Tron: Legacy, that one great movie to cap off a year that produced so many phenomenal flicks. When I wrote about attending Tron Night and being able to catch 20 minutes of the film, I mentioned that I was pleasantly excited to see the film in December. The other night, I was one of the few privileged enough to attend the premiere at the IMAX theater in SM MOA.
The movie was everything that I've expected. Great visuals, adrenaline-pumping action scenes, good backstory and a fine cast of actors. The movie wasn't shot in full 3d, a disclaimer says so at the very start of the film but don't let it deter you from seeing it in IMAX or in digital 3d cinemas. For me, the Grid is really much more spectacular and best seen in 3d.
Tron: Legacy is a sequel to the first Tron film and takes places 27 years after Kevin Flynn's reported disappearance. As a background from the first movie, Kevin Flynn took over the tech company named Encom after having cleared his name and rightfully claimed video game rights and successfully entering the Grid by accident. He made Encom the forerunner of technology in his time. When he disappeared, he left behind a son named Sam. 
Tron: Legacy is pretty much the story of Sam and how he comes to discover the reason for his father's disappearance and why he never came back. Here he also discovers that what was a bedtime story, couldn't be more real than the world he has come to known. Just like his father, Sam entered the Grid by accident. Here he must trust every instinct in order to survive the games. He dons on a beautiful light suit, gets an Identity disk and rides a Light Cycle. He meets allies and foes but must ultimately decide who to trust.
The Grid is a far cry from it's first renderings in the first movie, thanks to the technological advances in cinematography in our day. I loved the light suits. Some might say the glowing lines are distracting but seeing it all together in the big screen gives Tron it's unique trademark and identity. The Light Cycles have also been revamped but still maintaining the basic form and design from the first movie. It's now much more engaging to see them in action.
I just didn't like how they rendered the CGI of a younger Jeff Bridges and of Clu. It felt like I was watching the cutscenes of a video game. To my opinion, what broke the illusion was that they didn't perfect the movement of the mouth. This was a giveaway, it wasn't as fluid and it looked computer generated. However, once I got over that and tried not to get distracted, I was able to enjoy the movie more. If they had perfected this flaw, I would have given this movie five stars.
Cillian Murphy's appearance was brief and yet his acting was exceptional. I hated him the moment he spoke. Haha. He plays the son of Mr. Dillinger. If you can recall, he's the bad guy in the first movie. Olivia Wilde played the character of Quorra who was pretty much an enigma in the movie. There were times that I was questioning her loyalty but when she portrayed innocence, she did so very convincingly. Michael Sheen was also awesome, his character Zuse was I think the most unforgettable in the film. He stood out among the rest with his character's demented ways. Plus I couldn't help but notice his perfect teeth. Jeff Bridges was of course a quiet picture of strength and power, as the creator in the Grid. He may show age but there were scenes showing worthily that he was still a force to be reckoned with. Garrett Hedlund's first starring performance was good but not phenomenal. Acting didn't break boundaries here, but he got us to sympathize and cheer for him which was good in itself.
The purpose and end of the movie is I think subject to one's own personal comprehension. My conclusion was that it was technology for the possibility of human regeneration and a break in recomposing human genetic makeup. Whatever understanding you might have of it, in general it was the technology of our future. A discovery that might make us far technologically advanced like an alien race.
Lastly, although it was meant to be a stand-alone film and there were flashbacks in the movie to explain some events in the past, I highly recommend watching the original Tron film first. It will help you 
understand more concepts, the characters and appreciate the visuals in this new film. Tron: Legacy is not just for geeks and fanboys of the series, you might be surprised just how immersed in the world of Tron you can be once you've started watching. So for this holiday season, treat yourself to a popcorn worth flick worth watching in 3d. Tron: Legacy is now showing on all cinemas nationwide.
Special thanks to Disney, Jay and Ms. Sionee of course. I love my led cap! :)
Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
