On this day in 2010, according to Triumphs & Tribulations XI, I decided to make the 2-hour trek on I-20 from Birmingham to Atlanta. I was spending time at home on Christmas leave from my military assignment at Joint Base Andrews and I woke up on that somewhat mild Saturday morning in the Magic City bored out of my mind. While in Atlanta a week before Christmas, I spent most of the day in Atlantic Station: first to check out the Dialogue in the Dark exhibit and then to watch a film at Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station. The latter is what brings me to this week’s moment in the Flashback Friday series: my screening of Tron: Legacy.
How I first came across this moment? Arriving at the moment where I found myself sitting in the Atlantic Station movie theater checking out the long-awaited sequel to Tron actually started about 8 months earlier…in Japan. I was watching the Tim Burton-directed Alice in Wonderland at MOVIX Akishima in Mori Town and during the previews, there was this particular one that began with Bruce Boxleitner’s character speaking to Garrett Hedlund’s character about his father. Hedlund’s character—Sam, from what Boxleitner’s character called him—ends up in a seemingly abandoned part of town outside Flynn’s Arcade. At that point, I kinda sat up in my seat because I was able to put two and two together. I realized that Boxleitner’s character had to be Alan Bradley and that the only common denominator between him and Flynn’s Arcade is Tron. Sure enough, when Sam entered the arcade, the Tron machine is right there. By the time the preview ended, it was confirmed with a release date of November 30 in Tokyo. I was stoked though I knew I wouldn’t be watching it in Tokyo as I was set to leave to return home, to the United States, in about 3 weeks’ time. The American release was on December 17. I could’ve checked it out at AMC Summit 16 in Birmingham—my go-to movie theatre when I’m in my hometown streets—but I opted to watch it in Atlanta. No real reason why.
What it meant to me then? In the moment, I was filled with excitement at seeing the long-overdue sequel to Tron. I arrived at Regal Atlantic Station about 40 minutes before the scheduled start to ensure I had my pick of the best seats. I was overwhelmingly pleased with the film. It easily took the Best New Film in the Best of 2010 series in my old blog.
What it means to me now? 10 years later, checking out Tron: Legacy is still considered one of the better moments of 2010 for me. I’ve since acquired the film on Blu-ray and I watched it like every other month. I’ve heard rumblings over the years about a 3rd installment to the franchise but nothing has materialized so I’ll take it that Tron: Legacy is the end of the road for fans of the franchise.
