Classic 80’s Movie: “Tron”

Today’s Classic 80s Movie guest post comes from David Laudenslager.

Movie Title: Tron

Year: 1982

Writers: Screenplay by Steven Lisberger. Story by Steven Lisberger & Bonnie Macbird

Lead Actors: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner

Director: Steven Lisberger

Plot Summary: A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program.

Why I Think This Is A Classic 80s Movies: In Tron, we are pulled into the electronic world of a computer. The personal computer revolution was still going on but people dreamed of what worlds this revolution could create. Tron brought that into realization with the concept, “What if you were pulled into a computer?” If you’re pitching this to a movie studio it would be The Wizard of Oz for the computer age. All of the characters within The Grid represent real world counterparts. We even have a Toto character in Bit, which can only answer yes or no to questions.

The movie shows a clear progression of disunity to unity for the protagonist Kevin Flynn. He’s been fired from his programming job at Encom and his code for popular arcade games stolen by his rival, Ed Dillinger. He’s looking for a way to prove that he created them, exposing Dillinger. He is approached by former co-workers Alan Bradley and Lora that he finally has a way back into Encom. It isn’t until he is beamed into The Grid that he can truly fight to find the truth and fight for something greater than himself.

Tron is a classic Hero’s Journey and I would argue is a picaresque tale, wherein the story is about the journey, not the destination. I have an immense love for Tron and even it’s sequel Tron Legacy. The visuals are very “radical” and it’s a movie that holds a close place in my heart. It helps me get in touch with my inner child, always getting excited whenever I see Tron.

My Favorite Moment In The Movie: The Light Cycle sequence is simply amazing. Once they break out of the game arena we go into a chase, running from the very tanks that Kevin Flynn coded used against him. In this moment we start to explore the world that Kevin Flynn has created and how the MCP has corrupted that vision.

My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie:

Kevin Flynn: [Zooms past a plethora of tanks on his light cycle] I shouldn’t have written all of those tank programs.

Kevin Flynn: On the other side of the screen, it all looks so easy.

Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie

- The movie delves into the classic science fiction theme regarding artificial intelligence with the Master Control Program. The MCP could be a counterpart to HAL 9000. It reaches outside its bounds to impact the real world, converting programs for its own personal gain.

- Kevin Flynn is the classic anti-hero. He’s a hacker, someone who gets into systems and disrupts them. He also does this with Alan and his ex-girlfriend Lora. Flynn still has feelings for Lora, causing tension between Alan and Flynn.

- Each Grid counterpart of the characters represent idealized forms of the real world characters. Dillinger wants to be powerful and in control, represented by the megalomaniacal MCP and his right hand man Sark. Dr. Gibbs is wise beyond his years, and Dumont is like The Wizard, who knows all and sets the heroes off on their primary quest.

- The character of Ram dying part way through the film, is the spark for Flynn. Only here does he vow to help Tron on his quest to stop the MCP. Up to this point Flynn was only out to save himself and clear his name, now he has the higher purpose of saving all of the programs and fighting for the users. He understands the stakes.

Thanks, David! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!

Tomorrow: Another Classic 80s Movie!

NOTE: We need three more guest posts for this series. Anybody else out there who has a favorite classic 80s movie to write about? Can’t believe we’re missing movies like Big, Ruthless People, Tootsie, Adventures in Babysitting, Predator, Flashdance, Footloose, Princess Bride, The Blues Brothers, Lethal Weapon, Caddyshack, Beverly Hills Cop, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure… and seriously come on… Raiders of the Lost Ark and Back to the Future.

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