Technology and I have never gotten along — just getting this blog post typed up and posted on EW.com is work enough — but even I’ve got to admit: The prospect of going to see TR2N (a.k.a. the Tron sequel, a.k.a. How in the Hell Do I Pronounce That Anyway?) just got a lot more enticing. And that’s because Disney has apparently tapped the Grammy-winning French electronica duo Daft Punk to compose and score music for the feature, which is expected to hit theaters around 2011.
I’ve been an unflagging fan of Daft Punk’s propulsive, inventive, and downright sexy dance music since their debut album Homework was released in 1997. (Surely you remember the dazzling video for their first hit, "Around the World," which is, come to think of it, a total hot Tronny mess.) So it’s hard for me to imagine that these guys—who are so good at what they do that they recently won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording for the live version of a song that was first released nearly EIGHT years ago—won’t do something wholly original and fantastic with whatever TR2N ends up being.
Of course, I’m telling you all of this as someone who has never actually seen Tron, a groundbreaking 1982 sci-fi classic that made extensive early use of computer animation and graphics. In fact, my only real exposure to the film was during my family’s annual trip to Disneyland. Because I was apparently a 65-year-old man in an eight-year-old’s body, I used to beg my parents to take me on the poky ol’ PeopleMover. For a brief moment during the ride, your car would enter a sonically jarring, near seizure-inducing tunnel that was surrounded by screens filled with lasers and popping lights, all meant to simulate the film’s infamous Game Grid. We were so easily amused in the ’80s, weren’t we? (Somebody tell me they remember this—and that it freaked them out in ways that still scar them to this day, so that I don’t feel so alone in this world.)
Let’s put the childhood memories away, though, and get to the real business at hand: Tron fans, Daft Punk fans, fans of Tron and Daft Punk…if you’re reading this, what do you think? Is Daft Punk’s futuristic, boundary-pushing music the right match for TR2N? Does it make you more or less interested in seeing the movie? And if you aren’t crazy about them, whose music would you like to hear in the new film?
The Wegway People Mover was a phenomenally underrated ride. It took you INSIDE Space Mountain.
I love both Tron & Daft Punk, game on!
I really enjoyed the original Tron, and was mildly optimistic about the new movie.
Hearing this news, I’m absolutely thrilled about the new TR2N. I can’t wait until it comes out – and the new soundtrack is available.
I was just saying they should have more bands do the entire soundtracks to movies like they did more often back in the 80s.
Amazing! I have never seen the original Tron either- its just been one of those movies that I wonder about in the $5 section at Target or randomly pops up during a game of Scene-It.
That being said, I cannot wait for the sequel. Daft Punk is the perfect match! It will be great to hear new material from them as well.
Fonseca, never read a column I can remember from u before, but nice, “total hot Tronny mess”.
haha
I loved the PeopleMover as a kid, and I remember the Tron part. It was pretty trippy. I wish they would bring it back!
Used to be if someone said “Tron” I thought of that cheesy movie……now if someone says “Tron” I think of Chappelle’s Show. Dang, I miss that show!
You may have created me EW,but I’ve gotten 1192 times smarter since then.
End of line.
For the best explanation of why this is AWESOME (for those of you who don’t know Daft Punk), here’s a short explanation: http://www.totalfilm.com/news/daft-punk-to-score-tron-2-0
Note to media writers: STOP making snarky parenthetic comments about the name TR2N. At best it makes you look like a glommer in need of an opinion on a movie genere about which you know nothing… At worst it completely invalidates everything you say after that point to the six figure gen x techie fan base who plans to actually pay to see this movie in the theater before downloading a bootleg (for the first time in years)
I don’t know about this because, for me, Tron was so great not only because of the trend-setting CGI but because of the music of Wendy Carlos, who meshed the world of synthesizers and classical music better than anyone I have heard since.
If in doubt, check out either ‘The Solar Sailor’ or ‘Ring Game and Escape’ from the Tron soundtrack.
Incredible stuff; and while I admit to not knowing who the heck Daft Punk are, I get the feeling we may be seeing Tron by way of the CW if the clips from YouTube of Daft Punk are any indicator.
Which is a very, very disconcerting feeling.
Hopefully Wendy Carlos is still in the mix because, while I will still see the film if Daft Punk score it, I will be bothered because TR2N will not be all the it could be.
Which is fantastic (though I also hope that it is better written than Tron, which seemed confused as to whether or not it was directed at adults, or children).
Daft Punk are genius’ The beauty of this is that Daft Punk just gets stronger regardless what they put throw their music on. The other barely seen films they put music to are mentioned because of Daft Punk. It’s amazing that all these years after the first songs young kids hear it and still think their gods!!
I am without words to describe the incredible hope I have for the new Tron movie, but THEN to see that they are getting Daft Punk, the Kings of electronic funk to make music for it…. “!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
in actuality, a betr band 2 score tr2n would b crystal castles (look em up on itunes, theyre amazing), but disney probly has no idea who the heck crystal castles is anyway lol. or justice (look them up 2 :] ) maybe. and 2 think this knowledge of the most genius electronic music evr is coming from a 13 year old. and im not even from france or canada (gasp)
I don’t care where you’re from, if you’re going to be giving your opinion on an english website, speak english, not stupid.
Highly highly highly recommend going to a Daft Punk show. Pay the money and fly to France if you have to. A maze ING!
My friend told me this in a lecture earlier today. I got up in front of ~300 people and ran out of the room. Having checked the internet to see if it was true, (and watching the tron trailer and listening to the whole Alive 2007 album) i stopped hyperventilating.