Tron Legacy

[Webhead2006]

Yea notning on others opinions I do read reviews but I like to judge films on my own more.

 

[S.A.A.D.]

I really think that many of the people who are going to see the movie are only really going to see it because of the visuals. And based on that I don't think that the movie should have much to worry about.

 

[ALP]

While I also judge a film on it's own and like to give lots of different things a try, if a film has like a 10% on RT or metacritics then it is very unlikely that I will love it...but still possible. But on the other hand, there are tons of films with great reviews that I don't care for.

 

[dark_b]

if a movie has 10% on RT thn you dont need to read the reviews to find out that its a bad movie. the news would be out in a second.

 

[corby]

My soundtrack and poster shipped today

 

[Kane52630]

ComingSoon.net Review 8/10

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/reviewsnews.php?id=72106

Story:
Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the son of videogame developer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), is left as the uninterested heir to his father's corporation after the elder Flynn's disappearance twenty years earlier. Following a mysterious signal, Sam finds himself pulled into the same computer world that has trapped his father. Reunited, the Flynns team with a Quorra (Olivia Wilde), a cyber warrior, to defeat Clu, a program left in charge of the Grid whose rise to power puts both the computer world -- and our world -- in danger.

Analysis:
"TRON: Legacy" is a bit of a mess at times. The script is dodgy, the effects fluctuate between pristine and rushed and the pacing goes off-kilter midway through. Incredibly, though, "TRON" stands up against all of its own faults, actually transforming them into a sort charm all its own and emerges as one of the best blockbuster experiences 2010 has had to offer.

Arriving nearly three decades after the original, the odds against a sequel happening at all were pretty staggering. While Steve Lisberger's "TRON" was groundbreaking for its effects and holds a distinctive place in pop culture, it's a film that ultimately fails to stand up today outside of nostalgic merit. Disney has even gone so far as to subtlety block availability of the original over the past year, keeping the (fantastic) 20th anniversary DVD out of print and leaving the original to movie-going memory. It's arguably an effective tactic, but the disservice that it does "TRON: Legacy" is giving off the impression that "TRON" always looked this cool.

Blending elements of the original design with stylish sci-fi noir, "TRON: Legacy" is the lovechild of Syd Mead and H.R. Giger. This is a sleek and sexy filmic universe that would be worth the price of admission for the visual component alone. Add to that what is arguably the year's best score and sound design as well as an understanding of 3D and IMAX that accentuates the narrative and you're left with a film begging for the theatrical experience.'
As far as casting, Olivia Wilde is the true standout, making Quorra work on every conceivable level and ensuring her immortality as one of science fiction's most memorable female characters. Beyond Quorra's stunning costume design, Wilde infuses the performance with an offbeat human quirkiness that makes her impossible not to fall in love with. What's more, Quorra doesn't become a one-note girl power emblem. She's able to get away with a substantial degree of ass-kicking, but remains capable of playing up mortality as well. She's not a superhero; She can get hurt and really makes the audience worry when she does.

Hedlund manages the somewhat thankless job of turning Sam Flynn into a cinematic hero. Downplaying the character to the point that he becomes a substitute for the audience, Hedlund's expertise comes more in his lack of a stylized performance, allowing moviegoers to see the world of the Grid through his eyes. There's not much to Sam Flynn, but the character works effectively as the audience's avatar, a performance completely appropriate to the cold, sterile Grid setting.

Bizarrely, the weakest casting link of "TRON: Legacy" is that of Jeff Bridges returning to his original role of Kevin Flynn. Transformed into an Obi-Wan Kenobi clone, Kevin Flynn is played more or less like Bridges playing The Dude and while it's effective for a few laughs at times, it never gives the role the weight or heart that it deserves. Bridges is actually a lot more fun in the part of Clu, Flynn's program and the film's chief antagonist. Though the effects to de-age Clu on-screen go from iffy to incredible, Bridges shines as a charismatic villain.

A huge part of Disney's re-approach to "TRON" involves spinning the Grid off into a viable franchise, not just for future films but for TV series, comic books and videogames. In this, the world of "TRON: Legacy" solidifies thanks to characters like Michael Sheen's Castor, and Beau Garrett's Jem. Though Sheen in particular plays his part with a fantastic enthusiasm, it's a bit of a shame that the limit of the world's imagination seems relegated to "Star Wars" aping. We get the Grid's rogues and wastrels, but aren't really offered anything that belongs to "TRON" and "TRON" alone.

