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Tron: Legacy (2010)

Time Out rating

Average user rating

16 reviews

Synopsis

The hotly anticipated sequel to the classic, pre-digital Disney adventure, as Jeff Bridges prepares to go back inside the computer world.

Movie review

From Time Out London

For over a decade, Disney’s ‘Tron’ was the red-headed stepchild of ’80s genre movies, seen as a blatant attempt to cash in on the arcade craze, a film bursting with style but lacking in substance. But as times changed, ‘Tron’ was re-evaluated: arcade culture was now fashionably retro, and as our world became increasingly digitised, the film’s ideas of virtual reality and complex computerised systems became oddly prescient. It also didn’t hurt that this coincided with Jeff Bridges’s rise from dependable leading man to countercultural icon.

Even so, the announcement two years ago that Disney was beginning work on a sequel seemed optimistic in the extreme: not only would this be the longest-gestating franchise attempt in cinema history, but were there really enough retro-nerds around to make the film a genuine commercial prospect? Now, thanks to a geek-targeted marketing campaign of staggering intensity, ‘Tron: Legacy’ is one of the most anticipated multiplex releases of the season. But can the film live up to the slavish hype?

The answer is… sort of. Appropriately, the sequel suffers from almost the same problems as the original: while it’s visually dazzling (particularly in 3D), thematically intriguing and fronted by the single coolest man in the universe, it’s also empty, derivative and rather directionless. We pick up the story a few years after the events of the first movie, as Kevin Flynn (Bridges) waxes lyrical about the possibilities of this new technology to seven-year-old son Sam. But when Flynn goes mysteriously missing, control of his company passes to a board of faceless corporate drones. Sam, now a rebellious 27-year-old played by blandly handsome mediocrity Garrett Hedlund, decides to go digging into the past and soon finds himself zapped into the computer and thrust onto the infamous Game Grid.

There’s a lot of story in ‘Tron: Legacy’: pretty much every character in the computer world, from Flynn’s digi-Hitler nemesis Clu (also played by a creepy, digitally youth-ified Bridges) to Michael Sheen as bizarre pantomime Bowie-alike club owner Zeus, has their personal history sketched out, usually in portentous flashback. But this can’t compensate for an absence of actual character development: even Sam, the supposed hero, is little more than a winning smile and a missing-Dad complex. Bridges makes the best of an underwritten part, but his amiable, dedicated character from the first movie has been reduced to a shaggy Zen master spouting sub-Lebowski hippy-isms (‘radical, man!’).

There’s no doubting the film’s visual ambition: the first act is essentially one breathlessly impressive action sequence, making the best imaginable use of 3D technology to thrust the audience right into this gorgeous, intricately detailed fantasy world. Daft Punk’s pulsating Moroder-esque soundtrack is another highlight, as is the band’s sly, appropriately faceless cameo.

But as the story becomes more convoluted and less convincing, as entire plot strands are left hanging, as Hedlund smoulders and Bridges clings to his dignity, it becomes clear that this ‘Tron’ isn’t going to satisfy any but the most undemanding fans. The door is left wide open for a sequel and the prospect remains a welcome one – but let’s hope they can do a comprehensive de-bug, and get this system running smoothly once more.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2104

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User reviews of this film

JAG said...

Posted on Jan 13 2011 18:03 This film relies on the audience being of a certain age where the dawn of computers took over the imagination of young people (really I should say boys), where Amigas, Atari STs, and a plethoria of other 1st generation homes computers used by geeks where introduced. This film will reignite the primordial instincts of discovering computers way ahead of the rest of the work (or at least that was my feeling at the time), being ahead of the curve.
Tron was able to bring visuals to our own such dreams, and certainly so does this one.
As for the rest of the people that do not encapsulate this spirit of discovering something so big and new, you will have other totemic films or music to brandish, this one is mine!

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Seg said...

Posted on Dec 29 2010 12:39 I "GOT" this film and am temporarily gobsmacked by it, sure to be a classic, will be seeing it again, Daft Punk music, stunning visuals, beautifull people, OMG amazing, I didnt watch this film for its plot....

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Matthew McKinnon said...

