Tron: Legacy promises stunning visuals

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Tron: Legacy promises stunning visuals
October 27, 2010
Shropshire Star

It’s been nearly 30 years since the release of the cult classic science fiction film, Tron. Now, Disney is doing something very exciting to celebrate this adventure classic – it’s releasing its sequel, Tron Legacy.

Considering a fair amount of time has passed since Tron took to the silver screen in 1982, it’s useful to give a little bit of background about the first movie’s plot.

Tron tells the story of Kevin Flynn, who is revered as one of the most innovative video game makers of his time. Flynn worked for the software company ENCOM until a deceptive co-worker stole his work and presented it as his own.

Kevin was determined to prove that his ideas were wrongfully taken from him by hacking into the company’s mainframe computer. This is something he successfully managed to do and prompted him to work on his own digital realm – the Tron System.

Flynn recreates many programs from the ENCOM system and manages to easily travel in and out of the system by laser technology. About to reveal his accomplishments to the world, Kevin disappears from the real world. One explanation is that he has become trapped in the digital world, unable to find a way out.

Of course, this affected several people in Kevin’s life, including most his seven-year-old son, Sam.

Flynn junior spent over 20 years with an aching emptiness, wondering what happened to his father. Tron 2 now presents a grown-up Sam who, determined to find an answer, is eventually pulled into the same virtual world as his father.

Sam must face a life-or-death journey in the world of Tron – trying to find his father so that they can leave the digital landscape and come back to resume their lives on Earth.

Tron: Legacy is different from its predecessor in a number of ways, but most notably in its stunning graphics and the digitally-created environment which the main characters find themselves locked within.

Of course, a great deal of technological improvements and innovations have been made in the past 28 years, and there is no better way to see just how far each has come than comparing by Tron: Legacy with the original Tron.

In the 1982 Tron release, the special effects used were considered groundbreaking and incomparable to anything else that came before them. Just as that movie made an impression on the audience of its time, Tron 2 now comes forward to blow sci-fi enthusiasts away all over again.

Simply by watching the trailer for the soon-to-be-released Tron: Legacy you can see how much has changed in the film world. What’s more, considering that this movie is going to be released in formats such as Digital 3D and IMAX which were not available in the first Tron’s day, it is safe to say that the sequel will bring about an entirely new cinematic experience when compared against the original.

Part of the reason for the buzz surrounding Tron: Legacy is the fact that fans have had to wait so long to see it. The gap of 28 years, in fact, is a record-breaking period of time between the release of a Hollywood live-action film and its sequel. However, there’s also plenty to look forward to for those not familiar with the first instalment.

For starters, the film boasts an impressive cast of leading actors. Jeff Bridges is back to reclaim the role of Kevin which made him so famous back in the early 80s. Of course, over the years Bridges has kept busy starring in a number of critical and commercial successes, including his recent Academy Award-winning performance in 2010’s Crazy Heart. Other contributions that have kept audiences amused over the years include his roles in The Fisher King (1991), The Big Lebowski (1998), The Contender (2000), and Iron Man (2008).

Garrett Hedlund, who has starred in Friday Night Lights (2004) and Four Brothers (2005), also delivers a heart-stopping performance as Kevin’s rebellious son, Sam. While Hedlund has only been on the scene for a few years, this film will really help to cement his career as an actor, particularly in the action genre.

Olivia Wilde rounds off the lead cast in her role as Quorra, a confidante of Flynn senior’s in the Tron system. Wilde is known for her credentials in both film and television, having starred in the popular series The OC and House, plus films such as 2006’s Alpha Dog and the 2009 comedy Year One.

As if mind-boggling graphics and a cast of talented actors wasn’t enough, Tron: Legacy also shows off an impressive soundtrack from French electro outfit Daft Punk. The duo, who have long been favoured in their genre, have brought a 24-track score to the production which helps to complement its suspense and action sequences perfectly.

While Tron: Legacy goes to show just how far digital technology has taken over films in the last few years, we are also able to see how far the music of Daft Punk has developed since they first began in the field over 20 years ago.

‘Tronmania’ can only continue with the release of the complementary interactive video game, Tron Evolution. Here, you can immerse yourself in the digital world and really be a part of all the virtual madness in which Sam, Kevin and Quorra become tangled.

For many reasons, including everything from a hotly-tipped and buzz-worthy soundtrack to the release of an entertaining and interactive video game, Tron: Legacy is on the lips of film fanatics and critics alike.

Overall, Tron: Legacy showcases so many things; a beloved cult classic is brought back to life, and both fans from the first film and new viewers will be able to revel in a stunning display of cinematic artistry and craftsmanship – the sort which only Disney is capable of bringing to life.

There is perfectly-suited music, cinematic magic and madness and fine acting to boot. The question on everyone’s mind, however, is whether or not Sam will be able to rescue his father and return him to the real world…