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So, after much deliberation, I’ve decided that I’m going to pop my 3D film cherry on Tron: Legacy. This is kind of a big step for me, as in the past I’ve largely decried the growing trend towards throwing some extra effects into a movie and charging double the price. For me, a movie is at its best when it’s able to be enjoyed on a majority of technology; sure, it might be a little too much to ask to make sure that the latest HD films work on my crappy 12” CRT, but when I’m not getting the “full experience” on a TV that’s only maybe 5 years old? Gentlemen, we then have a problem.

But this is different. This, my friends, is Tron. This is the sequel to the film that made every nerd’s pants tight when it came out in 1982. This is what gave them (and by extension, us) fantasies about living in a video game.

People talk about James Cameron’s Avatar breaking new ground when it comes to visual effects, and for the most part, that’s true. However, you have to give props to animator-turned-director Steve Lisberger, who in 1976 viewed a revolutionary technology most of us now know simple as “Pong”. The medium of video games fascinated him, and he looked to introduce this world to a worldwide audience. Four years later in 1980, Lisberger and his animation studio decided to take this idea of a cgi-infused film to Disney, which in turn made Tron happen.

Alright, I can hear you people yelling back there: “Look how bad those graphics are!”

You have to keep in mind that this was the early 80′s; to put things in perspective, the Nintendo Entertainment System (you know, the one with Duck Hunt), didn’t come out until three years after Tron. What they were doing was blazing new trails in film making, and that’s the type of thing I like to see. Add in a great performance by Jeff Bridges (THE DUDE!), and you have a film that didn’t sacrifice plot and story in order to make a technological advance; Tron was not merely a tech demo.

Okay okay, maybe this has a little to do with some rose-tinted nostalgia goggles and my hatred of Avatar, but let’s tally up what’s exciting me about Legacy:

• Jeff fucking Bridges
• A soundtrack by French electronica gods Daft Punk
• Lightcycles and discs everywhere
• The chance that this isn’t just an attempt to one-up Avatar.

That last one is particularly important. Alright, we’ve seen what 3D can do, and to say that the techniques employed by the Cameron blockbuster will likely be around for years to come. However, I see Tron: Legacy as a proper throw-back to where CGI got its roots – a way of saying “this is where we came from, and it can still kick ass.”

You can check out the trailer for Legacy below, but I heavily encourage you to check out the 1080p Youtube video in all its glory. Hopefully, while the effects have been upgraded, the sense of wonder will stay the same. Here’s to the thought.