Alright so after a few mishaps in planning I made it to a Tron Legacy showing in IMAX 3D. First let me just say this was my first movie in the new 3D format and also the only one so far I think was improved by it, but I'll explain that later.
*Spoiler alert!* If you haven't seen the movie yet then don't read this review it contains critical plot exploits.
Tron Legacy had some of the most amazing and advanced CG and 3D graphics I have ever seen with live action actors, the graphics were so crisp and clean and fast paced it was honestly hard for my eyes to keep up at some points. Disney pulled out all the stops here, the original Tron literally looks like it was shot and thrown together by a college student with a camera and final cut pro. The transition from Flynn discovering the grid and creating CLU and his disappearance followed by his son's troubled youth and menacing adulthood was done very well. Bruce Boxleitner played Alan the adopted father figure for Sam, although for some reason I kept thinking he was Michael Douglas. Olivia Wilde played Quorra, the last of the ISO's and Flynn's apprentice, and she did a brilliant job in doing so, her character was fun but serious with a line like "My favorite is Jules Vern, do you know him?" "yes" "what's he like?!?!" made the entire audience laug.Garrett Hedlund gave a fair performance as Sam Flynn, with the smart but dangerous hero attitude, with a bit of Kevin Flynn's snarky spite for his own company.
Once Sam Flynn is brought into the grid by his own doing via a page (who the f uses pagers...80's) that was believed to be sent by his father, the world seems to be a little confused between the original Tron and The Matrix. Several scenes seem borrowed yet unique in their own light. While Tron predates The Matrix by 17 years the idea of people being "programs" is very similar. Tron Legacy however introduced different environments than the first film as well as new vehicles, Quorra's tumbler-esque vehicle was exceptionally cool with the added ability to inflate its tires larger to go "off grid" to Flynn's Batcave like hideout.
The film has some underlying concepts that I'am not sure everyone will pick up on; such as that Flynn creates CLU, in his own image and tells him to create the perfect world, so in a way in the grid, Flynn is a god. In creating CLU in his image and being a man he is therefore with his own imperfections, and in his relentless pursuit of perfection he destroys all that he does not see fit. However CLU cannot create new "programs" he can only delete or re-purpose them, so he is only a god in that he can destroy, making him a sort of Satan allegory. Also since CLU is part of Flynn and seeming dark side of him, the alternative of the Christian story of Lucifer (pick your name for him) where in the good (god) is cast out and the Devil becomes ruler of the land.
These pathos are subtle throughout the movie as the main focus is set on Sam and Kevin's rekindled father son relationship. This I felt was done very well as there is chemistry between Bridges and Hedlund and the story enhances a sense of pride and admiration that Sam has for his father, and the love that Kevin has for his son is evident.
Olivia Wilde as Quorra was like a stylized huntress, dressed in the sleek and sexy latex lighted tron suit with feminine accents like exposed shoulders and a skortlike dress an combat boots. Olivia's intensity can be felt throughout the entire film all the while she presents the type of spunky cool chick who can hang with the guys personality. Quorra is willing to give her life at any time for Sam or Kevin and she is a worthy adversary but also like Leeloo from the Fifth Element she needs help too. You can't help but like her despite the lack of quality lines for her character, I suppose it also helps that Olivia is incredibly easy on the eyes.
Probably one of the defining factors in Tron Legacy is the soundtrack, it was composed and mixed by famed musical masterminds Daft Punk. The music gives the movie intensity that would otherwise be lost with anything less. I've had the soundtrack for about a month prior to seeing the film, and in listening to it I could imagine the grid, which gives Daft Punk enormous kudos for creating a sound that you can imagine a world for, its a tough trick to pull off.
Lastly I said I would explain why 3D actually improved this movie, the reason being is that Tron is set in a virtual reality and heavily accented with neon blue, white and orange and plenty of exploding digital programs that throw debris at the screen. While the seating my friends and I had in the theater wasn't preferable and some of the effects came out of focus due to the theater being set up like an amphitheater, the ones that really counted did. It added to the experience of the movie without overtaking it and making it completely about 3D.
All in all I did like the movie and I liked the characters and loved the graphics and presentation of the combination of them all. What was lacking however was story, some events just seemed too predictable, like you had already seen the movie somehow. That and several plot points were left out that could have been much better written and brought more intensity to the film as a whole, rather it seemed as if it was a set up for sequels or just poor writing. Some things I thought could have been added or done better; the genocide of the ISO's, Sam and Quorra being more involved with each other, less of Kevin Flynn's "80's talk" lines like "Radical man", "check it out", I felt like I was watching The Big Lebowski at times. So after all of that I give the movie a solid 8 out of 10, it is visually fascinating, it has heart and is a fun movie to watch with friends. However $18.95 for an IMAX 3D ticket is pretty overpriced to me, though it was worth it for the experience. With over $200 million spent to make it and already $50 million made in the first weekend, there is no doubt this will be one of if not the highest grocing films in America this year and possibly internationally as well.
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