Tron is one of the most important films ever made in that it pioneered a whole new generation of moviemaking. Tron came over a decade before Toy Story, the first fully computer-generated movie, a movie that would not have been made without Tron leading the way, nor would any of the computer-heavy, special effects-driven blockbusters that are made so easily today. This was the first real example of computer-made visual effects being used as the primary source for the overall look of the film. Even almost two decades after its release, Tron still has the potential to amaze. The world we are introduced to is the first of its kind and one of a kind; a spectacle of neon lights and computer-looking sounds and images. It is easy to imagine that this really is what the world inside a computer could look like if the programs were people that battle in video games, are ruled by an evil Master Control, and look to the “users” for salvation.
Though the visuals are what really drive the movie, the cast, particularly a young Jeff Bridges only a few years off of The Last Picture Show, are surprisingly comfortable in their strange environment. You have to remember they were being filmed in bizarre costumes against a screen, and what they all turn out is wonderful. Although, for a Messiah figure, Bridges can be a bit obnoxious at times, but that is the way of the character. The plot does lose its way on occasion, making some points drag slightly. There can also be mild confusion sparked from the non-stop nature of the action, but this is what makes the film so exciting. There is a real urgency and a feeling of time-restraint to the proceedings that keeps us involved throughout. The score is also an invigorating and essential element, supplying the appropriate noises one would expect a computer world to make, without forsaking the traditional adventurous music.
Tron is a triumph of entertainment and worthy of being included amongst the great sci-fi classics. Fewer years may have passed than other classics of its genre, but what age has been added to Tron has treated it well. It comes highly recommended as not just an antique innovation, but a satisfying and very fun piece of cinema.
8/10
Tron was a popular movie for good reason upon its release and then sort of disappeared into cult territory until a whole eighteen years later when the inevitable sequel was finally released. What we got after the wait wasn't worth it. The whole purpose of the original Tron was that it creatively explored the inner world of technology, something that was done realistically; if a fantasy world existed inside an 80s computer, it would look just like that. Tron showed us something new, unique, and exciting. What Tron: Legacy does is take that wonderful world and hand-modernize it into instant "cool" and also something completely pointless and absurd. It brings nothing new to the table, besides better effects, and even that is mostly wasted on below-average action sequences and the creation of a very sci-fi city where programs live and have recreation. Unlike the original Tron where all the programs only existed to serve specific functions, in Tron: Legacy, programs appear to do virtually nothing but sit around watching games and partying at nightclubs. Yes, nightclubs.
The first twenty minutes or so is a cliché-ridden mess. Flynn (still Jeff Bridges, unfortunately. He is better than this.) tells a bedtime story about his adventures in the Grid to his son right before disappearing forever, then the now adult son breaks laws out of sheer rebellion that I think we’re supposed to root for, for some reason, and sabotages a corrupt board meeting, all before going home to his bulldog (That’s the only pet action heroes are allowed to have, because they are equally cute and macho.) and eventually discovering the secret office hidden behind the arcade game. From there he is sucked into the Grid and the first movie happens all over again, just with different side-stories and the villain is Clu, a clone Flynn made of himself. Speaking of Clu, he is the worst effect in the whole movie. He is supposed to look like a young Jeff Bridges, but the result is distractingly bizarre and unconvincing, foiling any chance of his being any sort of menacing. The actor who played the son character (I’m not even worrying about names.) does not make a good acting impression, and I can't decide if he's entirely to blame. He does play the rebel well enough, but that gets almost instantly old. Otherwise, he doesn’t actually have anything to do except make awkward action poses and rattle off a steady stream of cheesy one-liners that only a small child might find amusing. Also, Tron himself makes a brief appearance simply because the movie is named after him, but he serves no real purpose.
The movie is filled with exercises in pointlessness. Take, for example, the scene in which the son is being prepared for the games. This is a lengthy sequence in which four female programs that just stepped out of some awful music video tear his clothes off. A machine then clothes him again in a blink of an eye, before the programs take their time applying a few extra gadgets and leave again. Why were four programs necessary for a job that didn’t seem to require any? The only reason I can think of is that there weren’t enough girls in the original. Martin Freeman's character, an over-the-top performance that only adds the film's pointless nature, is as obnoxious as he is unnecessary, and thankfully only briefly remains on-screen. I also must mention the pseudo-techno score by Daft Punk everyone’s been raving about. It serves its purpose as far as reminding us that we should be watching a cool 80s movie, but is entirely out of place in a 2010 film. If this is a 2010 computer we’re watching, why wouldn’t there be 2010 music? Asking questions like that serves no good, as Tron: Legacy is popular business, and to argue with fans is futile. Most people who see it are witnessing the Tron world for the first time and will find this entry more entertaining than they should. Tron: Legacy is copycat drivel that, for the general public who weren't standing in line to see it to begin with, does not warrant more than a curiosity rental. If you must watch it, do so on blu-ray, as it looks excellent that way and may make up for the movie itself.
4/10
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