A Tribute to TRON: Legacy

I have not an inkling as to why this movie never did so well. The critics did not like it and neither did it make money. One wouldn’t call it a box office failure but Disney’s expectations of reviving a ‘cult classic’ franchise weren’t exactly met. These days, it just rests in the void where all unpopular movies reside. Before we start I would like to clarify that I am simply a high school student with no experience in filmography, and this is my honest opinion on a movie that I think deserves more credit than it has received thus far.

I first saw TRON on television when I was about 12 years old. Since then it has been one of my favorite movies and I can still watch it every day of the week. The amount of visual detail and VFX that went into the making of this film is remarkable even by present-day standards. Back in 2011, this was groundbreaking work.

There is something just so amazing about the visual theme of the movie. The neon orange and blue setting is absolutely beautiful. All that visual beauty is combined with a mesmerizing score from Daft Punk. I love Daft Punk and their music, but this soundtrack has got to be their best work till date. We genuinely underestimate the importance of background music in motion pictures and TRON is one movie that portrays what a good composer is capable of. The electronic/digital style of Daft Punk compliments the film so well it was as if they were meant to score TRON. The album was nominated for a Grammy as well. What this blend of movie and music gives you is truly out of this world.

TRON is about a simulated, computer-generated world where programmes take physical form. The world is dark but neon lights fill everything. The sky is a glitchy storm. The vehicles are pure awesomeness. The whole vibe of this movie screams futuristic and unreal. One look at the visual aesthetic reminds us that we are in a programme. An engaging storyline along with some pretty solid world-building and a decent character arc has you on the edge of your seat. The plot is great and beneath all of the crazy visuals lies a simple father-son relationship. When you mix this all together you get what Jeff Bridges in the movie called ‘Bio-digital Jazz’.

The main antagonist is, in my opinion, a perfect villain. He is not driven by emotion instead was programmed to be the way he is. The character development is not as bad as critics might make it seem. TRON forces you to ponder as you switch off your TV. The sheer possibility and concept that the movie introduces – it’s not just a story, rather an experience. It pulls you in and leaves a lasting impact on your mind. The movie revolves around the idea of building a perfect system – it makes us question the very meaning of perfection. TRON shows us how order lies in imperfection.

I mean sure the movie could have advanced at a slightly slower pace and the characters could have been developed better. But at its core, TRON: Legacy is a film about world-building, and that is one idea it executes flawlessly. I don’t usually prefer too many sequels for a movie but here I make an exception. Honestly, I could go on and on about this film, dive deeper into the characters and break down the storyline, but this is something I want everyone to do for themselves.

So when you combine an intriguing and fascinating concept, some of the best VFX of the past decade, and an electrifying film score by Daft Punk, you get TRON.

– Prakhar Verma