Tron II - Reprise of the Ducatis

The kid and I went to see Tron: Legacy at the IMAX theater last night. Turns out Tron is sort of a motorcycle movie. Motorcycles aren't the central theme of the flick, but certainly are a key component of it.

The movie starts with a Ducat GT1000 Sport Classic tearing around what appears to be Seattle freeways at high speed. A cop on a BMW K1300 Police bike gives chase, and the Duc rider escapes by switching off his lights and jumping off the freeway onto an exit ramp. At the end of the movie we're treated to a long clip of the GT, touring at high speed with helmetless riders, who have no eye protection whatsover. Motorcycles permeate the movie, with the LightCycles stealing the show.

The movie is very good in regard to the computer-graphics. If you're old enough to remember the original Tron, it was one of, if not the, first movie with large-scale CG effects. The most memorable part of Tron 1 was, of course, the LightCycle deathmatch, where the bikes would try to cut each other off on a 2D grid and destroy their opponent. Things have come a long way since then; the LightCycle deathmatch in this version is fully 3D with raster graphics that support curves.

Don't go to the movie for the story. It's utterly predictable; trite, and boring. The "hero" is able to figure out the Tron Games and defeat the masters in 30 seconds. There is one character who is a total ripoff of Jack Sparrow from Pirates. The Tron character seems to die, but his fate is left open for Tron 3.

Do go to the movie for the astounding CG, and if you have an IMAX theater nearby, the 3D. This film has the most incredible 3D I have ever seen, including Avatar, which we saw at the same theater last New Year's Eve. Also go for the two red-hot hotties; one medium-build raven who could talk me into marriage #6, and one tall, curvy blonde who could talk me into...well...anything. Anything at all.

About the Ducatiarama: "product placement" in movies has become the norm. Signourny Weaver was smoking cigarettes all through Avatar; which just looked like a stupid thing to do in a high-tech bio lab. Tobacco placement. The Ducati "ads" in this movie are so blatant and contrived that frankly, they intrude into the film and force you to realize you're being marketed to. Not good for the movie OR Ducati, IMO.

Son: "Well Dad, I park my DUCATI in my living room now.
Dad: "Wow, I remember my old DUCATI."
Son: "I'm fixing up your old DUCATI. It runs great."
Dad: "I can't wait to get out of here and ride my Ducati again."
Son: "You will Dad, you will. As soon as the replacement plastic DUCATI gas tank arrives."

5 Stars for CG and Hottie Content
1 Stars for Everything Else
3 Stars Aggregate Score