Posted on Dec 28 2010 00:28 Very very boring indeed.
Why give the sequel to a wonderfully colourful film a dull two-tone colour scheme [the ever-popular 'teal and orange' combination]? Why make the plot so boring and incomprehensible? Why employ Daft Punk to do the music, and then get them to do a Hans Zimmer score? Why make every supporting character look like a Matrix extra [baldy leather club look or Emo hair & makeup] - The MATRIX?!! That film was dated back in 1999! Why is everyone acting like they're about to burst into song, or waiting for the cut?
A film that trades on the name of the original, but actually has very little to do with it in feel or spirit.
Good 3D, for whatever that's worth.

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Justin Berkovi said...

Posted on Dec 24 2010 23:14 I saw the first TRON when I was a ZX Spectrum playing kid and loved it. The idea that a laser could zap you and insert you into the machines was an incredible story for a tech addicted child back in the 80s. The new film has been poorly received by critics and unjustly so. It is a stunning film - it makes Avatar look like 'the bill'.
The characters are not strong but the sheer beauty of the film and the impressive soundtrack make for a hugely enjoyable experience. There are also really great moments of 'real life' that were touches that reminded me in parts of bladerunner or other homages to films / books, etc.
I saw this at the 3D IMAX in London and would advise anyone to do the same. TRON is a work of art and if you let your mind run free a bit and indulge yourself you will be rewarded.

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DV said...

Posted on Dec 22 2010 18:20 Looks good, but hard to really care about what happens. 3D and cgi over plot and character development really should be banned from film making. Discuss.

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Scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Dec 22 2010 18:04 ...........and 6+/10 = ***, I 'spose!

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Dec 22 2010 18:02 Far superior to the boring first (from a 28 year old memory, not seen it since I was 12) but not really up to much. Just about worth 2 hours of your time, and plus's are an 80's vibe and Michael Sheen...But NARNIA 3 is this years xmas treat....closely followed by Megamind. Once you have seen those, yeah.....give this a go. 6+/10

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Ian said...

Posted on Dec 19 2010 09:21 Agree with Moviegeek. I wanted to like this and was looking forward to see how the 3D effects would work out.
The plot was so obvious almost to the level of being pathetic. The cod "obi wan death star" scene at the end just summed it up for me.
Plot 1 star, acting 2 stars and effects 3 stars. They should have made so much more of them.
All in all just above dire but not good enough to be good. Must do better.

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howget said...

Posted on Dec 18 2010 07:03 I give it 5 out of 5 for the comedy, because the acting was THAT bad. Whats with the cliches like "dont worry flynn, all of your questions will be answered very soon" with that cliche face on too. Whats with the " radical, man" and then the awkward pause. The part that really got me though was when the old guys like "were not gonna make it" 2 seconds later "we made it!.

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MUSED said...

Posted on Dec 17 2010 21:46 Me thinks the studio machine is working overtime trying to convince 'us' that this is a film of real substance - this thread not excluded....I dont blame them, a lot of money spent....I'd most probably play the same game in the same position,....but one punter to another...save the wedge....

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Mortimer Capp said...

Posted on Dec 17 2010 20:31 Stunningly beautiful movie. Story is easy to follow, violence is limited, Visual effects and music are amazing. I am definitely going to see it again. One quantum leap ahead of any other 3D movie.

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USED said...

Posted on Dec 17 2010 19:15 Worse than PANTS....really bad in every way. Not to mention the premium charged for really sub standard 3D. I'm more than happy to watch a bit of escapism. I'm really unhappy to be ripped off by a poor attempt at entertainment....

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Johngault22 said...

Posted on Dec 17 2010 18:10 I thought the gem of the story was really intriguing but they did leave a lot plot threads hanging, also the guy playing Sam was a really crap actor.

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premsta said...

Posted on Dec 14 2010 15:42 As a fan of the original film, I thoroughly enjoyed the sequel, not only for the effects, which are gorgeous, but for the story as well...it's a story that every Star Wars and/or videogame fan could get...it seems that far too few movie critics fall into either category, which is why they don't 'get it'.

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moviegeek said...

Posted on Dec 06 2010 02:08 CGI Jeff bridges looked more like Prince Charming in Shrek!
Ireally wanted to like this, but I'm sorry to say that I hated it.
My full review: http://wp.me/p19wJ2-7b

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