War Games

You know, we actually love sequels. But for Tron: Legacy (2010), we’ll make an exception.

I remember very little from the original Tron. Mainly, I liked the special effects that simulated CGI with hand animation and rotoscoping. The look was striking - not like existing work or the real computer animation that came after. Of course, the sequel used modern CGI, so the look is a lot less original.

It stars Garrett Hedlund as the son of Jeff Bridges, who disappeared somewhere when he was young. Now he’s a rebel, riding a motorcycle and disrupting the his dad’s company. He was raised by Bruce Boxleitner, his father’s partner, and, with Bridges, part of the original movie in some way I don’t remember. Anyway, Boxleitner gives Hedlund access to the secret video arcade, which transports him into the land of Tron, a computer generated universe.

There, he finds the oppressive regime set up by a de-aged Jeff Bridges, and his real father, aged Jeff Bridges, hiding out and being all Zen. Simulated babe Olivia Wilde keeps him from getting lonely.

So, Hedlund has to topple the hierarchy and ... Oh, forget it. Ms. Beveridge nailed it with her review: “It’s boring.” There are disc fights and light cycle races, which are nothing special. There’s a comic turn by Michael Sheen as a fruity club owner/procurer/fixer type. Music is supplied by Daft Punk - they also make a cameo appearance. I don’t really know their stuff, and this didn’t make me want to rush out and listen to more.

The movie is also full of references to the original and other movies - most of which I only recognized by the leaden thunk they made when dropped. In particular, the quote from War Games: “The only way to win is not to play”. Wish I’d followed that advice.