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Jump to "Now Playing" Review for 'Tron: Ares' (Coming Soon!)  Back in 2010, I recall seeing the ads for this and thinking they looked pretty cool, so I watched the 1982 film for the first time in an effort to catch up on things. As it turns out, however, 'Legacy' only carries over a few bare basics, retconning a few things, making things a bit more confusing than they really need to be. It's just my humble opinion, but I think to really like this chapter of the 'Tron' series (and probably more to come), one will have to sort of treat it as its own separate "what if?" entity.
The truth of the matter is, one shouldn't have to do that, and things could probably stand to be better-written as far as a continuing story goes, but let's face it, the prominent stand-out feature in a 'Tron' movie (aside from a kick-ass soundtrack) is probably going to be its visual impact, and 'Legacy' has that in spades. At the same time, the unfolding storyline amounts to not a hell of a lot more than "okay." Still, through the right lens, much like the original film, it can be a fun ride if you allow it to be, much like a 'Fast & Furious' film, or something along those lines. Following the events of 'Tron,' Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) is promoted to CEO of ENCOM International, the tech company that initially fired him but which Flynn saved from a hostile takeover by the Master Control Program. Seven years later, in 1989, Flynn disappears suddenly without a trace, leaving his son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund/Owen Best), to grow up fatherless and, much like his Dad, get into a bit of trouble. Twenty years after Flynn's disappearance, he sneaks into ENCOM to release their operating system to the public online for free, following his father's ideals of free software. The problem is, he trespasses to do this, so he foolishly finds himself under arrest. Sam is also ENCOM's primary shareholder, so the whole thing lends itself to the idea that the writing here isn't all that great, as the entire situation seems incredibly unnecessary. Either way, he's eventually bailed out by Flynn's old friend Alan (Bruce Boxleitner), who informs him of a pager message originating from Flynn's old, abandoned video arcade, which has since been disconnected for twenty years and somehow wasn't replaced by a Starbucks. Regardless, Sam goes to check out what this pager message could be. As Sam enters Flynn's abandoned arcade, we experience a bit of nostalgia, recalling the good old days of video arcades and seeing all the machinery that has since collected several layers of dust. As he wanders, looking for who may have sent the message, he finds a hidden basement with a particle laser that soon zaps him into The Grid, where he is immediately seized and taken to the Games, much like the strays within the system of the last film were made to do, in a sort of Collisseum style, where the games aren't fun so much as deadly. To cut to the chase, Sam soon meets Clu (also played by Jeff Bridges), a program created by Kevin Flynn, designed to be perfect, who aims to outdo his perfection by building and assembling an army of programs to enter the real world and take it over. He also manages to locate and reunite with his dad and his apprentice, Quorra (Olivia Wilde), who are probably the only hope of stopping Clu. As Sam and Clu race to the portal Sam originally came through to get back to it, or, in Clu's case, take it over. So, it's your standard race against time. Visually stunning and complete with a soundtrack that fits the film's style like a glove, these things just aren't enough to save the movie as a whole. The truth of the matter is that I tend to find the "rule the world" motivation of villains tired, dated and basic. It's also strange to me that they retconned Clu's origin to some degree, complicating things more than they really need to be. However, despite all my criticism, I think that much like 'Tron', this can still be a fun watch if one wants to enjoy a bit of futuristic-looking entertainment. Just bear in mind that the film is primarily style over substance. 3/5
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 The original 'Tron' was always a fascinating title to me when I was a kid. It seemed as though everyone, including myself, was aware of it, but we had never seen it. It was just a video cassette that stood out on rental shelves with its tech-fancy font against a flat black background, and a couple of mysterious futuristic-looking characters in front of the "O". 'The Simpsons' even jokes about how no one ever saw it in the Halloween short 'Homer3.' It was one of the strangest entities that sported a Disney logo, to my recollection.
