</center>I think we're all become familiar with the concept of a computer becoming so clever it begins to take over. Well in 1982, Disney was at the forefront of the computer game genre in releasing Tron. Not only is this the tale of a computer trying to take over, but the story is told from inside the 'computer' itself. A world where computer programs are living things, existing in a world where information is stored in a disc they carry with them at all times. The same battle is being fought in the human world as inside the alternate computer reality.
Flynn, a computer game designer (Jeff Bridges) who worked for a large company had his ideas for 5 computer games stolen, the man who stole them went on to make a fortune and become executive of a company, in which his creation of a Master Control Program (MCP) is in use. The MCP is becoming out of control as it's intelligence goes beyond that of any human and plans to run the world and take over the Pentagon.
Flynn alongside 2 companions who work at the company sneak in, with the intention of finding the evidence to prove that his games were stolen. However when Flynn tries to get access on a computer the MCP, who is aware of what is happening drags Flynn from the real world into the computer by aid of a laser which is part of an experiment to transfer objects.
Once inside the computer the story becomes the sort of good against evil epic in the vein of The Lord of the Rings where the programs and being watched over by the omnipitent MCP who has taken control. Flynn inside the computer meets Tron a program designed by Flynn's real world friend to take down the MCP, thus the program tron has the appearance of his friend and is how he recognises him. In fact the film has a Wizard of Oz feeling as real world characters appear as computer programs.
The data to take down the MCP needs to be transferred from the real world to Tron, however the control towers which allow communication and transfer of data are under the control of the MCP.
The film is very difficult to describe, but is not as confusing upon watching it.
So my thoughts,
After a decade of not doing much of an importance in the live action field, Disney had the odd hit here and some brilliant films which for one reason or another never got the appreciation they deserve, most films were in the same slapstick vein. Disney had also been a trend follower, releasing films that were in the same veins as previous blockbusters, for example after 'Star Wars' was such a smash, Disney tried to cash in making it's own Space Sci Fi 'The Black Hole'. However with Tron Disney was their first, in fact probably a little prematurely as is mentioned on the DVDs 90 minute documentary. If Tron had been released a few years later, it probably would have been a smash blockbuster.
The film is without a doubt 'weird', however it is also a work of genius. To take a concept of a computer that tries to take over, and tell it from the point of view of the programs inside the computer in an alternate world is nothing short of inspired. The Religious/War/Good v Evil messages and overtones help to build a world which is I feel very believable. I feel the film would have been strengthened if it was longer, coming in at around 90 minutes, I feel an extra 10 minutes to build on the characters and insert a bit more explanation at the start of the film.
Could Tron be called the first CGI film? Well to a certain extent Yes. The world inside the computer is entirely CGI, as are the bikes and the solar sailor. If films like Mary Poppins and Song of the South can be called Animated/Live action, then I see no reason why Tron shouldn't be either. And if it were to be considered so, it would mean that Disney would beat Pixar to the title of first CGI film by a good 13 years
. Also when you take into account that in order to create the 'glowing' look of the costumes from the backlighting, each frame of the film needed to be 'painted' individually, just like an animated film, before being shot again. This process is explained in great detail on the DVDs 2 Disc set. Truly Tron is a unique looking film. Even today, I don't feel the film looks dated. The CGI elements do look sparse and blank in comparison to what can be done on computers these days, but not I feel to the extent where it looks primitive. Also the special effects for this movie, would hold up even today. The glowing costumes have a very bewitching look to them. However despite all the praise I have for this film, even though it is a marvel of film making, with a truly inventive plot, a well thought out world with a lot of creativity and ingenuity, on the whole after watching it, I do not feel a sense of fulfillment. It feels like so much more could have been done with this concept. A bit like if JRR Tolkien had condensed the Lord of the Rings trilogy into a 56 page paperback. It has more to offer as a concept than I feel it delivers.
However it can't be denied that Tron is a truly innovative film, no film had been attempted like it before, and none since.
I think every Disney fan *needs* to see this film, and all fans of CGI should check it out, to see CGI in its humble beginnings, 13 years before Toy Story.
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Next week - 'Honey, I shrunk the Kids'
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<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... ">Treasure Island</a>
It's actually not a bad movie, but I love the look of it too. And the bonuses are EXCELLENT. 
