Sam Flynn, the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal...
When Flynn hacks into the mainframe of his ex-employer to prove his work was stolen by another executive, he finds himself on a much bigger adventure. Beamed inside by a power-hungry Master Control Program, he joins computer...
If this week's already crowded release calendar reveals anything, it's that Disney is officially in love with the Tron franchise. Grid-hoppers have a variety of options to chose from: standalone versions of Steven Lisberger's Tron, Joseph Kosinski's Tron: Legacy, and Tron: Legacy 3D, a 5-disc 2-movie catchall collection, an exclusive Tron: Legacypack from Walmart (with a die cast Light Cycle) and, of course, the much-discussed Limited Edition set currently hovering near the top of your screen. Rather than rehash the reviews we've already penned though, let's take a closer look at the Limited Edition set, explore its finer qualities and most grating quirks, and settle on which 5-disc set -- standard or limited -- deserves your enthusiasm and high definition dollars.
Dubbed "The Ultimate Tron Experience," the 5-disc Limited Edition box set is housed in a sealed plastic shell that measures 8 h x 5¾ w x 2 d. But while I'm sure someone, somewhere will display the LE in its box, the real goods are tucked just inside: a lightweight 5½ inch diameter identity-disc case that houses the collection's four primary discs (a Tron: Legacy BD-50, a Tron: Legacy 3D BD-50, a Tron: The Original Classic BD-50, and a Tron: Legacy DVD), a sturdy 4½ inch base used to hold the identity-disc case upright, a cardboard sleeve containing the set's Digital Copy disc and code, and a collectible 5½ x 4½ inch Tron card.
When assembled, the identity-disc display case stands approximately 5¾ inches high and takes up 5½ inches of horizontal space. A small button near the center of the identity-disc case causes the outer blue ring, the inner blue ring and the TRON logo at its center to glow. A tap of the button makes the disc light up oh-so-quickly, while holding the button down for a few seconds makes the light more permanent. (Simply hold down the button for another few seconds to turn the light off.) That's it. Despite all the fuss, all the expectations, all the razzle dazzle, the identity-disc is a cute, light-up disc case and brief conversation piece. Nothing more.
That said, the construction of the case isn't exactly ideal. All four discs sit, back to back, on a single hub inside the case; a design decision that requires users to remove almost every disc to access just one. The hub itself holds everything in place quite snuggly (shaking the identity-disc doesn't produce any strange noises), but it takes several tries to disengage its pressure and remove the discs. In other words, be very, very careful when wrestling with the case to exorcise Tron or Tron: Legacy. Taking out your frustration on the case will only spell eventual doom for the identity-disc.
Other issues? Instead of thin foam padding, whatever disc resides at the bottom of the stack is separated from the rear of the case by four pressure tabs surrounding the hub. Unfortunately, removing the discs tends to cause the fourth disc to wobble and its outer perimeter edges to brush against the rear of the case. The folding case's hinge isn't bulletproof either, meaning the set, although far from fragile, should be handled with some degree of care. And while I'm picking things apart, the exterior and interior rings are lit by three bulbs that create an uneven glow. Likewise, the TRON logo at the center is illuminated by one side-mounted bulb, making the logo as unevenly lit as the rings.
So who will benefit the most from the Limited Edition? Collectors with limited shelf space mainly. Even sitting high atop its base, the identity-disc is shorter than a standard 6¾ inch Blu-ray case. Collectible limited edition casing tends to benefit those with ample shelf space or additional display area, leaving other fans struggling to squeeze a gangly, angular beast into the tiniest of spaces. But the quaint little identity-disc favors Joe Average and his Best Buy shelving. Serious collectors, meanwhile, will be aghast at the overall size, impact and quality of the Happy Meal toy at their disposal (as one disappointed forum poster dubbed it).
Let's put things in perspective though. I'll be the first to admit the identity-disc case isn't worth $65 (the current asking price on Amazon). However, lest ye forget, the standard 5-disc Combo Pack release will already set you back $50. The question then becomes, is the identity-disc case worth a $15 upcharge? And the answer is a somewhat reluctant "yes." The identity-disc case isn't going to inspire awe, that much is sure. Nor is it the kind of high-quality collectible many were hoping for. But it will provide $15 worth of flexibility to those with limited space, $15 of amusement to those who get a kick out of collectible packaging, and $15 of decent construction, functionality and fun. If $15 still strikes you as expensive, just take a stroll down the action figure aisle at your local Toys'R'Us. The times -- and the price tags -- they are a-changin'. $15 isn't enough to buy two 3¾ inch Marvel superheroes, much less anything more substantial.
