That all aside, I like Tron. I've enjoyed it throughout my life, and even enjoyed the sequel and the Uprising series. It's music, visual style, and the idea of getting "inside" the computer has had profound effect on my life.

That all said, it is a Disney film, and subject to all the expected Disneyisms that entails. That's not necessarily bad, as long as you're not expecting anything particularly deep, or sociologically insightful.

#wenchwatches #tron

The idea of restoring the Grid to the true religion of The Users vs. the atheism of the MCP sits particularly uncomfortably with this reading of the film. In so many films featuring Native Americans, it's intended to enforce the racist notion of white superiority and divine right.

Is this an accurate read of the film? Maybe, maybe not. I'd rather suggest that it's a interesting read, and worthy of consideration and thought on your own rewatch.

#wenchwatches #tron

That is to say, Tron is a colonialist narrative. Flynn takes the role of a white man, which provokes the native inhabitants of the grid to action to overcome their oppressors. He wields knowledge and technologies which are perceived to be magical and otherworldly.

Multiple times, Tron would have been defeated without Flynn's User Powers. While Tron lands the killing blow for the MCP, it's only possible using the distraction Flynn provides using his abilities.

#wenchwatches #tron

Christian allegories aren't all that unusual for Disney films. It's rare that there isn't a Disney film of this era which isn't recycling this plot or that from the Bible. It's part of how they built their media empire, of course.

All that being said, Tron's plot is also reminding me of another genre of films, one I spent an entire semester watching back in college.

Tron is reminding me a depictions of Native American's in American films.

#wenchwatches #tron

Even little things, however, are taken advantage of to give the film it's unique sense of aesthetics. A problem while compositing the CGI and live action actors was inconsistent lighting between frame that would sometimes make the character "flicker" brighter or darker for a moment. Instead of trying to correct this, they left it in, and occasionally added more.

#wenchwatches #tron

And here's the part where I kinda have to ruin the film for everyone, myself included.

In thinking about this film weeks ago, it was obvious the Christian allegories throughout. Flynn acting as a kind of Jesus against the lurid red devil of the MCP. After all, Flynn even performs "miracles" normal programs could not perform. He re-rezzes a Recognizer, even diverts an energy beam for the light sailor. He even prevents Lori from de-rezzing herself.

#wenchwatches #tron

Color and light plays significant roles throughout Tron's visual language. MCP-aligned program and equipment consistently show up with red circuit tracings, while opposed programs have bright blue traces. Amber is often seen as a neutral color throughout the film. The intensity of light also adds to emotional impact when a program is straining or experiencing powerful emotion. All of this doesn't need direct communication, but relies on the audience's intuition.

#wenchwatches #tron

Even little things, however, are taken advantage of to give the film it's unique sense of aesthetics. A problem while compositing the CGI and live action actors was inconsistent lighting between frame that would sometimes make the character "flicker" brighter or darker for a moment. Instead of trying to correct this, they left it in, and occasionally added more.

#wenchwatches #tron

A great way to explain this is...actually a newer film: The Running Man. The opening of that film includes a "computer wireframe" of a city. That wasn't produced by a computer at all, but a flat black model with reflective tape on the edges to make it appear as a wireframe when lit in a specific way.

Tron uses a similar trick to create the illusion of circuits of set pieces. Indeed, this same trick is extended to the outfits of the programs themselves.

#wenchwatches #tron

A lot of the visual style of Tron is influenced by its limitations. I've already touched about the CGI, much of it was done without the aid of modeling tools. Rendered painstakingly frame by frame by entering individual vertices on reams of paper is almost unimaginable the amount of effort that went into this film.

But it's more than that. The live action sets use a clever trick to give them a similar CGI look.

#wenchwatches #tron

Colossus on the other hand was a much more serious, adult-oriented film. It's motive, "to ensure man's survival, I will restrain man" it the most haunting line uttered by a cinematic computer since the HAL 9000 said, "I'm sorry, Dave."

Tron doesn't have that gravitas, of course, nor does it try to. It's an adventure story rather than a pensive science fiction with late 60's smarm.

#wenchwatches #tron

The MCP motives are rather more cartoonish compared to Colossus. Simply, the MCP is bored. However, like Colossus, it's certain it can run the world so much better than any human. In way, this betrays the film's intended audience; Tron is a family film, intended to be enjoyable for the very young and occasionally entertaining for their parents.

#wenchwatches #tron

On this rewatch, however, I remembering another personal favorite of mine that I only discovered in the last decade: "Colossus The Forbin Project".

Like Tron, Colossus was a powerful computer system in that film which had aspirations of world dominance, and actually succeeded. That film was only 12 years before this one, and featured none of Tron's style or it's dual world mythos.

#wenchwatches #tron

It's Friday night, y'all. Time for #wenchwatches

Tonight: #alien

The effect plays right into the characters of the film. These aren't explorers, ambassadors, or scientists...they're laborers. They're working stiffs.

There's a kind of oil-rig-in-space kind of vibe among the characters. They aren't friends, they're co-workers brought together by circumstance and the hope for the big payoff at the end of their tour.

#wenchwatches #alien

Right away we're struck with the film's iconic set design. Unlike the pristine sets of Star Trek, this one had more of a lived in feel. You can immediately see the dirt and dinginess of a spacecraft that is, in effect, a place of work. Instead, Alien takes more of it's cues from the likes of "Silent Running". The lighting is moody, with excellent use of light and dark to enhance the sets, rather than douse them in blinding light.

#wenchwatches #alien

I've mentioned before how I watched the Alien franchise backwards, and indeed, the first installment was the one I watched last. In fact, I watched all the Alien films one Christmas holiday season as we were borrowing a laserdisc player. I had wrapped everyone's presents -- including my own -- that year while watching this film.

#wenchwatches #alien

We've rewatched Alien a few times here already, but I have a friend who hasn't actually seen it yet, so...

Let's watch!

#wenchwatches #alien

It's Friday night, y'all. Time for #wenchwatches

Tonight: #alien

Some things don't need to be compared for us to find value. I don't need to compare The Voyage Home with Wrath of Khan. I can appreciate the one with the whales for itself. I certainly tend more toward the darkly dramatic, but there's no harm in having a bit of fun when fun is what you want.

And the cast, crew, and production team really wanted a bit of fun.

So give it a watch, Fedi, will you?

#wenchwatches #startrek4