My Tron Adventure

The following are just my ramblings on how cool I think Tron is and the pains my gf and I took to actually go see the movie. The followup post is an actual review of Tron: Legacy.

I loved the original Tron movie. There was nothing else quite like it. At least, not anything near mainstream. The visual design, imagination, technological wit and fun that went into that movie was unlike anything before. The combination of live action, traditional animation and CG effects was unprecedented. There have been movies afterward which also capture the imagination with wonderful techno-visuals, but none quite like Tron, where the action takes place mostly inside an imagined computer world- data and programs visualized as people and vehicles.

The computer holds a special fascination, for while cars and bikes may be the technological extension of our locomotive powers, the computer is the closest technological extension of our minds. It is natural to say that "the computer is thinking", though scientists and philosophers might be quick to object. So perhaps it is easy to apply human traits to computers and to the programs they run. After all, most of us have distinct impressions about the programs we use- some "run like crap", while others "are helpful" and yet others are even "elegant". Certainly, the fervent arguments for the "best" operating system or platform has not died down- manifesting itself in such loaded competitions as Mac vs. PC,  Android vs. iOS, Debian vs Fedora, and the like.

My gf and I had a heck of a night trying to see Tron on opening night. First we were delayed and got there just in time for the first showing at 12:01 AM, which I had bought tickets for a week prior, on inspiration, partly sparked by a geeky friend of mine who had done the same. Then we couldn't find free parking. I normally don't go to the pricey IMAX theater, so I don't know the area as well. This added to my already fat bill, much to my chagrin.

Of course, by that time there were no good seats left. It was either behind the speaker (why they put a seat there, I don't know- it's not like you can actually see the screen, although *maybe* a small child can) or in the neck-twisting front seats. My gf is good with neck massages, but neither was going to cut it for me after so much time of anticipation and cost. So we asked to change the tickets for another time. The next showing was all booked. So we had to get the 2:30 AM one.

In the meantime, we decided to go grab a bite to eat. We were hungry anyway. We knew there was a Wendy's close by, so we decided to walk. We had quite a time finding it, and when we did it was closed. So we had to walk all the way back and get the car. Of course, the parking garage was a flat fee, so I had to pay to get my car what it would have cost me for the entire night, and then pay that again. To top it off, on the way back to the car, my gf hurt her foot thanks to a combination of uneven pavement, unlucky footing and a heeled shoe. We did get the car though and made it to a Denny's, where strangely some menu items were actually reasonably priced.

I had strategically changed a five dollar bill at the garage to park at the cheaper meters the next time around. It was cheaper, but I found out later I probably didn't even need to feed it. Egh. Then one of our tickets was mysteriously lost. Thankfully, the ticket guy was the same one who changed them for us, and let us through without issue. They were checking tickets again at the door of the theater room, but our receipt sufficed to let us in. I've gotta say, I appreciated how nicely they treated us, because it's not always the norm here, and a problem then might have prevented us from catching the movie at all that night.

The 2:30 AM showing was not as crowed though, and more of a pleasure to attend with ample seating, yet still a sizable audience. And all in all, we had a great time, in spite of all the obstacles in our way. We got out of the movie theater at 5 AM.