Your thoughts about the new Tron Legacy sequel...

[Daigohji]

Saw it in IMAX 3D today and loved it. I liked that the 3D was used in a Wizard of Oz way to separate the real world from the Grid, and that it was primarily used for depth rather than shoving things at the viewer's face. This was definitely a movie for fans of the original; I don't know how well those new to the series would take to it, and I doubt it would win over anyone who hated the original. About the only parts that disappointed me were that we didn't see Flynn's custom lightcycle in action, and that Tron didn't remove his helmet when he turned back from the dark side. Considering what a great job they did on the CG Bruce Boxleitner for the flashback, I was sure they'd use that model again.

As for Quorra, I wouldn't mind taking a byte out of her bits, amirite?

[greg]

Just saw the movie again for New Years with Spec. I liked it even better the second time around. I still recommend everyone who liked the movie to get the Tron: Betrayal comic book, even if you aren't much into comics. It explains more on when the Isos came into being and why Clu wanted to destroy all of them.

[Specineff]

While looking in the background for the Black Hole poster, you can also spot a small V.I.N.C.E.N.T. figure a few seconds later, behind and to the left of the toy LightCycles. It's out of focus, but it's there. I'm going to have to wait for the DVD/BR release to show it to Greg, though. There was so much detail lost when we saw it in 3D, that it almost felt like watching a different movie this time.

[greg]

Yeah, very glad to see it in 2D this time. Even if we were sitting so close to the screen last time, I still don't care for 3D. 3D was gimmicky in the 50's, it was gimmicky for Jaws 3D, and it'll always be gimmicky to me.

[Daigohji]

I went to see it again today. Nowhere is doing 2D screenings in my area so I went for the full IMAX 3D business again. Loved it as much as the first time, and will probably go again in another week or two. I noticed a few nice details I didn't catch the first time. For example, that CLU's speech to his army at the end mirror's Flynn's press conference from the beginning: "In there is our destiny", "Out there is our destiny." Also, how apt the use of Sweet Dreams was when Sam is about to enter the Grid. The whole song could have been written about the Grid, Users and CLU's abuse of the power he was given. Another detail I read about but didn't spot was that in the real world Sam is wearing a real leather jacket, but once digitised into the Grid he's wearing a synthetic leather jacket.

It looks like Disney is gearing up to keep the franchise alive for a while, as there's an animated series in the works:

http://www.nme.com/movies/news/animated ... 012/201777

Despite a third Tron movie not yet being confirmed, it has been announced that studio Disney have greenlit an animated TV series based on the two existing films. Moviehole reports that the series will be named Tron: Uprising and air on Disney XD in 2012.

Bruce Boxleitner is the only actor from the movies involved in the cartoon, but other members of the cast include Mandy Moore, Lance Henriksen and Elijah Wood.

The series screenwriters Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, who also wrote the recently released Tron: Legacy, are setting the story of the new series somewhere in the thirty years that passed between the first Tron in 1982 and the new film.

Horowitz said: "Over the years of developing this movie [Tron: Legacy], we developed all these mythologies and all these back stories and all little tangential things [we want to tell in the series]. So we hope it adds to the depth of the movie."

As of December 26, Tron: Legacy has grossed $88,296,000 in the United States and Canada and $23,000,000 internationally for a worldwide total of $111,296,000.

I just hope that Legacy and the spin-offs do enough business for Disney to greenlight a third film. I'd forgotten what a rabid Tron fan I am purely because no new product had come out for nearly three decades!

EDIT: I just noticed on Joseph Kosinski's wiki page that he's apparently been hired to direct a remake of The Black Hole, so that poster in Sam's bedroom was like a double reference!

[greg]

EDIT: I just noticed on Joseph Kosinski's wiki page that he's apparently been hired to direct a remake of The Black Hole, so that poster in Sam's bedroom was like a double reference!

