Tron: Ares - Franchise Resurrection or Software Crash?

Booting Up the System

Plug in your LED lights and start practicing your motorcycle skills, because a cult classic franchise is back on the big screen after 15 years! Tron: Ares is the latest installment in the popular Tron franchise helmed by Disney. Beginning as a simple science-fiction movie back in 1982, the original Tron revolutionized the usage of computer-generated effects and environments in mainstream blockbusters, as the practice was rare-to-unseen at the time of its release. Even its sequel, 2010’s Tron: Legacy, became a modest box office hit and has gained a massive cult following in the years since its release.

Now, after almost two decades of dormancy, the franchise has gotten its wheels back on the box office’s track with an all-new outing. Yet, it is facing a bit of difficulty maintaining a consistent speed; the film has received mixed reviews from critics, with polarization on where it stands in comparison to the other films in the franchise, and made $33 million on its opening weekend – lower than the $44 million made by Legacy. Despite this, I held out hope for Ares, believing it could be a fun time at the movies.

I thoroughly enjoy the previous entries in this series, as they are unique in their settings and action sequences while boasting creative visuals and spectacular sound design – especially in Legacy. Plus, the marketing introduced a fascinating premise of artificial intelligence (AI) colliding with the real world, a change in pace from the franchise’s typical computer-heavy backdrops. Added in with acclaimed rock band Nine Inch Nails helming the score and soundtrack, everything was aligned for this movie to be a strong addition to both the Tron series and long line of 2025 blockbusters. 

Eagerly, I drove as fast as I could to the local Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield and booked a ticket to the latest digital adventure. As the credits rolled, I was left with one question: did this movie justifiably bring the Tron franchise into the modern era, or was it as enjoyable as unannounced system malware?

Trouble with the Engine

Tron: Ares sees humankind making contact with AI, the first time the two worlds have ever collided. Straight from a digital world known as the Grid, a supersoldier program named Ares is brought into reality by tech CEO Julian Dillinger, who seeks the permanence code – a macguffin which allows AI beings to be a part of humankind with no repercussions. Ares is sent on a dangerous mission to retrieve the code, but after meeting Dillinger’s competitor – fellow CEO Eve Kim – he begins to question his own motivations as he builds an unprogrammed consciousness.

Directed by Joachim Rønning – of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales – the film features an all-star cast including Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hasan Minhaj, and Jeff Bridges (reprising his role from the previous films) among others. 

As a whole, this movie is an absolute blast to watch on the big screen, especially from a pure entertainment standpoint. However, it still sports prominent issues which prevent it from joining the year’s best movies. These faults primarily stem from the screenplay, especially in the way it tells its story and handles its characters. At its core, the film is extremely basic in its setup, resulting in an unremarkable product which could have done more with the concepts it lays out. 

The characters are hit primarily hard by this simplicity, as it barely gives them any room to flesh out. Every being – both human and AI – has a very basic motivation, each one following familiar plot beats and a simple arc. Whether it be Ares’s yearning to break free from his programming or Kim’s motivation to accomplish a goal for a deceased family member, their subsequent development comes off lacking due to the basic nature of the screenplay. In Kim’s case, her motivation isn’t even thoroughly explored, resulting in her backstory ultimately feeling insignificant and forgettable. 

Not helping the matter is the simplicity of the movie’s story, which follows a very standard conflict-to-resolution type of plot. The film has no shortage of creativity, but the ideas and concepts it sets up are often undermined or don’t get enough time to truly shine. These include the locations characters explore, the relationship between Kim and Dillinger, and the way AI adapts to real world surroundings. I wish the film devoted more time to fleshing out these aspects since it would’ve helped the screenplay to feel more layered and less formulaic. 

The plot of obtaining the permanence code is interesting, but it’s too predictable to stick out from other science-fiction films – including its own predecessors – ultimately impacting Ares’s ability to stand out and provide something new.

Luminous Lights

Despite the issues in telling a unique story, I cannot deny that this film excelled in keeping me entertained the entire time. One of the most unique aspects of Tron as a whole is its visual style, which makes great use of bright colors, varying vehicle designs, and digitally enhanced backdrops to bring its environments to life. Ares is no different, as its effects rank among some of the most gorgeous of any movie from this year.

