Kevin Flynn, the CEO of a major computer technology corporation, disappears mysteriously in the late 1980s. His son, Sam, has inherited the company but leaves running it to others; he has no interest. When a family friend visits Sam and tells him about a bizarre message coming from his father's arcade, long since closed down, Sam investigates. He finds behind one machine an old computer from the eighties, and when he toys around on it, he finds himself transported into the virtual reality of the computer. He is forced to participate in a game to the death involving glowing rings, but when he starts bleeding, it becomes apparent to those around him that he is not a member of virtual reality, but is in fact a "user," or a human transported to their world. He is brought to Clu, a program who runs the virtual world that looks exactly like his father did before his disappearance. Sam is initially excited, since he believes Clu to be his dad, but he soon realizes that not only is Clu not his father, Clu aims to kill him. After a big chase sequence on neon motorcycles, he is rescued by Quorra, a beautiful young woman who remains loyal to Flynn, and she takes Sam to be reunited with his father. Flynn explains to Sam that Clu's evil scheme requires escape from virtual reality, and Sam's entrance into their world has opened a portal for a brief moment in time. They must both escape and prevent Clu from escaping, or both virtual reality and actual reality may perish.
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Best part of story, including ending:
The story itself is confusing and sort of muddled in technological mumbo-jumbo, but the visuals are outstanding and the action is second to none.
Best scene in story:
The neon motorcycle chase is thrilling, with terrific special effects, both making the world and the characters, and a thumping Daft Punk score that adds to the suspense.
Opinion about the main character:
Sam doesn't really have much to do, but he's merely the vessel that takes us into the world and to Flynn, who is far more interesting than his son. He neither hurts nor helps the movie.
