Reviews

SPOILERS AHEAD

Tron is a film I enjoyed so much as a child who grew up on the first generation of video games. Now looking back on this film, I see that most people (including myself, until now)completely miss all of the symbolism it presents.

Sark urges the blue programs to "renounce this superstitious and hysterical belief" in the users, knowing that to keep his warriors in line, they must not know the real truth. Recall the scene where RAM asks ROM, "you believe in the users?" The answer is, "Sure. I mean, if I don't have a user, then who wrote me?" Also recall that the blue programs were ridiculed and persecuted for their beliefs, and even forced to fight gladiator (albeit video game) style for their lives.

Flynn represents the Christ figure. He is paradoxically both user and program in the computer world, as Jesus Christ was (according to Christian doctrine) both man and God. Recall the powers he has over other programs (repairing recognizers, saving others from untimely deaths). The MCP and Sark (Caesar and Pontius Pilate?) are only defeated when Flynn voluntarily sacrifices himself by jumping into the core of the MCP. This of course parallels Christ's accepting His own crucifixion to save Mankind. After Tron throws the disc, Flynn's descent reverses and he ascends back in the real world (Christ's resurrection and return to Heaven). Also recall that the whole computer world is freed and literally lights up as soon as the tyrannical MCP and Sark are vanquished. The most important line of the whole film is when Yuri tells Tron, "Flynn saved us! He really did!"

Add this to many, many other obvious and subtle symbols of Christianity (i.e. water/baptism/purification; the I/O tower which Tron uses to communicate with his user/ communication with God through church)and it's hard to see how so many people overlooked the hidden meaning of this movie.

Highly recommended, the dated effects don't bother me one bit. In fact, they even make me nostalgic for the simpler, far more primitive, charming time that was the 80's.

End of line.

(possible mild spoiler)

My question is this: What exactly is The Phantom Menace? What character or event does this signify? The title "The Phantom Menace" could be interpreted two ways. One seemingly implies that there would be a proposed threat which turned out to be false or insignificant. The other is that there is indeed a very real threat, only is is unbeknownst, hidden, or veiled. I have only one possible theory as to what this alleged menace could be - Senator (later in Empire and Jedi he'd become Emperor)Palpatine. But this character doesn't seem too significant here, so why name the movie after a secondary character? SW: I has perhaps the strangest title for any major motion picture since A Clockwork Orange (the title of which is never, ever explained or even mentioned in that movie).

WILL SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT IN THE WORLD THIS MEANS?

Hands down one of the all-time worst I've seen. I'm simply astonished that this was actually released theatrically. *Minor Spoiler* (as if anybody would care)

Note that before the end of this film, there is a note stating, "We'll be back". Whatever did happen to the proposed sequel to this one?

Everything you've heard is true. Manipulative, sappy, and derivative in every conceivable way. I've heard that The Wizard contains the most products in any film (Back to the Future is another runner-up), but I can't imagine any movie with more thinly-veiled ads than this mess. Ridiculous musical sequence, shameless plugs, misuse of the word "H*LL", a traffic accident which was almost certainly fatal and is laughed off by the main characters, and those are the good parts! This one may have been worse than Street Fighter, but then again, maybe not. Avoid at all costs. That anyone rated this movie a "10" proves that too many jokers are allowed in IMDb. Seriously, I don't see how ANYBODY could find this movie a "10", and I do know some children who found it somewhat enjoyable. Perhaps the fact that no one ever attempted to further the adventures of Mac and his kin offers some evidence that God's grace shines upon us all. Mac and Me is a wretched excuse for entertainment that is literally not even worth the film on which it is printed.

OK, I've just seen this one in its original version for the first time and I've noticed a few differences:

(some spoilers)

There is a brief scene on the news that Night Rider was taken out by the Main Force Patrol.

Before Max is told that Night Rider's gang is out to get him, there is a scene of a very bloody face in a smashed car window and nearby an ambulance

When Goose is at the nightclub, there are scenes of one of the gang members sabotaging his motorcycle. Later, we see a few scenes of the inside of his apartment and a plastic baby doll on his front door.

The scenes with Goose talking to the truck driver before he borrows the truck seem a bit longer (?)

Max's wife running through the forest appear to have a few more seconds (?)

After the mechanic is questioned by Max, Toecutter finds pictures of Goose and Max's wife and son.

Now, some of these scenes may have appeared in the U.S. version but maybe I just couldn't see them due to Pan and Scan or perhaps my memory isn't perfect here. But I thought some people would want to know what additional scenes were in the Australia version. I sure do wish I could get this without having to buy a region 2 player and import DVD!

When this first came out, I was so impressed I saw it several times. It still remains one of my favorite movies and nearly everyone I've ever met who has seen it regards it highly. That said, it is somewhat surprising to me that more people do not recognize that The Lion King owes about as much to Hamlet as it does Orwell's Animal Farm. Here's why. (SPOILERS)



The herd of wildebeasts utilized by Scar appear to represent mindless masses of general populace. By themselves they are essentially harmless, but properly (or improperly) rallied, they can even succeed in overthrowing an entire government. The hyenas who are conned into scaring them seem to stand for basic undesirable elements plaguing society today (the alluring culture of the street, corrupt law enforcement officials, possibly irresponsible journalistic practices). The movie also makes a strong point that when these individuals are allowed to roam freely in society, inevitably the same vices plaguing their territory (elephant graveyard - perhaps alluding to the inner cities of many major cities... at least in the U.S.) will befall everyone else as well. Note the strong resemblance of the rock formation at the end of "Be Prepared" to skyscrapers found downtown in any large city. For these and other reasons, it's not too much of a surprise that The Lion King was criticized for racist overtones. Still, if you can put this aside, and haven't seen it by now, The Lion King remains the most stunning and complex films in animation history