Cult Classic Films: "Tron Legacy": Creation and Science
Tron, Tron:Legacy, and Tron:Destiny
My HubPages friend RedElf fashioned a much-acclaimed Hub about the original Walt Disney's Tron. I remember a year in the late 1980s in which one of our local television stations broadcast this film every Saturday afternoon for months. Somehow, I always tuned in when film players inside the computer were at disk-warfare and the colors hypnotized me - to sleep! So, I never saw the entire film.
RedElf's article was just the thing to re-read before I went to view Tron: Legacy. When this invigorating sequel (I think it reduced my reaction times long-term!) is released on DVD, I intend to purchase both films.
Tron: Destiny, the third film in the trilogy, began filming in 2015, but was shelved in May. Some critics feel that the film was stopped immediately after Disney's Tomorrowland revealed itself as less than the blockbuster intended. It seems that Disney Studios will focus on the Princesses and their movies, developing additional sequels.
A number of similarities can be found as humanity explores every small corner of the atom, of cyberspace, and of the universe beyond Earth. Can we actually define reality, humanity, and sentience? Perhaps not.
Cyberspace = Earth = Outer Space
It is difficult to decide whether Inception or Tron Legacy is my favorite science fiction film of 2010. Both deal with the mind and its levels of consciousness, along with different concepts of reality. Tron also addresses cyberspace as a proxy for life on Earth and for life in outer space - or 4th dimensional events.
Tron Legacy addresses the nature and creation of life and considers: by what or by whom can life be created? Science fiction and fantasy literature and film have considered these questions since the 1800s and may never be satisfied with resulting answers. Tron Legacy raises more questions about these concepts at the end of its film than does Inception .
Having believed since the advent of the Internet for popular use that similar patterns are present in all three of cyberspace, Earthly life, and space, like fractal equations, Tron Legacy raised the hair on the back of my neck.
Daft Punk - Electronica in Tron Legacy
Father and Son
In Superman Returns , the legendary Man of Steel had a son with Lois Lane. A voiceover spoke of the father becoming the son and the son becoming the father; recalling the God/Son of God relationship in scripture. It was pleasant to hear this, for many Christian and Jewish viewers and critics.
In Tron Legacy , a father forsakes his son, because he cannot get back to the boy from cyberspace; not because he wants the boy crucified. However, the son enters cyberspace with an aim to save his father, but his father aims to save his son. In an otherworldly place where the father's creation, Clu, is a devil of hubris, this is mind-twisting. Clu rants on about his perfection "just as Flynn wanted" and his equality or superiority to his creator, a little like Satan and God in the Old Testament. Without giving away too much plot - I had not previously considered a scenario in which God absorbed Satan in order to right a wrong.
A race of people manifests out of the conditions of cyberspace in Legacy after Clu and his creator have done the architecture of a perfect world. "Perfect" is not healthy, either in the world of Legacy or in real life. It is an addiction.
Tron Popularity: Astronauts Appear as Tron Characters
Appearing in the poster above: JAX astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, flight engineer, Sergei Volkov. Anton Shkaplerov, Commanders Mike Fossum and Dan Burbank, Anatoly Ivanishin and Anton Shkaplerov.
What Is "Human"?
The race of ISO people possess DNA that is a double-helix, but larger in width than is human DNA. The 3D illustration of this DNA is incredible. Comparing it to the triple helix of humanoids in TV's Threshold , the former is breathtaking, but believable. In fact, if anyone creates life out of nothingness, it will be computer programmers that do so (to whit , Star Trek III: The Search for Spock -- the Genesis Effect).
The Threshold humanoids, with a triple helix, should have had six arms/legs and three eyes -- Or been a three-sided worm with three heads or a spiral or some such. The question, in any event, for Tron Legacy is: Did people manifest by chance based on environment, or through a creator?
By the end of the film, one wonders -- If God absorbed the devil, would the Universe cease to exist? The film consistently features Kevin Flynn, the creator of Clu, Tron; and through Clu, a cyberworld matrixed to an end of obsessive perfection. This world is full of mayhem, evil characters, mad men, and revenge. Kevin Flynn alternates between zen balance and reactionary aggression. I think this is a message about life, religion, and human origins or at least presents the opportunity to ask questions. Some viewers find the film unsettling and unresolved. Perhaps that's the point.
Scriptural Parallels
How much input toward the storyline and dialogue of Tron Legacy did Jeff Bridges, preprising character Kevin Flynn, contribute? Some critics are referring to him as CyberDude (ala Big Liebowski) and I can see why.
There is much demonstration of meditation, bead imagery, and zen practice in Tron Legacy. And I like Kevin's advice that the only way to win a game is not to play it. I also like that he set aside his own advice to achieve a greater goal. I get it.
In interviews, Bridges reported to follow Buddhist doctrine as much as he can, but at least meditating 30 minutes before working. He reported thinking he is probably an agnostic and so, Tron Legacy was a good exploration of possibilities for him. He ended with a Father that sacrificed Himself and the Universe for His Son - except that it was a parallel universe in cyberspace. The Son is left alive, in charge of an IT company, while a computer program becomes a living human being. This all twists the minds of some veiwers; oithers do not see the parallel; but God in this film is the One who sacrifices all for everyone after He sees His mistake.
