Carl Roberts 
“Despite great visual flair, special effects and an appearance from Jeff Bridges, Tron: Ares is a good but not great return to The Grid.”
Greetings, Programs. Fifteen years after the last film, Tron: Legacy, and some forty-three years after the original Tron, we now get to witness the third film in the franchise. Tron: Ares is directed by Joachim Rønning. The screenplay is by Jesse Wigutow, based on a story by David Digilio and Wigutow. The cast for the film includes Jared Leto. Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Castro, and Gillian Anderson. Additionally, Jeff Bridges reprises his role as Kevin Flynn from the previous two movies. The film follows Ares, a super-intelligent program created by Julian Dillinger. He is brought into the real world. As you would expect, the film is a visual feast. But can the film provide an enjoyable return to The Grid, or should it have been de-rezzed?
PREMISE
Tron: Ares follows Ares, an advanced program sent from the digital realm into the physical world on a perilous mission, marking humanity’s first contact with artificial intelligence beings.
THOUGHTS
The film is a good and enjoyable return to The Grid after fifteen years. Sadly, it’s just that: Good but not great. The visuals are incredible, seeing both the digital world and the classic grid in expertly rendered and recreated form. The visuals in the real world are also superb, with a Lightcycle chase and the climax of the film being standout moments. However, they can’t hide a weak script and lacklustre plotline. This makes the film the weakest of the trilogy so far. Even the lauded return of Jeff Bridges, effortlessly stepping back into the role of Kevin Flynn in a ten-minute appearance, can’t save the film. It remains slightly above average fare instead of a must-see experience.
We saw the film in IMAX, and the format suits the film. However, for the ultimate experience, it may need to be seen in IMAX 3D 4DX. That could make the movie better. But it’s the toss of a coin whether it would manage that feat. 4DX comes across as a gimmick for most films. There are exceptions to this, but I doubt Tron: Ares will be one of them. Sure, the Lightcycle chase would be a real highlight, but the rest of the film wouldn’t make a vast difference if seen in the format. 3D would open the real world and The Grid out more, but again, I’m not sure it would be much of a difference to the quality of the film.
JARED LETO
Jared Leto plays Ares. The actor brings what he can to a role that shifts between villain and hero with the click of his fingers. However, the reason behind this shift is never fully fleshed out. This makes the character come across as weak and conflicted. In the same vein as Tron switched from villain to hero near the climax of Legacy, the trick is repeated here. And the result is pretty much the same. The only difference is that Tron was a hero for about a minute in that film. Here, Ares is a hero for around three-quarters of the movie. But he doesn’t make much of an impression. Leto has been handed a seriously half-baked role. Although he tries hard with it, it won’t go down as one of the best characters in the franchise.
It almost feels as if someone in the writer’s room came up with the idea of 3D printing a hero. They sold it on that pitch alone. Instead of fleshing out a character, it makes Ares come across as soulless and, I hate to say it, an annoyance at times. Leto gives his all in the role, opening up the legacy of the digital world in which he exists. When he enters the real world, he acts like a child, marvelling at the world he sees for the first time. As he should. But at times, Leto comes across as wooden, failing to make a memorable impression. This will not be fondly remembered in the franchise.
JODIE TURNER-SMITH
Jodie Turner-Smith plays Athena, a program second-in-command to Ares. It is she who makes the biggest impression in the film, delivering a villain that is one of the most formidable in the history of the franchise. With her close-cropped, bleached-blond hair, Turner-Smith is possibly the main reason for watching the sequel. Moving from sidekick to main villain gives the actress a chance to have fun with the material. She chews the scenery and gives us her best scowl for the most part. Athena comes across a warrior, someone who is single-minded, vicious, and hell-bent on getting the job done, no matter the cost. It is Athena we want to see return in a sequel, if there is one.
THE SUPPORTING CAST
The supporting cast all play their part, to varying degrees. Greta Lee as Eve Kim, the current chief executive officer (CEO) of ENCOM, makes for an engaging human hero against all the digital villains that make an appearance in the real world. She is one character we cheer for and hope to see make it to the end credits. Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger, the CEO of Dillinger Systems and grandson of Ed Dillinger, is a joy to see, acting like he’s the big fish in the pond when, instead, he’s a boy playing with things he can’t control.
Gillian Anderson as Elisabeth Dillinger, Julian’s mother and the daughter of Ed Dillinger, has the thankless task of acting like she’s a shark in moments. While at other times she comes across as Julian’s conscience. At the same time, Jeff Bridges is given short shrift with his extended cameo as Flynn. He is the character we have come to see. Although he gets a great scene with Leto that is a throwback to the original film, it isn’t enough to include him in the film. I’d much rather have Flynn be the forefront of the film instead of being an afterthought. But as they are moving the franchise in a new direction, it seems as if this is his swan song.
VERDICT
Despite great visual flair, special effects and an appearance from Jeff Bridges, Tron: Ares is a good but not great return to The Grid. The throwbacks to what’s gone before are welcome. The return of the original Grid, Lightcycle and the legendary BIT are brilliant additions. As are the paintings of the late David Warner as Ed Dillinger that hang on the walls. But these can’t hide the fact that the film isn’t fully realised. In fact, it appears to have been tampered with in post-production. Characters that should be front and centre are relegated to bit parts instead. Ideas that are introduced are suddenly abandoned, never to be heard of again. It all adds up to a film that should astonish, but falls short.
While the visuals astound, the sound really pops, and we even get some of Wendy Carlos’ score from the original film, it can’t save the film from its fate. Even the score from Nine Inch Nails, which is not in the same class as Daft Punk’s from the second movie, can make the film that much better. The plot threads are left open for a further sequel, and a mid-credits sequence feels apt and chilling. But if they are grabbed and allowed to play out in a fourth film, it needs to be better written than this. The film isn’t bad, but it falls short of its potential. If the film is a success, then we may return to the grid once again. If not, then it is a simple fact: it will be End Of Line.
Tron: Ares opens in cinemas this Friday, courtesy of Disney.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
