Tron Legacy is a Masterpiece
As a film major in college, I’ve come to develop a particular taste in the movies I enjoy. My favorite movie is Back to the Future, as I think it is a perfect movie in every respect. The script, pacing, and performances are all fantastic, and I cannot find a single fault throughout the entire movie. Aside from that, there are quite a few films I hold in high regard: The Social Network, The Shawshank Redemption, Parasite, and The Silence of the Lambs. These films are universally recognized for their upstanding quality, meaning my evaluation of them is not an unpopular one. Yet, there are numerous films that I absolutely love which would surprise people, especially putting my standards as a film student into consideration.
One such film is the 2010 sci-fi/action movie, Tron: Legacy. I was never a big fan of the original Tron, but after I saw Legacy in theaters, I fell in love. And now, ten years later, I’m going to convey why I still think Tron: Legacy is a masterpiece.
The original Tron released in the summer of 1982 and follows the character of Kevin Flynn, played by Jeff Bridges. Kevin Flynn is a programmer who is transported inside the computer world, and throughout the film, we follow him as he journeys through this foreign world in order to escape. At the time, the film was criticized for its flat characters and story, but it was also applauded for its groundbreaking visual effects. Tron inspired many individuals to recognize the vast potential of computer generated effects. For example, John Lasseter has stated how his experience watching Tron would eventually lead to the creation of Toy Story in 1995, the first feature-length film created entirely by using CGI. The original Tron became a cult classic and is still remembered for its impact on the world of visual effects. This brings us to the creation of Tron: Legacy, which was released almost thirty years later.
Tron: Legacy is a 2010 American science fiction action film directed by Joseph Kosinski, and it serves as a sequel to the original. The film follows Sam Flynn, the son of Kevin Flynn, who finds himself transported to The Grid during his search to find his father. The Grid serves as an extension of the world from the first film, and it is a big part of why I love this film so much.
The Grid is one of the most unique worlds I’ve ever seen and that is due to how striking the visual design is. I believe this comes from the contrast between the dark environments and the bright neon, which makes everything stand out. Furthermore, the art direction allows everything in the world to have a sleek look. The light cycles, light discs, and flying ships are all such beautiful creations which are eye-catching without being overly designed. Everything has a clean, simple look that really pulls the audience into the world. With an education in architecture, Kosinski put so much effort into the production design of The Grid that really shows in the final product. Behind the scenes, he stated,
“I wanted to feel like we put motion picture cameras into the world of Tron and shot it, so I wanted to build as many sets as possible. I wanted the materials to be real materials. Glass, concrete, steel so it had this kind of visceral quality to it.”
The Grid feels like a world you can believe exists despite it being rooted in science fiction. On top of that, the effects team had two full years of post-production to perfect the effects, which is why the CGI holds a high level of quality that surpasses films coming out today. For me personally, The Grid is the most memorable world I’ve seen in the last decade and I want to keep exploring every nook and cranny.
Additionally, the soundtrack by Daft Punk is one of the best film scores in movie history. Daft Punk is known for making some of the best electronic music ever, and it perfectly fits within the film’s world. Yet, it is also important to note how impressive the orchestrated pieces of the soundtrack are. Daft Punk managed to create beautiful orchestral pieces that rank amongst my favorite film tracks. The soundtrack’s real strength lies in how it contains multiple genres of music, but blends them seamlessly. Nowadays, it is impossible to separate the film from the soundtrack. Once a track like Derezzed plays, I immediately know that it is a track from Tron: Legacy. It is a unique soundtrack that is intrinsic to the film’s identity. Even though I love the film, Tron: Legacy would not be the same without its soundtrack, and I commend the director for deciding to take a chance on something different.
Moving on to the actual writing of the film, I appreciate how much Tron: Legacy tries to tackle in its story. The film explores various themes: sacrificing oneself for the good of the many, the impossible ideals we strive for in our youth versus the greater perspective we gain later in our lives, the futility in searching for perfection, and the perfection in imperfection. One idea I like in particular is how the film looks at Sam’s character by comparing him to his father. Sam criticizes his father for believing the best thing to do is to sit by and wait. Flynn has spent years of his life biding his time, waiting for a solution to his problem to appear, and this serves as a reflection of how Sam has been living his own life. Sam refuses to take responsibility and assume control of ENCOM, even though it is his father’s company. Much like his father, he has been putting his life on hold. Thus, the film has Sam realize his mistake and take control of the company by the end of the film.
To be fair, the film does not do a great job in presenting this theme. In fact, I would say none of the themes are utilized to their fullest potential. It is incredible that Tron: Legacy was not simply another generic action movie that we see today when studios attempt to revive an old property. I will always appreciate a film that tries to say something profound rather than a movie that is only focused on entertaining the audience for a few hours.
At the end of the day, I do not consider Tron: Legacy a masterpiece on an objective level. The presentation of the themes is lacking, some plot points are not fully explored, and CGI Jeff Bridges looks a bit rough. At the end of the day, however, I can forgive these faults because I believe the movie’s strengths outweigh its negatives. I know that there are better movies out there, but whenever I rewatch it, I remember why I love this film so much. I can feel the passion everyone put into creating a sequel that was faithful to the spirit of the original. Furthermore, it is also a film that expanded on the original in a way that I think far surpasses the first Tron. Whereas I was not impressed at all with the original, the world and characters of Tron: Legacy are something I want to keep exploring. In the end, Tron: Legacy is a very special film to me, and I will continue to be excited whenever I decide to sit down and revisit The Grid.
