Join Luke McWilliams and Steven Robert as they review new to cinema releases;
Liam Jennings has a look at the cult-classic Solaris.
Special guests: Lights Canberra Action 2011 film festival best student\film winners, Benjamin Woods and Aaron King.
Join Luke McWilliams and Steven Robert as they review new to cinema releases;
Biutiful; and
Liam Jennings has a look at the cult classic Starship Troopers.
Join Luke McWilliams, Steven Robert and Liam Jennings as they review new to cinema releases;
Join Luke McWilliams, Steven Robert and Liam Jennings as they review New to Cinema releases:
· Rango,
· Inside Job; and
· New to DVD I’m Still Here
Special Guest: Flickerfest festival director Bronwyn Kidd.
Join Luke McWilliams, Steven Robert and Liam Jennings as they review New to Cinema releases:
· The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,
· The Adjustment Bureau; and
· Cult Classic Swingers
Tron Legacy is a sequel to the 1982 cult movie TRON.
Plot
We meet a relatively young Kevin Flynn (played by Jeff Bridges.....in a manner of speaking ) who is a software engineer and now CEO of ENCOM International as he recounts stories of a virtual reality computer program universe called “The Grid” to his young son Sam. Flynn explains how he is developing The Grid with the help of two computer programs, a security program called Tron and a program designed to perfect the system called Clu 2. and that one day he will show this universe to Sam. Unfortunately, one evening Kevin goes to his office in his arcade, never to return.................................
Some twenty years later, ENCOM has become a capitalistic corporation a world away from Flynn’s liberal manner, and its exiled controller Sam (now played by Garrett Hedlund) is nothing more than a serial pest, much like his father in the original TRON. That is until one day Sam receives word from ENCOM executive and good family friend (creator of the original Tron program played once again by Bruce Boxleitner), that he received a page from his father’s office. Breaking into the 80’s style Flynn’s arcade, Sam starts to tap away at his father’s secret computer while a mysterious, yet familiar, particle digitizer laser position behind him snaps into life, where digital wackiness quickly ensues.........................................
Review
Tron Legacy looks and sounds brilliant. The computer graphics and the ‘Grid’ landscape are amazing. After reading a lot in 3d magazines and the like, apparently the world of computer graphics were pushed to the limit with this movie. Simple scenes such as the Clu 2 character walking through the arena were completely CG, as is Sam’s suit whilst riding his light-cycle. The 3d conversion is fantastic. I tend to think that animated movies look the best in 3d (Avatar, Megamind), as the image can undergo more evasive manipulation than that of its film counter-part.
The action sequences are a joy to watch. Light cycle-chases, disk battles and planes ablaze, leaving streaks of flowing, ebbing colours running along the screen like a groovy lava-lamp equalizer, moving and changing with the throb of the electro base. Such action scenes however, are done away with in the movie’s introduction, quickly running Sam through them as a recap of the original TRON, getting viewers up-to speed about what this world is, and then putting them smack into expositional plot. In this sense, Tron Legacy is less a sequel and more a deliberate marketing strategy to place the product to contemporary audiences.
The world of TRON, inside the ‘lost hard-drive,’ has evolved naturally like a Galápagos Islands, away from any other computer system and, as pointed out in the script, the internet. This explains the organic and updated look of the new Tron Universe as compared with the original TRON: gone are the limiting straight lines of the light-cycles, and we even see naturally evolving mountain ranges and water!
Unlike The Matrix which is designed to receive constant updates and changes like any other Windows software, The Grid was left to its own devices, welcoming the arrival of a new form of life in the Iso’s: naturally evolved organisms birthed within The Grid, free from User’s pre-programmed functions they have complete free will.
The soundtrack by Daft Punk is truly awesome: digital beats are accompanied with symphony strings; a blend of traditional, textural sound with the almost sterilised perfection of computer emulation.
In regards to the script, computer programming serves as a metaphor for eastern philosophy like the original TRON. There are references to gods and their creations, destiny, legacy, evolution of life and spirits within the machine. Frankenstein is played as The Dude, and he suffers the mistake of lack of a thought-out-plan – creating for the sake of creating, like the creator of Jurassic Park, not because he should but because he could.
