TRON: Legacy
Sun Theatre Yarraville, 02/01/2011
Movie #1 for 2011
In 1982, Disney made TRON, about Flynn (JEFF BRIDGES) a brilliant computer programmer who is digitized and inserted into the system he created. At the time it was original and revolutionary in the area of computer generated imagery (although, sadly, not story-telling). In 2010, Disney made a tepid and derivative sequel. How’s that for a metaphor for the studio?
Sam Flynn (GARRETT HEDLAND, Troy) hasn’t seen his dad for 20 years, so they have plenty to talk about when they are reunited and trapped in the Grid, designed by Flynn to be the “perfect system”. As well as some fast-tracked daddy-issue resolution, Sam has to confront the egomaniacal rogue program Clu, fall in love with Quorra (OLIVIA WILDE, TV’s House) AND figure out how to get home. Quite the busy day.
TRON: Legacy is really, really stupid, but also big and fun. The highly stylized design of outfits, vehicles and sets is sensational if completely nonsensical (as are a couple of the action scenes). Honesty, though, I think the only time computer generated imagery makes sense is when the story is set inside a computer.
The writing is abysmal and the plot is more holes than anything else, but it’s so spectacular in its ridiculousness that it’s kind of okay. There are some nice injokes from the 1982 original, and a cameo from MICHAEL SHEEN (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) apparently playing David Bowie, but Daft Punk’s music (and cameo, spinning tunes while a club is busted up) is the highlight.
