Genre: Adventure/FantasyScience Fiction
Release Date: 16 December 2010
Distributor: Walt Disney
Running Time: 127 minutes
Directors: Joseph Kosinski
Producers: Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver, Steven Lisberger
Writers: Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis, story also by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal, based on the characters by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird
Casts: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Bruce Boxleitner, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen
Plot: Following the 1982 original, this reupdate is a 3-D cyber adventure set in a digital world where Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programmes and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidante (Olivia Wilde), both father and son embark on a life-or-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.
THE VERDICT
The system beyond our capability to comprehend is the same world that lies just ahead of the physical appearance of this world itself. When Kevin Flynn found a whole new perspective of life and an alternate cyberspace, he thought he could brought goodness to human by elevating our obnoxious understanding about science, medicine or even religion to a higher ground. He was right, but not before too soon when he realized the world that he has created was far more beautiful yet more dangerous he ever wanted or dream off. The alternate world known as The Grid is a highly integrated highways of illumination that contains the programs transferring through the virtual world but it represents a lot like our world; full of revolt, discrimination and injustice.
[PLOT SPOILERS BEGIN] The movie starts with a simple narration by Kevin Flynn, describing the concepts of the Grid. In the first movie of Tron, a much younger Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) entered the Grid through the laser digitalization technology. With the aide of the program known as TRON, they beat the evil ruling of Master Control Program (MCP) that holds the grip that governs the system of ENCOM International. Then years later, he created a clone of himself named CLU 2 to vindicate an order to perfective The Grid system together with TRON. He realized he need to spend and divide his time for his company, The Grid and his family.
However, one day in 1989, Kevin Flynn was reported missing and sending a shockwave that changed the life of his beloved son, Sam Flynn forever. Forward to the present day, Sam is a trouble maker and often makes some unpleasant issues with the authorities. As the largest share-holder of the ENCOM of which he was entrusted by his missing father, he despises the company's decision to break away from the visionary goal of the empire that his father had built. Things change one night when Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) who received a pager text from the office of the arcade Kevin used to work and convinces Sam to go and have a look at the arcade. Sam goes to the arcade but it is his curiosity that ends up with him sucked into the TRON system and The Grid. [PLOT SPOILERS END]
The structure of the movie is pretty much a layout, straight-forward and simple. The movie moves along by creating a premise about a son in search for his missing father who was trapped in the digital world for many years. Nevertheless, its progression of the story leads one to assume that TRON: Legacy feels a little cliche with a predictable outcome. The aftermath of the movie is not a pure mind-blower and raises the same questions about the 'good versus evil' and the 'human versus machine' fundamentalism throughout the movie. Screenplay writers Mark Horowitz and Edward Kitsis who both penned some episodes in Lost TV series should have made the screenplay a little better. The derivations of the storyline seems a little awkward at times, less exploratory in terms of character building and thematic guidance.
Although been predictable, TRON Legacy still consists of a great mixture of emotion displays, explanatory, visually stunning and highly prolific music experiences. TRON Legacy borrows a lot of important elements and moods from and like its 1982's predecessor while still emphasizing the points. TRON Legacy is an unique film with transparency, decisive and entertaining ride to enjoy. However, the movie suffers a little setback for its exposition middle-third stint where it tries to tie the gap about the events and plots on hold. However, once The Grid is on its fullest shift, the movie springs back to life again. The element of fun and good riddance exist nevertheless despite again, its weak screenplay.
While TRON Legacy is not going to change the game entirely with its inferior screenplay, it is worth to note that the technical parts have helped the film a lot. If TRON Legacy is not able to change the thematic experiences, it has definitely breaking the ground of visual spectacular, set previously by Avatar. It looks more impressive and stunning than Avatar. TRON legacy is visually perfect. Coupling with the fact that it is accompanied by the ever amazing Daft Punk score, no one will raise a question about how both technicalities have come to fit one another.
Acting wise, Jeff Bridges is spectacular. He plays double role - one been a man who has lost all his beliefs with contrast faith as in the original TRON, and another been a tyrant in his digital world that craves for power and domination. He acted both well and satirically. Garret Hedlund plays a great opposite role while Olivia Wilde proves herself been a new star with her precocious talent. Michael Sheen, with his minor supporting role looks crazily hippie, gay and fun.
In the end, if TRON legacy could have a better and decent storyline, it could have been a master piece. The story itself is far from been perfect, purportedly and profoundly a flawed film from the thematic aspect. The visual effects and cinematography are a different league. No other movies this year or even the cinematic highlights of Avatar could possess any threats for its technical aspect. But as a cinematic experience, TRON Legacy provides it all with a decent package. The original TRON movie is no classic, but it has developed into a cult all these years. TRON Legacy does the necessary things to make it better than the predecessor. After all, I have to admit, TRON Legacy is still a great movie to watch after all.
THE RATING
Story: 3.0 stars
Casts: 3.5 stars
Cinematography: 5.0 stars
Effects: 5.0 stars
OVERALL : 4.0 stars
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 15.0
TRON: LEGACY opens in cinemas nationwide beginning today.
