Review : LEGO Ideas 21314 TRON Legacy

TRON is first a film released in 1982, with Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner followed 28 years later by a somewhat nanardesque but visually very successful sequel / tribute: TRON L'Héritage (TRON: Legacy).

The LEGO Ideas 21314 TRON Legacy set (34.99 € on the LEGO Shop) showcases motorcycles Light cycles and the characters present in the 2010 film. Let's be honest, the motorcycles of the original film are now visually obsolete and it was indeed better to take inspiration from the machines of TRON: Legacy.

If you follow this blog, you know that I sometimes criticize LEGO for straying too far from the LEGO Ideas project that served as a starting point for the development of the final set. In this specific case, LEGO has once again allowed itself to "reinterpret" the idea of the initial project, but that's ultimately a good thing.
By digging a little on the LEGO Ideas platform, however, we find many projects based on the TRON license some of which feature several Light cycles with a presentation similar to that of set 21314. I suspect LEGO of having wanted to please everyone by offering a synthesis of the different ideas proposed.

That being said, when we talk about motorcycles Light cycles of TRON, we immediately think of the cult scene from the original 1982 film and for the younger ones to the equivalent scene in the 2010 film. Obviously, to really pay homage to the film, it takes two Light Cycles:

LEGO has understood this well and the set LEGO Ideas 21314 indeed allows us to obtain two of these virtual motorcycles. You won't get the ultimate building experience with this set, the two bikes are identical (it makes sense) and only differentiate by their dominant color.

Bonus: They roll, even if the axle is just a bar threaded into a Technic pin. No stickers in this set, everything is pad printed which guarantees an optimal exposure potential without having to replace or remove the stickers after a few years. The light trails attached to the back of the two Light cycles can be removed if you prefer to sacrifice the sense of movement.

No light brick or light source in this set. For the LightCycle from Rinzler, LEGO uses fluorescent parts (trans neon orange), which allows a nice effect under black light. The LightCycle by Sam Flynn is not that lucky, too bad for a product derived from a film whose aesthetic is largely based on the lighting effects ...

The lower part of the two Light cycles is aligned with the wheels. The rendering is a little massive, far from the organic curves of the motorcycles seen in the film but it is also at this place that the two finally come to be fixed on the base.

It is possible to improve the thing a little by removing a few parts to restore a less clumsy look to the LightCycle without affecting the rigidity of the whole. You will be able to play with your Light cycles without hearing the unpleasant noise of the bar rubbing against the motorcycle:

The handlebars are badly placed on the LEGO version, it is much too high whereas in the film the pilot is really one with his machine. The standard size of the minifig also does not allow the legs to be transferred to the rear wheel for a truly aerodynamic position. in short, we know that it is TRON because this type of motorcycle only exists in the film, but when we look more closely, we quickly realize that the reproduction is ultimately very approximate.

When it comes to minifigs, LEGO is content with three of the characters from the 2010 film: Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), Quorra (Olivia Wilde) and Rinzler (Anis Cheurfa). Too bad for the homage to the 1982 film, Jeff Bridges (CLU), Bruce Boxleitner (TRON) and Cindy Morgan (YORI) would have deserved to be delivered in this set, just to please absolute fans of this universe.

Nothing to say about the three minifigs delivered in the set 21314, they are magnificent. the pad printing is perfect and the patterns of the coveralls are faithful to the outfits seen on the screen. Even the Flesh pad printed on Quorra's black shoulders and torso is convincing. Purists will appreciate the presence of the tattoo ISO on the character's left shoulder. San Flynn reuses Mr. Freeze's visor and Rinzler takes advantage of the Vulture seen in the set 76083 Beware the Vulture, here in black and with pad printing very faithful to the film version.

The Identity Discs are superb and are attached via a transparent bracket with tenons for Flynn and Quorra and via a bracket with Technic pin for Rinzler which carries two. the solution is relatively discreet, it works.

Despite its few approximations and other shortcuts in execution, this set is an honest tribute to the film. TRON Legacy. As it reproduces vehicles and characters from a film released 8 years ago, everyone's memory will immediately associate the contents of the box with the original license without necessarily remembering or worrying about the details. Bad positioning of the rider on the bike, rough hairstyle of Quorra, simplistic representation of Sam Flynn's helmet, we'll make do with it.

At 34.99 € the box with 230 pieces, 3 minifigs and a few pages in the instruction booklet to the glory of the film and the designers, this set is to be reserved for absolute fans of the TRON franchise who will have here thanks to the concept LEGO Ideas a one and only chance to own a product derived from this universe in their collection. As far as I'm concerned, I say yes.

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included in the game. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before April 3 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.