Olivia Wilde is a great new find. Comic and computer geeks have found a new object of their affection. Olivia plays her Quorra character as young, optimistic, naive and beautiful warrior: efficient in battle, but emotionally raw. Quorra is a riff on Frank Miller’s female Robin to an aging Batman in The Dark Knight Returns and The Dark Knight Strikes Again. As Batman is to Robin, Flynn is to Quorra– one who has grown bitter and weary with the world around him, but employs the assistance of a young, optimistic, energetic girl to be the eyes, ears and heart that he needs to get the job done.
Unfortunately, there are numerous plot-holes, character inconsistencies, exposition and areas where the plot takes major missteps. For example, why, if this Tron universe has been evolving on its own Hard-Drive for the last 20 years, has the arena games been used as a system of control such as that seen in the MCP from the original TRON? Clu 2 was developed from within the confines of this specific environment, and hasn’t set foot outside of it at all. It could be argued that, as Clu 2 is a mirror of Flynn; that he is using Flynn’s memories and techniques to deal with control of this world. Another plot inconsistency has Flyn making the point that Clu 2 cannot physically set foot on the naturally evolved landscape of The Grid, hence his hideout set in the mountains looking over The Grid. Yet, we see Clu freely walking all over Flynn’s pad in a scene! Why didn’t he just do this a thousand computer years earlier?
There is a scene where Sam gets ‘suited-up’ by computer-program ‘sirens’, basic programs designed for one thing, which is to be stored in a facilitie's walls, to come out and dress new arrivals to the gladiatorial games, at which point they return to their holding pens in the walls. However, when Flynn is out amongst the town-folk, he bumps into one of these programs as she goes about her life, complete with umbrella! If such a program has this type of free will, why not quit that horrible job! There are also numerous scenes that do not advance the story at all, instead leading to forced obstacles that the hero must overcome, (of note is the completely redundant club scene with Michael Sheen) which is frustrating as there are bigger things afoot that we would rather see him dealing with!
As mentioned before, the most frustrating thing with Tron Legacy is simply the plot. It seems that star Jeff Bridges is shoe-horned into this movie, where, unfortunately, his absence may have helped progress the film’s story to a more relevant and exciting storyline, focussing on Flynn’s son Sam and the movie’s namesake; Tron. As it is, with a graphic novel direct sequel to TRON, Tron: Betrayal , which sets up the video-game Tron: Evolution that immediately precedes Tron Legacy, it is as if we are watching the third part of a trilogy, with all the fantastic plot details delivered in stilted exposition. It is like having watched Return of the Jedi, and have a character briefly recount the events of the previous 2 films to us (not withstanding the prequels). This takes away from the relationship Flyn has with Clu.2 and any sibling rivalry that may have developed between Sam and Clu.2. This approach did not do any favours to The Matrix Trilogy where the narrative bled through three films, a video game and an Anime collection, so it is odd that the makers of Tron Legacy would choose this route.
There were rumblings that Tron Legacy was in fact a bridging movie, a movie that looked to establish Tron in a contemporary setting, and then to proceed with the story; Cillian Murphy’s character as Edward Dillinger Jr, head of the software design team for Encom, was to seek revenge on behalf of his father, original TRON movie villain, Ed Dillinger portrayed by David Warner. Such hopes may have been dashed from Tron Legacy’s performance at the box-office, but that has not stopped Disney from releasing an animated television series.
Rating
Tron Legacy is a sumptuous aural and visual feast. The plot is however less of a sequel and more of a bridge to something more contemporary – a passing of the torch. It is fitting that it is called legacy, however, it is a pity that such a grand story has been quickly glossed over, cinematically speaking, in anticipation of further instalments rather than delivering a hard Tron story first and foremost, the ones fans deserved.
3.5 light cycles out of 5
Check out what Rotten Tomatoes have to say, and check out the trailer!
Luke McWilliams, January 2011
Join Luke McWilliams, Steven Robert and Liam Jennings as they review;
New to cinema release Conviction,
New to DVD release, The Experiment; and
Cult Movie, Short-Cuts.
Special Guest: Marissa Martin from EoR Media
Join Luke McWilliams, Steven Robert and Liam Jennings as they review;
New to Cinema Rabbit Hole,
New to Cinema Unknown; and
Cult movie Audition (R18+)
We also have a chat about the 2011 Tropfest experience.
