Tron

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan
Directed by: Steven Lisberger
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
1982

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: A computer programmer (Jeff Bridges) is broken down atom-by-atom by a powerful laser, and inserted into the digital world inside his computer. There, he teams with Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) to battle the Master Control Program, which has enslaved other programs and is determined to take over the world.

Review:

Tim: Tron is a movie that was visually stunning in the year it was released, and holds up surprisingly well today. The film certainly requires a great suspension of disbelief, but if you can do that, you'll find an exciting, thought-provoking adventure that manages to entertain quite well. While this movie wasn't received well upon its initial release, time has been kind to it, as it has gained respect and credibility over the years. I like it because it is such a different, unique movie. I appreciate that quality of it.

While the special effects are undeniably dated at this point, they are still good enough for us to marvel at what Disney's team created way back in 1982. The film is truly beautiful, wholly unique, and completely unforgettable. The world in which our protagonists and antagonists inhabit truly comes to life- it is such a bizarre, foreign world, that it enables the audience to get into thte story and believe our hero could really be inside a computer program. If you can make this leap, then you will be rewarded with an entertaining, enticing film. If you can put yourself in a 1982 frame of mind, the special effects here are truly astounding. The film's look and feel resulted in two Academy Award nominations- for Best Costume Design and Best Sound. While this film lost out on both, the nominations speak volumes about this film's artistic and technical achievements.

Jeff Bridges is an excellent choice to play Flynn. He is believable as a genius computer programmer and also an accomplished video game player. Bridges works very well in the role and creates a memorable, lasting character. Bruce Boxleitner also works well as Tron. I really like the exchanges between these two actors in the film. The rest of the cast is decent, but no one else really reaches this same level.

This film has some excellent scenes. The movie's highlight has to be the high-velocity "light cycles" battle scene, which is infinitely cool and incredibly memorable. The entire film is such a visual masterpiece that it is very difficult to pull your eyes away from the screen. There are a few moments throughout the film which drag a bit, and it does take a little while to get to the big conclusion, but these aren't fatal flaws. The final revelation of the Master Control Program is very cool as well. While this movie (like all movies) has its strengths and weaknesses, the strengths win here.

Tron is a movie that represents an important time in motion picture history- the beginning of the transition to truly computer-created graphics and the focus on the computer as an essential tool in our lives. Yes, it is a bit dated today, and it certainly could have been a bit more effective, but as a whole, it is a good movie. I enjoyed watching this movie, and the very thought of it brings a smile to my face.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Wizard, The Matrix, eXistenZ, Starman