Despite the failure of the most recent attempt to relaunch the Tron franchise (of which I like many people blame the casting of Jared Leto as an important factor in its failure). It’s worth remembering that the original film was not a success when it came out. Unlike that recent film though, the original came to be viewed as good and is what we consider a cult classic like The Thing. In Tron’s case it was ahead of its time.

Tron is interesting to talk about. Much of what it had is now even further forward. It was a film that has things people thought were impossible at the time, but are now commonly thought of as possible. The looming threat of AI and how that can be used by companies. Notions of the danger of power computers. But that is all just a bit of the background. For behind all the computer setting, it’s a surprisingly spiritual film.

The MCP’s forces repeatedly threaten to the programs of the grid that the Users (beings they have what is essentially a religious view of) are not real. Yet the MCP and its forces like General Sark played by David Warner, or at least those high up, know the Users are real. So they know what the programs believe is true, yet work to stamp out belief and instead make the MCP their god.

It’s a surprising find when you think about this film about going inside a computer network. One of the best moments I found in the film is when our lead Kevin Flynn is comforting a program who is dying. For all this time the program clung onto his belief in the existence of the Users with no proof, so in his final moments Flynn reveals to him that he is one of them. It’s a strong moment and why it’s much more than just a movie where a guy goes into a computer. The title character Tron himself is very much a sort of religious warrior seeking to restore the world from this demonic like force, the phrase “I fight for the Users” makes him very much a holy warrior.

But how can we not talk about the art style of this film, visualizing a digital world. Yes the CG effects we can see as dated, but due to the nature of the story and setting they make sense and don’t look out of place. These aren’t meant to look like something in our world, they are in a computer, and so look like they are in a computer. But the designs of the programs are the memorable ones that would go on to inspire many other works. The outfits that don’t look like human clothes, covering the whole body and the LED/Neon like lights on the suit while faces are colourless, they look like something not of the flesh and blood world. A subtle yet clever element is how programs have the same look as their Users, the people who made the programs. Perhaps it’s hinting towards a notion that we put a little of ourselves into things we make? Maybe, it’s brought up in the film that they look like those who made them, this is after Flynn meets one of them. You see this movie, and you know it’s this movie… once they are in the computer, there is a little bit of stuff before that which helps build the setting and explain a few things.

This film is worth your time. Its memorable style will not be forgotten and you can see why ever so often people try to bring it back. I didn’t hate Tron Legacy and it also has a nice style to it. But because the most recent one has bombed hard, we might not see another attempt at the franchise… not looking hopeful for He-man… they cast Leto as Skeletor… when will they learn.

Rating: 🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