Tron
For those who remember the original 1982 Tron movie, this is a joyous rediscovery of good times passed. I don’t how I missed it in the 80’s but I did, so for me, this was first time around but not a complex plot to catch onto.
Sam Flynn’s father Kevin, a computer game genius of his time, disappeared in strange circumstances (into Tron, a computer world of his own invention), twenty years ago. Now 27, Sam has inherited his father’s technical wizardry but lacks direction and squanders his time. Investigating a strange message, apparently, but unbelievably from his father, Sam takes a closer look at the disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 20 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidante, father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.
I can see why some critics have likened Tron to the Wizard of Oz (in a sci-fi sort of a way); the end is pretty much inevitable but the journey appeals.... but it went on a bit for me. I gave Tron a 5/10 but my young critic friends (aged 11) were much more generous, rating it 7.5. I guess I’d have to sum up with “good if you like that kind of thing”.
