Tron : Legacy Review

Tron Legacy

Tron: Legacy is a stunningly beautiful, eye-catching and technically spectacular film. This sequel's release comes twenty eight years after the influential and under watched original, Tron. In 1983 Tron was a groundbreaking and inspirational film at a time where the concept of a home computer was freshly new and mostly part of the science fiction world. 28 years later, where we have moved beyond personal computers to the world of iPads and pocket PCs, and jaded and cynical reviewers (see Big Fat Ostrich and the Tron: Legacy Review). But we at StubbornFool.com forgive reviewers like Mike O.

28 years ago the idea of launching ourselves into a mainframe was as far fetched and imaginative as visiting Middle-Earth to battle orcs. With the incredible advancement of technology both in our computers and digital film, the what-else-have-you-got attitude is almost expected. The idea of entering our processors is imaginable, and ends up being the trap in which Tron: Legacy gets caught. If The Matrix (the first movie only) never existed, perhaps the cynics could be satisfied. Any sequel must compete with itself. When an original film is put on such a pedestal, and maintains a cult following for 28 years, can it's sequel succeed?

Tron

A 43.6 million dollar opening weekend usually speaks of success. Disney led up to this weekend's release with an immense marketing campaign. The immediate comparisons have been made with both Avatar and Star Trek, holiday releases of the last couple years. Tron: Legacy's 3D effects are one generation advanced of those of Avatar. Both Avatar and Star Trek opened to $75+ million weekends.  Legacy faced an uphill battle to match these numbers. Star Trek was in the public eye almost continuously  for over forty years.
The Tron story itself is compelling. Thematically it speaks of the creator versus the devil, the father and the son, or simply and more to my liking, the parent realizing that all that he was ever searching for he found long ago, it took him 28 years to realize.
Truth sometimes passes from reel to real, why build on the greatness of the original? Cynics and the jaded aside, Tron: Legacy tells a compelling action story, with stunning special effects, and beautiful actors. while predictable in the general sense Tron: Legacy's success is that it stands apart of so many action films today, with multiple climactic scenes and thrilling action.

Red Dawn

This is getting painful. While everyone was holding their breath for the release of Harry Potter, while millions await the release of the next Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader , while hundreds thousands of people look forward to Tron: Legacy, I may be the only person in the world sweating it out for the Red Dawn remake.
Originally scheduled for a September 2010 theatrical release, the film had been pushed back to November, and now until sometime in 2011. Red Dawn is a remake of the 1984 film of the same name, where a group of high school athletes take to defending their town from invading armies. The movie, filmed in Michigan, has been caught in the bankruptcy troubles of MGM.
The 1984 film plot played off Cold War fears as Soviet and Cuban troops invade U.S. soil, with the "Wolverines" attempting to fend off the invaders. The 2011 update takes the West's fear of China's rise as its driving force.
The original cast was a who's who of Hollywood, before they were stars. boasting the likes of Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Jennifer Grey and Charlie Sheen. The sequel? A couple familiar faces, will this film launch their careers?
In the mean time, Tron's North American release is set for December 17th.

Red Dawn Cast

Tron : Legacy The Movie

Tron

The new movie, Tron: Legacy will be in theaters December 17th, 2010. I've been waiting for the sequel to orginal Tron movie for what seems like forever. When Tron was released in 1982 it was a groundbreaking film. Can the sequel live up to the legacy? Here's a trailer for the film and a teaser to the upcoming Daft Punk album and the song Derezzed.

Red Dawn of Tron

I am looking forward to the release of two films, both of the remake and sequel variety. Tron: Legacy a sequel to the amazing 1982 film Tron, is scheduled for a December release. Red Dawn, a remake of the 1984 motion picture is due some time in 2010. They cannot be released quick enough for my liking.  Rumour has it though that financial troubles over at MGM has delayed the scheduled fall release of Red Dawn.

My friend Mike suggested that there are far too many remakes and sequels for his liking and he has no interest in seeing these films. This from a man whose living room is covered with Goldorak posters. What's old is new again my friend. Just like you after botox.

Tron is a film about a computer hacker who gets pulled in his employer's mainframe. He is forced to be a combatant in a series of dangerous competitions. The mix of live action, dazzling animation and hand painted effects kept me spellbound when I first saw the film. I plan to watch it before the sequel is released as I am curious if the original can stand up to the test of time. Interstingly enough, the original is a Walt Disney production but has been largely ignored in the last number of years. Jeff Bridges stars in both Tron and Legacy.

While you watch the trailer, keep in mind that in 1982 the household computer was something new, computers were still largely in the realm of science fiction. Also to note the popular Commodore 64 and Apple II were home computers with 64KB capacities.

Tron was produced in 1982 on a budget of $17 million and pulled in $33 million in the North American box office. It was later nominated for two Academy Awards, for sound and costume design. Tron spawned video games and arcade games as well a a couple Family Guy spoofs.

Red Dawn was released two years after Tron. The only connection as far as I am concerned is that they are 80s films re-imagined for today's screens. Red Dawn was a great action film that realized the imagination of many boys. It fulfilled the fantasy of being an action star or a real hero.

The film contained enough grit to make it feel real. It also had enough exaggerated exploits to make it fun.

The plot- High School football jocks take on an army of Soviets invading the U.S.A.

We get our heroes and maidens, and even a conflicted bad guy.

The original starred a then cast of unknowns, Patrick Swayze, C Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen and Jennfer Grey. They threw is a couple old timers for balance in Harry Dean Stanton ("Avenge Me!"), Ben Johnson and Powers Boothe. In a seven week wide release it took in $38 million.

The 2010 remake has the Chinese "People's Liberation Army" invading the U.S. of A. It is up to the Wolverines to counter the invasion. In a year that provided us with A-Team, The Losers, and The Expendables, why not a High School football team taking on occupying foreign armies?