If you look back on several sci-fi movies from the past, a lot of them are ‘predicting the future.’ What I mean by that is – many directors give an idea to the public of what the future holds, or what technology may be able to do in the future in their movies. They give examples in the movies that we can relate to in the real world. The Matrix (1999) and Tron (1982) were two films that presented those ideas very clearly.
In The Matrix, Neo goes into this virtual world and his reality is completely altered. He takes the pill that will forever change his life and help him figure out ‘what’s down the rabbit hole.’ Thinking about this in a realistic sense, our world may be living in the matrix. Scientists are trying to figure out what other planets/ galaxies/ universes inhabit humans, if there is technology anywhere else, and if there is any other life besides ours on Earth in space. Just like in The Matrix, our world in 2016 is trying to figure out if there is another reality out there that we are either already in, or will be in. That’s just a thought that came to mind when thinking about this whole concept. Anyway, back to the Internet.
When Neo is faced with the matrix, he is able to have skills downloaded to his brain from the computer. During this scene, we see that he develops a skill to be amazing at Kung Fu/ Tai Kwon Do. Through all the coding being done, the wires that are connected to Neo are embedding all the skills necessary to become a pro. With this happening, it reminded me of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Nowadays, we can search the Internet and find any piece of content we want and teach it to ourselves. We can watch a video on YouTube teaching us how to knit or how to ride a bike. When we read these articles or watch these videos, it’s embedding this information into our brains and we are developing the skills to do these things. The Matrix made a clear connection between Neo suddenly being a Kung Fu pro, and humans in the present being able to go on the Internet and watch a video/ read an article and learn a new skill immediately.
In Tron, Flynn is sucked into a digital gaming world in which his enemy who stole his video game ideas has created. To prove to the world that Ed Dillinger stole Flynn’s ideas, Flynn decides to try to hack into the ENCOM system. While doing this, the MCP sucks him into the digital world into a video game in which he must play in. Flynn ultimately destroys the MCP in the end, but in the process was forced to be immersed in the game and stay connected at all times. Tron reminds me of social media/ the Internet in today’s world. Social media doesn’t REQUIRE you to stay connected at all times, but several people feel the need to HAVE to be connected at all times - posting statuses, pictures, updates, etc. I will use myself as a prime example. I am unhealthily attached to social media and the Internet. I’m always looking on Google for things I don’t know, and I’m constantly on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook checking up on who I follow. It’s kind of a sickness. I am genuinely addicted to social media. In order to be finished with my day, I need to make sure I accomplish all the tasks I need to; checking social media and connecting with people virtually. This concept relates to Tron because of how Flynn is stuck in this digital gaming world, and must connect and participate in order to get out. He is forced to play games and fight for his life. Now social media doesn’t make you fight for your life exactly… But it does make you (me) want to finish what you started in order to feel accomplished.
These two movies have played an important role in the digital and movie world. They each have their own characteristics that contribute to being connected with the Internet, and that is something not many people can do. The directors of this film have created stories that potentially were ideas that turned into the future.
