3-D razzle-dazzle and eyeball-taxing pixel porn.

The original Tron may not have aged well over the past 28 years, but it still deserves props for breaking cinematic ground. In an unprecedented achievement, 16 minutes of Tron were generated solely by something called a “computer” (circa 1982, I’m told the term was “steam-powered mechanized abacus”), and the film, according to Stanford film scholar and world-class pontificator Scott Bukatman, still constitutes “the most sustained cinematic attempt at mapping cyberspace.”

Tron: Legacy, the new high-budget, high-gloss sequel, is not without its own innovations. It marks the first time a $150-million-plus tent pole was green-lit based solely on the response to test footage screened at the San Diego Comic-Con. (At the time, it bore the incredibly stupid title of TR2N, which I believe is pronounced “tur-too-un.”) By that same token, this new Tron‘s indulgent 3-D razzle-dazzle and eyeball-taxing pixel porn are hardly revolutionary. Those who made it through all three interminable hours of Avatar will be well prepared for the onslaught of simulated humanoid FX. As Clu, a digitally de-aged Jeff Bridges motion-captures his way through the Uncanny Valley and into your nightmares, mugging with phony features that look rubbery and puttied-over.

But as artificial as much of Legacy (perhaps appropriately) appears, director Joseph Kosinski can at least be credited for realizing much of the film’s cyberspace trappings through practical means like impressive, large-scale sets. All of the silly, spongy costuming from the original has been replaced with leather fetish garb and armored onesies with Daft Punk LED piping. This attention to detail and effort at verisimilitude coincides with the film’s overall attempt at being a Very Serious, Weighty, and Emotional Picture, even though it’s based on something that was outgrossed by its own video-game adaptation, and which was inherently goofy and insubstantial in the first place. Whereas Tron ’82 had designs by French surrealist comic artist Moebius, this film opts for the safer, less groovy touch of Neville Page, who worked on Avatar and famously designed the Cloverfield monster. It’s an aesthetic decision in keeping with the film’s overall post–Dark Knight dourness (“Why so serious?”).

Legacy‘s stubborn po-faced-ness only emphasizes the ridiculousness of its plot, which has Sam Flynn invading “the Grid” in search of his long-lost dad, Jeff Bridges’s programmer/
software developer/pit-stained arcade owner Kevin Flynn. After arriving, Sam is subjected to periodic doses of needlessly complex exposition, detailing the rise and fall of Papa Flynn’s digital dreamland, whatever happened to that “Tron” guy, and a somewhat troubling backstory about “primitive” digital indigenes (in the film’s lexicon of arbitrary techno-babble, they’re “isomorphic algorithms”). All this nonsense exists to justify what basically amounts to a classic chase film structure, albeit one misshapen by the weight of a convoluted mythology. That all this world-building is intended to bear forthcoming cultural fruit doesn’t keep it from seeming as conspicuous and detrimental as a string of bad code. Disney seems to believe that unless the Tron property is treated with the utmost seriousness, its plans for a television spin-off, theme-park ride, and future sequels might not pay off.

Garrett Hedlund’s performance as Sam should be the core of the movie, but he plays the role with such a half-assed lack of range that he fails to make an impression amid all the CGI bombast. Olivia Wilde is more fun as Quorra, the chaste pseudo love interest who occasionally cackles playfully à la Lori Petty.

Michael Sheen’s turn as the Grid’s Steve Rubell equivalent, on the other hand, oozes glam-rock sex appeal, but the most engaging onscreen presence is, unsurprisingly, Jeff Bridges. Given free rein to cut loose as a hoary, offbeat New Ager, Bridges’s elder Flynn serves as the perfect identification character for Legacy‘s largest target demographic: stoners. Flynn is not above reacting to the film’s flabbergasting array of Big Action Set Pieces with foggy-headed awe, and the script supplies him with all kinds of hilariously slangy dialogue (“It was bio-digital jazz,” “Radical, man,” and “You’re messing with my Zen thing, man”). In one astonishing bit of unintentional meta-commentary, Flynn wonders aloud, “What happened to you, Tron?”

Tron got splashier, Tron got longer and more ridiculous, but the truth is that Tron hasn’t changed that much. Tron: Legacy rivals version 1.0’s overabundance of superficiality and spectacle. It’s more about Mouse House showmanship than depth of character, nuance of narrative, or philosophical concerns related to the “digital frontier.” It may not be the most ludicrous representation of cyberspace—that distinction probably belongs to Worf’s begrudging participation in Robin Hood role-playing on the Star Trek holodeck—but it’s definitely one of the most uninspired. The degree to which Tron‘s imagined cyberspace has been diluted into an even more mundane, stylized facsimile of our “real world” is hugely disappointing. The Grid replicates a standard megalopolis, and its program populace is seen unwinding at dance clubs, bumping into acquaintances on rainy streets, and sitting down for supper (of what, who knows? In the original, one of the longest scenes is Flynn and two digital bros greedily slurping from a luminescent reservoir, as if it were the Grid’s only naturally occurring fount of cyberspace Four Loko). One imagines we’d be privy to shots of the programs folding their laundry if the plot demanded it.

