Editing Tron (section)

=== Critical response ===
The film was well-received by critics. [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film four out of four stars and described it as "a dazzling movie from Disney in which computers have been used to make themselves romantic and glamorous. Here's a technological sound-and-light show that is sensational and brainy, stylish and fun".<ref name="Ebert">{{cite news|last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=''Tron'' |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=January 1, 1982 |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19820101/REVIEWS/201010350/1023 |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19820101/REVIEWS/201010350/1023 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, near the end of his review, he noted (in a positive tone), "This is an almost wholly technological movie. Although it's populated by actors who are engaging (Bridges, Cindy Morgan) or sinister (Warner), it's not really a movie about human nature. Like ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' or ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' but much more so, this movie is a machine to dazzle and delight us".<ref name="Ebert" /> Ebert closed his first annual Overlooked Film Festival with a showing of ''Tron''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival #1 Schedule |url=http://ebertfest.com/one/schedule.htm |access-date=December 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710/http://ebertfest.com/one/schedule.htm |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' also awarded four out of four stars, calling it "a trip, and a terrifically entertaining one at that...It's a dazzler that opens up our minds to our new tools, all in a traditional film narrative."<ref>[[Gene Siskel|Siskel, Gene]] (July 9, 1982). "Marvelous 'TRON' sends Disney soaring into the '80s". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 3, pp. 1–2.</ref> Each gave the film "two thumbs up".<ref>[https://siskelebert.org/?p=6633 Tron, The Secret of NIMH, The Devil's Playground, Gregory's Girl, 1982 - Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews]</ref> ''Tron'' was also featured in Siskel and Ebert's video pick of the week in 1993.<ref>[https://siskelebert.org/?p=2771 Life with Mikey, Super Mario Bros., Guilty as Sin, What's Love Got to Do with It, 1993 - Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews]</ref>

''InfoWorld''{{'}}s Deborah Wise was impressed, writing that "it's hard to believe the characters acted out the scenes on a darkened soundstage... We see characters throwing illuminated [[Frisbee]]s, driving 'lightcycles' on a video-game grid, playing a dangerous version of [[jai alai]] and zapping numerous fluorescent tanks in arcade-game-type mazes. It's exciting, it's fun, and it's just what video-game fans and anyone with a spirit of adventure will love—despite plot weaknesses."<ref>Deborah Wise, "Unabashed fan and critics' critic talk about Disney's ''Tron''," ''InfoWorld'' Vol. 4, No. 30 (August 2, 1982): [https://books.google.com/books?id=NjAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Tron+film+characters&pg=PA71 70-71].</ref>

On the other hand, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' disliked the film and said in its review, "''Tron'' is loaded with visual delights but falls way short of the mark in story and viewer involvement. Screenwriter-director Steven Lisberger has adequately marshalled a huge force of technicians to deliver the dazzle, but even kids (and specifically computer game geeks) will have a difficult time getting hooked on the situations".<ref name="Variety">{{cite news|title=''Tron'' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 1, 1982 |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117795896.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117795896.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In her review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Janet Maslin]] criticized the film's visual effects: "They're loud, bright and empty, and they're all this movie has to offer".<ref name="Maslin">{{cite news|last=Maslin |first=Janet |title=''Tron'' |work=[[New York Times]] |date=July 9, 1982 |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=2&res=9500E7DB103BF93AA35754C0A964948260&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes&oref=slogin&oref=login |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=2&res=9500E7DB103BF93AA35754C0A964948260&partner=Rotten+Tomatoes&oref=slogin&oref=login |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''[[Washington Post]]'''s Gary Arnold wrote, "Fascinating as they are as discrete sequences, the computer-animated episodes don't build dramatically. They remain a miscellaneous form of abstract spectacle".<ref name="Arnold">{{cite news | last = Arnold | first = Gary | title = Duel of Two Disneys | newspaper = [[Washington Post]] | pages = C1 | date = July 10, 1982 }}</ref> In his review for ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', [[Jay Scott]] wrote, "It's got momentum and it's got marvels, but it's without heart; it's a visionary technological achievement without vision".<ref name="Scott">{{cite news | last = Scott | first = Jay | title = ''Tron'' Beautiful but Heartless | work = The Globe and Mail | date = July 10, 1982 }}</ref>

[[Colin Greenland]] reviewed the home video release of ''Tron'' for ''[[Imagine (game magazine)|Imagine]]'' magazine, and stated that "three plucky young programmers descend into the micro-world to battle the Master Control Program with a sacred frisbee. Loses much of its excitement on the little screen."<ref name="Imagine25">{{cite journal | last = Greenland|first = Colin |author-link=Colin Greenland| title =Fantasy Media  | type = review | journal = [[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]] | issue = 25| pages =47 | publisher = TSR Hobbies (UK), Ltd. |date=April 1985| issn = }}</ref>

On review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds a 73% rating based on the reviews of 71 critics, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's consensus states: "Though perhaps not as strong dramatically as it is technologically, TRON is an original and visually stunning piece of science fiction that represents a landmark work in the history of computer animation."<ref>{{rotten-tomatoes|id=tron|Tron}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gave the film a score of 58 based on 13 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|title=TRON Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tron|website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref>

In the year it was released, the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] refused to nominate ''Tron'' for a special-effects [[Academy Award]] because, as director Steven Lisberger puts it, "The Academy thought we cheated by using computers".<ref name="Helfand">{{cite news | last = Helfand | first = Glen | title = ''Tron'' 20th Anniversary | work = San Francisco Gate | date = January 9, 2002 | url =https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Tron-s-20th-Anniversary-Director-discusses-3236009.php }}</ref> The film did, however, earn Oscar nominations in the categories of [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] ([[Elois Jenssen]] and [[Rosanna Norton]]) and [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]] ([[Michael Minkler]], [[Bob Minkler]], [[Lee Minkler]], and [[James LaRue (sound engineer)|James LaRue]]).<ref name="Oscars1983">{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983 |title=The 55th Academy Awards (1983) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 9, 2011 |work=oscars.org |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/55th-winners.html |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>