TRON

US, 1982, 96 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Barnard Hughes, Dan Shor.
Directed by Steven Lisberger.

Tron was an ambitious Disney project, a film about computer games using computer techniques for creating images for the screen. It was not as successful as anticipated. However, it is an enjovable film from the computer age.

The film will be entertaining for people familiar with hardware and software vocabulary, players of computer games, those interested in the workings of computers, their programmes and systems. There are attractions in the visuals with the changing shapes, sizes and forms. The film is very much a technological one. The actors are in some ways subordinate to the technology - Jeff Bridges as hero, Bruce Boxleitner as Tron and a good character sketch by Barnard Hughes. David Warner is, as so often, a credible villain.

The film makes comment about the effect of machines in our age, the danger with computers, dehumanising people. The film also has some interesting psychological applications - the world of the computer games mirroring (in a shadow way) the ordinary world.

1. Entertaining science fantasy? Science fantasy of the '80s? A Disney film? The focus on technology and computers?

2. The technical qualities of the film and the reliance on technology? The medium as message? Computers and data, organisations, games, designs, lines and shapes, creation of images? Programs and simulation? The role of users? Creativity in computer-making?, The atmospheric score?

3. The popularity of video games, the imagination, skills? People playing the games, the interaction with the game, the game controlling? Winning? The world of games paralleling the real world? The paralleling of human and inhuman technology?

4. The film as dream, nightmare, the hero and the others trapped in a dream, the shadow world. death games and struggles? The echoing of gladiatorial struggles of the past?

5. Jeff Bridges as Kevin Fly - young man, in action, the games, admired, the environment of computers and games? His working for Encom? Dillinger and his use of Kevin's work? Kevin suspicious, searching for evidence? The support of Alan and his friends? Walter? Encom and the computer, his entering the world of Encom?

6. Kevin becoming Clu? The changed appearance, a computer figure, the technology to make Jeff Bridges a computer-like figure? His friends becoming part of the games? Allies, manoeuvres? Dangers in the live games? Moving towards the tower? The vehicles? Dumont and his advice? Dillinger becoming the villain Sark? The confrontation and defeat?

7. Dillinger as smooth corporation villain, his deceit, his becoming Sark in the game, his henchmen, manoeuvres, the final confrontation with Clu? Kevin defeating Dillinger?

8. The sketch of Alan/Tron? As helper, ally, adventures, life and death, the heroine - Loralgory? her help?

9. Ram and his place in the game, his help, victim, death and his dematerialising?

10. MCP, control, programs, information? The inner world of the computer? The inner world of the computer as a computer game - vehicles, crashes, grazes? The danger for the individual?

11. Walter Dumont and his help, the sage adviser?

12. The film's comment on society, machines, computers, control, dehumanising society? Heroics to bring the human element back?