Movie Review : TRON LEGACY

Ok folks, it's review time again. This would be my first movie review. I had wanted to do this since a long time but there were no movies coming out in recent times for which I'd take the trouble of posting a review. I finally decided to go on with Disney's Tron Legacy which released last month.

They say that as you grow or expand your franchisee, you get better but I seriously doubt whether this concept is applicable when we're talking about a movie franchisee. I say so because I've noticed that most sequels of a great movie turn out to be crap. Of course there are exceptions. Some sequels really surpassed the original ( Terminator 2, Dark Knight and some more) but in most cases sequels lack the charm that an original movie had. And so, it's hardly surprising that Tron: Legacy falls into this category.

Tron: Legacy is the second installation in the Tron series (and hopefully the last), starring Garett Hedlund , Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde and Micheal Sheen among others and directed by first time director Joseph Kosisnsky. I don't know why the sequel was so late (Tron released way back in 1982). This movie, at all if anything, is a visual effects feast. In fact the movie relies only upon superb special effects and CGI. And to be honest, that's all the movie has to offer. The story is all hotch potch and confusing. The ones who have not seen the previous Tron movie will have a hell of a time trying to understand what's going on. And most people didn't even know there was a Tron movie that released in 1982.

And for some strange reason, Tron, the titular character on whom the series is based appears for only about 10 minutes in the film. He is not even a significant character. The plot is somewhat similiar to the original. The protaganist( this time the son of Kevin Flynn, the originl 1982 protagonist) is digitized into a computer mainframe. Yes, he is actually inside the digital world of a computer where computer programs look like humans and then there are battles and fights between humans ( called users in the movie) and programs,between good programs and bad programs and all ultra high sci-fi stuff.. One of those programs is Tron..who appeared in the 1982 version as the hero...turns villain in this one......then turns good again in the climax... and then dies(oops.. sorry.. I mean gets deleted)...and he manages to do all that by appearing only for 10 minutes in the whole movie..how sick is that ..Gosh...The story sure does suck....I wouldn't recommend this movie to people who want an interesting and engaging storyline.

But hey.......doesn't the story ring a bell ? Where have we heard that before ? Yeah.. THE MATRIX SERIES... The concept of getting transported into a computer digital network with programs walking all around you...It was there in the Matrix movies..but the concept had been treated well...But this movie does not come anywhere as close to the matrix series. The well defined storyline....the extreme style and suspense......twists and turns.....everything that made the matrix movies do well, none of them are visible in Tron Legacy. As said, the only thing that the movie can boast of is fantastic special effects. It is like the movie had been made just as an excuse for showing us some real good effects. The effects are without doubt simply awesome and will totally leave you spellbound. Especially the bike racing scene inside the digital world. And it's all the more better if seen in 3D. The digital world that was created is really worth appreciation. But then these scenes without an interesting plot has no meaning.

Another aspect that i didn't like was the wastage of Micheal Sheen's character. I like Micheal Sheen a lot and he is a damn good actor.I felt his character as that of an insane maniacal computer program who also appears for about 15 minutes and then dies( sorry again...I mean gets deleted) was a total waste. He is too dignified for that role and it could have been done by anyone. Actually his character could have been done without as well as it adds nothing to the already rotten storyline.

I would round up and say the first Tron was much better than this one. People say this one is better due to better CGI but then, back in 1982 the CGI shown was much advanced for it's time. People are forgetting the time periods. The effects can't be compared. See Tron: Legacy only if you are simply craving for some dazzling visual effects. If you want anything else, it's better to see any other good Sci-Fi movie.

MY FINAL RATING : 4.5/10

Checkout the movue trailer

There has been a game released alongside the release of the movie, titled Tron Evolution developed by Gamestar and published by Disney Interactive studio. The gameplay is supposed to from a storyline that is occuring between the two movies. Though I didn't like Tron Legacy, the trailer of the game boasts of some great graphics and gameplay. I am sure to lay my hands on this one. And as soon as I finish playing it, I'll be posting a review for it. Just keep waiting guys. Checkout the game trailer.