The Bottom Line:
Despite its faults, "TRON: Legacy" is a film built out of cinematic love for the original and for science fiction in general. It's a kid's movie for adults and, while it may be a case of style over substance, the style is strong enough that it's hard to not just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Read more: TRON: Legacy Movie Review - ComingSoon.net http://www.comingsoon.net/news/reviewsnews.php?id=72106#ixzz1754JubLT

Hollywood Reporter Review

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/heat-vision/thr-review-tron-legacy-56032

the film is so incoherent and groaningly scripted as to be tolerable only if watched in a rude Mystery Science Theater 3000 frame of mind...The mildly surprising news, then, is that there are aspects of Tron: Legacy that are actually rather cool.

Screen Junkies Review

They did it. Tron Legacy is everything you want it to be. It out Matrixes The Matrix with its special physics and gravity, and even more poignant metaphysical themes.

My favorite part is actually in the real world though. Seeing the Tron memorabilia, toys and posters in young Sam Flynn’s room shows a world in which our Tron exists in a more real way. I love the idea that grown up Sam (Garrett Hedlund) is using his family cred to mess with the Encom board and rebel against Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner). Corporations are bad and software should be free. Right, Disney?

When Sam gets into the grid, we get the spectacle we expected, but more importantly an expanded mythology and just plain cool action. It starts with revamped twists on familiar games, the discs and the cycles (no tanks though.) After that, they take us to new realms of the grid. We’re really just thrust into the world with little exposition.

When we finally get to see Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) again, he has some Dude-like moments of backstory. I love the metaphysics this story suggests. Tron had hints of the possibilities, but Legacy explores the images of ourselves, manifested beings and the idea that the pursuit of perfection is corrupt. Clu (young Jeff Bridges) makes total sense. You would create Clu if you were Kevin Flynn, so what he represents is more than just a villain.

The young Jeff Bridges effect looks pretty glassy, and I say we should forgive it because the idea of a young Jeff Bridges in a Tron sequel is awesome. Awesome is always more important than realistic. However, it speaks to a bigger artistic problem that’s worth discussing, as the film’s only flaw. The filmmakers show young Bridges head on. It’s egotistical and calls attention to the effect, which defeats the purpose of trying to create a seamless reality. Even if you have a perfect effect, you should still obscure the special effect in some way, show him from the side or less clearly. It’s more artistic to tease the effect. It builds more wonder. That’s what Spielberg learned with Jaws when he couldn’t show the shark.

This is the reason older special effects look more realistic. It’s not that modern effects are worse, it’s that filmmakers think they can just show everything. Staring at something blatantly isn’t special. Building it with technique is, so that should be one lesson artists take from the powers of technology. The visual effects in the real world are terrible, but I guess those aren’t the important ones.

The 3D is fine. There’s no headache. Perhaps the color scheme is consistent enough to keep the eyes comfortable. There are deep layers throughout the grid to stretch back miles behind the screen. It’s filmed with a blissfully smooth camera so you can actually enjoy all the visuals.

Tron Legacy is great because of the story, not the effects or style. It is full of pretty ladies, impressive physical specimens and wild characters. I love Quorra (Olivia Wilde) the happy program, and all the quirks Castor (Michael Sheen) lets loose just because he can. This is a world you’ll want to revisit again and again.

 

[MadVillainy]

This seems like a love or hate movie from the reviews

Im guessing the tomatometer will be in the 60s

 

[Webhead2006]

Some good/bad ones there. But still I wait to judge it more fairly once I see it.

 

[S.A.A.D.]

Good good,for it having some cool ideas. I was expecting that. Hopefully I will recognize it come the next couple of weeks,if the special effects are somewhat rushed then I sort of hope it's true just so that one criticism is believable.

 

[Kane52630]

Tech Crunch Interviews with the Cast of Tron Legacy

http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/24/speaking-of-tron-legacy-interviews-with-cast-crew-part-1-2-tctv/

Part 1 - Steven Lisberger, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain
Part 2 - Beau Garrett, Michael Sheen, Christine Bieselin Clark

http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/02/speaking-of-jeff-bridges-olivia-wilde-in-tron-legacy-tctv/

Part 3 - Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde
Part 4 - Joseph Kosinski, Syd Mead

UPDATED Image Gallery
http://www.comingsoon.net/imageGallery/TRON__Legacy

 

[Aesop Rocks]

Yeah, the cast of Tron Legacy minus the main star?

 

[That-Guy]

Whoa, I had no idea James Frain was in this. Love that dude. He was absolutely brilliant on The Tudors.

 

[Deaths Head II]

This seems like a love or hate movie from the reviews

Im guessing the tomatometer will be in the 60s

I would be okay with this. I don't take RT scores as set-in-stone as some people like to. If it's above 60% I'm definitely willing to see it, and I'll even give a 40-50% film a chance since that's really just the critics being split on a film. It's not like RT is an average score, it's just a tally of what percentage of critics liked it. And I could end up siding with the 50% that do like it instead of the 50% that don't.

