Review: TRON Legacy

TRON: Legacy is the long awaited sequel to the granddaddy of nerd cult classic films, 1982's Tron. While the original film was hailed for it's technological advancements (that are, ironically, laughable by today's standards) the modern rendition will be praised for its visual spectacle complete with neon lights and electronic music provided by Daft Punk...all you need is an ecstasy pill and you'll be having more fun than an underage hipster at a rave.

TRON: Legacy is a futuristic fantasy that bring the viewer to a whole new digital world. But like most visual spectacles that precede it, TRON: Legacy's grandiosity on the big screen doesn't necessarily translate into an impressive story line.

The film begins in 1989 where Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), CEO of software juggernaut ENCOM, gets sucked into a digital mainframe leaving behind his bewildered family. Fast forward 20 years into the future and Kevin's son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund), is now the biggest shareholder of ENCOM although he wants little to do with the company. Sam is by far the most interesting yet perplexing character in the film. He's a good-looking, clean shaven 27-year-old fellow with a rebellious side who rides around on a Ducati. He looks like the type of guy you would want to take you home after a few rounds at a bar until he tells you he's basically a vagrant who resides in a shack under a bridge. Yes, under a bridge. Only in the magical world of Disney would a man teetering on the verge of homelessness be this hot.

After a family friend gives Sam the keys to Flynn's Arcade, he finds his father's abandoned workshop and gets accidentally sucked into the digital world that claimed Kevin Flynn two decades earlier. The rest of the film consists of Sam's reunion with his father, the two of them dodging enemies, encounters with non-humans, and trying to find a way to get back home before time runs out. The plot isn't revolutionary or surprising, but considering the fact that people don't go to a movie like this to appreciate an Oscar worthy screenplay, I don't it will keep the masses away from the theaters. People will like this film because it's undeniably good, clean fun. Simply put, it's 125 minutes of watching a great cast (two Jeff Bridges are better than one) suspend your reality in an adventure flick that's a testament to how far our technology has advanced since the prequel. Visually speaking, it's a film that was made to be seen on the big screen, in 3-D and on IMAX, if possible.

One of the most talked about elements of this film is the music. French electronic music duo Daft Punk immersed themselves in creating the score for TRON: Legacy for two years, and it shows. They succeeded in creating a futuristic yet subtle sound-scape for the film featuring an 85-piece orchestra and their signature electronic elements. Although it's Daft Punk's first experiment in scoring a film, I have a feeling it won't be their last.

TRON: Legacy is accessible to a wide audience who are looking for entertainment at the theaters this holiday season. It's a film almost anyone can enjoy, it's well made, it's exciting, and it even has a few comedic moments (my personal favorite being a nerdy Wi-Fi joke). TRON: Legacy is definitely a must-see that you won't want to miss on the big screen.