Review: TRON: LEGACY is Pure Awesome Entertainment
Put your minds at ease. This review is spoiler free.
Are you excited to see Tron: Legacy? You should be. It’s freakin’ awesome!
I’ve been looking forward to the Tron sequel since Disney first showed off the test footage at Comic-Con two years ago. From that day on, I was hooked. I’ve eaten up everything that the Disney marketing team has thrown at me. As a result, my expectations were very high. After finally seeing the finished film, I’m happy to tell you that the film met my expectations.
Tron: Legacy tells the story of Sam Flynn, a tech-savvy 27-year-old, as he searches for his missing father, Kevin Flynn, the protagonist of Disney’s 1982 cult classic, Tron. Sam investigates his father's disappearance and is pulled into a digital world of fierce programs and brutal gladiatorial games – the world where his father has been living for 20 years. Father and son are reunited and, along with Kevin's loyal confidant, they embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually stunning cyber universe that is far more advanced, and far more dangerous, than it was in the original film.
The visual effects of Tron: Legacy absolutely blew me away. The world of Tron that was re-created for the sequel is glorious. If that slick, stylish city were a real place, I would live there. If you’ve seen the trailer for the movie, you know what I’m talking about. I’m not the biggest fan of 3D filmmaking, but this is an entire world created in 3D; I recommend you make the effort to see it as it was intended. If you don’t, you’ll be missing out.
The disc wars and light cycle scenes are incredibly cool. They are some of the best and most exciting parts of the movie. My only complaint about them is that they are too brief. When you watch these Tron characters furiously battle it out, you can't help but want to see more of them.
The actor’s performances are terrific. I’ve heard a few complaints about Garret Hedlund as Sam Flynn, but I thought he did a great job. I found him to be natural and sincere. Oliva Wilde was fun to watch on the big screen. She plays her character wonderfully, and she looks amazing. Jeff Bridges steals the show. He plays both Kevin Flynn and his younger looking digital self, Clu 2.0. He has some of the most entertaining dialogue as Flynn and the audience was cracking up at his laid-back hippie-speak. There are times when he harnesses the energy of The Dude, and it's really amusing.
The musical score for the film created by Daft Punk is extraordinary. I can’t wait to pick up a copy of the soundtrack. The score mixed with the film’s visual world is brilliant perfection. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. It kept me pumped up and excited as the story was being told.
Tron: Legacy may have had its problems, but it is still a good film. I enjoyed the hell out of it, and can’t wait to see it again! If anything, I thought the movie was too short. Another 30 or 40 minutes would allow for both a clearer view of the plot and better character development while also improving the pacing and flow of the narrative. There was only one aspect of the film that really bugged me, and I can’t tell you about it because it is a major plot point spoiler, and that’s why it bugged me. It was a major plot point that wasn’t fully explained. Maybe they left the explanation for the sequel.
Regardless of any weaknesses, I highly recommend this film. First time feature film director Joseph Kosinskidid an incredible job bringing Tron back to life. I loved his vision for this digital world. Tron: Legacy is a marvelously cool and sexy movie that you are going to enjoy. I was so engulfed in this new Tron world that I didn’t want it to end. I would love to see a sequel, so here’s hoping it succeeds at the box office.
I just want to reiterate that this film should be seen on the big screen, in 3D and IMAX if at all possible. On December 17th go out, sit back, relax, and enjoy the Tron: Legacy digital adventure! It's pure awesome entertainment.