BackStage Utah

I enjoyed this movie for what it was. There are pretty massive story problems, and the structure is so similar to the original film that it borders on remake at times, but, especially in 3D IMAX, it's a a visual feat (the 3D isn't as good as Avatar but is certainly an improvement ove any other live-action or semi live-action film we've seen in 2010), and the nostalgia value for children of the 80s is quite strong.

A lot comes down to expecatation. Many people seem to be approaching this as if it's going to be the coolest movie ever, either because of the trailer or because they hold a rose-colored memory of the 1982 Tron (I retain an enormous fondness for the film, but it too has massive story problems. It's a fun F/X adventure which doesn't take the time to develop it's characters well, and wowed us with it's visuals when we were kids. It was also the first movie to suggest computer geeks could be cool).

The acting is a little uneven, but Jeff Bridges can carry a movie as well as anybody (this was by far only the second best film I saw him in last week, but more about that on Wednesday), and it's great fun seeing Bruce Boxleitner return. Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde are adequate. I haven't quite decided what I thought of Michael Sheen. He's a great actor, capable of superb perfomrances in films like Frost/Nixon, and he adds a welcome jolt of energy, but he's doing a Tim Curry style scenery chewing turn that got on my nerves a bit. I hope he starts getting getting more offers to play fully rounded characters in dramas and fewer to overact in genre films.

Visually, my only real complaint was with the CGI Jeff Bridges. It's okay (though a little odd)  in the computer world, but it's a real misstep in the real world flashbacks. The musical score, by Daft Punk, is quite impressive. I'm not a fan of electronic music in general, but it's so well-matched to the world of the movie, and it's surprisingly melodic.

All in alll, Tron Legacy is a good time for those who have fond memories of the orginal movie, but it's doesn't revolutionize cinema or redefinie coolness. I was more than okay with that. If you are, it's worth a trip to the theatre.