I was checking out the list of this year’s Alfred I. duPont Award winners (the annual prize for the best broadcast pieces on radio or TV) and the thought occurred, what if that award transformed into something?
Now I don’t generally shill for Hollywood flicks, but I just saw Tron: Legacy the other day and man is that my new favorite reboot of an ’80s movie. I’m not saying it’s some cinematic masterpiece. When I was a kid and saw the original Tron, I was too young to really get into it. I still find it a little slow, a little boring. This year’s Tron wasn’t that much better on the story side, but visually, it was crack. And the Daft Punk soundtrack, as mellow as it was, really had me engaged throughout the entire joint. So, what’s the connection to the duPont award? A silvery scroll-looking thing? Well, I thought, what if that joint transformed into a grid vehicle? Like a light jet, or a light cycle? I was super impressed with how those scenes of vehicular homicide rendered in 3-D. It wasn’t so much about the eye-popping, in-your-face effect, but this beautiful depth of field.
I don’t know how long this will last, but somebody put up a bit that compares the two light cycle races, first from 1982 and then from 2010. I like both.
Here’s the original light cycle scene in its entirety:
The part I think I nerded out on the most was the disc battle (which you can play a version of online). The fight scenes here are something the original lacked by miles. Some good martial arts stunt folks. Actually, a lot of people caked off this movie, check the FX credits alone.
Of course, it was the soundtrack that kept me plugged in during those boring spots, of which there were plenty. The music reminds you of something Kraftwerk could’ve pulled off. Not that Daft Punk is that far removed.
One of my favorite pieces of the score (or do I call it soundtrack ? ) follows the intro of Rinzler, one of the movies certified Triple O.G.’s.
So O.G. he rocks two discs! Hmm, just like another O.G. movie super villain.
Here’s the music dedicated to him:
Tron photo via
Soundtrack links via
channibalsmith.com 