Fast-forward to around the time 'Tron: Legacy' was coming out, me remembering 'Tron' was even a thing, and finally deciding to give it a chance, wondering why I never had before. Besides, with its ads and Daft Punk soundtrack, I really wanted to see 'Legacy,' so a bit of homework felt necessary. When it was all said and done, I found it, and still find it, relatively entertaining for its time; 1982, when widespread video game tech was still in its infancy, and the best console one could get their hands on was an Atari 2600. One must always keep in mind the real-world era in which this was released. Former ENCOM employee and computer hacker, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), who now owns a video arcade, attempts to infiltrate ENCOM's system using CLU, a program designed to break in and search for Flynn's allegedly stolen work. With this, CLU has difficulty when the search is disrupted by ENCOM's Master Control Program, or "MCP" as it's more often referred to here. The MCP (voice of David Warner) informs senior executive vice president Ed Dillinger (also David Warner) about the hacker and blocks ENCOM's access, thereby becoming its own entity by swiping various documents, some of which are government-related, to increase its power. Meanwhile, two ENCOM workers, Lora (Cindy Morgan) and Alan (Bruce Boxleitner), figure out that Flynn is the mystery hacker, knowing his history, and head to the arcade to warn him that they're on to him. However, when Flynn informs them of Dillinger's plagiarism, the trio plans a break-in to ENCOM in an attempt to unlock Alan's "Tron" program, meant to counteract the MCP. Soon, Flynn comes face-to-face with the MCP while attempting a hack, and he gets pulled into the system we now know more as "The Grid." Just to say it, if you're a bit confused by any of this, forgive me, because the opening is a little confusing. Within the Grid, computer programs roam around, resembling avatars of their creators. For example, CLU is also played by Jeff Bridges. Here, the MCP rules over everything with its partner, Sark (also David Warner), opposing belief in the "Users," and forcing those with faith to participate in deadly games. In my eyes, the whole thing makes for a sort of tech bible story, the "Users" essentially being their Gods, able to manipulate things within the system. In this strange world, Flynn, with the help of programs Tron (also Bruce Boxleitner), Ram (Dan Shor), and Yori (also Cindy Morgan), intends to get to the MCP and destroy it from within. As previously mentioned, things can get a little confusing with this movie, but it does make for a charming time capsule, capturing what "futuristic" looked like in 1982. It's intriguing to see how dated it seems by today's standards, but at the time, it was a groundbreaking revolution in animation, known for its pioneering use of CGI. Also, to my surprise, despite assuming no one ever watched this, it actually outperformed 'Blade Runner' and 'The Thing' at the box office that year. Apparently, it was something I missed the boat on, but I still don't recall anyone discussing it as much as other titles released around the same time, growing up. I'll also mention that if you're any 'South Park' fan, that will add to the fun in watching this, as there are at least a couple of things in the film the show parodies, perhaps most popularly "Moses" who resembles the MCP, but there are a couple more. As far as my enjoyment of the film goes, it's not something I'd place among my favourites, but it's a fun watch, at least, if you're hanging out on a Sunday afternoon. It's a product of its time, and I respect that; however, it's a title that warrants further examination as well, as I personally feel like they were going after something a little deeper than I had originall thought. 3/5  In my review of the first 'Paddington' film, I mentioned how this series provides a bit of a "comfort food" feeling for those bad days, and I stand by that. What's more, is how incredibly well-adapted these stories are without trying to be "cool" or strive for what "the kids are looking for nowadays," and failing miserably by guessing wrong and losing the heart that made the property so good, to begin with. Thankfully, 'Paddington' keeps it simple, innocent and fun without needing Paddington to break out into some prison rap song.
