Tron: Legacy (2010)

Mute the dialogue, crank the score, and Tron: Legacy becomes a great movie. With the sound on, it’s mostly programs explaining things to other programs in rooms with no furniture. Garrett Hedlund’s Sam has the personality of a screensaver. Jeff Bridges plays two versions of Kevin Flynn: an older one who sounds like he wandered over from a beach meditation retreat, and a digitally young one whose face looks like it’s made of candle wax. Olivia Wilde’s Quorra brings the only curiosity in the place, a program who wants to see a sunrise. The light cycle race and the disc battles are a blast, pure designer eye candy, and the neon looks amazing. Michael Sheen shows up as a nightclub owner and goes full glam rock, and the movie wakes up for every second of it. It made $400.1 million worldwide on a reported $170M. A 5.6 because it looks and sounds amazing and has very little to say. $199.73 says you toss a frisbee this summer and hold the throwing pose a little too long.

What works: The music, the neon design and the light cycle race are a feast, and Michael Sheen’s club owner is a jolt of fun.

What doesn’t: Sam is a blank hero, the story is mostly exposition, and the de-aged young Flynn looks rubbery in every close-up.

Who it’s for: People who want a two-hour light show with great music and don’t care much about plot.