The Lost Possibilities of TRON 2
Like most people, I was thoroughly flabbergasted by the new Tron: Legacy trailer that premiered in the last week. It’s sleek, chilly, and visually crisp, with a pulsating Daft Punk score propelling it along. While probably not as revolutionary as the original film, this sequel promises some serious eye candy and some thoughtful science fiction concepts.
But the film might’ve been so much more.
Several years ago, Tron‘s creator/director Steven Lisberger sat down to discuss the impact of the original film. In the course of the discussion, Lisberger teased with a preview of the possibilities that a sequel could present given the radical changes in computer technology in the last twenty years. Here is what he said at that time, encoded and embedded by yours truly:
[youtube inm-Yb1wPVY]
It’s apparent that the new film will not explore the amazing possibilities imagined here by Lisberger, and that’s a shame. Disney was wise to keep Lisberger in the loop as a consultant and producer, but it’s clear that they wanted nothing to do with the more radical ideas he had in mind. Instead, the studio seems eager to recycle the air of the original, while tacking on a fairly silly father/son subplot that is already sticking uncomfortably in my craw.
Rather than have such an ordinary plotline, what if the new film had utilized Lisberger’s mind-blowing concepts such as biological computers? Rather than have yet another human blasted into the computer realm (does that scene in the trailer really make any sense to anyone familiar with the original film??), what if such biological computers allowed humans to interface directly, plugging in and out of the MCP at will? The implications of such a plotline could be seriously challenging.
Unfortunately, Disney decided to shunt Lisberger and his wild ideas to the side in order to pump out a well-made but fairly standard action film with dazzling visuals. And that’s fine. It’s just a bummer that the sequel to a visionary original looks like it will be so ordinary.
9 Comments
You sir are a Troll.
It’s too early to really get a feel for what any plot point is going to be. Sure, the father/son plot may seem weak but it’s also a hook in for folks who are not fans of the original. Taking the same basic concept and enhancing it sounds like smart story telling when you’re looking for a larger audience.
And that clip contains none of the claims you put forth in your second to last paragraph. The concepts you’re proclaiming sound just like recycled matrix material, rather than something interesting and tangible.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not a fan boy but a cautious optimist. I’m hoping we get a fantastic update with a smarter story and visuals. But I have this nagging feeling that we could be in for another phantom menace.
The father/son story is a total cliche (and Jeff Bridges jnr looks the particularly wooden LA type) but I expect they were wary of copying the Matrix with all the bio-inports etc. I think the story will be pretty pedestrian, bolstered by some great effects in 3-D.
Nice imagination you have, Jedi!
While writing that paragraph about bio-electronic imports, I did realize that the concept is faintly reminiscient of THE MATRIX. I figured that anyone reading it could take that hint and superimpose it on the TRON mythos in order to see the implications, but apparently people like Jedi need it spelled out.
So here goes: the original TRON had a subtext about users being god-like beings that controlled (and are worshiped by) programs. What if humans were able to join this computerized society at will? They would effectively be gods among (computerized) men. Would these programs be slaves to these gods? Probably, considering what people are like. This perfectly sets up a fairly epic storyline that would work in a gorgeous landscape like this.
As for your complaint about not knowing the story: I already know the storyline to the film. And yes, it’s about the son entering the game grid and discovering his father still in there.
This story makes little sense for these reasons:
1. Why would Flynn have a secret room in his arcade with a de-rezzing laser set up and a mainframe?? Remember, Flynn had to break into ENCOM in order to access the mainframe, where they were also conducting special experiments with that derezzing laser. Why would Flynn have that set up as well?
I’ll tell you why: because they needed a way to get Flynn’s clueless son onto the game grid. And that’s dumb.
2. The character of Flynn is pictured in the first film as a boyish single rogue male. Are we to believe that he had an infant son somewhere? And even if he did, Flynn and the boy haven’t seen each other in twenty years! How do they even know each other (as evidenced by the trailer)?
3. It’s a retread of the original film, which is a limp idea. The original film has endured so long because it was radical and unique. I have the feeling that Disney is counting on this film to succeed on the strength of the visuals – which are admittedly stunning – and that’s a bummer.
Rather than look forward and predict the future the way the original film did, this one is going to be a standard action flick with great effects and little going on in its head.
