Plot Outline
A hacker is literally abducted into the world of a computer and forced
to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is
with the help of a heroic security program.
Plot Synopsis:
Computer Classic, one of the first computer generated movies. A hacker
is split into molecules and is transported into a computer. In this
computer a mean program called Master Control behaves like a dictator.
The hacker, who programmed a number of features of the environment he
got into, teams up with a book keeping program and his girl-friend and
together they try to replace Master Control with Tron. Tron is an
honest safety system.
Synopsis
This made-for-video documentary treats science fiction fans to a
behind-the-scenes look at the making of Tron, Disney's classic
live-action film about a programmer who must fight for his life against
killer progrmas after being pulled inside of his company's computer.
Includes interviews with the cast and crew of the film who share their
experiences from working on this unique project, as well as discuss the
special efforts that went into bringing it to completion.
Amazon.com The surprising
truth about Disney's 1982 computer-game fantasy is that it's still
visually impressive (though technologically quaint by later
high-definition standards) and a lot of fun. It's about a computer
wizard named Flynn (Jeff Bridges) who is digitally broken down into a
data stream by a villainous software pirate (David Warner) and
reconstituted into the internal, 3-D graphical world of computers. It
is there, in the blazingly colorful, geometrically intense landscapes
of cyberspace, that Flynn joins forces with Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) to
outmaneuver the Master Control program that holds them captive in the
equivalent of a gigantic, infinitely challenging computer game.
Disney's wizards used a variety of cinematic techniques and early-'80s
state-of-the-art computer-generated graphics to accomplish their
dynamic visual goals, and the result was a milestone in
cyberentertainment, catering to technogeeks while providing a dazzling
adventure for hackers and nonhackers alike. Appearing just in time to
celebrate the nascent cyberpunk movement in science fiction, Tron
received a decidedly mixed reaction when originally released, but has
since become a high-tech favorite and a landmark in special effects,
with a loyal following of fans. DVD is a perfect format for the movie's
neon-glow color scheme, and the musical score by synthesizer pioneer
Wendy Carlos is faithfully preserved on the digitally remastered
soundtrack. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description A masterpiece of
breakthrough CGI ingenuity, Disney celebrates the 20th anniversary of
TRON, a dazzling film at the flashpoint of a continuing revolution in
its genre. This special collector's edition showcases an epic adventure
inside a brave new world where the action is measureed in microseconds.
When Flynn (Jeff Bridges) hacks the mainframe of his ex-employer to
prove his work was stolen by another executive, he finds himself on a
much bigger adventure. Beamed inside by a power-hungry master control
program, he joins computer gladiators on a deadly game grid, complete
with high-velocity "light cycles" and Tron (Bruce Boxleitner), a
specialized security program. Together, they fight the ultimate battle
with the MCP to decide the fate of both the electronic world and the
real world!
As
a film, Tron is part adventure story, part special-effects bonanza and
part allegorical statement on the personal computer revolution. In
1982, the only exposure most people had to computers was through the
new-fangled video game arcades. Techies in those days were special
because they were the insiders, speaking a language all their own and
having insights into a strange, new world that everyone else could only
imagine. So, it's no suprise that Tron is a cult favorite among this
generation of programmers and computer users because it recaptures the
magic of those early days. But that's not what's really cool.
And
while it's true that the 20th Anniversary Edition of Tron offers a ton
of extras on its second disc, such as deleted scenes, a "making of"
video, photo gallery and deleted soundtrack music, that's not what's
really cool, either.
What's really cool is that this version is
finally in anamorphic widescreen format--enhanced for 16x9! The
previous (1998) DVD release was letterbox. On larger screens and/or
enhanced televisions, the improvement in visual quality should be
startling.
So even if you own the 1998 version, you might want to consider upgrading! -- Scott Loban
TRON stars Jeff Bridges as the brilliant
computer programmer Flynn. He's fired from his company for some reason
(here's part of why it's so convoluted) and attempts to hack into the
company's computer to prove that he wrote some programs stolen by the
senior exec, Dillinger. He enlists the help of several company
employees, one of whom has written a hacker program called Tron. While
using the program, Flynn gets sucked into cyberspace and has to disarm
the Master Control Program (MCP), which was developed by Dillinger.
Whew! For a game based on a video game, the plot is way too complex.
When
released by Disney in 1982, TRON was a bit of a flop. Expected to be a
huge hit, it only placed at #18 for the year, behind such 80s relics as
"Conan the Barbarian," "First Blood," and "The Dark Crystal." This lack
of success likely lead to the subsequent dearth of movies based on
videogames, sparing us from movies such as "From Pac-Man to Ms.
Pac-Man"!
Despite the [weak] plot, TRON is good kitschy 80s
fun. The special effects (for 1982) are extremely impressive, and
several sequences remain exciting. In particular, the scenes where the
MCP forces the computer programs to battle each other as
cyber-motorcycles are quite fun. Compared to more recent movies based
on videogames (e.g., Final Fantasy, Laura Croft movies), TRON is
surprisingly tame and gentle, which only adds to its appeal. This movie
may bore many young videogame fans, but it will be enjoyed by fans of
80s movies and videogames.
Tron is a blast form the past. Awsome story
its just a good SIFI movie. Tron is comming from the dawn of special
effects. A simplely enjoyable. if you like stuff from the Early 90s and
Late 80s this is the way to go. and the THXcertified audio is amazing.
It takes this movie to the next level.
Since
I first saw Tron in the theaters, I thought it provided an interesting
and plausible take on what in recent years has come to be called
"intelligent design" theory. Arent't we are all just programs, but with
DNA as our (evolving) code?
As for the identity of the programmer, well, reasonable people can differ. I kind of like the Jeff Bridges paradigm.
Philosophical stuff aside, Tron is a good sci-fi flick and an
entertaining ride. I'd suggest it laid the foundation for The Matrix,
some 17 years earlier. Even though it's a Disney movie, it probably
won't (unlike Bambi) horrify your kids. I have watched it several times
over the years and am sure I will do so again.
I
just watched this again after first seeing it over twenty years ago
when I was a kid. I was blown away by how beautiful the imagery is and
I thought the story was great too. The film definitely still holds up
and looks better than most stuff released now a days.
Some of the extras are unnecessary but "The making of Tron" was very well done and worth the purchase.
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[Weak] & Convoluted Fun!, August 3, 2003
