TRON

I think it's interesting how similar the computer world and the real world are in some ways. For example, the main way to decide things in the computer world is not by logic, what we'd expect from a computer, but by games. The Master Control Program decides that who stays and who goes will be determined on "the game grid", something that has an element of chance and skill. Why would a computer program let outcomes be determined by chance? It just goes to show that even the MCP shows characteristics of having a user, even though it denies the existence of such beings. Although more powerful than any other program, the MCP is still the creation of a user, just like any other program. We also see this through the idea that the MCP is male, with a deep voice and male characteristics, just like its user.

I kind of wonder if Tron was more a novelty or a cutting edge film when it was first released. I feel that a lot of the interesting themes were lost with such cheesy and cheap humor. Tron brings up some interesting points about the computer world and how similar and dis-similar the real world can be. The computer animation was also cutting edge for the 80s and is actually very cool. However, much of the symbolic meaning of Tron is lost with its silly acting and bad dialogue. I think that we can definitley learn a few things from Tron, but that these things are harder to see because the cheesiness of Tron overwhelms the viewer. I mean really, Jeff Bridges? Come on.