2. Jeff Bridges Is Downloaded Into A Computer In Reality For Tron Legacy
Tron is the very epitome of a cult film, in which Bridges's Kevin Flynn is bodily downloaded into a computer mainframe and must avoid being de-rezzed while attempting to thwart his plagiarising business rival from inside his own system. It's a little odd, is what we're saying. Wind forward to 2012, and Bridges found himself being downloaded into a computer again for Mouse House-enforced sequel Tron: Legacy. Only this time, it happened in real life. Presumably seeking to take advantage of their marquee star by this point, Bridges had won an Oscar for Crazy Heart and permanently ensconced himself in our hearts as The Dude Disney elected to make him both the hero and villain of the piece. The hero was actual Flynn, who'd disappeared in 1989 while doing cutting-edge research, but had aged as appropriately as Bridges. However, the villain was a whole different kettle of fish. The villain was Clu, a programme replication of Flynn who possessed the majestic mullet and facial features of a 35-years-younger Bridges. Obviously, de-aging has never been a problem in Hollywood before make-up can perform all sorts of miracles in Tinseltown but that wasn't enough for director Joseph Kosinski, who unsatisfied with the first special make-up young Flynn-face offered by practical effects god Rick Baker, decided to download Bridges's face from 1985's Against All Odds. He then digitally mapped it onto a stunt double trained to replicate the actor's moves and mannerisms. If this sounds bonkers, it's because it is, taking almost two years to get right and helping delay the film for what eventually turned out to be a dead-eyed uncanny valley monstrosity. If a similar choice is ever presented to you any point, just accept what Rick Baker gives you and leave the technology at home. Otherwise you'll end up with a strange situation where you're downloading a man onto man representing a downloaded program, who's a facsimile of a downloaded man. Plus a bucket of money you might as well set on fire. Again, Tron's a little odd.
