Follow @screenit

"TRON: LEGACY" (2010) (Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund) (PG) QUICK TAKE: Sci-fi: A young man is thrust into a computerized world where he's reunited with his long-lost father among programs who appear as human figures, including a clone of his father that's run amok and is threatening to cross over into the real world. PLOT: It's been 21 years since computer programmer and Encom CEO Kevin Flynn (JEFF BRIDGES) disappeared and left his young son, Sam, as an orphan. Now 27 and still majority owner of Encom, Sam (GARRETT HEDLUND) wants little to do with the company and spends his time engaging in various adrenaline based adventures. After sneakily releasing Encom's latest software offering to the world for free, Sam gets a visit from Alan Bradley (BRUCE BOXLEITNER). He's Kevin's former business partner who claims he received a page from the long-defunct arcade where Flynn had his office and computer research lab. Sam reluctantly goes there to check it out, finds his father's hidden facility, and unknowingly activates a digitizer laser that instantly transports the young man into "the grid," a digital but physical representation of the inside of a computer world. There, programs appear as human figures and any number of vehicles serve as the means for information moving back and forth through that world. Mistaken for an errant program, Sam is entered by Gem (BEAU GARRETT) and her fellow siren programs into a high-tech gladiator style "game." There, he must battle programs equipped with powered flying discs that are zipped toward others, resulting in their destruction should they be struck. Sam manages to survive and is thus brought to this strange world's leader, Clu (JEFF BRIDGES). Sam thinks it's his ageless long-lost father, but Clu is actually a program designed by Kevin to help create a perfect digital world, a task he's taken literally. Clu -- with the aid of his right-hand program, Jarvis (JAMES FRAN) and flamboyant club owner Castor (MICHAEL SHEEN) -- is after the nowhere to be found Kevin and the life disc the man wears. It may allow his digital doppelganger to escape into the real world, and he's hoping the old man will show up to save his son. Instead, Kevin's assistant and last of her kind isomorphic algorithm, Quorra (OLIVIA WILDE), shows up, rescues Sam, and reunites him with his father who lives outside of the grid. Kevin doesn't want to engage Clu, knowing that's part of the program's plan, but Sam can't sit idly by, especially when he wants to return his father to the real world. With the young man returning to the grid to take on Clu and his programs, it's a race against time to get out of the digital world before Clu manages to do the same. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of the original movie, films about video games or sci-fi in general, or anyone in the cast, they might show interest. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JEFF BRIDGES plays a computer programmer and one-time CEO of his own company who disappeared back in 1989, trapped inside the computer world where he was trying to create a perfect digital universe, but was undermined by his own creation, Clu. Now an outcast, he lives off the grid with Quorra as his friend and assistant. He's pleased to discover that Sam has grown into a young man and managed to find his way to him, but isn't pleased that his son doesn't want to follow his advice about how to deal with Clu. Nevertheless, he steps into action to take on his nemesis. JEFF BRIDGES also plays his digital alter-ego, a human-like computer program initially designed to help him create a perfect digital world but who then took perfection to a twisted degree by having all of Quorra's kind killed. He also wants Kevin's life ring so that he can use its power in order to cross over into the real world, and uses Sam as bait for that. GARRETT HEDLUND plays Kevin's now 27-year-old son who's still the majority share holder of his father's company, but he wants little to do with the corporation and prefers instead to spend his time engaging in various adrenaline based adventures. He ends up inadvertently zapped into the computer world where he must contend with being thrust into various high-tech, gladiator style games and then being reunited with his long-lost father. He wants to bring him back to the real world, but must contend with Clu and his minions who have other plans. He kills various programs (that appear in human form) and uses some brief and non-explicit profanity. OLIVIA WILDE plays an isomorphic algorithm, and the last of her kind who serves as Kevin's friend and assistant. She rescues Sam from the gladiator games and then helps him with his quest to get back on the grid and take on Clu. She ends up sacrificing herself several times to make sure Sam and Kevin succeed. MICHAEL SHEEN plays the flamboyant owner of a club who pretends that he's helping Sam when he's really in cahoots with Clu. He kills at least one program (in human form). BRUCE BOXLEITNER plays Kevin's former business partner who's been in Sam's life ever since the boy was orphaned. He also plays the computer program Tron in the computer world who battles others and comes after Sam, Kevin and Quorra as they try to escape. BEAU GARRETT plays a comely computer program in charge of preparing Sam for the gladiator games and then as an accomplice to Castor. She wears a form-fitting outfit. JAMES FRAN plays Clu's right-hand program (in human form) who does his bidding. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this sci-fi flick that's rated PG. Profanity consists of a handful of relatively tame expletives, while colorful phrases are also uttered. Some women are seen in formfitting outfits and they remove a young man's clothing (down to his underwear - seen from a distance) to dress him for combat. Violence consists of sci-fi based action where computer programs that look like human figures are "killed" (and blow up or dissolve into many pixels) and a few live ones show some bad-looking but related scars (featuring computer technology rather than blood or gore). One computer character's arm is cut off (but is later reinstated), while other characters are hit or otherwise manhandled and various bits of property damage occur. Those scenes and moments of peril could be unsettling and/or suspenseful to the youngest of viewers. Some of that action and other behavior might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate, while bad attitudes, tense family material and thematic elements are present. There's brief beer drinking in the real world, and then some programs have drinks in the computerized world's club/bar. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's some of that during the opening Disney logo (that's gone high-tech for this film) and later some from an elevator type compartment moving past stationary lights. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some of that from various point of view flying shots, as well as views of motorcycles (real and light cycle), while there's some movement from a full screen water reflection of Quorra. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Sam throws a beer over to Alan who catches and puts it down. Sam then drinks from that. Programs have drinks in a club where Castor calls out, "Libations for everybody." Castor and Sam drink. Clu makes a drink but then hands it to Castor. BLOOD/GROSS STUFF We see a program (that looks human) that's missing part of its face (but what's inside looks robotic rather than flesh and blood). Various programs (that appear human) dissolve or blast away into pixels (no blood) during various battles in the film. One program has a large digital scar down his face. Clu's forces arrive and do battle with Sam and then Quorra who joins him. During this, Quorra ends up having her digital arm cut off (we see the digitized cut and then the arm dissolve away into pixels). During an aerial battle, a computer program (in human type form) is shot right through the head (with digital bits rather than blood or gore). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Sam swerves through traffic on his motorcycle, and then continues to do that when a motorcycle cop chases after him for speeding. He eventually eludes the cop by darting across traffic and flying off the road and down to an exit ramp. Although he's the majority stockholder of his dad's company, Sam breaks into the headquarters, deactivates a security camera, and then ruins a board meeting (and stock offering) by posting a new program onto the Internet for all to download for free. Other programs cheer on high-tech gladiator style games where the losers (when hit, sliced, etc.) explode, dissolve or fall apart into digital bits. Kevin explains that Clu led a coup against him and that his followers killed all of the isomorphic algorithms (that appeared as human-like characters). Despite appearing as if he's going to help Sam, Castor is actually in cahoots with Clu and thus leads the latter's forces directly to Sam. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gross Stuff" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Sam stands at the end of a crane arm atop a high-rise, with a security guard slowly walking out toward him on the same. After identifying himself, Sam purposefully falls backwards and plummets toward the ground until he deploys his parachute. That ends up stuck on a light pole or traffic light, and with police coming, he detaches himself and falls atop a cab. Its driver tries to throw him off by swerving, and he falls off onto the road when the cab stops. Sam then tries to run from police but gives up when he's surrounded. Alan informs Sam that he received a page from his dad's office down at the arcade despite that line being disconnected for 20 years. As he messes with his dad's old computer, Sam doesn't realize a laser transporter mechanism behind him has become activated. He's then zapped into the computer world. Clu's forces arrive and do battle with Sam and then Quorra who joins him. The latter use their powered discs vs. the others' powered poles. Castor also fires various laser type blasts from his staff down into the melee, while Quorra ends up having her digital arm cut off. She then appears to be dead (with her eyes open), but is just powered down. Kevin and Sam carry her out, with Castor causing a large explosion at their "elevator" that he believes has killed them (while he kills another program for Kevin's disc). The blast didn't kill them as they escape, but Kevin has to work on the runaway "car" to bring it to a stop. We see that Clu now has an army of reprogrammed program characters and he wants to unleash them on the real world via an open portal to that. Clu jumps from one platform to another and dangles from the second. As Sam and Quorra try to escape, Clu comes after them, but Kevin uses his power to stop him. GUNS/WEAPONS Various laser type weapons/Powered flying discs/Powered rods/Explosives: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. A guard pulls his sidearm while searching for Sam in a computer room. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "The hell he is," "I'm tired, I smell like jail," "You son of a gun," "Freaking," "You gotta be kidding me," "Freaks," "That's a hell of a way /to treat your son/to live," "Bio-digital jazz, man," "The guy doesn't dig imperfection," "You're messing with my Zen thing," "I screwed it up," "The old man's gonna knock on the sky, listen to the sound," "Hell of a view" and "I'm all over this." The action and other stunts could be enticing for some kids to try to imitate. Sam swerves through traffic on his motorcycle, and then continues to do that when a motorcycle cop chases after him for speeding. He eventually eludes the cop by darting across traffic and flying off the road and down to an exit ramp. Although he's the majority stockholder of his dad's company, Sam breaks into the headquarters, deactivates a security camera, and then ruins a board meeting (and stock offering) by posting a new program onto the Internet for all to download for free. Sam stands at the end of a crane arm atop a high-rise, with a security guard slowly walking out toward him on the same. After identifying himself, Sam purposefully falls backwards and plummets toward the ground until he deploys his parachute. We see miscellaneous graffiti. One program has what appears to be a tattoo on his head. JUMP SCENES The sudden "deaths" of some computer programs (that appear human) could startle some sensitive viewers. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A heavy amount of electronica style, heavily dramatic and some suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 4 hells and 1 damn. SEX/NUDITY We see Sam shirtless as he changes shirts. Sam finds himself in the company of Gem and three other female programs, all wearing ultra-formfitting, skintight outfits. They then cut away his clothes (down to his underwear -- seen from a distance) and he's then quickly dressed (digitally) in an electronic sort of outfit (the same kind many others also wear). We see Gem in her form-fitting outfit again. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Kevin's wife died a few years before the setting of the film's first scene. There are news reports of Kevin disappearing, thus causing young Sam to be distraught and his grandparents concerned about him. Sam meets Clu and thinks he's his long-lost dad, but then realizes that's not the case. Kevin and Sam talk about what's transpired since the former disappeared, including talk that his parents died (when Sam was still young). Sam is upset when his dad doesn't want to come back to the real world with him, and is later upset when it appears that will be the unintentional case. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Imagining the inside of a computer world as a human type experience. Being orphaned at a young age. Gladiator style games. The quest for perfection and how that can backfire. The Nazi-style metaphors in the film. VIOLENCE Two of Clu's guards grab Sam once he's entered the computer world, thinking he's a rogue program. One program hits a guard and then flings himself off a platform. He then falls down into some sort of blade assembling that quickly slices him into digital pieces (seen from a distance). Sam finds himself in a high-tech gladiator style game where a powered disc is heaved at him and he barely avoids the device (that ricochets off the walls and back to the thrower). Another contestant isn't so lucky, however, and is struck by it and blasts apart into digital bits. Sam avoids more such throws while heaving some himself, but briefly dangles in a hole created by one such disc throw. Sam then causes one attacker to fall through the floor and disintegrate upon contact down below. Sam then blasts two more opponents, but then takes on a more formidable one (after jumping down from one level to the next and so on), but must also contend with Clu having the chamber they're in flip upside down and then again (each time Sam lands hard on the ceiling/floor). He must also avoid more throws, but the opponent eventually gets the upper-hand and holds his disc to Sam's throat, but doesn't kill him. Sam and various programs must take on Clu and other operators in a light cycle (like high-tech motorcycles) battle. The light cycles leave "wall" trails behind them that when crashed into cause the destruction of said cycles (which are also destroyed, along with their program operators, when the cycles are flipped, etc.). During this, one cycle crashes and disintegrates with its operator, while one rider punches another who then crashes and similarly disintegrates. That's followed by more crashes, including one caused by a rider using his power disc to slice another rider (no blood) who crashes and disintegrates. Sam tries to get a cycle control back to one rider who's fallen off, but another cycle lands on that one, crushing and disintegrating him. Clu then slices Sam who falls from his cycle, but Quorra blasts in with her "car" and hits Clu, followed by some explosives fired at Clu and then at a wall for Quorra and Sam to escape through. In a flashback, we see Clu lead a coup against Kevin and Tron. Tron destroys several programs he battles, while Clu knocks down Kevin. Clu then hits Tron (we don't know his fate at the time), while we hear Clu had all human looking isomorphic algorithms killed (we see a massive building destroyed as it collapses). Clu swipes items off a desk in anger. Clu's forces arrive and do battle with Sam and then Quorra who joins him. The latter use their powered discs vs. the others' powered poles. Castor also fires various laser type blasts from his staff down into the melee, while Quorra ends up having her digital arm cut off. She then appears to be dead (with her eyes open), but is just powered down. Kevin and Sam carry her out, with Castor causing a large explosion at their "elevator" that he believes has killed them (while he kills another program for Kevin's disc). The blast didn't kill them as they escape, but Kevin has to work on the runaway "car" to bring it to a stop. As Clu and his team leave, they plant various bombs that destroy a structure moments later, killing at least two characters. Quorra tries fighting Tron (to allow Kevin and Sam to pass by unnoticed) and Tron easily bests her. Sam kicks and knocks two guards off a tall platform. We then hear the sound of him destroying other programs. Kevin whacks one program on the head to make him change his mind. Sam grabs Jarvis by the throat. Tron throws Quorra down to the floor, but she then kicks him during a throwing disc battle. Clu kills his assistant (who disintegrates into pixels) with a slice from his disc. Quorra flies Kevin and Sam in a flying vehicle that's pursued by Clu and his goons in others. Sam goes to the back and fires the turret gun at them (destroying some), while they fire back at the fleeing aircraft. More are hit and crash, including one program who's shot right through the head (with digital bits rather than blood or gore). Tron then fly-chases after them, but then decides to turn against Clu and crashes their aircraft together (after Clu has riddled the fleeing craft with shots). Clu and Tron then battle in midair while falling, with Clu kicking Tron away. Clu kicks Kevin down to a platform surface. Sam then punches Clu twice in the face, but Clu then throws Sam aside. Clu then kicks Kevin in the face. One character sucks another into him, resulting in both exploding into digital bits, while a larger explosion then emanates from that. Reviewed December 13, 2010 / Posted December 17, 2010

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.

All Rights Reserved,
©1996-2016 Screen It, Inc.