 

[Sundancer]

What that guy from Screen Junkies review said about using special effects was enlightening. It helps explain why people complain about how bad CGI sometimes looks and other times praise it.

 

[spider-neil]

I read a report that disney were holding back the original tron blu ray release because they didn't want people to be put off by the dated graphics - 'oh those graphics are awful I wont bother with the remake'.

so instead of being released at the same time as legacy it is going to be released when legacy is released on blu ray. must be true as legacy is released in two weeks (at the cinema) and there is no sight of the original on blu ray.

here is the rumour
http://choosen.tv/disney-scared-release-%E2%80%98tron%E2%80%99-blu-ray


someone attempts to debunk the rumour
http://filmedge.wordpress.com/2010/...-conspiracy-myth-holding-off-not-holding-out/

 

[Webhead2006]

it was reported not to long ago they were going to re release tron then.

 

[Bunker]

The only thing I'm expecting is a 2 hour long Daft Punk music video. I'll probably enjoy it.

 

[terry78]

http://www.joblo.com/pron-legacy-for-those-who-thought-tron-needed-more-sex

And the adult film industry has already prepared the porn spoof.

 

[Webhead2006]

Haha what isn't getting spoof as porn these days.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

http://www.joblo.com/pron-legacy-for-those-who-thought-tron-needed-more-sex

And the adult film industry has already prepared the porn spoof.

I like how one guy is dressed up and the other guy is just standing in his pants, looking like he's farting around with the wii.

 

[Kane52630]

this is very interesting... they have the MPAA rating as PG-13
ALSO

Spoiler

Cillian Murphy makes a small cameo in this

Veriety Reivew
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117944151?refcatid=31

A Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release of a Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Sean Bailey production. Produced by Bailey, Jeffrey Silver, Steven Lisberger. Executive producer, Donald Kushner. Co-producers, Justin Springer, Steve Gaub. Directed by Joseph Kosinski. Screenplay, Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz; story, Kitsis, Horowitz, Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal, based on characters created by Steven Lisberger, Bonnie MacBird.
Kevin Flynn/Clu - Jeff Bridges Sam Flynn - Garrett Hedlund Quorra - Olivia Wilde Alan Bradley/Tron - Bruce Boxleitner Jarvis - James Frain Castor/Zuse - Michael Sheen

Visually light-years ahead of the 1982 original and yet strangely old-fashioned in the story department, "Tron: Legacy" plays like the world's most impressive screensaver -- a flashy, fetishistic showcase of what bikes and bodysuits might look like in a future designed by renegade Apple employees. While 21st-century effects and a cutting-edge dance score make this a stunning virtual ride, the underlying concept feels as far-fetched as ever. Still, the Disney tentpole's 3D-enhanced spectacle offers enough to draw legions to first-time director Joseph Kosinski's reverential reboot, which should set high scores worldwide (compared to an OK $33 million for the earlier version).

That old-vs.-new paradox traces back to the original, which framed a wooden gladiator-style conflict against the backdrop of borderline-psychedelic, never-before-seen CGI. And though the world is a friendlier place to gamers today than it was when Disney first beta-tested this franchise, the new film's four writers play it safe by conceiving their protag as the ultimate anti-nerd, a young Bruce Wayne type embodied by the generically handsome Garrett Hedlund ("Troy").

The son of ultra-successful software engineer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), who disappeared into his own creation nearly 20 years earlier, Sam shares none of his father's high-tech interests. Instead, under the sometime supervision of Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner, downgraded from the title character in Version 1.0 to cameo status here), the trust-fund orphan gets his kicks racing cops on his Ducati and pulling stunts that undermine the profit-hungry motives of dad's old company, where suits (Jeffrey Nordling and an uncredited Cillian Murphy) now run the show.

Drawn back to Flynn's arcade, Sam discovers a secret lab, where a laser zaps him onto "the grid" -- a fully CG arena where programs take human form and genuine humans hold hallowed status. Using 3D the way "The Wizard of Oz" did color, the film hits its pulse-racing heights early as Sam tries to intuit the rules of this virtual world while being stripped down, suited up and thrust into a series of dazzling life-and-death games involving neon-lit discs and DayGlo Light Cycles, while leaving the story nowhere to go but home, Dorothy.

