“Tron Legacy”: Finally, a Remake That’s Better Than the Original (Movie Review)

Before we get started on the review, I just want to point out one thing: "Tron", the original 1982 cult classic, is far from a great film. It had state of the art visuals and a likable lead but that’s where the praise ends. Knowing this information is key when viewing "Legacy", a movie that, despite being largely mediocre, improves greatly on its predecessor.

The storyline of "Tron Legacy" is simple. Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) has been trapped inside the digital world that he created for 20 years. When Sam, Kevin’s son, is informed of a mysterious signal sent from his father’s arcade, he decides to investigate. During his search, he is transported to the world where his dad has been kept captive for all these years. Basically, it’s a new age Frosty the Snowman.
If there was single thing that had me hyped for Legacy, it was Daft Punk. Five years after the release of their junior LP, the gods of techno have resurfaced in top form. Although it will undoubtedly be overshadowed by "Inception" come the Oscars, "Legacy'’s soundtrack ranks amongst the year’s best. There aren’t many of the dance-ready club tracks that made Daft Punk famous, but the duo displays a kind of versatility that would never have been displayed on any other medium. In particular, the orchestral work is surprisingly spectacular.



Masterfully edited to fit the score, "Legacy''s visuals are top shelf as well. On a purely technical level, the film is a masterpiece, a feast for the eyes and ears. The set pieces, costumes, and cinematography all work beautifully. Unfortunately, what the film gains in aesthetics, it loses in scripting.

"Legacy'’s storyline has some interesting ideas, but they’re convoluted and poorly developed. The film is awkwardly paced (sometimes rushed and other times slow) and the dialogue occasionally borderlines on the laughable. The actors do their best with the material they've been given, but sometimes even the best actor can’t overcome the power of a bad screenwriter.

Overall, "Legacy", just like the original "Tron", is a gorgeous movie inhibited by a mediocre script. If there was ever a movie that would benefit from the use of hallucinogenics, this is it.

Rating: 3/5
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