I remember 'Tron' fondly from the first time around, although it shows its age effect-wise these days. So I was on board for an updated version. We bought this DVD from the local supermarket.

To set the scene, Jeff Bridges returns as Kevin Flynn talking excitedly to his young son, Sam, about his work at his company EnRom creating a virtual digital world, peopled by programs and users. He breaks off at the most exciting bit, vows to tell more of his story next time, and he heads off to work...

But you've guessed it, he never returns...

Years later, young adult Sam (Garrett Hedlund) is a bit of a rebel without a cause, whose annual prank on the company he part-owns is the only interest he shows in it. A mysterious page from his father' old office to a family friend (Bruce Boxleitner) sends him there and while investigating the place, he finds a secret room. The equipment there is still functional and before he knows it, he's whizzed into his father's virtual world...

...

The special effects and virtual world that is created for 'Tron:Legacy' are really what make the film. It's done amazingly well. There are some stunning visuals in the recreation of the original Tron's iconic racing (leaving deadly walls behind as trails), gladiatorial combat with frisbees, vehicles building themselves mid-air and programs shattering into tiny pieces. I thought the action scenes and special effects were really very good. The look of the film harks back to the most impressive parts of the original 'Tron' with the benefit of much improved technology to achieve it: some of the machines appear in both films, for example.

The opening scenes feature a CGI-enhanced youthful Bridges in the real world with his son, which _almost_ works. Close, but his mouth and brow movements aren't quite right, for me. Later in the film where the CGI-ed Bridges appears again as Clu, it is easier to accept, as he is supposed to be a virtual digitised creation.

The star of the movie is definitely the effects. Hedlund is a likeable lead, while Bridges is, well, a bit annoying at times. His character in some ways reminds me of the Dude in the 'Big Lebowski', every other sentence peppered with "man" and semi-stoner philosophising. I'm not sure whether this was a deliberate homage or accidental. But by seemingly referencing the Dude, it undermined some of the character's gravitas for wisdom attained and value of his knowledge central to the storyline, for me. I also found his turn of phrase anachronistic, I mean, he was zapped into the virtual world in the '80s as a inventor/business man, not in the '60s/'70s as a hippie stoner.

Michael Sheen has a whale of a time as Castor, able to let rip and camp it up like crazy, while the rest of the cast perform well enough. Olivia Wilde is pretty and engaging in her role. Daft Punk make an appearance in the film, and their music permeates the soundtrack. It fits well with the visual feast that is this movie.

The main problem is, the script and storyline just make no sense at all. To me, at any rate. And where it does make sense, it's just hopelessly predictable. I did enjoy watching it but it's a shame it couldn't provide a stronger, more original plot.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something light and fun to watch, and not wanting to be made to think too much. It's rated PG, and I will probably let my six year old to see it, plenty of excitement and I think he'd be able to cope with the scarier bits.


*** Bonus Features: ***

*First glimpse of 'Tron: Uprising' Disney XD animated series
(Looks great!)

*Visualising 'Tron'
(Soundbites from cast and crew talking about inspiration for the film and look behind the scenes)

*Installing the Cast
(Cast and crew bigging each other up)

*Discover Blu-Ray 3D with Pumbaa and Timon
(The warthog and weaselly thing try to sell you 3D equipment)

Of these, I found the behind the scenes of how they digitised Bridges' face and the excerpts from the animated series most interesting.

*** Sneak Peeks ***

Trailers for:
- Disney computer games, 'Tron:Evolution' and 'Epic Mickey'
- Blu-Ray version of 'The Incredibles'
- 'Cars 2'

...

'Tron: Legacy' is widely available, and currently can be bought from Amazon for £10.99 new.

Product details (as available from Amazon):

* Actors: Michael Sheen, Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, Garrett Hedlund, John Hurt
* Directors: Joseph Kosinski
* Format: PAL
* Language English
* Region: Region 2
* Number of discs: 1
* Classification: PG
* Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
* DVD Release Date: 18 April 2011