Oh dude, that movie deserves a remake. People pass it off as cheesy, but it really was a beautifully stunning movie, even if the robots were a bit clunky. A well-made remake would really be awesome.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

It cost Disney $22 million USD to film/release The Black Hole but it only earned back a paltry $2 million USD at the box office upon it's intial release back in 1980. I do recall seeing some TBH related model kits from Monogram of the cool looking Cyngus mothership and some other related TBH toys including action figures as well. The intial TBH movie trailer was cool/innovative for it's time of it's usage of CG wireframe graphics.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Skykid]

It cost Disney $22 million USD to film/release The Black Hole but it only earned back a paltry $2 million USD at the box office upon it's intial release back in 1980.
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

You only have to watch it to know why.

I'm surprised you guys are paying more than once to see Legacy in theatres. It was pretty good, but I definitely can live without watching it again any time soon.

[Specineff]

In our case, Skykid, Greg and myself saw it in 3D and WAY TOO FSCKING close to the screen. The closeness didn't let me enjoy the 3D fully and vice-versa.

Second time we were almost to the back of the theater, and were able to catch many more details, and "absorb" the movie better, without the polarized glasses obscuring parts of the screen if my angle was off.

The first time was like doing shots of tequila or vodka. The second, like slowly sipping wine with cheese, ham, and crackers.

[GaijinPunch]

It was pretty good, but I definitely can live without watching it again any time soon.

Considering you track record w/ rating movies I'm not surprised everyone else has gone for a second showing.

[Strider77]

It was pretty good, but I definitely can live without watching it again any time soon.


Considering you track record w/ rating movies I'm not surprised everyone else has gone for a second showing.

That and the fact not everyone needs everything to be high brow all the time, it's fun to relax and have fun at face value (in other words lighten up).

[Skykid]

Gimme a break chaps, some of my favourite movies of all time are pretty far from 'high brow'. Legacy was enjoyable, but anyone who doesn't agree that the first 35 minutes were the high point is being self-delusional. Movie needed a middle section and didn't have one.

Considering you track record w/ rating movies I'm not surprised everyone else has gone for a second showing.

This coming from the guy who thought The Town was "awesome."

[greg]

I do recall seeing some TBH related model kits from Monogram of the cool looking Cyngus mothership and some other related TBH toys including action figures as well.

The Cygnus was so spectacularly designed. Have you ever checked out the Starship Modeller website? They have a light-up version of the Cygnus. http://www.starshipmodeler.com/other/js_cyg.htm
I've seen VINCENT and Maximillian models on eBay that go for a bit, too. I wouldn't mind the Vincent one, but there was also a San Diego Comic Con exclusive Vincent toy from '09 I believe that looks incredible. The box itself is so cool: it looks artificially weathered, as if it's been sitting in somebody's attic for the past 30 years!

[Strider77]

This coming from the guy who thought The Town was "awesome."

I heard that was pretty decent... did you see it and not like it?

[Skykid]

This coming from the guy who thought The Town was "awesome."

I heard that was pretty decent... did you see it and not like it?

Yeah, I watched it recently. Completely implausible from beginning to end, verging on farce at certain points. It comes down to a poorly conceived script, but one that seems to competently fool people into thinking it's on par with decent heist thrillers by throwing up some done to death character models and 'edginess'. In was boring as hell and another instantly forgettable movie for the heap of forgotten movies.

[Daigohji]

I've been toying the the idea of customising a jacket to look like the one Flynn wears during the flashback to CLU's betrayal. The obvious logistical problem is the lighted panels on the front and back. I figured that reflective tape would be the closest I could get, but in the process of researching the possibilities, I found out something surprising. The lit panels on the costumes in the film weren't done in post-production, they're real! It's an electroluminescent product called ELastolite that's powered by a battery concealed in the suit. Unfortunately the company seems unwilling to part with the stuff outside of licensed products. There's a similar product called Superflex, but I don't know how obtainable that is either. Apparently the suits in Tron Legacy used up batteries every 12 minutes, so it doesn't seem too practical yet.

[Specineff]

That's a great idea and a cool piece of info. I was wondering if it would be possible to make a similar one using LED strips, but it would be quite cumbersome.

[dan76]

Saw it in 2D tonight - enjoyed it. A few random thoughts (mostly bad) with BIG SPOILERS!!!

Entering the grid - In the first film this is a major event, with a really cool abstract graphic and soundtrack - in this - blip, you're in. Could've made more of a sequence out of it.

