Greetings Programs!

If you have not already guessed, the salutation is influenced by my viewing of the Tron2 movie in 3D.
It has a weak story filled with holes and inconsistencies, but huge on exceptional Computer- Generated Imagery with the electrifying music of Daft Punk.

Tron 2 Legacy is the sequel to Tron released in 1982. Back then as a student, it was this movie which inspired me to learn about 3D CGI. The graphics of Tron was cutting edge at the time and is a classic cult movie today; it was not a box office success however which may explain the 28 year hiatus.

By comparing the movie release trailers for both movies we can see how technology has advanced over the years.
Just click on the links below.
Tron

Tron 2 Legacy

But technology alone does not make a cinema cult classic for it needs to be also visually appealing to the audience. For example the design of the movie’s most memorable vehicle: the light cycle.
Syd Mead was the industrial designer who created the original light cycles in the first Tron movie. These iconic bikes had closed cockpits as the technology of the day was unable to represent an organic rider on the back of the bike. Twenty-eight years later automotive designer and concept artist Daniel Simon has designed the Tron 2 Legacy’s light cycles. As an acknowledgement to Mead’s work, Daniel provides an updated version of the first light cycle, which is used for Flynn’s ride. It’s a mixture of chamfered edges and curved surfaces which visually links the evolution from the first bike design to the new designs in Tron Legacy. Daniel has done an excellent job reimagining the light cycles, customising them to suit the characters riding them. The bike for bad guy Clu.2 is bigger and tougher in appearance when compared to the standard bikes which are sleeker and more organic. Watching the light bike battle scene between the hero Sam and Clu.2 is best seen in IMAX 3D cinema. There is nothing more exciting than watching a crashing light cycle flinging parts out from the screen and you involuntary dodging for cover in your seat.
As you can guess the light cycles steal the show!

If you have not seen Tron 2 Legacy check it out for yourself and make of it what you will. If you come away not liking the movie, so be it. At least listening to the music composed by Daft Punk,  pounding out of the cinema stereo speakers, is surely worth the price of admission!

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