Tron Legacy

"Tron: Legacy, a sequel made 28 years after the original but with the same actor, is true to the first film: It also can't be understood, but looks great. Both films, made so many years apart, can fairly lay claim to being state of the art."

- Roger Ebert's three-star review "It's not highly likely to win many new converts, but for those who already like the original and want to see more of that world, it more than satisfies. The visuals are a wonderful evolution from Tron and the story of a father and son who have to make up for lost time is very touching. The CGI face they developed for Jeff Bridges is not perfect, but it works very well with just a few exceptions and I feel, for my own tastes, that they have actually bridged the uncanny valley with this one. Still a bit of work to get it perfect, but this one works as it is. Oh, and the score by Daft Punk is beautiful. The first thing my brother and I did after leaving the theater was buy the sound track on the way home. It's very suggestive of the original but with plenty of today's newer sensibilities mixed in."

- Gnarlonuss, IMDB

"It's the best 3D flick since Avatar and a super-groovy soundtrack by Daft Punk nonetheless makes for an awesome watch."

- Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

Tron: Legacy (styled as TRON: Legacy) is a 2010 American science fiction action film directed by Joseph Kosinski. It is a sequel to the 1982 film Tron, with Steven Lisberger, the director of that film, returning to produce for this entry. The film premiered on November 30, 2010 in Tokyo, and was released theatrically in North America on December 17 in that same year. It generally received mixed reviews from critics, but has received a more positive reaction from audiences. Like it's predecessor, it has received a large cult following.

Plot
ENCOM CEO and video game icon, Kevin Flynn, has been missing for over 20 years. His now adult son, Sam is lured onto Kevin's greatest invention: a VR world called the Grid. However, the Grid has become more dangerous than ever and Sam knows that if he gets in and finds Kevin, then he may never come out again.