Making strong use of a neon red and black color scheme both in and out of the Grid, the movie is visually bright and stunning to witness on the big screen. Whether it be rays of light being used as weapons, varying vehicle designs like motorcycles and airships, or landscapes in the Grid’s digital utopia, there is no shortage of creative visuals to keep eyes glued to the screen until the end credits. There are even some visuals in the second half of the film which serve as a great nostalgic callback to the original Tron movie, both in design and environment.

These visuals further benefit in the movie’s numerous action scenes, where they truly get to pop and speed through the screen. Primarily making use of vehicular chase scenes, these sequences strongly build engagement through its fantastic visuals and impeccable sound design, ensuring viewers feel the rev of every engine and the impact of every hit. Meanwhile, action scenes taking place in the Grid benefit from beautiful backdrops and additional bright colors, resulting in sequences which can feel ripped directly out of a video game, effectively transporting viewers into a digital wonderland.

But of all these fantastic technical elements, the one which stood out to me the most was the music by Nine Inch Nails. The score is spectacular, with each track making use of different compositions and melodies to keep the overall track list fresh. Many of the pieces help the action scenes to feel even more engaging, especially when they make use of a rock-style of music – what Nine Inch Nails is most well known for. 

Simultaneously, the soundtrack is equally fantastic, especially with engaging songs like “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” and “Who Wants to Live Forever?” These tracks are incredible showcases of the band’s vocal and composition talents, providing a treat for the ears while the visuals please the eyes. 

A Casting Conflict

For the most part, the cast of the movie does an efficient job at embracing their roles and making their characters their own. Despite the lacking development, I can’t deny that the actors are committed to delivering strong performances which help the characters to find at least some personality. Namely, I thoroughly enjoyed Lee’s take on Kim, as she not only showcased great determination and commitment, but also got to shine in the movie’s more dramatic moments. Even though her backstory and relationships barely receive any attention, Lee’s screen presence makes Kim an enjoyable character at the very least. 

I also loved the movie’s antagonist performances, courtesy of Turner-Smith as Athena – another ruthless AI program – and Peters as Dillinger. Turner-Smith plays her role menacingly, especially after a certain plot point towards the end of the first act, adding an effective threatening layer to what would be another basic character. Meanwhile, Peters hams up his performance, leading him to feel more over-the-top compared to the rest of the cast. However, he plays his role with just enough hyperbole to where he doesn’t feel completely one note, nor does he feel like a cartoon character. He has the loudest personality of the ensemble, but that adds a unique layer to his character as he takes advantage of every minute he gets on screen.

Despite these efforts, there was one massive skepticism I had going into this movie: the casting of Leto as the main protagonist, Ares. Though he is capable of giving an enthralling performance – such as in Requiem for a Dream and Dallas Buyers Club – Leto’s more recent roles have fallen flat for me, especially in Suicide Squad and Morbius, for either being too monotone or over-the-top. As such, I was worried his occasionally off-putting acting style would clash with the movie’s tone and ultimately harm his character.

Ultimately, though I did not entirely dislike his performance, I still felt that Leto’s performance was much less impressive than the rest of the ensemble. This largely comes from his mostly flat line delivery and bland personality. Though he does become a bit more emotive as the film progresses, he still fails to make his character captivating, further harmed by his character’s formulaic arc. While not the worst performance I’ve ever seen, I wish he provided more energy to Ares, especially since he’s such a central character to the plot. But his monotone delivery and lacking personality result in an unfortunately underwhelming protagonist, even with the few energetic moments he has toward the film’s climax. 

End of Line

Overall, despite the standard story, lack of character development, and mostly monotone performance from Leto, Tron: Ares provides strong entertainment through its gorgeous visual effects, enthralling action scenes, strong supporting cast, and addictive music from Nine Inch Nails. What this movie lacks in storytelling, it makes up for in spectacle, resulting in a worthwhile installment to the Tron series worth catching on the big screen.

If you’re a fan of the previous Tron movies, the science-fiction genre, or films which focus on AI conflicts, I’d say to check this movie out. Tron: Ares is currently speeding through theaters across the country, including the local Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield. If you’re interested in seeing the latest installment in one of Disney’s most overlooked franchises, this is a serviceable way to make use of time.

This movie may not be without its issues, but its entertainment value lights up enough of the Grid to make it a satisfactory watch.

My Rating