From about December 2009 when the first teaser trailer for Tron Legacy hit theater screens, this seemed to be the can’t miss movie of 2010. Except no one but the die-hard fanboys actually went to see it. Was it because a lot of people hadn’t seen the original 1982 Tron? Don’t worry if you haven’t seen the original. This one nicely recaps the first film in a sequence that takes place in 1989 as Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges – or a digitally enhanced younger version of him) tells his son Sam about his time in “the grid” where he created digital characters CLU and TRON as well as a whole world of digital technology. Kevin disappears soon after that night and twenty-five years later Sam (Garrett Hedlund) is grown and the majority stockholder of his dad’s company, although he doesn’t have much of a hand in any of the day-to-day dealings. A mysterious text message to Kevin’s old partner Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) sends Sam back to Flynn’s Arcade where he discovers his dad’s secret office and before he knows it, he’s zapped into the electronic world that his father created, and is now being held prisoner by his own creation. It’s up to Sam to figure out a way to get them both back to the real world and save the new technology Kevin discovered that could change the real world forever.
I have very fond memories of the original Tron, so I had been chomping at the bit since I saw that first trailer. It was a long wait and for me the wait was more than worth it. The film boasts some amazing visual effects, some nice performances from its large cast (I still think Olivia Wilde should have been cast as the new Lois Lane), an excellent score by Daft Punk (egregiously snubbed at the Oscars this year) and some amazing 3D (especially on an IMAX screen and now available on your own 3D TV – has anyone actually made that leap yet?). The Tron films really make you think of The Matrix as real people are zapped into a completely digital world with the digital characters controlling everything, but you know in the end that there is still a real, physical world waiting for them if they can find their way out safely. It may not be as deep as The Matrix but it also goes sparingly on the techno-babble, so if you’re not into computers or gaming you won’t feel totally left out. Tron Legacy is really meant to be spectacular eye candy with enough of a father/son story to hold it all together, and on that level it succeeds. It’s not great art, but it is artfully great and should entertain newcomers to the world of Tron as well as be satisfying for those who love the original.
The home video version, now available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack (as well as a 3D combo pack) and looks just as good as it did in theaters. The Blu-ray is presented in a 2.35: 1 format and even includes the film’s main special effects sequences in their IMAX frame format (1.78:1). It’s a process that would seem jarring as the aspect ratios change but it’s almost unnoticable. Audio is also presented in English 7.1 DTS-HD MA, 2.0 DVS Dolby Digital and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, with English, French and Spanish subtitle options. Extras include a pretty cool “sequel” to the film, The Next Day: Flynn Lives Revealed, which requires the user to input a three-letter code to access each segment and also features Bruce Boxleitner, Garrett Hedlund and original Tron cast member, Dan Shor (RAM). Also included are an option to access interactive content with your computer or iPad, a first look at the new Tron animated series, a behind-the-scenes look at how the story was created, a Comic-Con rally, a look at the special effects and the film’s casting process, and a Daft Punk music video. The DVD version includes the film, the effects and casting featurettes and the look at the animated series.
And if you haven’t seen the original Tron, it is now also available in a separate Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. The film looks great on Blu-ray, but the high def format really brings out the, um, quaintness of the once groundbreaking special effects. Newcomers to the film may be wondering what all the fuss was about, but back in 1982 this was some pretty amazing stuff. The film is presented on DVD in a 2.20:1 aspect ratio with English, French & Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, with English, French & Spanish subtitle options. Bonus features include a look at Tron‘s impact on pop culture and audio commentary with Steven Lisberger, Donald Kushner, Harrison Ellenshaw and Richard Taylor. The Blu-ray includes a 5.1 DTS-HD MA audio option, all of the DVD extras plus a featurette as director Steven Lisberger visits the Disney archives to uncover original production photos, a “making of” documentary, deleted scenes and much more.
Clacked by Chuck Duncan 
on Apr 07, 2011 @ 09:40 EST5EDT