Why It Reshapes The Human Condition

 * 1) Like the first movie, Tron Legacy helps revolutionize the style of VR movies including Ready Player One and Free Guy.
 * 2) It boasts dazzling visual effects for world of the Grid. Notable highlights go to the costume design, identity discs, set design and action sequences.
 * 3) Speaking of which, the actors do good performances, particularly from Hedlund, Bridges, Cheurfa and Wilde.
 * 4) * Michael Sheen's performance as Zuse/Castor earned particular praise with many calling it similar to David Bowie.
 * 5) The action sequences are amazing and fast-paced.
 * 6) *Notable action scenes include the Disc Wars, a gladiatorial game in which Sam fights three opponents, the battle on the Light Cycle Grid, another gladiatorial game where Sam and his team of programs must defeat Clu's team to win, the final chase with the Light Jets and the fight at the End of Line Club.
 * 7) The characters are well-written and likeable.
 * 8) * Kevin Flynn has created the Grid and his friends, Clu and Tron, helped him perfect it. However, due to his views, Clu betrays Flynn and kills Tron. Kevin tries to escape, but the portal connecting Earth and the Grid closes, trapping him inside the Grid for almost thirty years.
 * 9) * Sam Flynn, Kevin's now 27-year old son, is lured by Clu onto Grid. Sam doesn't know that Clu lured him into a trap because he thinks he might be able to finally find his father.
 * 10) *Quorra is the last survivor of a program race called the ISOs (Isomorphic Algorithm) that Clu destroyed after he thinks they are threatening the Grid's perfection. Kevin finds her and takes her to his home in the Grid. He trains her to be a warrior while secretly protecting her from Clu. Quorra longs to escape the Grid and see the real world.
 * 11) *Clu is Flynns creation, a program designed to create a perfect world. Clu lures Sam to the Grid to help open the portal. Clu needs to steal Kevin's identity disc to conquer the real world with an army of programs.
 * 12) *Rinzler is Clu's right-hand man and, in reality, a repurposed version of Tron. Rinzler helps Clu find Kevin's disc. During the final fight, Rinzler makes eye contact with Kevin Flynn, redeeming him and turning him back into Tron.
 * 13) The movie manages to faithfully recreate the Light Cycle battle and the Disc Wars with modern-day effects.
 * 14) Neat merchandise and references for/to the original movie:
 * 15) * When Sam Flynn stores the Grid on a little data chip around his neck, the symbol on the chip resembles the identity disc from the original movie.
 * 16) * A poster for the original movie can be seen in young Sam Flynn's bedroom. This implies that a movie based on Kevin's own experiences came out some time after the first movie.
 * 17) * The most famous quote in the first movie, "End of Line" is said by the MCP (the main antagonist in the first movie). Clu repeats this line just before he blows up Zuse's club. Speaking of which, Zuse's club is called The "End of Line" Club.
 * 18) * Model versions of the original Light Cycles appear on young Sam Flynn's shelf.
 * 19) *Sam has a customized Tron-style bed with light cycle designs on the pillows.
 * 20) *Like the first movie, Sam enters the Grid by getting shot in the back the Grid's laser.
 * 21) *The design for Flynn's personal light cycle stays nearly faithful to the original design. Two models of this Light Cycle are also on Sam's shelf.
 * 22) *It still keeps the Games from the first movie such as Disc Wars and Light Cycles.
 * 23) *The designs for the Light Cycles and Recognizers are faithful to the original designs. However, the Light Cycle designs have been altered slightly to allow more movement. This is because the original versions could only make 90-degree turns.
 * 24) *Sam also has an action figure of Tron. But the design of the action figure's appearance has been modified to fit the new movie.
 * 25) *Flynn's Arcade still uses the original design.
 * 26) *And perhaps the best reference: in Flynn's Arcade, the Grid servers are hidden in a storeroom located behind a still-functioning Tron arcade game cabinet.
 * 27) Also speaking of which, Bruce Boxleitner reprises his role as Alan Bradley, although he doesn't get as much screen time. In addition, Cillian Murphy has a cameo at an ENCOM board meeting as Edward Dillinger's son, Edward Dillinger Jr.
 * 28) The flashback where Clu betrays Flynn and Tron is horrifying and emotional.
 * 29) The ending titles and opening titles are done really nicely.
 * 30) The vehicle design for the Light Cycles, Light Jets, Light Runners, Solar Sailers, Clu's warship and Clu's throne ship look really cool.
 * 31) Joseph Kosinski gives decent direction. This was his first movie.
 * 32) The set designs for the Disc Wars arena, the Light Cycle Grid, Flynn's residence, the End of Line Club and the interior of Clu's warship is also cool.
 * 33) The opening where Kevin is telling Sam a story is really touching.
 * 34) Let's also take a minute to acknowledge Daft Punk's (Daft Punk is a French duo) musical score. The score is amazing and appropriate. Daft Punk combined orchestral sounds with their trademark electronic music and it really shows! Some of the amazing tracks include Flynn Lives, End of Line, Arena, The Game Has Changed, The Son of Flynn, Outlands Part II and the End Titles Theme. And, as another bonus, Daft Punk has a cameo as programs working as DJs at Zuse's club.
 * 35) Good dialogue including:
 * 36) *I believed in users once before. - Zuse
 * 37) *Now let's see: we'll have to change your attire and you'll need a forged disc. Not easy these days, by the way and of course, you'll need transport to cross the Sea of Simulation. This is going to be quite a ride. - Zuse
 * 38) *I'm stepping away for a moment, boys. Change the scheme, alter the mood, electrify the boys and girls if you'd be so kind. - Zuse
 * 39) *I fight for the users! - Tron
 * 40) *Flynn is teaching me about the art of the selfless, about removing oneself from the equation. But between you and me, Jules Verne is my favorite. Do you know Jules Verne? - Quorra
 * 41) *He actually did it. I'm on the Grid. - Sam
 * 42) *You can't steal something that was designed to be free. - Sam
 * 43) *There is no choice, Quorra. I won't lose him again. Chaos. Good news. - Kevin
 * 44) *He's my son! - Kevin
 * 45) *Flynn, go! - Tron
 * 46) *How can he be so afraid of his own creation? I mean, he built Clu, why doesn't he just end him? - Sam
 * 47) *I've been waiting a long time for this. - Clu
 * 48) *I did everything! Everything you ever asked! - Clu
 * 49) *Bio-digital jazz, man. - Kevin
 * 50) *User. - Rinzler
 * 51) *Alan, you're acting like gonna find him sitting there, working, just "Hey, kiddo. Lost track of time.". - Sam
 * 52) *Game on, old friend. - Clu
 * 53) *Patience, Sam Flynn! All your questions will be answered soon! - Quorra
 * 54) *Tron, what have you become? - Kevin
 * 55) *Flynn! Am I still to create the perfect system? - Clu
 * 56) *You've been corrupted! - Clu
 * 57) *Sometimes life has a way of moving you past things like wants and hopes. - Kevin
 * 58) *It's amazing how productive doing nothing can be. - Kevin
 * 59) *Hey Dad, how you doing? - Sam
 * 60) *He never thought he'd see you again. - Quorra
 * 61) *Do you know it? His patience usually beats out my more... aggressive strategy. - Quorra
 * 62) *Your enthusiasm is intoxicating, my dear Bartik, but Zuse's time is precious. We. Shall. See. - Zuse
 * 63) *Rinzler, take the shot! Finish the game! - Clu
 * 64) The movie delivers a good message about the bad things that could happen if you try to make something too perfect.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Some characters like Jarvis, Gem, Zuse, Rinzler and Quorra do not get much character development.
 * 2) The opening where Sam breaks into ENCOM isn't really necessary and only serves as plot filler.
 * 3) The film has a little hint of racism between the users (humans inside the Grid) and programs (citizens of the Grid). Some characters exhibit this including Clu, Zuse and Jarvis.
 * 4) Unfortunately, whilst Tron is a major character in the first movie and a good-natured program who fights for the users, he has been placed completely out of character. However, this is excusable as A), he was repurposed by Clu, and B), he redeems himself.
 * 5) The plot is pretty underdeveloped.
 * 6) The line "Have a nice swim!" is a pretty cheesy one-liner.
 * 7) The digital de-aging of Jeff Bridges for Clu is not entirely convincing.

