Since Kevin Flynn disappeared, his son – Sam – is the biggest shareholder in his father’s company; Encom. Unlike his father, however, Sam wants nothing to do with the company other than to turn up at the most inconvenient moment and prank them, kind of like a cyberspace version of the Joker. After he receives a mysterious message, Sam visits the arcade that his father ran, discovers his secret office and – eventually – the world beyond it.
First things first, Tron: Legacy looks amazing, it could even be said that it looks better than Avatar (there are many issues with Avatar, but it is safe to say that it looked great). The world of the Grid is so expertly and wonderfully realised that there is never any doubt in the audiences’ mind that this is a real world. Sam is subjected to savage life or death ‘games’ in order to survive the Grid including vicious Disc Wars and a Light Cycle Battle, which looks beautiful. Beautiful may seem like a strange world to describe what is essentially a digital space, but it is accurate. The light trails left by the bikes are mesmerising; they appear to be made out of liquid candy rather than light and it is easy to get caught up in them rather than the action. The rest of the Grid is no less visually impressive; from the costumes to the weapons, Disney pulled out the stops for Tron: Legacy and it shows.
The other impactive aspect of Tron: Legacy is the sound. Yes, we all know that Daft Punk have done the soundtrack for the movie and it suits the movie and kicks the action up several notches at a time, but the sound is not to be dismissed. The machines, flying craft and just about everything else sound wonderful. This adds another layer of sound to the already kick ass Daft Punk soundtrack. Which rocks, by the way.
Jeff Bridges is fantastic as both Kevin Flynn and the sinister Clu. Clu was created to run the world that Flynn discovered, but like HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey he soon decided that his way was better and transformed the Grid into a semi-dictatorial state. Where Flynn is deeply emotional – albeit slightly withdrawn and monosyllabic – Clu is blank and emotionless. The decision to have Bridges play both characters sounds good on paper, but the realisation – through motion capture – is slightly lacking, although the ‘dead eyes’ suit the character of Clu.
The emotional thrust of the film is left to Garrett Hedlund as Sam Flynn – the man who finds his father after 20 years, but has no idea how to relate to him. He takes the challenge and he manages it well for the most part. Olivia Wilde is great (and very easy on the eye) as Quorra, who alternates between wildly innocent and fantastically kick ass, and Michael Sheen’s short scene as Castor is so deliciously wicked he’ll have you begging for more. First time director Joseph Kosinski makes a decent stab at the movie; he nails the action but the emotional depth needed for the movie is not quite realised.
Sadly, where Tron: Legacy is lacking is the story. Once Sam finds his father, the story gets moves up a gear but seems unable to sustain itself. Style and pace are lost in favour of an overly complicated back-story, which may have Tron fans rejoicing, but leaves the rest of us cold. There is something about genocide, ISOs and an attempt to invade the real world…? Somehow it all gets muddled together and the emotional impact is lost. Yes, we need a break after the exhilarating Light Cycle battle, but what we are given is clunky and slows the film down.
Overall, Tron: Legacy is about style, not substance, and to be honest, this was what we expected. The film looks incredible, sounds amazing and the music is a triumph (whose idea was it to bring in Daft Punk? Seriously!), but the third act labours through heavy and cumbersome plot points, the like of which have not been seen since The Matrix, but never mind. Slip your 3D glasses on, turn your brain off and enter the Grid. This is the glossy slick world that Tron could only dream of and although the drama could have done with another rewrite, Tron: Legacy is one of the most visually stunning films of recent years.
Yeah i’d have to agree with this interview for the most part. It just seemed to be lacking….depth, I guess. Also I think as someone who loved the original i sometimes felt like it strayed too far from the feel of TRON.
It seemed to be plagued by that notion which movie execs seem to think every film needs these days….that the movie needs to shout “HEY LOOK! I’M DROPPING HINTS FOR A SEQUEL!! IT’S GONNA BE A TRILOGY!! ISN’T THAT AWESOME?? OMNOMNOMNOM $$$$$” resulting in a so-so ending, and a load of points in the movie that go absolutely nowhere…*cough*cillian murphy*cough*…
However you are right in that it can be enjoyed as pure visual entertainment. I loved every bit of action. Especially light cycle fight + bar fight
Most annoying part? Very little Bruce Boxleitner/Tron himself!!
I agree mostly, but I liked the simple story. It’s a Disney fairytale, essentially, about a king, a usurper and a prince, with a kingdom in ruin. Just instead of song and dance sequences, there’s lightcycles and Daft Punk.
But yep, Hedlund can’t carry the film. He’s just not able to generate enough interest to make up for the script’s lack of depth for Sam. Bridges does much better and arguably has the stronger arc, but the movie seems to think we care about Sam Flynn.
But I liked, more than most. Beautiful, well put together and the sound design is excellent.
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