Sure, Tron: Legacy is more exciting than watching clothes-folding, but it nevertheless falls flat, undermined by its own terminal earnestness and dearth of imagination. It carries on Tron‘s “legacy” of lacking substance, but also (ironically for a 3-D film) it really lacks depth. recommended

This article has been updated since its original publication.

Jason Baxter—Stranger music columnist and Line Out blogger—has been a professional writer since the age of 18, having contributed articles and commentary on music, film, and comic books to the likes...

32 replies on ““What Happened to You, Tron?””

  2. I’ve never seen such masturbatory writing in a movie review before. If you want to watch foreign films all day while you roll your own cigarettes that’s fine. Just don’t spill your Trader Joe’s wine on other people’s media. Your references and mediocre radio station gab belong on an episode of Gilmore Girls, not in print.

  4. I don’t know what’s more amusing, the revisionist idea that the original Tron was so much as noticed in its day (why else wouldn’t Disney re-release it on DVD to promote its insanely improbably, 30 year late sequel?) or the revisionist negative look back at Avatar from the site that was thoroughly lathering Cameron’s asshole for months surrounding its release.

  5. Actually , Worf’s begrudging particpation was not on the holo-deck. Q created a separate universe in an attempt to pay Piccard back and show that he did have feeling for Vash. Nerd nerd nerd.

  7. well thats just fantastic.

    jason purely writes lineout crap….then he randomly is tasked with reviewing one of the most anticipated nerd movies of the year…WHY?

    not even reading it. Wheres Lindy when you need her?

  10. OK..WTF..Tron was an awesome movie back in the day. And an even better video game! I am looking foward to the movie…you all must be too young to appreciate the true value of the movie.

  15. It’s weird that you mention shots of the programs folding their laundry, cause that was at least a suggested off-screen activity! When Gem and Sam are going up to the club to meet with Zues she’s wearing a clear rain jacket and emerges from the elevator with it folder into a perfect square! I remember it because I was thinking that cyber rain jackets either fold themselves or she actually meticulously did it in the elevator (just like “excuse me while I fold my garment into perfect geometric form.”)! I can’t be the only one who found that odd and wants this serious lore question answered STAT!

  17. was the writer even alive when the old tron came out? i haven’t seen the movie yet but dam troll on baby. jealous much? your screenplay about a socialist utopia get round filed everywhere you polluted the universe with it ? to quote “why so serious ? “

  18. “It’s more about Mouse House showmanship than depth of character, nuance of narrative, or philosophical concerns related to the “digital frontier.”

    You mean a movie ABOUT A VIDEO GAME DORK AND HIS VIDEO GAMES doesn’t sufficiently address the philosophical concerns related to the digital frontier?!?!

    Totally fucking shocked, dude. Thanks… looks like I’ll be attending that lecture on existentialism INSTEAD of seeing Tron.

  19. Perhaps you should just say you don’t like action flicks and save yourself and everyone else some time. It’s like you hate every facet if this movie for the sake of being jaded. Many of your complaints about this movie happen to be common themes in almost all action flicks. The movie isn’t meant to be a f**king theatrical piece if thats what your professor told you you should be looking for. I’m an electrical engineer and even I can enjoy the silly premise of this movie. I sure hope you are an intern because your writing isn’t worth the paper or electricity it takes to publish it.

  22. I kind of agree with #19. Having just watched the film a second time, I don’t get the comments about “dourness” nor “needlessly complex exposition”. They generally end most of the middle scenes with some joke: what … anti-dourness would be expected? And as far as the needlessly complex exposition: what would you cut out?

    I thought it was a good movie. *shrug*

  23. I saw the movie last night. I thought it was amazing. As per complaints about the story and pace – it was a PG film by Disney. Anyone looking for real depth from them anymore has obviously never heard of HS Musical or Hannah Fucking Montana.

  25. I had the pleasure of seeing Tron this Saturday, and maybe it’s because I hadn’t smoked weed in a few years, but it was the most rapturous movie experience sence Star Wars. I saw the original Tron when I was 12 and it had a profound affect on my dream imagery. I was a treat to go back to ‘the Grid’.

  27. Tron has always been one of my absolute favorite movies mostly because I notice something new every time I watch it–it wasn’t until I was much older that I noticed the blatant analogy to faith and Flynn’s Hero Quest to save his own unbelieving creation.

