‘Tron: Ares’ review: A lifeless attempt at modern sci-fi
When Steven Lisberger’s 1982 epic Tron arrived, it was part of a revolution on the big screen, bringing futuristic techno stories to life.
Then, in 2010, Joseph Kosinski reignited The Grid with the Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde-led sequel that received mixed reviews and mustered $400 million at the box office overall.
So, with the latest addition, Tron: Ares, flopping at the box office to just $60 million on debut, Film News Blitz’s Joe Matthews is here to talk you through it.
Rating: ⭐
Sci-fi disappointment
Ares ultimately feels like an unnecessary sequel.
When the first Tron film hit the big screen in the early 80s, it changed the game for modern science fiction, bringing a virtual world to life like never before.
This latest edition, however, is more of a lifeless reimagination.
Led by Jared Leto, there is an undeniably talented cast at the disposal here, but Past Lives’ Greta Lee, X-Men’s Evan Peters and the iconic Gillian Anderson will all surely feel as though this Tron project is one to move on from.
Leto, who plays the confusing (and confused) humanoid AI soldier named Ares, is part of a money-spinning scheme created by the Dillinger corporation to make disposable war machines that can be manufactured in minutes.
However, without the permanence code, discovered by Greta Lee’s Eve Kim, Julian Dillinger’s creations, including his Master Control soldier Ares, cannot come to life for any longer than a 29-minute lifespan.
What ensues is a combination of dull and predictable cliche-driven action sequences that leave us both hoping for more, and yet also happy it's over.
Taking it back to 1982
Where the original really flies is its amazing cat-and-mouse chase scenes.
The Light Cycle scene especially stands out, as we watch Flynn and his compatriots work together against Master Control to escape the game.
We see the bikes interact with different surfaces inside and out of the game surface, as well as seeing Recognizers and tanks bearing down on them.
It is a well-constructed and interesting sequence that shows how a virtual reality really can be brought to life using creative sound design and a simple premise.
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In this 2025 threequel, these scenes, which are in fact set in the real world, lack the same personality.
A big problem that AI-driven plots face is that having human actors playing non-emotional characters only comes off as unconvincing at best.
Watching Ares comprehend his feelings of compassion and empathy doesn’t feel particularly subtle like it is supposed to, meaning that when Ares defects from his directive, it is perhaps one of the most predictable moments in film of the decade.
Unfortunately, Tron: Ares represents a huge let-down in the science-fiction film world, and with a post-credit teaser hinting at a Tron 4, Disney will be hoping they can perform an impressive turnaround at the box office.
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