Tron (1982) Review

"Tron" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Steven Lisberger
Writer: Steven Lisberger, Bonnie MacBird
Producer: Donald Kushner, Ron Miller
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan, Barnard Hughes, Dan Shor
Running Time: 96 min.

By HKFanatic

In the months leading up to “Tron: Legacy’s” December 2010 release, consumers started reporting that the original “Tron” DVD was becoming increasingly difficult to find in stores. All of a sudden it wasn’t available to rent from Netflix. The rumor mill got churning and there were accusations that Disney didn’t want anyone to see the original “Tron” in lieu of their upcoming blockbuster, for fear that its old-school computer effects would make audiences avoid the new film under the assumption that it’d be just as “cheesy.” Of course, this was probably just pure exaggeration on the part of fans – who have admittedly been spurned by the House of Mouse before – since Disney did eventually release the original “Tron” on blu-ray once “Tron: Legacy” had run its course in theaters. It was worth the wait.

When it comes to blu-ray restoration, Disney tends to be among the best. Just check out the work they did on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” or “Sleeping Beauty” – though there’s no doubt that “Tron” presented its own particular challenges, being a mix of live-action and animation. The studio had the unenviable task of cleaning up the 80’s-era computer graphics while preserving the look of the original and yet still give home theater enthusiasts something to crow about. Somehow the scientists at Disney managed to do it as “Tron” is one of the best restoration jobs I’ve seen. The film probably hasn’t looked better since it left its original theatrical run.

But how does “Tron” hold up as a movie? The plot, for those not in the know, follows Jeff Bridges as an ex-employee of shady conglomerate Encom (sort of a proto-Microsoft). Bridges is a hacker and video game designer whose ideas for arcade machines were stolen by his superior at the company. Teaming up with his ex-girlfriend and her new beau, he attempts to bring evidence of Encom’s crimes to light – but in the process, he’s digitized and sucked into Encom’s computer system where he discovers that the programs he wrote have sentient life and the the evil Master Control is plotting a complete takeover.

There are some people who will tell you that this flick is corny and outdated. Frankly, I wonder if these folks even know how to enjoy a movie. Sure, special FX technology has grown leaps and bounds since 1982 – but does that mean we’re throwing out “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Star Wars” too (forget about those horrible Special Editions for a minute)? Hell no. “Tron” presents a dazzling blend of cutting-edge-for-1982 computer graphics, live action, and yes, even some traditional Disney-style hand-drawn animation. Watching the film on blu-ray, the details were so sharp that I could make out skintones, facial expressions, and the wonderful costume work better than ever before.

It was then that it dawned on me that the visual beauty and grace of “Tron” harkens back to the silent film era. You could remove all the dialogue, keeping only the sound effects and wonderful score by Wendy Carlos (“The Shining,” “A Clockwork Orange”), and the film would work just as well. In its own way, it’s almost like a 1980’s successor to visually ground-breaking silent films like “Metropolis.” This notion was really driven home during the scene where Tron and Yora went to see the Guardian, whose made-up face and gigantic costume recall the Expressionist era of silent cinema. It also helps that inside the world of the computer, the actor’s faces take on the grainy and ghostly look of a black-and-white silent movie.

What would “Tron” be without Jeff Bridges? The actor, so incredibly young here, brings a ton of energy and fun to the role. Because he buys into the world of “Tron,” the audience does too. Bridges never once stops to wink at the camera or act like he’s above the material. This certainly has to be one of the actor’s most entertaining roles and if you’re a fan of his you owe it to yourself to view “Tron.”

This was the era when Disney was stretching out and making more esoteric live-action films like “The Black Hole” and “The Watcher in the Woods.” Even though it backfired for them financially, they were able to create a legacy of great movies. I’m hard-pressed to think of anything in “Tron” that panders to kids or resorts to low-brow humor, unlike children’s films today. Watching this film for the first time in years, I grew slightly melancholy as I realized that the current generation of kids is never going to grow up with movies like “Tron” or “Labyrinth” or “Gremlins” – films that are designed to ignite a child’s imagination without looking down on them. I don’t think you could say the same thing about that movie where The Rock plays the tooth fairy.

The sexual tension in “Tron” is something that’s easy to gloss over as a child but appreciate as an adult. You’ve got Jeff Bridges teaming up with his old flame Lora, who’s new beau (played perfectly by Bruce Boxleitner) is more of a Clark Kent-style geek than a dashing leading man. But inside the computer world, Boxleitner is Tron – the ultimate hero, and somebody Bridges has no choice but to respect and admire. Conversely, Bridges has something Tron will never have: humanity, the spark of life, which is what allows him to steal a passionate kiss from Yori before heading back into the real world. That moment occurs after a deleted scene where Yori seduces Tron in her apartment and it’s implied they have sex. Whew – gotta say that Disney was way more steamy and cutting-edge back in ’82.

Regardless of whether you thought “Tron: Legacy” was a mainstream cash-in on the “Tron” license or a film that managed to pay homage to the original while moving the series into the 21st century (personally I agree with the latter), 1982’s “Tron” isn’t going anywhere and now on blu-ray it looks better than it has in decades. If, like me, it’s been awhile since you revisited the film then now is the perfect time to do so. The costumes, lighting, set design, and computer effects in “Tron” conspire to create a world that has never really been duplicated or equaled on film. The technology here remains so ahead of its time. And more importantly, the story and characters are just as endearing as the digital world around them. “Tron” is a film that defines Disney magic.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 10/10