Clu - The CGI almost works... dunno, it would've been cool to have the odd grid line scan across his face or something. Maybe there was too much backstory needed for us to know his motivations.

Isos - or whatever they were called "just appeared"... what? Is that the best they could come up with???

Derezed - So if you hit a lightcycle wall you shatter like glass. I'd have preferred an more digital derezing. On the whole I'd have preferred a few more old style effects.

Visuals - I wasn't overly impressed with the design. I think the original is far more... original(duh)... striking and creative. No pinks and greens in this at all. Makes it more realistic, but is that the aim? That old modified lightcycle was the doggy balls though, definitely underused.

Son of Dillinger - Also underused. Though we'd see him again, maybe on the grid (maybe for the sequel).

The old grid - What happened to it? - or is it still going and the grid in this film a completely separate grid. What does this grid represent? Are we looking at programs? Does each program have a user - doesn't seem so. Am I over thinking this/did I miss something obvious when I nipped out to the loo/am I stupid?

Soundtrack - disappointed after listening to the soundtrack alone, but it works well in the film. I'd have thought Daft Punk might have made a nod to Wendy Carlos somewhere, but no. Her score for the original seems to have been forgotten about (she doesn't get a mention on the dvd comentary of Tron) - it's moogtastic!

I thought it was good though - it worked. Wasn't some dumb hollywood action movie, they wanted to make something decent - which these days is a rarity... I had extremely low expectations, but was actually surprised by the performances more than anything. Pretty good for this type of film, and Bridges nails it as his old character comes through. The main fella wasn't a douche, the girl was believable too. Not sure about Sheen as Zeus - he adds a bit of life I suppose, and good to see Boxleitner getting work.

The story they've decided to tell is above average for a film like this - there wasn't any sentimentality - I liked the perfunctory ending. Actually, the more I think about it, the less a film adhears to current trends in big budget bullshit film making the more I'll like it. It's what this film doesn't contain that makes it at least good for me. I didn't have a problem with the pacing and found the whole film moved along pretty well, but I didn't go wanting to see an action film.

As mentioned in an earlier post, the original film had more fun with describing the digital world because it was so much more unknown - the abstract and colourful graphics worked a charm. In this, there didn't seem to be much of a difference between the real and digital (maybe that was intentional) but things like the crowd in the opening action scene. Who, what or why are they watching the games. What's their function. Why were there clouds in some parts of the grid, and also as previously mentioned, exhaust heat from a recognizer..? I couldn't really understand the sense of these little things. Really, small details that don't break the film, but I had to stop my mind constantly linking what I was seeing to what it was supposed to represent. I saw Tron as a kid and just accepted everything, so maybe if i thought about it in the same way it wouldn't hold up - been a while anyhow.

I'll probably go see it again in 3D.

[Daigohji]

As mentioned in an earlier post, the original film had more fun with describing the digital world because it was so much more unknown - the abstract and colourful graphics worked a charm. In this, there didn't seem to be much of a difference between the real and digital (maybe that was intentional) but things like the crowd in the opening action scene. Who, what or why are they watching the games. What's their function. Why were there clouds in some parts of the grid, and also as previously mentioned, exhaust heat from a recognizer..? I couldn't really understand the sense of these little things. Really, small details that don't break the film, but I had to stop my mind constantly linking what I was seeing to what it was supposed to represent. I saw Tron as a kid and just accepted everything, so maybe if i thought about it in the same way it wouldn't hold up - been a while anyhow.

The way I see it, one of the major themes of the film was convergence. The Grid depicted in the orginal movie was an abstract place that was affected by events on our side of the monitor. The Grid in Tron Legacy is (to my understanding) a closed system that has retained the forms of things like Recognisers and the gladiatorial games, though they now exist in different functions for the programs themselves rather than to serve the needs of users. The crowd of programs watching the games don't serve a function to a user, they are there to be entertained. The Grid has evolved to resemble the real world, which in turn is evolving to resemble the Grid. Flynn saw this coming, and considered it in terms of how it could benefit the real world; the miracle that the spontaneous evolution of the ISOs could produce. CLU saw it in terms of how it could benefit the Grid; the conquest of the real world. The microcosm that eventualy balanced these two viewpoints was the emerging relationship between Sam and Quorra.

