O Tron, Where Art Thou?

December 24, 2010 2:33 PM

How can I watch the original Tron legally and reasonably priced?

I can't find it any place to buy reasonably (Amazon has some used at stupid prices). I can't find it any place to rent. I can't find it anywhere to download legally. I've checked Amazon/Apple, my local libraries, and a couple physical stores.

Is it just impossible?

I'd prefer to not to torrent it. Seems like someone at Disney made a stupid choice with the release of the newest movie. I'd like to rewatch it before considering the newest installment.

posted by cjorgensen to media & arts (12 answers total)

Looks like a couple of your semi-local libraries have it.
posted by col_pogo at 2:37 PM on December 24, 2010

It got a little "midnight movie" action in my area - dunno if it's worth checking whether anyone is playing it on a big screen while the remake is in theatres... May depend how many indie type theatres there are local to you, and how annoying you would find it to go out to see it.
posted by mdn at 3:19 PM on December 24, 2010

If you don't want to pay high prices for used and wish to stay legal, then a library is likely your best bet.

According to the NYT "Steven Lisberger, the director of 'Tron,' has digitally remastered his film, and it will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in the months ahead to increase the home entertainment fortunes of 'Tron: Legacy.'"

Disney's strategy of making its films unavailable for a period and then re-releasing them again at a later date (they used to bring them back to first-run theaters) has worked well for them over the years. I suspect this kind of false scarcity to increase revenue will work less well now that there are other ways of getting the content.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 3:21 PM on December 24, 2010

I'd like to rewatch it before considering the newest installment

The sequel is not very good but is at least better than the original. If the goal is to decide whether to see the sequel, you may not want to base that decision on whether you liked the original Tron.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:42 PM on December 24, 2010

If it helps, I could barely half-remember the original Tron but still greatly enjoyed the sequel (which I thought was great fun and good). I don't think not having seen the first movie will hurt your viewing of the new one. :)
posted by ninjakins at 4:02 PM on December 24, 2010

Ditto on Ninjakins...I think even reading the Wikipedia entry is fine enough. The movie does a fair bit of storytelling.
posted by Calzephyr at 4:10 PM on December 24, 2010

If the goal is to decide whether to see the sequel, you may not want to base that decision on whether you liked the original Tron.

The goal is to see if it lives up to my memories (which I don't think it will). Partly to knock it of the pedestal I have it on to lower expectations for the new one. I also hate missing inside references.

I know someone with ISU connections so might see if I can go that route.
posted by cjorgensen at 4:28 PM on December 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

My local movie theater was playing it (in addition to the sequel, of course).
posted by amro at 4:33 PM on December 24, 2010

Tron was reissued as a 20th anniversary collectors edition in 2003. There are a number of uk sellers doing it at a sane price,new or used.

There is also the remastered bluray edition completed and awaiting release, but that probably won't be out before legacy finishes its cinema run.

I rewatched it a few days ago. I think its held up remarkably well given its age, and the effects are still pretty damn good. But then ive always liked the story, with my suspension of disbelief on overdrive.

Looking forward to seeing legacy after xmas.
posted by ArkhanJG at 4:38 PM on December 24, 2010

Just so you know, it's on purpose that it's so hard to find. The studio has done everything it can to keep it out of the public's hands, either because they think the effects won't stand up to the sequel & will scare people off it or because they've got a remastered DVD on the way. Maybe a bit of both.
posted by scalefree at 6:33 PM on December 24, 2010

CD Tradepost has a few copies on their website for a reasonable price (four copies, starting at $5.99, as of the time I posted the link).
posted by amyms at 6:55 PM on December 24, 2010

There's an HD version available on youtube, if you're willing to watch it in that format (and something like eight parts).
posted by Amanojaku at 11:36 PM on December 24, 2010 [2 favorites]