TRON: Legacy (2010)
Can they revive retro arcade nostalgia?
Presentation:
A visually spectacular modern interpretation of a very classic video game movie. You have sharp neon visuals that make this sci-fi blockbuster look premium with cyberpunk vibes impressively carried out by Daft Punk’s musical performances. But it’s all quite shallow with a loose story that is hard to fully grasp unless you watched the original in 1982. Garret Hedlund’s performance is quite forgettable and Jeff Bridges CGI face is distractingly uncanny. The only charismatic persona is Olivia Wilde, whom does add an interesting element to the AI consciousness discussion. As for mindless sci-fi, it’s visually high quality with vibrant light bridges and world design, but for more serious cinema enjoyers, this is a pretty generic flick.
Conclusion:
The impressive imagery and franchise IP leads to high expectations for what is ultimately a disappointing story not measuring up to its reputation. However if you watch this oblivious to the cinematic context, this could be an entertaining play through childhood memories at the arcade. A sequel Tron: Ares is set to be released in 2025, but expectations are much lowering this time around especially with its questionable cast.
Recommendations
Melancholia never truly passes.