Rating of
4/4
TRON: Legacy
Bizarro - wrote on 09/29/11
The original 1982 TRON was definitely a landmark film. It was the first ever to feature complete CGI landscapes as a backdrop for the then state of the art light cycle chases and disc wars.
TRON: Legacy is remarkably not a reboot, but a sequel, making it probably the most belated sequel in all of film history. With such a long period between the two films, there was quite a substantial risk undertaking this project. There was a chance most people either forgot the original, in which case Legacy would merely confuse, or the visionary original that perplexed audiences in 1982 wuld have a similar outcome for the new one.
Joseph Kosinski helmed this sequel starring Jeff Bridges, who returns as the tech-savvy computer programmer Kevin Flynn, now trapped in The Grid, a world inside the computer which he designed. The film starts off with his now estranged 25-year old hacker son, Sam (played by Garrett Hedlund), as he causes trouble for his father's company, Encom.
After receiving a mysterious page, Kevin's old friend Alan informs Sam that it might've come from his missing dad. Sam discovers his father's lab where he designed The Grid and is inadvertedly pulled into the cold, dark world inside the computer.
From here on a series of events leads Sam tohis now aging father, his program assistant Quorra (played by Olivia Wilde) and the rogue master program designed by his own father in his likeness, Clu.
Legacy left audiences fairly divided, like the original. For me, there was actually very little wrong with it. Strong performances from Bridges and Hedlund as father and son add cohesiveness. Olivia Wilde is a delight to watch as the naive and quirky Quorra. Michael Sheen steals the film as the eccentric End of Line club owner, Castor.
Clu, who was the digitally created version of a young Jeff Bridges' face, was probably the weak link in the film. Sure, the face was really well done, and might've even fooled a few people, but it just not a substitute for the real deal, especially an actor as charismatic as Bridges.
The writing was at times also a little shoddy. Clu's grand scheme was a little convoluted and some of the dialogue was wooden.
The highlights of the film are without a doubt the visuals, which are absolutely stunning in creating the dark, gloomy and reflective world of The Grid illuminated with bright blue. Another ace in the hole is Daft Punk's bombastic, electronic score, which perfectly capture the essence and atmosphere needed.
I'd venture to say that this surpasses the original and is a unique and stunning feature film.
