decline since the technology debuted in the year 2000.
In the future, many top of the line as well as value-priced TVs will connect to the Internet, a trend which started about a year ago with limited functions, such as news stories and weather reports. Now, back-end systems and partnerships will be providing streaming movies.
Some other new features for top tier TV models include: improved handling of fast-moving scenes and a reduction in power useage. Sony, LG, Toshiba Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. will introduce TVs that can grab Flickr photos, YouTube videos and news stories through a broadband connection.
Most of the manufacturers are raising the bar to 240 frames per second, but not by computing more new frames. Instead, the backlight will switch on and off very quickly, fooling the eye so that it perceives a smoother movement. Energy Star requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will also be big, with a goal to recognize the most energy-efficient 25 percent of a product category.
Sony has introduced what it called its "first green line" of LCD TVs 00 Eco Bravia models that use 40 percent less power than last year's models, exceeding the latest Energy Star requirements.
Last, most analysts agree 3-D viewing is the next big wave coming to the consumer electronics industry. Watching films on the Internet is becomming mainstream, and will only enhance the reviewer's ability to do a fast movie review.