    I first saw Tron Legacy at midnight and walked away with many of the negative feelings expressed in this review, but remembering how my opinion of Tron has grown over time I withheld final judgement. After seeing it a second time and catching a few of the subtlety’s (like the fact that Sam’s apartment had a Garage door with the name “DUMONT”), I am glad I did. There are some things about Legacy that still bug me (the young Ed Dillinger’s appearance on the Grid as a wannabe Merovingian from the Matrix, and Tron’s unexplained defection to and from Clu’s army), but overall I’m already beginning to love this film.

    But to be fair, I’ll take ANY excuse to return to the “World of Tron”–even IF the Daft Punk soundtrack plays a bigger role than the title character.

  28. @27 The Devils Thadvocate.

    -The Dumont case was a great touch. I was equally impressed at how well the recreated Flynn’s apartment (complete with the little handheld game) so many lovely touches and homages to the original. This film was clearly a love letter imo.

    -I totally missed Dillinger on the Grid. More sequel fodder to me then than just his small cameo in the board room.

    -Tron didn’t really defect. CLU infected him with his own programing (remember, CLU cant create only repurpose) but then once Tron/Rinzler fought Sam (“A user?”) he began to have his doubts. At the end he was able to rembrace his original programming (“I fight for the users!”) and be redeemed. Also catch his color change back to blue as he fell into the sea (a little baptism perhaps?)

  29. So my first question is: Why aren’t you reviewing Black Swan? Given your discussion of Tron, that movie seems way more your speed.

    Second question: Did you even see the first Tron?

    If you had seen the first movie you would have noticed that it’s a pretty terrible movie when it comes to artistic quality, writing quality, and overall is a pretty terrible film if you’re going to judge it as such. The point is, with both of these movies, that they are fun. That is all they are.

    Those two things being said, I still can’t figure out what you’re saying in your review. You spend half the time bitching and as a previous commenter so eloquently put “thoroughly lathering Cameron’s asshole” (thanks LordHumongous) because HOLY SHIT where were you while you were watching Avatar? That movie was a worse CGI masturbatory festival than TRON. The first TRON was about computers and new technology in film. I don’t understand how anyone can expect an amazing film discussing the human condition through CGI and computer metaphors, especially if it’s coming from Disney, the talking animal factory and the company that makes movies out of theme park rides. Back on track, your review can’t decide what to say, argue, or even stand by. You say the movie is iffy at best. I say your review is iffy at best. So what if that acting wasn’t amazing? Who cares about the “post–Dark Knight dourness” as you put it. Did you really expect them to go with spandex and black light paint again? Tell me how Black Swan is and I might listen to you.

    That being said, I absolutely love explaining it as “Cyberspace Four Loko”. Which seems like a backhanded compliment, I just feel like your tastes and expectations for a Disney movie about computers went way beyond what anyone should expect. I have seen this reaction with way too many people. It’s a PG Disney film, which will more than anything, sell toys. That being considered the movie was way more than I had expected having gone in with the first TRON film in mind.

  30. So Ive read this review a few times and finally had time to see this film. But man Jason….. you have to man up and say you screwed up this one. You could have written a better review to discuss how much you disliked it. Your comments are downright superflous and you attempt to make yourself edgy. You’re trying to hard. Are you trying to write for Pitchfork???

    Your comment about the test title is plain silly. And a sequel was thought about years prior with writing starting as 2005.

    Then you even point out how “silly” the original was. So going into the 28 year old sequel. You shouldnt expect much.

    The movie wasnt soley based on a video game but the marriage of the first encounter of Pong and the computer. And it was originally intended to be animated.

    Moreover, Moebius didn’t design all of Tron. You are forgetting Syd Mead of Aliens and Blade Runner. So your discussion is somewhat weakened when you mention the surrealism “grooviness” of Moebius. Mead designed the vechiles while Phillip lloyd designed the environments. You could even argue the costume design and the visual effects may best align with the original 70s disco vision.

    Then you mention Page’s designs which are completely different in function with CGI designs for avatar yet this is practical real designs. hmmmmm. Then the vechiles were designed by a former Volkswagen designer. Sigh.

    But yes like SorcererSupreme you are looking way too deep for a bigger meaning. One example: You say you are astonished at something unintentional. Hence looking for a deeper meaning. Flynn asks what happened to Tron when its pretty obvious. Its a PG Disney movie. Why are looking for Inception in this film or Black Swan.

    then you generalize about the city…..where everyones partying at a raging techno party of like 30???

    Come on!!! You say the plot lacks depth but you say it’s convoluted. Wait…… how stoned were you for this film?

  31. Another review by a condescending, artistic sounding douchebag. Relax and write like an average person. I’d get a better review from a random stranger at Wal-Mart.

  32. I saw Tron on Christmas Day, with a friend who had adored the original, and by about an hour later, virtually had forgotten I had seen it. Not that it was bad, and I love action movies, Jeff Bridges and especially Olivia Wilde (in general, and pretty much always), but it was just kind of boring to me. Not well-written, flatly unemotional. I tried to care but just couldn’t quite do it. I wish I had talked my friend into seeing True Grit instead.

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