Remember when big-budget special effects movies were fun? Then Christopher Nolan came along and had to clog up the machinery with serious weight. It's with that thought in mind that the latest in a seemingly endless horde of Tron: Legacy trailers arrives. Prepare to be doused in dour! Also: Two Jeff Bridges.
There are certainly many positives to take away from this latest bit of Tron: Legacy marketing: Jeff Bridges performance (and likely the quality of the film itself) will not have a Yogi Bear-like affect on his Oscar chances; Olivia Wilde is due to become uber-famous, and this film will probably accomplish that feat for her; the special effects are pretty awesome, specifically when Garrett Hedlund is firing two machine guns. If you like going to the movies, the chance are good that you'll like Tron: Legacy.
But what of the legacy? If early reports about the film are to be believed, the tone of the trailer is in lockstep with the film itself. That is to say, it's serious. Like a heart attack. If you want to know why people are celebrating Back to the Future twenty-five years later, it's because that movie is lighthearted and watchable. Based on these initial glimpses, don't expect to see bloggers furiously writing about Tron: Legacy in 2035.
VERDICT: Sold, but with the opportunity to return.