Tron: Legacy

Everything about this film works. The visuals, writing, acting, everything. There are very few wrong things I can find with Tron, especially the soundtrack which is timeless even almost a decade later. I still remember watching this film in theaters and not regretting it at all. I highly recommend this film for fans of anything quality.

From the pacing to the cinematography this film is astoundingly well made, and truly deserves more recognition. It is timeless in every meaning of the word.

This film is the best example of "style over substance", but wow, what substance. It has some of the best production design and soundtrack I have ever witnessed. Visually and aurally speaking, I would even call it a masterpiece. It is like no other techno-futuristic cyberspace I have ever seen depicted. However, it is let down by a dull main actor and an unpolished story that didn't fully convince me.

While the performance delivered by the son in this movie might not be Oscar-worthy, the allure of this film does not rely heavily on its acting prowess. It lies in the striking and ground-breaking visuals, accompanied by the captivating music score that is truly an auditory treat. The avant-garde aesthetic elements are profoundly impressive, pushing the boundaries and setting the film ahead of its time.

This cinematic production is a feast for the eyes and ears, immersing you in an experience that is sure to leave you in awe. The bold and imaginative visuals coupled with the profoundly moving soundtrack create a mesmerizing amalgamation of sight and sound. This movie transcends beyond the realm of conventional storytelling, offering an immersive and captivating spectacle that tantalizes the senses.

What sets this movie apart is its simplicity in terms of plot. It does not delve into a complex narrative or convoluted character development; rather, it revolves around the concept of visual and auditory satisfaction. It's an experience that encourages audiences to sit back, relax, and simply absorb the breathtaking visuals and mesmerizing music. It's a unique approach that breaks away from the typical expectations of what constitutes a movie, redefining it as a symphony of artistry that takes place on the silver screen. This movie is not just a film-it's a spectacle that stimulates and soothes, a true pleasure to watch.

Right off the bat I'm going to say that I didn't see the first film. Obviously I've heard from a lot of people saying that they need to see the first film before watching this one, seeing as this is a direct sequel to a nearly 30 year old cult sci-fi film. But, seeing that I didn't have time, I decided to watch the sequel anyway.

Now keep in mind that Disney took a HUGE risk in making a sequel to a movie that is not very often talked about when it comes to movies as opposed to many blockbusters today. The first TRON had no famous franchise to speak of (apart from the real games inspired by it). Adding to the danger is the film's budget - reportedly between US$ 200 - 300 million. With that kind of money you'll wonder what exactly was Disney hoping for with this film.

Nevermind the fact that the story is a bit unfocused and could be rounded up in a more polished way. Nevermind too that the fantastic world and great ideas aren't expanded upon some more, as well as the fact that the script could use a little bit more originality.

Also, not forgetting some good (in Jeff Bridges' case, great as always as he plays two very different characters with perfect emotional resonance - proving that he still has the chops to carry a big movie) performances by the cast - with Garrett Hedlund showing great leading man potential and Olivia Wilde looking great and cute to boot. Michael Sheen, Beau Garrett and Bruce Boxleitner (apparently returning to his role from the first film, so it seems) all give good support.

No sir-ee, what you pay for - and what you get in spades - are the special/visual effects. Goodness me, this is quite possibly the best special effects I've seen all year, and that's saying something. I have to admit though, the CGI that makes Jeff Bridges young look jarring, but that is overshadowed by the compelling, groundbreaking special/visual effects that really bring you into the cybernetic world. Who doesn't want to take a ride on one of those fantastic, futuristic vehicles? Who doesn't want those awesome light-cycles or one of those dueling/data discs? It is possible that, like "Avatar" a year ago, this film can be a game-changer for special/visual effects alone.

It's a real treat for the eyes, and it's even better in 3D which is splendidly used to flesh out the dimensions and graphics of the cyber world bring you even deeper into the world instead of things merely flying out to you and post-production conversion like in SO many 3D movies (Note that in the 3D version, there's a disclaimer before the film starts, saying that parts of the film are filmed in both natural 2D and 3D as they way they should be. Just so you know, this shows that the filmmakers care for what they want to give you).

Very ambitious architect-and-designer-turned-first-time-filmmaker Joseph Kosinski hit a home run with this film, crafting an extraordinary and spellbinding world of escapism that looks slick, stylish and extremely cool to watch. Kosinski and the production team fill the cyber world with heaps of imagination and the result is what you see on screen. And here I thought Hollywood would recycle certain design patterns (plot patterns still need work though). Kosinski is a truly visionary filmmaker that one really has to keep an eye on.

The production design is on par with the special effects, it is nothing short of spectacular and perfect. The cinematography which is big and wide and best of all NOT shaky allows you to savor every moment of SFX goodness. The superb sound effects serve to complement the visuals and the electronic world, and all for the better. Daft Punk's varying but atmospheric electronic/orchestral score all but suits the film's mood perfectly with its techno beats and soaring string during moments.

Overall, this is perhaps a fine way to end the blockbuster season of 2010, and this is a definite must watch for all looking for an escape. The special effects alone are worth the price of TWO movie tickets, and with that I say, give this one a try, even if you haven't seen the first one. It aims to entertain and to dazzle the audience, and it succeeds brilliantly. Excuse me while I rent the first one now.

Overall rating: 75/100

I'm not going to explain much about this movie story/premise, because I assume most viewers were fans of the original Tron.

When I first heard about this movie, I couldn't be more excited: an old movie with brand new technology? Even if the story turned out bad, it was a new Tron, and that alone made it perfect.

I watched the movie last night, in 3D, and it was a very pleasant experience for the most part, but don't think this is a great movie, because it's not.

Flynn (Jeff Bridges) is back, and in two shapes. An older Flynn, and a computer generated younger Flynn. The computer model looks good (for the most part), and it was necessary, otherwise we would have ended up with an old man with a ton of make-up on it's face, just to shave off a couple of years.

The movie starts with Flynn disappearing, and his son entering the Grid world in search of him. It's textbook script, but then again, what could we expect from Tron? It was never about the story, and this movie proves it. The plot is weak, and weakened by poor/unnecessary dialog and very shallow characters.

Luckily, none of that matters once the Grid world is shown to us. Visually it's great, and the action scenes are fun and fast-paced. I even dare saying it's the best 3D movie I saw so far, which also poses a problem: this movie looks great and feels great only in 3D, and in the theaters. I can't imagine myself in a few months buying the movie to watch in my sofa.

Another problem with the movie is that half-way through, it becomes repetitive. Maybe if they kept the action flowing, with little dialog, this movie would have been better, but trying to add depth to such a poor script ends up boring the audience.

The bottom-line is: Tron Legacy if fan-service. It a re-rendered universe with very little story, but very good looking.

7/10 if you watch it in the theaters, in 3D 4/10 anywhere else