A Return to the 80's - "TRON: Legacy"

"TRON: Legacy" - *** - Science Fiction - Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen. Directed by Joseph Kosinski.

Your enjoyment of the new Tron film will mostly depend on whether you enjoy the cheesy film style of the 80's. More specifically, 80's science fiction.

The 80's produced films like "The Last Starfighter" about an arcade player who discovers that his favorite game is actually a pilot's test for an alien race in the middle of a war. "Space Camp" was about a bunch of random teenagers at Space Camp who sat in an engine test on the shuttle and accidently were launched into space. The 80's were all about fantasy and taking an ordinary individual and putting them into unbelievably circumstances and coming out a hero.

"Tron: Legacy" was a blast from the past. In our modern age of flawed heroes and feeling sorry for the bad guys, it's nice to go to a simpler style. Good is good. Bad is bad. Period.

In terms of story, the entire script is one big plot hole. If any of you have discussed the movie "Avatar" with me, you know I despise that movie. I despise it because of the poor writing and glaring plot holes. Although, it had amazing visuals. "Tron: Legacy" is very similar in that regard. What makes the difference? "Avatar" was meant to be taken seriously as a poignant allegory on the evils of humanity. "Tron: Legacy" was meant to be a thoughtless throw-back to a fantasy world.

The visuals were incredible, yet oddly felt 80's. The colors, ultra-bright lights and sterile environments helped pull you into this world. The fights were spectacular. In one scene, it can be easy to get disoriented as gravity randomly switches, but this was passing. It was easy to follow the action, unlike the modern technique of confusing the audience through jerky movements and camera tricks. The Cinematography of Dramamine. Thankfully, although the camera did its fair share of twists and turns, it never makes you feel sick.

All in all, I love 80's movies for all their cheesiness. This is no different. This is completely lame cheese, but it's remarkably fun! If you can shut off your adult brain and remember what it was like to pretend as a little kid, you will love this movie.

One more note that was the very first thing I noticed. The soundtrack is VERY unique. It's a fantastic blend of typical movie suspense music and the fun, synthesized techno of the 80's. Over the end credits, I waited to see who scored the film. It was no surprise that it was the bizarre techno/club group Daft Punk. Just a side note.

TRON: Legacy is rated PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language.