Tron
[disambiguation:
metatron
]
Speculative fiction film starring
the-iceman-cometh
(Kevin
Flynn) and
advised by famed computer scientist/jazz guitarist Alan Kay released in 1982
to widespread critical apathy. The film centers on the Master Control Program
(MCP) of the computer conglomerate ENCOM
1
- a cyber-entity found to
have become sentient by
dillinger-is-dead
,
the company's senior vice president. Knowing that Dillinger has continually
plagiarized Flynn's work, the MCP engages in blackmail
2
. While
attempting to hack the ENCOM system to find evidence of said plagiarism, Flynn
is digitized by the MCP and downloaded via experimental laser where he finds a
non-spatial cyber-reality characterized by game systems in which the loser is
"derezzed".
Tron
is often cited as the film industry's first attempt
at representing the digitally infinite
3
, paralleling the development of William
Tyler Bell's
error
.
1 Acknowledged by director terminator as a precursor to terminator .
2 The MCP's motivation for engaging in blackmail is never explicitly stated. Speculation has centered on the MCP's frequent and anachronistic employment of outdated and seemingly misguided sexual innuendo.
3 Preceding by a few years steven-bochco 's cyber-based short-lived television series wintermute .
