Things That Parents Need To Know
Parents need to know that this sci-fi adventure will immediately appeal to elementary and middle-school aged boys as well as tweens, teenagers, and dads that saw with the original 1982 film. Positive lessons on selflessness, self-sacrifice, fatherhood, and self-awareness get a nod in this "digitized" adventure. The film has some scenes of sci-fi violence that will likely be too intense for younger kids, and it also contains a little bit of language and some mixed theology.
Review
There have been a lot of times we've waited 5-10 years for a sequel to a movie, but 28 1/2 years, seriously?
In this franchise reboot of sorts, 27-year old Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) has been constantly ruining ENCOM's history, formerly owned by his dad, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), who disappeared back in the 1980's, to a supposed world called the "grid". But when Kevin's former associate Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) tells Sam that he recieved a page from the former arcade store that had been disconnected for 20 years, a mystery is afoot. Sam soon finds the secret room where his dad worked, and before you know it, he's been zapped into the grid, trying to mingle with the human-like programs and find his dad at the same time.
This computer-generated adventure has brilliant eye-popping effects, excellent 3-D and animation, and some positive lessons on self-awareness, self-sacrifice, and fatherhood. The music by rap group Daft Punk adds more digitized fun to the mix, and the cast including Hedlund, Bridges, Olivia Wilde, and Boxleitner are impressive in their own right.
The films' negative content is few and infrequent. While Disney is mainly a family-friendly film company, they still didn't need to put in about five mild profanities (a few of h--- and one d---). While impressive and mostly bloodless, the sci-fi action violence is a bit too intense for the kindergarten crowd. Also, as the film tries to be the next Avatar, it also carries some mixed environmentalism messages on the fact that the "digital frontier would reshape the human condition" in terms of religion and science, and be the human population's "destiny". Some of the content may also come across as a bit too sophisticated or confusing for young audiences, especially those who haven't seen the original Tron.
Sort-of a teenage version of Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, Tron: Legacy is a visual feast that combines clever computer-generated imagery and a Star Wars-like premise that will make young boys want to rush out to their nearest store and buy an action figure. The mixed spirituality aspect of the grid however may cause a bit of concern among the christian audience. In the end though, as for my personal interests and family-friendliness, Tron for the most part is easy to get into.
Tron: Legacy is rated PG for some scenes of sci-fi action violence and brief language.
POSITIVE VS. NEGATIVE Summary:
Positive Negative
--Positive lessons on self-awareness, self-sacrifice, and --Some sci-fi action violence.
fatherhood. --Some mild language.
--Brilliant 3-D and computer-generated imagery, sets, --Some mixed theology.
and costumes.
--Great music score.
--Thrilling story.
Outcome: Generally positive
