Eye For Film >> Movies >> TRON: Legacy (2010) DVD Review
Considering the cutting-edge nature of the 3D used in Tron: Legacy, the extras on the Blu-ray double-play disc are distinctly one-dimensional. A commentary track would have been particularly welcome but it seems that will have to wait for another day, with the extras that are present playing out like a collection of promotional featurettes more than a serious attempt to offer insight into the production.
The Next Day: Flynn Lives Revealed is a 10-minute short, shot in documentary style, aiming to fill in the gap between 1989 when Flynn disappeared and Tron: Legacy, introducing the character of Sam. It's enjoyable enough, if slight, although not as slight as First Look At Tron Uprising, The Disney XD Animated Series. This one-minute promotional reel for the animation is exactly what you would expect it to be.
The best of the extra material are three featurettes ranging from 10 to 12 minutes each. Launching The Legacy is slick but barely scratches the surface of the motivations for making the sequel. Still, it's interesting to hear how producers Steven Lisburger, Sean Bailey and director Joseph Kosinski and writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz came to the project and created a trailer for the film they hoped to go on to make. Their decision to use an 7000-strong audience at 2010's ComicCon to provide the chants for the crowd scenes was an inspired one (and can be seen being brought to life in short but sweet extra Disc Roars), giving them a good level of authenticity plus some terrific early word of mouth.
Visualising Tron runs at 12 minutes and is concerned with the set design and general look at the film. It's good to see the artwork and hear about the importance of light to the finished film but a longer exploration would be welcome.
The final featurette, Initialising The Cast is something of a Jeff Bridges love-in and a bit of a hodge-podge of different interviews, as evidenced by Bridges speaking with beard and without. Rounding out the extras are music video Derezzed, performed by Daft Punk, and a particularly unecessary advert for Blu-ray 3D, featuring The Lion King's Timon and Pumba - who hardly seem to be the right ambassadors to use for a Tron audience.
The technical credits are excellent but this package still feels undernourished.
Reviewed on: 17 Apr 2011