Scribes Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (from a story written with Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal) try to supply a much-needed dramatic dimension by reuniting Sam with his long-lost father, which should have given the programmatic plot more of an emotional resonance. After all, what 21st-century partner or parent can't relate to the idea of the men in their life preferring to live in the parallel world offered by their videogames? That's effectively the explanation "Tron: Legacy" offers for Kevin Flynn's long-ago disappearance: He became so obsessed with his cyber Second Life that he would visit it every night, until his most perfect program, Clu, got the upper hand and trapped him there. But things stall after father and son come face-to-face, reverting to yet another tired world-domination plot, spearheaded by power-hungry Clu.

A laid-back Bridges does double-duty here, playing both Kevin (who looks like a space-age Rasputin in his long white robes) and Clu, who returns the actor to his younger form via unconvincingly rendered facial performance-capture. Though Kevin's waxy-cheeked clone makes a certain sense in the all-digital Tron-iverse -- despite livelier characters played by James Frain, Olivia Wilde and Michael Sheen (who seems to be channeling David Bowie) -- the same technology registers as embarrassing when used to reverse-age Bridges in a real-world opening flashback.

Commercials helmer Kosinski hails from a background in architecture and visual effects, and what the design-oriented director lacks in narrative instinct, he makes up for in large-scale vision. If "Tron: Legacy's" primary raison d'etre was to relaunch Lisberger's world in such a way that it could support not only movies but also games, merch and themepark attractions, then Kosinski more than satisfies the job requirement. Building on blueprints from that first film (including such classic vehicles as the Recognizers and the Solar Sailer), Kosinski creates a world we'd love to explore for ourselves, using the 3D to enhance the immersive experience: Light Cycles literally materialize out of thin air, while the action spills not only "off the grid" but off the screen as well.

Every bit as important as the pic's impressive visuals is its Daft Punk score, which hails from an entirely different dimension from conventional film compositions, establishing the tone for the whole enterprise. You don't just hear the music, but feel it reverberating in your bones -- an energy on the same sonic wavelength as the film's vehicles and costumes, combining the flickering hum of fluorescent tubes and the insistent beat of a futuristic engine.

Those bodysuits, by the way, are now sexy, jet-black foam-latex numbers with built-in lights of various colors, rather than the unflattering white spandex of the original (which vfx guys hand-illuminated via backlit animation) -- not that folks will be comparing things too closely. Although the 1982 film has its own cult-like following, mostly among geeks and stoners, Disney has strategically allowed the DVD to go out of print. That means younger auds will discover this slick film first, buying into the sequel's radically upgraded look before having a chance to revisit its clunky prototype.
Camera (Deluxe color, Deluxe domestic prints, Technicolor international prints, widescreen, 3D), Claudio Miranda; editor, James Haygood; music, Daft Punk; music supervisor, Jason Bentley; production designer, Dustin Gilford; supervising art directors, Kevin Isioka, Mark W. Mansbridge; art directors, Sean Haworth, Grant Van Der Slagt, William Ladd Skinner; set decorator, Lin MacDonald; costume designer, Michael Wilkinson; sound (Dolby Digital/DTS/SDDS), Michael McGee; supervising sound editors, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Addison Teague; re-recording mixers, Christopher Boyes, Gary A. Rizzo; sound designers, Boyes, Steve Boeddeker; visual effects supervisor, Eric Barba; visual effects, Digital Domain, Mr. X, Prime Focus, Prana Studios, Ollin, Whiskytree, Eyeqube, Gentle Giant; special effects supervisor, Alex Burdett; stunt coordinators, David Leitch, Scott Ateah; associate producers, Bruce Franklin, Justis Greene; assistant directors, Franklin, Pete Whyte; casting, Sarah Halley Finn. Reviewed at El Capitan Theater, Hollywood, Nov. 19, 2010. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 125 MIN.

Filmonic Reivew

TRON: Legacy is a mindless action movie, and I take issue with that because more than many other blockbusters, this one had the potential to offer us something to think about instead of just something to look at. Though the first film looks cheesy now, there was a definite sense of something deeper going on under the surface; concepts and ideas about the digital world were highlighted with CGI and wrapped in a new and exciting story. Here, the world has been retrofitted with better tech, but all of the heart from the original is gone. It devolves into the exact cliches longtime movie-watchers will see coming from light-years away (“he’s building an army!” “Get to the portal!”), but it does a great job of making me want to ride a light cycle. And hey – any movie that features Journey’s “Separate Ways” can’t be all bad. Until next time…

 

[terry78]

So PG or PG-13? www.movieratings.com has the former.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I am sure I'm gonna love this movie. One of my favorite movies is Watchmen, and the critics were pretty split on that one, so...

 

[Symbiotic]

I saw a TV spot tonight that said PG. I'm going with that.

 

[Webhead2006]

Yea maybe the other site just had a typo.