Imperfection and the Divine: Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Tron: Legacy

The oldest and greatest human drama, the quest for divinity and perfection, as seen in two science fiction films, separated by almost 31 years.

By Jeffrey Siniard on 4/12/11.

I wasn't fortunate enough to see either Star Trek: The Motion Picture, or Tron: Legacy in movie theaters.  I was  2 when the former was released in theaters, and a 33 year old parent of 2 when the latter was released.  However, thanks to the wonders of home video, the former is probably the movie I've seen more times than any other in my life (well over 100 times - Alien would be the only other plausible contender), the latter I've watched twice since I picked up the Blu-Ray on Friday.

This isn't a review, rather a collection of thoughts on the similarities between the 2 films, in terms of theme and symbolism.  Additionally, their strengths - visually spectacular, symbolically designed, contemplative (not the same thing as boring), featuring terrific music - are the same.  Likewise, both films have been criticized for wooden acting, uneven pacing, anemic plotting, and something I'll call "outsized ambition" (i.e. the filmmakers have attempted to elevate the source material to undeserved heights).

Needless to say, I find that both of these films have been, almost criminally, undervalued by the critical community, and not fully appreciated by many of their devoted fans.  Neither film is perfect, but both are interesting for almost identical reasons.