TRON

TRON (1982)

Runtime: 96 minutes

Directed by: Steven Lisberger

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan

From: Walt Disney

Here’s an appropriate review, given that the sequel for this movie came out this weekend. I only saw this one time, way back in my college days in Illinois, so I wanted to watch it again. However, it’s out of print on DVD (good job, Disney, getting it out for people to see again) and my local Blockbuster doesn’t have it, so I had to resort to YouTube to see it. I know, I know. But, if you’re in the same boat, look for Tron Part 1 on Google Video and you’ll spot it.

I don’t have too much to say about the movie, as it doesn’t exactly possess a plot from a Kurosawa or a David Fincher film. Kevin Flynn (Bridges, in a performance that’s the best of the movie, for sure) used to work for a computer corporation called ENCOM. But, a dastardly rival in the company, Dillinger (Warner) stole some of his projects so while he rose to success in the company, Flynn ended up getting terminated and now runs a small arcade. With help from some pals still in the company (Boxleitner, Morgan), Flynn goes in for the purpose of getting proof of Dillinger’s wrongdoings. However, he runs into trouble with the Master Control Program, the main computer of the company that now has become sentient and even controls Dillinger. Via an experimental laser, Flynn literally gets zapped into the Master Control Program and enters a one of a kind totalitarian world where gladiatorial contests take place, Dillinger in virtual form appearing there too, but even in that form the MCP controls things. With virtual representations of his pals, Flynn tries to beat the games and escape the MCP.

Like I said, it’s not the plot that’s the selling point. It’s rather simple. Not that it means that it’s a bad movie by any means. Bridges in the lead is a nice asset, but it’s the look of the movie in the digital world that is so great. In ’82, it’s mind-blowing stuff; whether you look before the movie or after it came out up to today, I haven’t seen another film that looks quite like it. I really dig it. Them pulling it off almost 30 years ago is a great achievement and in hindsight, the movie deserved much more love-at least for its usage of computers in motion pictures-than it got at the time. If you’re a computer dork then you should especially enjoy some aspects of it, the technical terms and whatnot. I was amused that the people in the virtual world represented various programs of the MCP; it sought out inappropriate programs/people to do combat with, just for the easy win. What a hater the Master Control Program is!

What also has to be mentioned is the sound of the movie. The blips and bloops of the digital world are wholly appropriate and make you believe in what sounds like a wacky premise. Also, the soundtrack. You hear two songs from Journey, and in 2010 the band is usually lol-worthy according to the majority of people, but if you dig their songs (like me) then you’ll enjoy hearing their two contributions. What provides most of the music, though, is the score from Wendy Carlos, a synthesizer whiz who provided a great soundtrack that fit perfectly with the film. In a note that’s more trivia than anything else, Wendy Carlos used to be known as… Walter Carlos. Yep, a transsexual. Not that it means anything in terms of the movie that she came up with.

If you haven’t seen the movie, you should see it once, just to see if you’re as captivated with the film’s digital world as I was. I plan on being back Monday night with a review of TRON: Legacy. I’ve heard some scathing reviews of it, but I still hope the flick is not a waste of my time or money.