It's true that the Grid of Tron Legacy lacked the alien wonder of the original, but the world it depicted was a good match for the ideas it was trying to convey.

[greg]

Clu - The CGI almost works... dunno, it would've been cool to have the odd grid line scan across his face or something. Maybe there was too much backstory needed for us to know his motivations.

Isos - or whatever they were called "just appeared"... what? Is that the best they could come up with???

Again, read the Tron: Betrayal prequel comic. It answers a lot of questions.

[dan76]

@Daigohji - sounds about right - thanks! It's a deeper and more mature concept, but I still prefer what the original was trying to show.

@greg - I wouldn't mind a read of the comic, but a film should support itself, which it does for the most part.

Here's hoping the dvd will have a few extra shots of Flynn's lightcycle...

[AAA]

I've been toying the the idea of customising a jacket to look like the one Flynn wears during the flashback to CLU's betrayal.

Tron Suit Man 2.0

[PC Engine Fan X!]

April 5th, 2011 is the official date that both the Blu-Ray versions of both Tron & Tron Legacy make their grand debut. Sure, it'll be possible to buy TL in 3D Blu-Ray format for those whom've made the upgrade to a dedicated 3D HDTV setup. It'll still be possible to watch the 3D BL version of TL on a non 3D HDTV setup, it'll be presented in 2D viewing format...that is a given. Sony has recently released it's newest 2010 lineup of dedicated BR players (in the $150-$200 price range) that do have 3D playback as a standard feature built-in.

It'll be interesting to see what new changes or additions that Disney made to the higher resolution BR format for it's Tron flick.

Plus, there will be some cool deleted scenes from TL that'll answer some more questions from the fans.

Will there be a deleted scene featuring Kevin Flynn's classic Light cycle 2.0 battling it out with the newer sleek Light cycles featured in TL? We'll definitely find out if that is when the BR version of TL finally is released to the general public.

Ever notice how meticulously the classic Lightcycle scene from the original Tron flick works/gels so well with it's tight editing/pacing? You have to give Syd Mead proper credit for designing the classic lightcycle (with the current CG methods using a state-of-the-art Cray supercomputer for 1981-1982) even though he originally wanted the light cycles to feature it's riders in the flesh which wasn't possible with the Cray supercomputer setup. So those closed-designed Lightcycles were the end result...still a classic design after all those years. Even director Lisberger admits in the 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition DVD of Tron, that he never once saw the Tron film until after post-production was finished. Scary to find out if everything gelled properly or not.

It was Tomy of Japan that snatched up both toy and action figure IP rights for the classic Tron flick for sale in the USA during the summer of 1982. Of course, the classic plastic T-zip friction powered Tomy Lightcycle toys were given the re-release in time for Disney's 20th anniversary release of Tron back in 2002. There was even a limited lineup of the cool Tron 2.0 larger action figures up for sale like at Suncoast Pictures retail stores, etc.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Daigohji]

April 5th, 2011 is the official date that both the Blu-Ray versions of both Tron & Tron Legacy make their grand debut. Sure, it'll be possible to buy TL in 3D Blu-Ray format for those whom've made the upgrade to a dedicated 3D HDTV setup. It'll still be possible to watch the 3D BL version of TL on a non 3D HDTV setup, it'll be presented in 2D viewing format...that is a given. Sony has recently released it's newest 2010 lineup of dedicated BR players (in the $150-$200 price range) that do have 3D playback as a standard feature built-in.

It'll be interesting to see what new changes or additions that Disney made to the higher resolution BR format for it's Tron flick.

18th April in the UK :/ An extra couple of weeks wait wouldn't bother me for most movies, but I really want to see Tron Legacy again.

As far as changes in the HD remaster of the original, take a look at this interview: http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5413 Skip to 3:00 for info related to the Tron remaster. It sounds like they did a digital grade on the film to make the colours more consistent. It'll be interesting to see the results.