In case you're wondering, yes, Paddington does indeed end up in prison in this chapter, surrounded by hardened criminals. But he brings his all-around charm to the table as well, providing quite a few genuine laughs as he interacts with said criminals and somehow making the film incredibly warm in what should be the coldest place Paddington could end up for a movie. But before we get into this sweet, innocent bear doing time, perhaps a minor update since the last film is in order. Paddington (Ben Whishaw) is still living with the Brown family: Henry (Hugh Bonneville), his wife, Mary (Sally Hawkins), and their kids, Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin). He has also made his presence known throughout the neighbourhood positively by helping others with their daily routines and being an all-around good bear. Everyone loves him, save for one jerk who just plain doesn't like him for whatever reason, but that's all a bit of a side story and lesson about generally not being a jealous bum. The main plot here involves Paddington (Ben Whishaw) trying to get his paws on a pop-up book to give to his Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) as a birthday present, as well as perhaps a bit of a thank-you for bringing him to London to live with the Browns. However, the pop-up book in question is a very special antique worth a pretty penny, so Paddington decides he should get a job to save up for it - more solid life lessons about responsibility for the kids watching without it being so in their faces. Eventually, he finds work washing windows and continues his good nature by doing some for free just because they're dirty. Meanwhile, a master of disguise named Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant) also chases after this book, as it holds some special secrets to some hidden treasure, unbeknownst to Paddington. When Buchanan attempts to steal the book, there's a mixup as Paddington gives chase to the thief, and he is soon framed and arrested, and much of the film is him in jail while the Browns try to clear his good name. But as dark as that may sound for a kid's movie, it's when Paddington gets jailed that the film becomes real fun. While the Brown family makes some effort in trying to get Paddington out of jail, Paddington himself starts making friends on the inside with something as simple as attempting to change the prison's food menu, starting with the wondrous taste of marmalade sandwiches (remember, marmalade is practically a character in these films) after accidentally cramming one in head thug Knuckles McGinty's (Brendan Gleeson) mouth. Even in prison, this bear wants to improve people's lives by helping in any way he can. The film's gist is about clearing Paddington's name, capturing the crook, and getting this pop-up book to Aunt Lucy. But as simple as it all is, the film is still filled with all of the warmth and good feeling of the first film, even in a harsher setting. It's pretty impressive, and they still don't try to overreach with these lovable characters. Again, we have a lovely, light-hearted film that will cure what ails you on those harsh days. Much like its predecessor, this film feels like a nice, warm hug for the soul. Perhaps even more so! 5/5  Some time ago, I decided to look at what I first assumed to be just another attempt at making a children's property "cool," like 'Alvin & the Chipmunks' or 'Smurfs.' My curiosity eventually got the better of me between being told by some that it was "quite good" and looking at ratings throughout the internet. Surprisingly, the ratings for this were high, so I figured I'd give it a shot. This viewing would eventually result in both 'Paddington' and 'Paddington 2' becoming two of my biggest "comfort food" movies.
I would define a "comfort food" movie as something one can put on and enjoy for any bad day, whether at home, under the blankets with a cold, or just a frustrating time at school or work. A "comfort food" movie will lighten the mood and, at least for me, give way to pure relaxation that's hard to describe. Remember that feeling you got staying home from school on a weekday afternoon, tuning into 'The Price is Right'? It's whatever one might call that particular feeling. It's a sort of "Sunday afternoon" feeling. We open things up with the backstory of how an English explorer named Montgomery Clyde (Tim Downie) travelled to the darkest areas of Peru and came across a breed of hyper-intelligent bear. He names them Lucy (Imelda Staunton), after his Mother, and Pastuzo (Michael Gambon), after a boxer he once met in a bar. He teaches them a lot about human life, and they seem to adapt quite well, right down to learning how to speak English. But the bears' most significant takeaway is delicious marmalade, which is almost a character on its own. Several years later, Lucy and Pastuzo bring a cub under their care, who is eventually sent to London, England, to try to find a new home for them after a natural disaster strikes and takes their original one. Upon arrival in London, the cub meets the Brown family: Henry (Hugh Bonneville), his wife, Mary (Sally Hawkins), their kids, Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), and their housekeeper, Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters), who take him in and care for him until he can find a place to stay. The Browns name him Paddington (Ben Whishaw), and during his stay, he bonds with the family despite getting into some shenanigans here and there. In the meantime, a woman named Millicent (Nicole Kidman) receives word that this rare bear is roaming around London. She becomes Paddington's biggest threat, as she desires to capture, kill, stuff and mount the poor bear for her collection of rare animals. But for as harsh as that sounds, bear in mind that this is aimed at kids, so things get a bit cartoonish, and it never goes over the line. What really makes this movie stand out for me, however, is how it doesn't take itself seriously except for the messages and lessons that come through. It carries that amazing British wit with it, too, resulting in some very funny dialogue and moments. For example, before meeting Paddington, Henry tells his family to keep their eyes away from the random bear because he's just going to tell a sob story of some sort. It's not "Oh my, a talking bear!" There's a tiny bit of gross-out humour, but for the most part, it's light-hearted fun. Even though this is a film directed at kids, I stick to the idea that it's a good movie that people of all ages can enjoy. I genuinely appreciate the all-around silly tone of the film, along with the all-around look of things. The set design and lighting make everything in the Brown's home look incredibly cozy and inviting, and as a package, this film delivers all the warmth and sweetness that some of us need on those days. The' Paddington' movies are the movie equivalent of a good hug. 4/5 |
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