TRON: Legacy

To call TRON: Legacy visually arresting would be like calling the Grand Canyon a mere hole in the ground. It's so much more than that. Now I will admit that I was nervous going in for a few reasons. One was the limited color scheme that appeared everywhere in the commercials and trailers for the movie. Second was every commercial and trailer I saw made the film look cornier and lamer. Add to that this film being directed by a first time director and admittedly my expectations going into the movie were pretty low. I am happy to say that even if they were high, Legacy would have met or surpassed them. The only real thing I did have high hopes for was hearing how the music created by Daft Punk was going to be used and for first time film scorers they did an epic job.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Legacy is a story about Kevin Flynn's son Sam being digitized and sucked into the same mainframe his father was some twenty years ago. The story line this time around much like the first one required you to suspend all rational thinking and just enjoy the ride. For those that didn't, they will pick apart this movie until they can't see straight and there is a lot they can pick at. For those that sat back and did indeed enjoy the ride, to say that they saw a highly entertaining movie would again be like calling the Grand Canyon just a hole in the ground. Kevin Flynn is again played by the Oscar award winning actor Jeff Bridges, his son Sam is played by Garrett Hedlund, and the female lead Quorra is played by Olivia Wilde fresh off her turn as Dr Remy Hadley from "House".

In my opinion the story line could have used some serious tweaking, tightening, or even a few more rewrites but i'm letting that go. This movie catches you up on what's been happening on "the grid" since the first movie and why Kevin Flynn never returned home. When Kevins old business partner Alan Bradley played by Bruce Boxleitner get's a page on his pager (yes his pager) from Kevins old number he reports this news to the hard headed, truculent, and rebellious/slacker Sam. Sam decides to go check it out and activates the same computer that got his father. Once Sam is there Kosinski wastes no time giving audiences what they've been waiting for. The disc wars and light bikes action sequences are a blast and absolutely breathtaking.

The special effects and CG work is exceptional and that even goes for making Jeff Bridges look twenty years younger in both the real world and on "the grid" in his evil alter eog known as "CLU". Much in the way they made Brad Pitt appear to age backwards in "Benjamin Button" the same was done with Jeff. It didn't always look natural but it sufficed. Remember, just go with it. Sam once reunited with his father wants to get him back home but CLU has other ideas and so the drama ensues.

TRON: Legacy will undoubtedly do better at the box office than it's predecessor ever could have hoped to do. It's a cinematic feast for the eyes and one hell of a wild ride. Can't forget the ears too thanks to Daft Punk. I recommend this movie if you want a good time and I highly recommend it in IMAX if you want a kick ass time.

See you at the theater!