[Daigohji]

Trailer for the Tron Uprising animated series scheduled for Summer...2012. That's a long wait ;_;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THcItXSnngA

[greg]

It was Tomy of Japan that snatched up both toy and action figure IP rights for the classic Tron flick for sale in the USA during the summer of 1982. Of course, the classic plastic T-zip friction powered Tomy Lightcycle toys were given the re-release in time for Disney's 20th anniversary release of Tron back in 2002. There was even a limited lineup of the cool Tron 2.0 larger action figures up for sale like at Suncoast Pictures retail stores, etc.

I was living in Japan in '02 when Medicom came out with Tron toys, and added Tron to their popular Kubrick line. I bought the Kubrick tank and the Recognizer toys, and each came with light cycles. One came with Ram and the other with Flynn. I never did get the Tron/MCP toy though.

Many people may think that Tron had the red light cycle, but it was in fact Ram. It makes me wonder if Either Tron or Flynn was supposed to have the red one...

[captain ahar]

I almost fell asleep, like 4 times. I did not that thing where you start to snore, and it wakes you up. My friends thought it was hilarious.

[Casey120]

I just saw about 3 quarters of the movie and saved the rest for later , it bored me a bit .
I'm a fan of the original and the mere sight of the old forgotten Flinn Arcade made me all warm inside and the beginning promised a lot but some things bothered me a little .
The first movie took part in a Computer , every " program " had a strict function but now " programs " just act as people, partying , drinking in Bars , dancing or watching games in an arena .
Mountain parts , weather and clouds , he escapes the LC Arena in a Car without being followed cause Light Cycles are unable to go there but when he leaves his dad's Lair to return he uses a bloody Light Cycle .
If Clu lured him in the Grid and his minions welcomed him why didn't they arrest him the minute he arrived ?
Dunno , maybe it's me but the movie didn't click with me , I finish it tonight so maybe the end makes up a bit .

[greg]

The first movie took part in a Computer , every " program " had a strict function but now " programs " just act as people, partying , drinking in Bars , dancing or watching games in an arena .

This is the one big gripe of mine. But then again, this is a computer system that's been inactive for years.

Mountain parts , weather and clouds , he escapes the LC Arena in a Car without being followed cause Light Cycles are unable to go there but when he leaves his dad's Lair to return he uses a bloody Light Cycle .

IIRC, Quorra says in the movie that it is independently powered (just like that offroad vehicle). I think that the mountainous parts are unused/unformatted sectors or whatever. Clu and the others couldn't give chase because their bikes are powered by the grid, so they gave them the slip. Later when Flynn's hideout is discovered, Clu must've flown out there in a Recognizer or something. I have a hunch that some deleted scenes would prove enlightening.

If Clu lured him in the Grid and his minions welcomed him why didn't they arrest him the minute he arrived ?

Clu wasn't after Sam. He was after Flynn's data disc, which held the key to the outside world. Sam was the bait to try to get Flynn to act.

[moozooh]

Saw it recently in IMAX.

Can't say I'm a big fan of the first movie (I find the designs and the general concept pretty cool, but otherwise the movie is just going nowhere all the time), but I respected it for what it was. The sequel was exactly as silly, exactly as nonsensical, and to make it worse, had quite a few stupid Matrix-scale theatrics. Where the first movie ended on a light-hearted tone ("Greetings, programs!"), this one took itself way more seriously.

But I knew about all that from my friends who had seen it before me, and was ready for that: I went for the eye candy and the soundtrack. And god damn it was the most stylish, sexy, eye-caressing CGI movie, depicting a world as lush as a dark-toned computer dystopia can be without openly contradicting itself stylistically. The soundtrack was epic and fit the movie just right, although I was hoping for more complex/procedurally-generated music styles (i. e., IDM) — tall order for a mainstream movie, I know. But hey, tasteful techno with symphonic elements also works, Alex Brandon and Hitoshi Sakimoto taught me that years ago. I got everything I wanted out of the movie and then some (good laughs were had at the expense of abundant plot holes, cameos, and whatnot).

Totally recommended, but for all that is holy, do not even begin to attempt to take the plot seriously. It's a writing disaster and it's better to not pay any attention to it and just come up to explanations on what's going on by yourself. Or just imagine that all characters in the movie are permanently high, just like Kevin Flynn looked in the first movie.