Image Credit: DisneyAs a sequel to a 28-year-old cult movie, it’s to be expected that TRON: Legacy would have a nod or two to that other film, and sure enough, a movie poster for the original shows up pretty much in the first scene. But there were a few other surprise tilts of the cap to pop culture phenomena that popped up as the film progressed. First, Flynn’s not-so-humble abode, with its floor of light panels and its future-baroque furnishings (did he hire an interior design program?), was a clear wink at the Jupiter room from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Then, Michael Sheen’s batty performance as the albino backstabber Zuse channeled none other than Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie, even so far as having that weird circle-y thing on his forehead. But easily my favorite homage of the movie, whether intentional or not, was Jeff Bridges’ occasional Dude-isms, like “You’re messing with my Zen thing,” or the ten or so zonked-sounding lines that ended with “man.” What about you guys? Any other little tributes you caught that you liked? Did the arrows that made the light-bikes speed up remind anyone else of the boost pads from Super Mario Kart?
TRON: Legacy opened on Dec. 17. For more December releases, check out our events calendar here.
I liked when clu says..”end of line” referring to master control from the first film – all in all a great visually stunning movie
2001:A Space Odyssey is THE greatest film of all-time. No director can ever out-do or hope to accomplish what Stanley Kubrick accomplished in 2001, and post-Dr.Strangelove films.
Oh come now. Space Odysses is a great film, but greatest of all time? Not quite.
Yes I’m aware of the typo in “Odyssey”.
I loved “The Black Hole” poster in Sam’s childhood bedroom, winking at the other early 80s Disney sci-fi film, soon to be remade.
The Black Hole poster for me as well. I can’t wait to see the remake. Jeff Bridges for Dr. Reinhardt perhaps?
“That is one big door.” The thing is, when I saw the Light Cycle in Kevin Flynn’s house, I kept thinking of the Ferrari in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Anybody get that vibe? My brother now say “You’re messing with my Zen thing, man” all the time. Totally worth the wait.
*END OF LINE*
Wait. I messed up. It was supposed to be this:
My brother and I now say “You’re messing with my Zen thing, man” all the time.
*END OF LINE(again)*
And don’t forget the clear Star Wars references, not the least of which were the very Jedi robes. Tron helping them in the final battle was also very reminiscent of Han Solo.
Michael Sheen’s Zeus was the HIGHlight of TRON for me & my friends. We couldn’t stop laughing at his jovial grandeness. Also cute was Daft Punk manning the DJ booth in that scene!
I couldn’t shake that the whole thing looked like a Mass Effect movie. Then when they visited the club I actually groaned.
“radical man”
I thought that Kevin Flynn was also channeling Gandalf. At one point I was expecting him to shout: “You shall not pass!…Dude!”
the throwback to dillinger, the antagonist of the ’82 “tron”, by way of a cillian murphy cameo was a nice surprise
the throwback to dillinger, the antagonist of the ’82 “tron”, by way of a cillian murphy cameo, was a nice surprise
The ending reminded me a lot of the original theatrical ending to “Blade Runner” when they are driving through the forest. It’s a nice and bright scene, after the rest of the movie being in the dark.
Blade Runner, off course. There is another scene that, even more, reminded me of that classic. It’s when Gem meets Sam, holding translucent umbrella, leading him to Castor. That part had complete atmosphere of the Blade Runner to me, with only constant rain missing
Yes, I thought exactly the same about this ending: Deckard and Rachel driving in a sunny and verdant landscape.
I’m tired of people saying Bridges was acting Dude-esque. Go back and watch the original Tron, he’s just as loose and laid back throughout it. But I did love the “door” line and when Tron says at the end, “I fight for the user.” So awesome.
My favorite reference has to be WarGames – when Kevin is explaining to Sam why they shouldn’t fight Clu he says ‘The only way to win is not to play’.
Seems like more of reference to The Wire nowadays.
Yeah that was a big nod to War Games.
Thanks! I saw the movie 2 days ago and remembered SOME line like that paying homage but couldn’t remember the line. That was it. Thanks!
I loved it when the hot chick with the dark hair had lesbian sex with the hot chick with the blonde hair. Oh wait, that was “Pron” the porn parody. My favorite part in this one was the “Zen” comment.
Bruce Boxleitner–epitome of the 80′s