Bringing Back the Dead
In further considering computer effects, I wonder how long it will be, before computer generated images can result in an entire film starring dead actors? This has been suggested in previous science fiction films - I recall one in which Marilyn Monroe was still making movies about a century after her demise. in Superman Returns (2006), Marlon Brando's face and voice were brought back in a digital format.
The film work to return Jeff Bridges' facial appearance to 28 years previous is uncanny. Film Critic Roger Ebert, though he has no physically functional voice structures, vocalizes via computer from a database record containing hs own voice speaking hundreds of words and sentences. The two technologies could be combined to produce a new Elvis movie. We could bring back John Lennon. What if politicians or dictators were brought back - John F. Kennedy...Joseph Stalin? What if someone created a series of "live" broadcasts from Jesus Christ?
Now think of Kevin Flynn and son living inside a computer generated world; and of Quorra with her human-like DNA becoming a living being on real-life Earth --
How long will it be before a computer programmer creates life?
Or will this be another Tower of Babel that will come down before that possibility is met?
The hair is still standing up on my neck in anticipation of coming events.
Can Androids Become Human, as in Tron: Destiny?
© 2010 Patty Inglish MS
Comments and Concepts
I decided to go with Harry Potter. We mentioned it in class once and I really like the story so I'd have a lot to say about it's connection with the Bible.
In regards to your question - "How long will it be before a computer programmer creates life?"
I don't believe a human computer programmer can create life. He/She may be able to create an artificial life or add the necessary artificial intelligence to it to make it more human-like (with beating hearts, blood vessels, living skins or organs, etc). It would be totally impossible to even create life that could create another life (like women who could give birth/produce human babies).
A puzzling topic indeed...
What if I take this topic but all the ideas were original and mine?
Hey, I need a topic for my Bible as Literature paper and was thinking of doing a comparison between the Bible and science fiction similar to this! Do you mind if I use some of your ideas? It won't be published for any sort of monetary gain or anywhere on the internet it's just for a college paper.
nice hub. didn't liked the movie though.
Huh. I just watch these things because they're fun escapism.
Thanks so much for the much appreciated promo for the TRON hub, Patty. :D:D
The original raised much discussion about computer generated and holographic "actors," whether still living or digitally "resurrected." Both the possibility and the ethics of such a thing has become an ongoing debate in theater and film circles.
The seeds of the religious themes were planted in the original as well, and brought to fascinating and unsettling fruition in "Legacy" ...
Your discussion of the film and the religious implications of the major themes is illuminating and thought-provoking. I am looking forward to seeing this film when it hits the theaters up here.
Tron was very disappointing in my opinion. It shouldn't be mentioned in the same year as Inception which will turn into a classic over time!
Interesting topic.
I guss now I will need to go see these movies,you have wet my interest in these movies!
Great topic for debate
Great article keep up the good work.
that's great
i love you topic
Religious implications are subdued topics on sci-fi films. It can be catchy when the players delve on it with the statements they're conveying to the audience. Or I may say, screen writers's personal beliefs are mirrored on most of the films we're watching. Thanks, Patty and Merry Christmas/New Year!!!
This is really fascinating. Technology can perform miracles these days. I will have to see the movie.
Great paralellism between God/Son and Tron Legacy's father/son relationships. I actually did see this in the movie myself especially towards the end when Jeff Bridges (father) said to Clu (young Jeff Bridges) that there is no such thing as 'perfect'-we are all bound to make mistakes and that perfection is not good because we don't learn from it. This was such a great movie, but I would advise the ones who have not seen the first movie to see it first before watching Tron Legacy. I think they will appreciate and better understanding of the movie, Tron Legacy. Thank you for sharing your wonderful insights, Patty! What a very thought provoking hub. Keep at it. Although another Christmas is over, let us always have that feeling of "joy and forgiveness" all year long. As a preacher said, "Let it be Christmas" every time we encounter someone or something that is a challenge to us. Someone cuts you off in the freeway, think "Let it be Christmas," a person getting bypassed for a promotion or gets laid off, think "Let it be Christmas." Have a 'let it be Christmas' feeling all year long. Have a wonderful and a safe holiday season. God bless!
It is amazing and fascinating what can be done with computer technology. Great review points of Tron Legacy.
Wow! I wasn't going to read this since I hadn't watched the first Tron. I'm glad I did, though, because this sounds like an incredible movie. It made me think of Avatar, in that it seems to have a ton of levels, although this movie seems to have a few more twists. I believe I will go read redelf's Tron, and then watch the movie.
This was intriguing.
GREAT Reflections Patty!!
I LOVE the way you think!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!
Merry, Merry & Happy, Happy Holidays... just wanted to take a moment this Christmas morning to wish all good cheer and thank you for the comfort of having friends!
Thank you for this great over view of the film Tron and the many fascinating ideas you bring up on what computer technology might be able to do some day soon.
Merry Christmas!!!
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