Tron Ares – REVIEW

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When it comes to long-awaited sequels, the Tron franchise is in a league of its own. The original movie came out in 1982, followed by a sequel 28 years later in 2010. Now, fifteen years after that, a new film is here, but it feels more like a fresh start than a continuation of the previous stories.

Jared Leto plays Torn Ares, a cybersecurity program that acts as central control for Dillinger Systems, a company spun off from ENCOM. The company is run by Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters), the grandson of the original ENCOM villain, David Warner’s character. Julian is a rebellious and somewhat reckless leader, constantly overseen by his mother, Elizabeth (Gillian Anderson), who is clearly frustrated by his poor decisions. He recently demonstrated an AI-created “ultimate soldier” to the military and investors, failing to mention it only exists for 29 minutes before disintegrating. It’s a risky venture that’s likely to fail, much like a series of unsuccessful projects.

The mystery of Kevin Flynn – the computer expert played by Jeff Bridges who makes a brief appearance – drives much of the plot. Both EMCOM and Dillinger are desperate to find him, or more accurately, the ‘permanence code’ that would allow their super-soldiers to live indefinitely. Eve (Grace Lee), an ENCOM employee, has discovered this code and is pursued by Ares and his second-in-command, Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith), in a thrilling light cycle chase where the laser trails are truly dangerous. This chase leads to Ares experiencing a moment of empathy, allowing Eve to escape. Now, Ares and Eve team up against Athena, who is fiercely determined to complete her mission, no matter the cost.

Like previous installments, the technology in this film has come a long way over the last four decades. While the original Tron was groundbreaking for its time with early computer graphics, those effects were limited to scenes like the light cycle race. This new film, however, is filled with stunning CGI throughout, and it truly shines when viewed on IMAX. The soundtrack, created by Nine Inch Nails (who also served as executive producers), adds another layer of quality. Known for their work with David Fincher, their powerful synth sound perfectly complements this sci-fi spectacle. As a fun throwback, the film even includes a reference to Depeche Mode’s 1981 hit, ‘I Just Can’t Get Enough’ – a nod to the year before the original Tron was released.

Director Joachim Ronning has experience with large-scale films, having directed ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ and potentially a sixth installment, as well as ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’. He skillfully manages the visual effects and action sequences, keeping the movie engaging throughout its two-hour runtime, making it a very enjoyable fall blockbuster.

Here’s the Tron Ares trailer…..

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2025-10-09 02:23