The next killer app?

January 21, 2002 10:27 PM

The next killer app? Scheduled for release in 2003, Google meets Echelon in a project that could spell the end of privacy as we know it. (Flash warning)
posted by obiwanwasabi (12 comments total)

That's one of the cooler uses of Flash I've seen in a while... but I'm probably biased as I'm a lover of Tron 1.0.
posted by insomnyuk at 10:34 PM on January 21, 2002

What? Is it a preview advert for Tron 2.0? Isn't it a bit early for all that? When's the movie due out?
posted by skylar at 1:20 AM on January 22, 2002

It does seem to be an official preview -- check the bottom of the Tron 2.0 page (as linked by obiwanwasabi). It's mentioned on the Tron 20th anniversary DVD, and the whois info for tronkillerapp.com says it's owned by Buena Vista.
posted by Lionfire at 2:02 AM on January 22, 2002

SPOILERS:


"THE PLOT IMPETUS: A nefarious Orwellian-esque mega SEARCH ENGINE (this movie’s revived replacement for the MCP) has been developed, which is more powerful than any other search engine, virus, or program yet invented. This all-consuming SEARCH ENGINE threatens to take over the world by sucking up every single speck of info/data in the electronic universe - there is no security measure capable of preventing this program engine from getting and taking whatever it wants. Corporations and governments cannot stand alone against it… Hackers, and certainly average private citizens, all stand powerless to defend their privacy and livelihood from being taken over by this unstoppable Big Brother cyberforce…which will FORCE everyone to submit to its tyrannical totalitarian superiority.

"Flynn can’t bear to see the free world be destroyed in this fascist fashion, so he oversees a newer-younger team of teen/college rebel-heroes, who must once again enter the digital realm and utilize their Playstation/Dreamcast/Nintendo-era hacking-cracking extreme-sports skills in order to battle the forces of the new would-be MCP. (I list all of those mutually-exclusive concepts together, because the action sequences of this script wisely attempt to harness all of those notions within the cyber-realm.) (courtesy Coming Attractions)


I don't know. As cool as it could be, the villain sounds pretty ridiculous and I have this horrible picture of the Mountain Dew commercial guys all dressed up in Tron gear throwing ultracool frisbees.
posted by Sinner at 6:53 AM on January 22, 2002

I've been looking forward to this little beauty for a few months now. I don't know of anyone who heard they were making a new Tron movie who said "Really? Hell yeah!"

The general consensus seems to be a momentary silence and then a confused "why?!"
posted by Hildago at 7:48 AM on January 22, 2002

Actually, I think it makes a lot of sense - more now than the original did at its release. I just can't figure out how they can make a search engine intimidating.
posted by Sinner at 8:45 AM on January 22, 2002

I can imagine a fictional search engine crawling its way over the internet, growing more intelligent as it gathers and processes information, writes its own viruses and invades networks, crippling banks and the like. But then all you have to is disconnect from the web, right?
posted by Modem Ovary at 9:07 AM on January 22, 2002

I just think it's sad how unwilling Hollywood is to try heading in new directions. Instead we get Tron 2 and Indiana Jones 4. Can't they just let successful films be, and try making something new from the ground up? Is that too much to ask?
posted by drywall at 12:29 PM on January 22, 2002

I just think it's sad how unwilling Hollywood is to try heading in new directions. Instead we get Tron 2 and Indiana Jones 4. Can't they just let successful films be, and try making something new from the ground up? Is that too much to ask?
posted by drywall at 12:33 PM on January 22, 2002

The next thing you're going to tell me is that someone is going to remake Rollerball. Then we'll share a good laugh.
posted by Skot at 12:35 PM on January 22, 2002

No, you can't escape by unplugging, if the entire world is Bluetoothed :P
posted by Maxor at 2:39 PM on January 22, 2002

TRON was a dud when it was released, but it has grown into a cult classic amongst the geek population. (if not, its popularity is because of it's retro-chic technology depictions)

Still, I can't help but think that this sounds like the direct-to-video sequel to Lawnmower Man, which was not a good movie, to say the least.
posted by Down10 at 4:27 PM on January 22, 2002