With all due respect, the teaser doesn’t seem to give any indication what the story is about. All we know for sure is that Flynn became CEO of ENCOM at the conclusion of TRON, and that he has been gone for somewhere north of two decades. For all we (the 21st century users) know, Flynn did exactly what you suggested. He appears to have a posse with him, and didn’t we see him deal out judgement with the chilling implication that this is no longer a game? As the Chief of ENCOM he could have easily built a copy of the digitizing laser at the arcade; I can’t imagine that the “boyish single rouge” spent a whole lot of time in Dillinger’s office, especially considering what Flynn’s office (couches in the arcade) looked like in Tron 1.0. He may have realized that he likes power, now in control of a major software company and the only known User to enter and leave the computer world. He may have let it go to his head and became the User amongst Programs. The color of his data certainly isn’t the “good guy” blue it was before. I suggest that we reserve any judgement until more information is given. If you do, as you say, know what the story is about, please share.
I can’t speak for him having progeny (I think that a perfect story could be told without that particular plot point, but alas the Studios isn’t perfect).
And as for the visuals…Eye candy is an understatement. This film looks visually STUNNING!
(I am a Cast Member {Disney-jargon for employee}, and welcome your thoughts, provided Mouse-bashing is kept to a minimum and we discuss the merits of this film not Disney politics.)
@ Diz Jr. – Some of what you suggest is plausible, of course, but it still makes little sense. I guess Flynn could have made such a radical shift in character over time, sure. The film seems to be setting up the idea that Flynn is some sort of god-like being among programs, which I like. I just wish they hadn ‘t simply recycled the original premise.
As for bashing Disney, why would I do that?? They certainly do not have a perfect track record (does any studio?), but they have been an industry innovator for decades and decades.
Actually, I think the de-rezzing laser in the arcade makes some kind of sense. Flynn worked in secret, staying late at Encom and writing Space Paranoide, Matrix Blaster, a whole slew of games that Dillinger annexed as his own and subsequently had Flynn fired. It could make sense that when Flynn went back to Encom, he had an even more meteoric rise and ended up with a bigger title than Dillinger’s title of Senior Executive VP. And it probably happened pretty quickly. That being the case, he may have built a second de-rezzing lazer, working in secret, again, trying to improve upon all the things Alan mentions in this trailer: computers, medicine and, (noticeably) religion.
So there are some indications that the story will be good, although I have not read any spoilers.
I also had high hopes for Episode 1 and Indiana Jones 4, so maybe I’ll never learn.
@ Ray
I apologize for sounding accusative, it is sometimes disheartening the number of people who bash my company for stupid reasons. Hence I tend to defend myself prematurely. It is quite refreshing to read critical, but reasonable reviews. After a little more delving at work I’ve gathered that “it’s different but is an homage to the original Tron. The Father-Son dynamic will ‘enrich the story’ and bring those familiar with the 1982 film to the theater along with the next generation.”
Now that makes me just a tad bit more concerned.
Brilliant. At last someone who really understands what TRON was about and the revolutionary aspect of such a masterpiece, now turned into just a videogame with cool looks & Special FX. DAFT PUNK replacing WALTER-WENDY CARLOS? Humpf. DEROUSSE, congratulations. GREAT lucid article of yours.
Does Tron 2 have what it takes? The trailer delivered in front of Alice in Wonderland certainly made an impression and to me I have never seen a trailer that shattered the soundsystem and minds with such an array of blistering sound and visual spectacle. But we’ve been here before right; remember matrix reloadeds trailer. Tron 2′s trailer is shockingly jaw dropping. So much so we are probably assured the movie will not live up to it. Let’s face it the trailer practically yelled “I am god look at me” But again Tron is just a movie that has potential to be a great one so before we go off the rails lets get a handle on this runaway locomotive and examine the history and potential future of the Tron brand name.
The youtube stream you supplied was nice but the original director just had ideas. The original was three generations before its time. Only true nerds(hackers circa 1980)could have enjoyed. It wasn’t a “user” friendly movie. The sequel seems more like windows compared to D.O.S. and that can be good if the story is cooked properly.
The idea of Users/gods and programs/humans is intriguing and a story line of A father becoming a ruthless god opposed by say, his son has potential if the supporting cast is utilized to the fullest extent.Or perhaps Alan’s character zapped Flynn into the machine so he could take over encom in which case Tron becomes the villain.
One thing from the trailer stands out as a potential spoiler. The combatant seen shoulder to shoulder with Clu 2 with the visor on is the same one shown jumping down int the screen with the duel discs. Is that A. Tron or B. A copy of Sam Flynns(the son)
Lots of questions and possibilities i guess as we wait on eggshells for 10 months all we can do is speculate or dream about the endless possibilities of changing science and religion on the big screen.
Let’s just hope this is the greatest movie ever made because that trailer dug itself a crater a mile wide.