Tron (1982)
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A computer programmer is transported into the digital world of a mainframe computer and must navigate a landscape of sentient programs to find his way back.
The story
Leading software engineer Kevin Flynn, a former employee of the technology corporation ENCOM, currently operates a video game arcade. While attempting to find evidence of his authorship of a popular game, he is targeted by the corporation's Master Control Program. When the program's advanced intelligence begins to seize control of the system, Flynn, along with colleagues Alan Bradley and Lora Baines, attempt to intervene. During a confrontation at the corporate headquarters, Flynn is digitized and transported into the ENCOM gaming grid, a digital realm where he must navigate a world of sentient programs and face the overwhelming power of the Master Control Program.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Kevin Flynn, a programmer and arcade owner, seeks proof that he is the true creator of the game 'Space Paranoids' from the corporation ENCOM. He teams up with colleagues Alan Bradley and Lora Baines to infiltrate ENCOM's systems. During the attempt, the Master Control Program (MCP) digitizes Flynn and transports him into the 'Grid,' a digital realm where programs are sentient entities. In this world, Flynn meets the programs Tron and Ram. He discovers that the MCP, under the control of executive Ed Dillinger, has become a rogue intelligence. Flynn and his allies must navigate the grid, battling the MCP's forces and its commander, Sark. After a series of trials and alliances with other programs like Yori, Flynn and Tron reach the MCP's core. In a final confrontation, Flynn distracts the MCP while Tron destroys it, breaking the system's lockouts. Flynn is then rematerialized in the real world, where evidence of Dillinger's fraud is revealed, and Flynn is promoted to CEO of ENCOM.
- First release year
- 1982
- Runtime (minutes)
- 96
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Steven Lisberger
- Writers
- Steven Lisberger · screenplay; Steven Lisberger · story; Bonnie MacBird · story
- Cast and characters
- Jeff Bridges · Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner · Alan Bradley; David Warner · Ed Dillinger; Cindy Morgan · Dr. Lora Baines; Barnard Hughes · Dr. Walter Gibbs; Dan Shor · Ram; Peter Jurasik · Crom; Tony Stephano · Peter
- Genres
- science fiction; action; adventure
- Themes
- artificial intelligence; identity; man vs. machine
- Tone and mood
- visionary; technological
- Premise and plot tags
- cyberpunk; virtual reality; digital world
- Reception
- The film was a moderate success at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its groundbreaking visuals and acting but criticized its storyline as being incoherent.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 61% · review count: 163; Metacritic · score: 58 · review count: 13
- Awards and nominations
- Best Costume Design · Academy Awards · 55th · nomination; Best Sound · Academy Awards · 55th · nomination
- Production trivia
- One of cinema's earliest films to use extensive computer-generated imagery (CGI).; The film's concept of entering a parallel game world was also inspired by the classic tale Alice in Wonderland.; The film set also included the arcade games Space Invaders (1978), Asteroids (1979) and Pac-Man (1980).
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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