Is Tron: Ares the groundbreaking film the franchise deserves, or just another missed opportunity? The latest installment in Disney's digital universe dazzles the senses but leaves us wondering if the series will ever reach its full potential.
PLOT: The story centers on Dillinger (portrayed by Evan Peters), a brilliant but morally corrupt tech mastermind who uncovers a method to transport AI entities from The Grid into our physical reality—with a critical limitation that these digital beings can only maintain their form for twenty-nine minutes before dissolving into nothingness. When a competing corporate leader, Eve (played by Greta Lee), stumbles upon the secret to granting these programs permanent existence in our world, Dillinger dispatches his elite security program, Ares (brought to life by Jared Leto), to retrieve the crucial data and eliminate her as a threat. However, exposure to the human world transforms Ares in unexpected ways, as he begins to develop genuine empathy and an emerging longing to experience humanity firsthand.
REVIEW: The Tron film series represents one of Disney's most underappreciated franchises that should have achieved far greater cultural significance. The fundamental concept is brilliant: computer programs inhabiting a virtual universe created by Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) possess their own distinct personalities, consciousness, and existence. As our society increasingly embraces AI technology, these films have grown more thematically relevant than ever—and yet, curiously, no filmmaker has ever fully captured the franchise's potential. Let me be clear: each existing installment has its merits. The original Tron pioneered visual effects and storytelling techniques that were revolutionary for its time and remains the most creatively successful entry, while Tron: Legacy offered breathtaking visuals but struggled with narrative depth and character development (both films have recently been re-released in stunning 4K editions that showcase their visual artistry).
But here's where it gets interesting... Tron: Ares represents significant progress in certain aspects, introducing the most compelling character to emerge from The Grid since the original film. This marks the first time the series has centered its narrative on a program as the main protagonist, and Ares emerges as a refreshingly unique hero—with Jared Leto proving to be unexpectedly ideal casting. There has always been something mysterious (and, if I'm being honest, somewhat peculiar) about Leto's persona, which has perhaps hindered his mainstream acceptance as a traditional leading man. Yet these very qualities make him perfectly suited to portray the mechanical Ares—essentially The Grid's version of Pinocchio—a program originally designed for destruction who discovers compassion through his interactions with humanity, particularly through the film's co-protagonist, Eve (Greta Lee).
Typically, a character like Eve would serve as the primary focus, following her exploration of The Grid (similar to Flynn's journey in the original and Sam—portrayed by Garrett Hedlund—in the sequel). While elements of this narrative approach remain, the creators of Tron: Ares have ingeniously subverted expectations. Rather than humans venturing into The Grid, this time it's programs crossing over into our reality. Leto portrays Ares with an evolving sense of humanity and enjoyment, as he becomes attuned to the simple joys of human existence—including, in a delightful homage, an appreciation for the music of Depeche Mode.
And this is the part most people miss... While Ares serves as an excellent foundation for the film, this new Tron installment still grapples with some of the same shortcomings that plagued Legacy. For starters, the opening thirty minutes of the movie move at a painfully sluggish pace. The narrative takes too long to establish Ares as the central figure, and Greta Lee—so brilliant in the indie drama Past Lives—isn't given substantial material to work with initially. She's burdened with excessive technical jargon and awkward attempts at humor. Her performance improves considerably once the action sequences begin, with the film suddenly finding its rhythm during an exhilarating motorcycle chase featuring Lightcycles operating in the real world.
From that moment forward, Tron: Ares delivers an exhilarating experience. Leto and Lee develop effortless chemistry once the action commences, and visually, the film is absolutely spectacular. Director Joachim Rønning made an inspired choice by enlisting Jeff Cronenweth, cinematographer for many of David Fincher's masterpieces, to capture the film's visuals. He imbues the movie with a sleek, atmospheric aesthetic, with the aspect ratio expanding to IMAX dimensions whenever characters transition into The Grid. The visual effects are nothing short of extraordinary, and the score composed by Nine Inch Nails immediately establishes itself as a classic, incorporating several subtle references to Wendy Carlos's groundbreaking soundtrack from the original film during a wonderfully nostalgic sequence.
However, here's where opinions will likely divide... The human drama—essentially any storyline not directly involving Ares—fails to resonate. Evan Peters portrays the younger Dillinger (the same character briefly embodied by Cillian Murphy in Tron: Legacy) with an exaggerated villainy that borders on caricature; it's difficult to imagine someone so overtly malevolent successfully ascending to a CEO position. Gillian Anderson delivers a more nuanced performance as his mother—calculating and cold, yet believable as the sophisticated antagonist this type of film requires. Jeff Bridges is unfortunately underutilized, and his return as Kevin Flynn feels like an obligatory inclusion rather than a meaningful contribution to the narrative. The film also displays evidence of post-production alterations: Cameron Monaghan (known for Shameless) makes a brief appearance despite having been featured prominently enough in earlier versions that he participated in promotional events at Comic-Con.
Beyond Leto, the only performer who truly makes a significant impact is Jodie Turner-Smith, who delivers an outstanding performance as Athena, Ares's adversary within The Grid. With her striking bleached-blonde hair and commanding screen presence, she's perfectly cast in the role and provides the menacing quality that Peters's performance lacks.
Similar to Tron: Legacy, Ares presents a mixed experience, but once the action sequences ignite and the Nine Inch Nails soundtrack reaches its crescendo, I found myself thoroughly entertained. While a truly exceptional Tron film has yet to materialize (I have great affection for the original, but I wouldn't classify it as a masterpiece), Tron: Ares still offers an enjoyable return to The Grid.
Now it's your turn to weigh in... Do you believe the Tron franchise has finally found its footing with this latest installment, or is it still searching for its identity? Is Jared Leto's performance enough to elevate the film beyond its shortcomings, or does the uneven human drama ultimately undermine the experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below—whether you agree with this assessment or have a completely different perspective on the film's merits and flaws.
