Tron was a 1982 movie about a computer programmer, Kevin Flynn, being dragged into his own creation and forced to survive an ordeal of several computer games in order to find his way to the portal to get back to the real world and reprogram his creation in order to stop the computer from controlling the system.
This new revamp in 2010, Tron Legacy see’s the son of Kevin Flynn, Sam, looking for his father who suddenly disappeared. After being told of a page received from his dad’s office, Sam checks it out only to be pulled into the same game world that his father has been stuck in for 20 years. He is then also forced to survive an ordeal of computer games in order to find his father and embark on a quest to escape the computer world before the portal shuts for good.
Sound confusing? Well if I’m honest it kind of is and I don’t know if I would have understood most of what I do about the Tron films if I hadn’t have seen the original before seeing Tron legacy. Before I saw Tron Legacy I did not know much about Tron and was advised by people online to watch the original Tron movie before I saw Tron Legacy because of the references they make in the film and so I understand the story behind the film in more depth.
After seeing the old Tron film and how really old looking the visual effects were, which at times when watching it made it hard to take seriously, I was really excited to see the new Tron and was also lucky enough to see it in the BFI IMAX in London, and I have to say that the visuals in Tron Legacy are just amazing. Not only in comparison to the 1982 version but also to any film you will see in more recent times. I’m sure the IMAX helped out with this opinion, but I’m sure even seeing the film on screens in your living room you would still be able to appreciate the brilliant work by the visual team for the film because without it, it just wouldn’t be the same film.
After seeing both the Tron films I think it isn’t necessary to see the original film before you see Tron Legacy, but if you can it did help me understand what was going on a lot easier. There’s a few lines that reference to the original film and scenes such as in Flynn’s arcade that look identical, as well as Jeff Bridges reprising his role as Kevin Flynn from the 1982 version.
Overall I have to say Tron Legacy may only really be something visually stunning to watch for two hours as the plot and storyline does seem a bit weak and confusing at times. I think kids should love it just because it looks very cool more than what is going on, and being a Disney film that is probably the market they are aiming for.
If there isn’t a Tron themed ride of some description at any Disney theme park in the recent future I’d be very surprised because those bikes are just screaming to be made into roller coaster trains and have visitors flying around the”grid”.