{"id":512,"date":"2010-12-15T11:28:12","date_gmt":"2010-12-15T11:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=512"},"modified":"2010-12-15T11:38:29","modified_gmt":"2010-12-15T11:38:29","slug":"tron-legacy-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/action\/tron-legacy-3\/","title":{"rendered":"TRON: Legacy – 3*"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The original Tron<\/em><\/a> was silly, almost camp, with the programs\u2019 skin-tight, luminous Spandex-styled suits and comical overreactions. But it was undeniably groundbreaking, especially in production design and imagination. It also helped to later produce an Oscar-winning actor in Jeff Bridges<\/a>, who isn\u2019t shy of playing an odd array of quirky characters, from Starman, Lebowski and Jack (Fisher King<\/em>), to the character he revives in this latest episode, computer geek Kevin Flynn, inventor and master of The Grid and Tron. Flynn is back, but now there\u2019s a son on the loose. But can we get exited, as we did the first time around, especially as it\u2019s offered in 3D?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fair to say that the production design on this is pretty spectacular, and at times, exhilarating to witness in 3D, especially the high-octane games sequences, when Flynn’s son Sam, played by a rather two-dimensional, but eye-pleasing Garrett Hedlund<\/a>, gets beamed into the Grid and into the gladiatorial-style death event, after poking around in his dad\u2019s old games arcade. The visuals are a sci-fi lover\u2019s ideal fantasy \u2013 Avatar<\/em> aside.<\/p>\n

The problem is the basic CGI effects, especially on a supposedly younger-looking Bridges\/Flynn as he tells his young son a bedtime story about Tron at the start, before he mysteriously disappearing from his life. The facial features are less than realistic and rather ghoulish, prompting even this critic afterwards to question whether it\u2019s meant to be Flynn himself, or possibly, one of Flynn\u2019s two incarnations\/alter-egos, the evil Clu or Tron who have made it into the real world? But then there wouldn\u2019t be a story, if Clu had succeeded. Therefore, a little more cash should have been spent on trying to get a youthful Bridges right, what with all the Hollywood wizardry out there now. And what about good old-fashioned make-up and prosthetics? Surely this would have fared a little better?<\/p>\n

Even Bridges seems a trifle bored at times at being back in the Grid, delivering a confusing mix of Zen Master one minute, to superhuman being and Star Wars<\/em> warrior the next in scenes resembling a Pet Shop Boys\u2019 Go West<\/em> video, particularly when Clu\u2019s rising program army try to breakthrough into our unordered world and create order (good luck). If it weren\u2019t for Bridges and a hilariously camp turn by Michael Sheen<\/a> as the slippery underworld entrepreneur Caster\/Zuse who looks like a cross between David Bowie and Mr Wonka, this film would be all lights and no action. Even the hedonistic and adventurous Hedlund \u2013 muscles, motorbikes and all \u2013 would fail to keep the interest of the youth audience for its entire duration.<\/p>\n

What the film has in dazzling lightshows and Star Wars<\/em>-styled battles, it lacks in content and purpose. Admittedly, it is a very interesting concept, in that a son-with-abandonment-issues goes back to find and confront his father, and it could have been a highly intelligent piece of sci-fi history in the making. Sadly, it\u2019s all a little flat, and it seems to imply that who cares when we are dazzled by the imagery, which looked stunning on a standard cinema screen, let alone an IMAX one.<\/p>\n

Throw in an attractive DNA-altered being in Quorra, played by the gorgeous Olivia Wilde<\/a>, and you have even more reason to keep the geeks hooked. The problem was her ability to (warning:<\/strong> spoiler) enter the real world was still never fully explained, apart from some swirling DNA-style diagrams in a glass container. Also, there was something quite troublingly incestuous about her relationship with both father and son, implying \u2018companionship\u2019 of sorts with both, but with Sam getting to \u2018share\u2019 her in the end, which is very \u2018arthouse French Cinema\u2019, but just translates as seedy, here, and in such a film.<\/p>\n

The problem with the sequel is fans of the old may not register or relate with the new \u2013 even their hero Bridges is not as enthusiastic, vibrant and verging on crazy as the younger Flynn of the 80s, almost like a burnout, former shell of himself. They won\u2019t recognise the new 2010 surroundings either. A younger audience has been brought up on a diet of The Matrix<\/em><\/a> films, so there are obvious similarities, which may prompt a blas\u00e9 \u201cseen it\u201d attitude.<\/p>\n

However, it is visually striking \u2013 creepy CGI Bridges aside \u2013 and super slick and sexy, transporting you into a world that is full of concepts and possibilities about a future, future time. But with all the computer and mobile technology around today, the film-makers could have run wild with their imaginations and channeled it in further to make it truly contemporary. Another real plus point is the cracking soundtrack from Daft Funk that sets off the action scenes perfectly, further energising the visuals. TRON: Legacy<\/em><\/a> is like the bimbo of sci-fi films; all looks and no substance, but flatters you anyway.<\/p>\n

3\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By L G-K<\/p>\n

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The original Tron was silly, almost camp, with the programs\u2019 skin-tight, luminous Spandex-styled suits and comical overreactions. But it was undeniably groundbreaking, especially in production design and imagination. It also helped to later produce an Oscar-winning actor in Jeff Bridges, who isn\u2019t shy of playing an odd array of quirky characters, from Starman, Lebowski and … <\/p>\n

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