Review of film: "TRON: LEGACY" (with Jeff Bridges reprising his role from the original)

Review of film:  “TRON:  LEGACY” (in 3-D)

In 1982, JEFF BRIDGES starred as  computer expert Kevin Flynn in a Disney sci-fi film called “TRON” about his being abducted into a computer where he’s forced to play life-altering games.  At the time, it was ground-breaking in its use of computer-style graphics --  although, at that time, the big name in such games was “ATARI”…

…  The world of CGI has changed mightily since the original film--  & that’s brought strongly to mind by the “SEQUEL” that Disney has put together entitled “TRON: LEGACY”…  This new film is equally innovative as the original, with stop-motion electronic-dot techniques (seen in Zemeckis’ “Polar-Express” & “A Christmas Carol”) used on Jeff to cause his “CLU” character to be UN-aged 30 or so years from his current look…

…  The film starts with Jeff from the “OLD” film talking to his son Sam before Jeff “disappears” from his life…  Then, the time quickly shifts to the present where his now-27-year-old son (GARRETT HEDLUND) energetically (& “unlawfully”) follows his dad’s old ways in trying to make software easily available to the “MASSES” (which deeply upsets the CEO of his dad’s old firm)…

…  Encouraged by his dad’s old co-worker friend Alan Bradley (BRUCE BOXLEITNER), Garrett goes back to his dad’s old long-deserted place of business.  There, he discovers some UNKNOWN areas & is himself drawn into the computer “GRID” world his father had experimented with…

…  Thus starts a fast-paced, ACTION-filled, visually-stunning excursion into the world of computer evildoers working to force people into competing like “GLADIATORS”…  The orange-striped “controllers” of the games are “Programmers”--  & Garrett (as a white-striped “USER” known as an “UNknown”) soon finds himself scrambling for his life…

…  In charge of the programmers is the character named “CLU” (JEFF in younger form)-- who looks like Garrett’s father, but who is really a wicked computerized “version” of him…  His associate (seemingly named Jarvis, played by JAMES FRAIN) eagerly follow’s Clu’s bidding…

…  Garrett is forced into competing with “light-streaked” motorcycle-like computer representations…  In time, he meets a car-driving female character named Quorra (OLIVIA WILDE), who leads him out of the computer-Grid area to a “safe” zone where his REAL father resides in “aged” Zen-like form…

…  This begins an involved segment wherein Jeff, Garrett & Olivia try to STOP the machinations of “CLU” & his henchmen such as a sycophantic “manager” named Castor (MICHAEL SHEEN)…  Eventually, the original Tron (played by BRUCE) reappears…

…  Will CLU get domination of the “disc” controlled by Jeff’s matured “Kevin” character, which would allow CLU to gain enough power to RULE the world?...  Whose side will TRON be on in the clashes that ensue?... What will happen to Garrett & Olivia in the conflicts?...  Will there be a set-up for a possible ADDITIONAL sequel?...

…  Jeff Bridges has been doing some unusually memorable work lately, what with this film & “TRUE GRIT” (which was filmed AFTER “TRON”)…  And, amazingly, he’s been in talks to reprise still another of his roles, via making “DUANE’S DEPRESSED” -- the third part of Larry McMurtry’s novel series that resulted in “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW” & its sequel “TEXASVILLE” done 20 years after the 1^st Bogdanovich movie in the cycle...  

…  I saw the 3-D version of his thrilling “TRON: LEGACY” film.  It’s MARVELOUS in its vigorous & amazing visual special effects & its powerful soundtrack.  Considering the type of film, the acting by all its stars is nuanced and excellent, leading to a JAW-DROPPINGLY effective sci-film experience…

…  As four computer-technician friends of mine commented, it’s “CUTTING-EDGE” type work… Thus, for its outstanding effectiveness in its genre, I give this film 9.5 out of 10 stars.