Tron has a unique world and it’s quite possibly the most experimental thing that Disney has ever produced. Even with the original movie growing more and more of a following over the years, during the next few decades after its release in 1982, Disney has never done anything more with the idea that Tron has created and it looked like it was gonna remain dormant for all eternity. Then in 2010, right the heck out of nowhere, Disney released the long-overdue sequel to the cult film titled Tron Legacy. While not a hit with the critics, audience members seem to have called the movie a new cult classic. The question remains, are they right? Or was this just another passing trend doomed to be forgotten?
A little while after the events of the first movie, Kevin Flynn is now a father of his one and only son Sam as one night he tells sam about the world of Tron and how it’s unlike anything he had ever seen before. Then one day Kevin mysteriously disappears which leaves Sam confused and broken-hearted. Twenty years later, Sam is often found pulling pranks on his father’s old company ENCOM which has been not doing so hot as of now because of a change of CEO. One night, he gets himself caught and arrested by the police and one of Sam’s friends named Alan busts him out of jail and tells him that he got a page from his dad’s old office at the arcade.
Despite having doubts, Sam goes to the old abandoned arcade and finds his dad’s office only to soon figure out that he has been randomly transported into the world of Tron. Sam finds himself participating in the most deadly of games as he comes across a person who looks just like his dad named clue who wants to destroy Sam. Sam is then rescued by a woman named Qorra and she takes Sam far out of the game’s grid to see his real father who explains to Sam why he’s been trapped in the world of Tron for years. Sam eventually convinces Qorra and Kevin to come with him to the portal so they can get back to reality but they better watch their backs as Clue has a few tricks up his sleeve.
The story in this movie is not as complicated as the last movie which can have its benefits and its downgrades. On the one hand, the more simple approach can be better when introducing us to this unique world, unlike anything we’ve seen before. Unfortunately, it can also work against itself because of how it treats the story like almost every epic action movie that came out around the time period. I do appreciate the story going a bit darker and philosophical and for the most part, the adventure is quite fun and still keeps true to the spirit of the original in its narrative and worldbuilding. The charcters do suffer from typical action movie itis, but I give the filmmakers credit that the actors are really trying to leave a memorable impact and the effort does show. I do like the relationship between Sam and Kevin as their bond is the main driving force that sets the story in motion. There are also a lot of side characters who may not be memorable for their names, and yet they still leave an interesting mark on just how much they can chew the scenery.
Back in the 1980s, the visuals for the original Tron were downright groundbreaking. Decades later, the visuals in Tron Legacy have managed to accomplish the same thing with the help of the evolution of today’s CGI effects. They may be updated, but the visuals are great at giving a fresh coat of paint to the world of Tron while at the same time keeping the awe and wonder of what made the effects in the original movie so groundbreaking to begin with. The best example of how the effects have improved would be when sam is in the games. The lightcycle battles for example have been updated where instead of one flat grid there are now two grids on the top and bottom. They also feature tuning loop de loops and boost pads. It’s the little details that help improve the worldbuilding but also give the idea about how Tron works to a new generation. The Music is quite unique to this movie or any movie really as not only do they feature your typical orchestrated soundtrack, but they got the help of Daft Punk to bring their style of music to add to the technological world that Tron takes place in. It not only makes Tron Legacy stand out from other movie soundtracks but much like the visuals, it gives the movie a new wave of music with these techno-inspired tunes.
Let’s face it, the Tron franchise has never been the king of well-crafted storytelling or complex messages that stay in an audience’s minds long after they watch them. What Tron Legacy lacks in overall narrative structure it more than makes up for it with its Amazing visuals that still hold up after a decade later, a Rockin music score that has style and uniqueness, and characters that may not be super memorable but are fun nonetheless. Much like its predecessor, this film would go on to be a cult favorite among fans and I wouldn’t blame them. I sure hope Tron will continue to find its footing again sometimes in the future because this is still a great Idea that deserves more love than people give credit for. I had fun watching Tron Legacy, and chances are you might have fun too.
(Final Grade: B)