Cole Bertelsen
A pioneer in cinematic visuals spanning over four decades, the “Tron” franchise will return to theaters this fall.
With such an impactful sci-fi franchise soon back in the sights of popular culture for the first time since 2010, here’s a look back at the first two installments in this soon-to-be trilogy with the release of “Tron: Ares.”
“Tron” (1982)
One of the first films to prominently feature computer-generated imagery, “Tron” depicted an online world in a groundbreaking way.
On a mission to uncover wrongdoing by his former employer, computer programmer Kevin Flynn is unintentionally sucked into a digital frontier known as the Grid, where information flows on highways and programs are given physical form.
With the help of a security program named Tron, Flynn worked to defy the authoritarian Master Control Program and return home, preventing destruction of both the Grid and the physical world.
While this film shows its age in many of the visuals, its aesthetic perfectly captures early-era computer graphics, which ironically makes the simplified CGI more immersive given the world Flynn is in.
CGI was very much in its infancy when “Tron” was made. Knowing the effort and innovation the animators and editors of this film went through to produce this look makes me appreciate “Tron” that much more. For example, the glow of the characters’ suits in the Grid was accomplished by painstakingly painting the light onto each individual frame manually.
With a unique visual style and engaging plot, “Tron” is still an appealing film choice today, and adds to my appreciation of its sequel.
“Tron: Legacy” (2010)
Moviegoers currently find themselves in an era of constant unnecessary sequels, but this film takes advantage of its premise and establishes itself as a more-than-worthy successor to the original.
Computer technology advanced significantly since the release of “Tron,” leading to the question of how its sequel would portray its new version of the Grid. Gone are the simplistic shapes, vehicles and suits of the first film. Now sweeping scenery of the harsh world of the Grid and sleek costumes dazzle audiences, providing a level of spectacle “Tron” lacked.
The gladiatorial combat featured in the first film is elevated into well-choreographed fight scenes — hand-to-hand, aboard lightcycles and fighter jets — that you can’t look away from.
The aesthetic of “Tron: Legacy” was especially ingrained in my mind ever since I saw it when I was young. The only visual that doesn’t age particularly well is the de-aging of Jeff Bridges in the role of Flynn. However, the same uncanny-valley effect feels narratively appropriate when the same look applies to Flynn’s evil computer program duplicate, who Flynn’s son clashes with in the upgraded Grid.
While a vaguely generic protagonist, Flynn’s son is easy to project onto, further immersing the viewer in this dazzling and mysterious online world.
The soundtrack is equally impactful with a score by the electronic music team of Daft Punk, capturing the epic scale of the film. While the group isn’t returning for “Ares,” that film’s music is composed by Nine Inch Nails, so an equally-memorable experience can hopefully be expected.
Given the stacked cast of “Ares,” the film has a great deal of potential, but I expect that for me nothing will compare to my 2010 self’s experience watching “Tron: Legacy.”