Critical Response
Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 51% of commentators gave the film a positive review, based on 243 reviews. Attaining a mean score of 5.86/10, the site's consensus stated: "Tron: Legacy boasts dazzling visuals, but its human characters and story get lost amidst its state-of-the-art production design." At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 based on reviews from mainstream critics, Tron: Legacy received a rating average of 49, based on 40 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

The visual effects were cited as the central highlight of the film. In his three-star review, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times felt that the environment was aesthetically pleasing, and added that its score displayed an "electronic force" that complemented the visuals. Rolling Stone columnist Peter Travers echoed these sentiments, concluding that the effects were of an "award-caliber." J. Hoberman of The Village Voice noted that while it was extensively enhanced, Tron: Legacy retained the streamlined visuals that were seen in its predecessor, while Variety's Peter DeBarge affirmed that the visuals and the accompanied "cutting-edge" score made for a "stunning virtual ride." To Nick de Semlyen of Empire, "This is a movie of astonishing high-end gloss, fused to a pounding Daft Punk soundtrack, populated with sleek sirens and chiseled hunks, boasting electroluminescent landscapes to make Blu-ray players weep." Some critics were not as impressed with the film's special effects. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times avouched that despite its occasional notability, the film's "vibrating kaleidoscopic colors that gave the first movie its visual punch have been replaced by a monotonous palette of glassy black and blue and sunbursts of orange and yellow." Though declaring that Tron: Legacy was "eye-popping," San Francisco Chronicle's Amy Biancolli conceded that the special effects were "spectacular"—albeit cheesy. A columnist for The Wall Street Journal, Joe Morgenstern denounced the producers' emphasis on technological advancements, which he felt could have been used for other means such as drama. To the New York Post's Kyle Smith, there were many moments where he "shed [his] customary phlegmatic equilibrium and [...] thought: Hey, this is really exciting!"

The performances of various cast members were frequently mentioned in the critiques. Michael Sheen's portrayal of Castor was particularly acclaimed by commentators, who—because of his flamboyance—drew parallels to pop-rock icon David Bowie, as well as fictional characters such as A Clockwork Orange lead character Alex. Dargis, Debruge, Puig, and Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer were among the journalists to praise his acting: Dargis ascribed Sheen's exceptional performance to a comparatively "uninteresting" cast. To Philadelphia Daily News film critic Gary Thompson, the film became humorous with the scenes involving Castor. Star Tribune critic Colin Covert believed that Sheen's campy antics were the "too brief" highlights of Tron: Legacy. With other cast members—particularly Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, and Jeff Bridges—commentary reflected diverse attitudes. The film received "a little boost from" Wilde, according to Rickey.[ The Boston Globe's Wesley Morris called Hedlund a "dud stud"; "None of what he sees impresses," he elaborated. "The feeling is mutual. At an alleged cost of $200 million, that's some yawn. If he can't be thrilled, why should we?" To Salon commentator Andrew O'Hehir, even Bridges—an individual he regarded as "one of America's most beloved and distinctive" actors—was "weird and complicated" rather than being the "sentimental and alluring" portrayer in the original Tron.

Critics were divided with the character development and the storylines in Tron: Legacy. Writing for The New Yorker, Bruce Jones commented that the audience did not connect with the characters, as they were lacking emotion and substance. "Disney may be looking for a merchandising bonanza with this long-gestating sequel to the groundbreaking 1982 film," remarked Jones, "but someone in the corporate offices forgot to add any human interest to its action-heavy script." Likewise, USA Today journalist Claudia Puig found Tron: Legacy to resonate with "nonsensical" and "unimaginative, even obfuscating" dialogue, and that "most of the story just doesn't scan." As Dana Stevens from Slate summed up, "Tron: Legacy is the kind of sensory-onslaught blockbuster that tends to put me to sleep, the way babies will nap to block out overwhelming stimuli. I confess I may have snoozed through one or two climactic battles only to be startled awake by an incoming neon Frisbee." Although he proclaimed the plot of Tron: Legacy and its predecessor to be spotty, Ian Buckwater of NPR was lenient on the latter film due to its youth-friendly nature. In contrast to negative responses, Michelle Alexander of Eclipse adored the plot of Tron: Legacy, a reaction that was paralleled by Rossiter Drake from 7x7, who wrote that it was "buoyed" by its "sometimes convoluted, yet hard to resist" story. Metro's Larushka Ivan-Zadeh complained about the underdeveloped plot, saying "In 2010, issues surrounding the immersive nature of gaming and all-consuming power of modern technology are more pertinent than ever, so it's frustrating the script does nothing with them." However, she conceded that "it's the best 3D flick since Avatar and a super-groovy soundtrack by Daft Punk nonetheless makes for an awesome watch."