Besides, it's the heart of the release -- the films themselves -- that make this, or any other Tron set, worth owning. Of the original Tron release, I wrote: "Tron is just as flawed as its twenty-eight-years-later sequel and tends to buckle under the weight of its age. Still, Bridges, Boxleitner and Warner's performances and Lisberger's trippy glow-stick visuals make it a trip down memory lane worth taking. Disney's Blu-ray release helps justify the return trip even more. With a terrific video transfer, a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a healthy helping of special features, Tron stands taller than it might have otherwise."
Extras include an audio commentary with director Steven Lisberger, producer Donald Kushner, associate producer and visual effects supervisor Harrison Ellenshaw, and visual effects supervisor Richard Taylor; two exclusive high definition featurettes, "The Tron Phenomenon" and "Photo Tronology"; an eighty-eight minute "Making of Tron" documentary; and more than an hour of additional classic-DVD featurettes, deleted scenes, photo galleries and other bonuses.
Of Tron: Legacy, I said: "Tron: Legacy is many things to many people. Some find it to be utterly thrilling, others find it to be effects-driven drivel. Me? I enjoyed it, more so on Blu-ray than I did in the theater (in 3D, no less). It isn't a perfect sequel and it isn't a perfect film, but its notable performances, overwhelming visuals, outstanding Daft Punk score and fairly compelling story help it weather the worst of its narrative storms. Disney's Blu-ray release is another matter entirely. While its supplemental package is surprisingly shallow (with no commentary or PiP experience to be found), its video presentation and DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track are nothing short of extraordinary."
Extras include an interactive, multi-tiered "Flynn Lives" experience ("be the first to discover what happens after the movie ends"), more than a half-hour of behind-the-scenes materials, a sneak peek at Tron: Uprising, and Disney Second Screen compatibility.
And of Tron: Legacy 3D, my colleague, Martin Liebman, wrote: "Tron: Legacy is a surprisingly wonderful film that got it right on all accounts. It walks that very fine line of staying true to the look and feel of the original Tron while also paving its own way and serving as a showcase of visual effects that are the equal of anything out there today. Even in that light, the film smartly tones things down to stay true to the digital "grid" world as it was first envisioned in 1982. The effects play well with the picture's dark and subdued overlay, and it's made complete by a quality story, a fine script, and great characters. Tron: Legacy isn't a perfect movie; it gets bogged down by a few slow stretches and some of the dialogue could use some refinement, but otherwise, it's a winner and a worthy followup to a 1980s favorite. Disney's Blu-ray 3D release of Tron: Legacy is superb. Sporting a wonderful 1080p image that seamlessly fluctuates between not only 2D and 3D but its dual aspect ratios; a lossless soundtrack that's every bit the video's equal; and a nice array of 2D-only extras; this release, or better even Disney's ultimate Tron/Tron: Legacy Blu-ray 3D bundle, comes highly recommended."
Deciding between the standard and limited 5-disc, 2-movie Tron: Legacy/Tron Combo Pack really comes down to personal preference and price. Like the films themselves, the Limited Edition release isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but in my estimation, it justifies its $15 upcharge. So do you want a small but spiffy, tricky but curious glowing identity-disc on your shelf? Or would you rather have a standard-sized Blu-ray case nestled neatly between Training Day and True Grit? Either way, both the original Tron and Tron: Legacy are worthy additions to any collection.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has officially announced TRON: Legacy and the original 1982 movie Tron for Blu-ray release on April 5. Legacy will be presented in several configurations: a 2-Disc BD/DVD Combo Pack; a 4-Disc BD 3D/BD 2D/DVD/Digital Copy Combo ...
TRON: Legacy has not been announced yet, but it is already up for preorder and Amazon is offering a $5 digital coupon for its upcoming 3D Blu-ray versions: the TRON: Legacy 3D BD/2D BD/DVD/DC combo; the TRON: Legacy 3D / TRON combo; and the Limited Edition Ultimate ...
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