After being let go from his place of employment, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) is sucked into a virtual world, one where he must fight for his life. As he navigates this new world, he must put his trust in a series of computer systems, including one named Tron (Bruce Boxleitner). Death potentially waits around every corner of this ever-changing world, but the intelligence of Tron and Kevin may just see them through.
Kevin Flynn is quickly established as edgy, intelligent, and down to earth, allowing viewers to connect with him, to truly understand him. From that moment forward viewers are invested in his story, rooting for him every step of the way. With that type of connection, there’s hardly a way for Tron to fail, as viewers are in for the long run, refusing to step away until Kevin’s journey has concluded. That journey moves relatively quickly, and viewers are pulled through Tron at high speeds–but being led by Flynn, a character with the incredible ability to reach viewers allows things to feel like they slow down, effectively enticing viewers along the way and providing them a truly wonderful story. While world building really is the primary reason why Tron will appeal to viewers, it’s the development of Kevin that reeled me in.
It’s no surprise that Disney was able to create a stunning world full of impeccable visuals, but it’s the way in which they were able to create the virtual world that is so incredible. With a combination of CGI, practical effects, and an impressive use of backlighting, “The Grid” comes to life with incredible vigor. Not a moment passes in which this new world doesn’t pop, doesn’t, in every single way, intrigue those watching–and much of the success of Tron stems from this team's ability to create a world so different from ours, while still being able to be accessible. Tron was far ahead of its time in regard to the effects employed throughout its entirety, and the film as a whole flourishes as a result.
Tron is a very smart film, one that, considering it’s technically a film made for children, really makes viewers think. And while the film as a whole is incredibly intelligent, there’s one line that stands out to me the most: “Computers and the programs will start thinking and the people will stop.” Here we are, more than forty years since the release of Tron, and yet the things discussed throughout the course of the film are more relevant today than ever before. To be able to create something that truly stands the test of time, not just in regard to the entertainment aspect of the film, but its relevance and relatability is so impressive. It’s things like this that hit home, that really make viewers think–and I believe that things like this are the reason why Tron has been able to remain as relevant as it has.
I think that anytime I go into an old-school sci-fi film I’m nervous about that it will be compared to what we have today. The reality is that we are spoiled today, and the things that have come before (at least many of them) often fail to live up to what we expect from films of this nature. Tron is an example of a film that is so far ahead of its time. Aesthetically it does something that most films of the era weren’t able to accomplish–and the challenges that they must have faced at the time are insane, but they found new and innovative ways to create something truly brilliant. Intellectually, Tron catapulted itself forward decades with just one line, and as it built on this idea, the film only became stronger and stronger. Tron is a sci-fi epic, an intellectual masterpiece, and something that will surely continue to entertain for generations.
Directed by Steve Lisberger.
Written by Steven Lisberger, Bonnie MacBird, & Charles S. Haas.
Starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan, Barnard Hughes, Dan Shor, Peter Jurasik, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
