Rent Tron (1982)

Dated SciFi With An Interesting Idea About AI - Tron review by GI

Tron feels a bit dated when viewed today although it was arguably ahead of its time in special effects back in 1982, where it spawned a very popular video game. However the contemporary links to the development of AI make it a film worth a rediscovery as the narrative is based on a powerful computer program that has become self aware and become more clever than its creator and now with a malevolent agenda. At one point this program, Master Control Program or MCP, announces to its nasty corporate creator, Dillinger (David Warner) that it's tired of corporations and intends to direct its attention to the Pentagon and the Kremlin. A potential plot direction that is not explored further in the film but is an important indicator of the film's predictions about AI. Jeff Bridges is the main star here playing Flynn, a former employee of Dillinger, who is now a hacker and intent on getting control of the MCP. But it has other ideas and somehow zaps him into the digital world where he has to compete in a sort of gladiatorial set of games. The film sets up the idea that programs are really sentient beings that have links to a human user (in some ways this is idea is later used in The Matrix). The film lacks a strong plot aiming to wow its family audience with the special effects instead and that makes the film a little unimpressive today considering the advancement in this field. Still a film worth checking out especially since there's a couple of sequels too.