Join Luke McWilliams, Liam Jennings and Steven Robert as they review:
New to cinema release Hereafter,
New to DVD release Splice; and
Movie classic Milo and Otis
Get on down to the Dendy Cinemas this week as the Windows on Europe Film Festival still has 3 days to go!
Under the Stars, Spain, Directed by Félix Viscarret
We are introduced to Benito “Benny Lacun” Lacunza who is living a rock-star life in Madrid as a jazz trumpet musician, playing in bars and celebrating his performances with plenty o’ booze. Soon his Aunt from his family home in the village of Estrella calls with bad news: his father is on his death bed. Benito returns home to visit his father and along the way finds out that his shy and sensitive brother Lalo (Julián Villagrán) is to marry Benito’s former crush Nines (Emma Suárez). Convinced that his brother is making a terrible decision, Benito decides to save his brother from himself. Soon however, Benito creates a bond with Nina’s young daughter Ainara (Violeta Rodríguez), and, amidst tragedy, Benito flourishes, taking control and offering his assistance in his own type of way, reconnecting with his long distant family and village where wackiness ensues…………..
The film is rich with cultural texture and humour. A joyous, but at times quite sad, look at what it means to be a part of a family. I watched this during the wonderful cultural food fair and ran straight out afterwards to get a chicken-tortia and a Sol beer! I highly recommend it!
A Christmas Story – Finland, Directed by Juha Wuolijoki
In a remote village in Lapland we meet Nikolas, a young boy who tragically loses his parents and young sister in an accident. The villagers decide to take turns looking after Nikolas, with Nikolas living in each of the 6 houses in the village for a period of a year. At the end of each year, on Christmas Day, Nikolas is moved to a new home where he leaves toys for the children of his household as a final, anonymous, goodbye present. Soon however, the villages’ fish supply is cut tragically short. With none of the villagers able to support the young orphan during the lean Winter months, young Nik is sent to work as an apprentice for the cruel, hermit carpenter, Iisakki, where wackiness ensues......
Does for the Father Christmas legend what Casino Royale did for James Bond and what Batman Begins did for Batman! A lovely holiday tale, although quite sentimental in parts.
Slaves in their Bonds, Greece - Directed by Tonis Lykouressis
Set in early 20th century Corfu, we meet the proud, but debt-ridden, Ofiomahos family who, in order to save their fortune and lavish lifestyle, pressure their daughter into marrying the wealthy doctor Aristidis. From here, a domino effect takes hold, and the downfall of the family mirrors Aristidis’ romantic and political rise, where wackiness ensues......
This is a Greek melodrama epic set against the rise of the Greek bourgeoisie, where, akin to Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and Eugene O'Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night, the tragedy of the family's fate keeps unrolling, until only the credits give relief. Unfortunately we do not see much of the landscape of the beautiful Corfu. However, this is a wonderfully acted piece, if you like this sort of thing!
Ben X - Belgium, Directed by Nic Balthazar
We are introduced to high-school student Ben (played by the intense Greg Timmermans), who is quite different from the norm. Suffering from a mild form of autism that prevents normal communication, Ben emerses himself in the online fantasy game ArchLord, where he is the strong and courageous hero, Ben X. In the real world however, Ben is regularly tormented by bullies, with his fate largely ignored by teachers and unknown by his parents. As the bullies' attacks escalate to humiliating cyber-bullying, Ben is pushed further and further towards the edge. Suddenly however, the girl of his dreams and online partner, Scarlite, appears to advise him of the perfect ‘endgame’ plan to confront and get revenge on those that have made his life so miserable, where wackiness ensues...................... Based on director Nic Balthazar's novel Nothing Was All, inspired by the unfortunate true story of a boy with autism who committed suicide as a result of bullying, Ben X is a tense first-person narrative of what it is like to experience bullying in the time of one’s life where not many options seem available, especially to one who has trouble connecting with others in the first place.
Tonight I am off to see Portuguese movie That Dear Month of August, directed by Miguel Gomes. 'Set in the Portuguese mountains where the population and its activities swell during the month of August', we follow the inhabitants as they enjoy their beautiful lifestyles amongst picturesque environments. The movie sounds like a mini-holiday! Should be good!