I was just as shocked leaving the theater as you are now reading the headline.
I get it. A new Tron film starring Jared Leto in the lead role isn’t the most appealing offer, but “Tron: Ares” is actually good.
The newest installment in the franchise follows Dillinger Systems CEO Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters) and ENCOM CEO Eve Kim (Greta Lee), both fighting to gain access to the Permanence Code, two lines of code that allow digitally printed items to permanently exist in the physical world.
Dillinger creates the most advanced AI, Ares (Jared Leto), to hunt down Kim and return the Permanence Code. However, the directive isn’t so simple as Ares begins to malfunction and wants a life of permanence for himself.
This is where the first problem arises in the film. The moment we’re introduced to Ares, he already wants to be permanent.
Except this makes no sense, as there isn’t anything warranting his decision. He just randomly decides he wants to pull a Pinocchio and become a real boy.
The film explains this by claiming it’s a malfunction, but it comes off as a weak link within the story rather than a thoughtful and intentional explanation.
Leto’s performance also isn’t helping anything as he’s just as stark and emotionless as always, which is helpful in the context of the film, as Ares is a program.
Aside from that weak link, the remaining plot and acting in “Tron: Ares” is surprisingly solid.
Seeing Dillinger and Kim duke it out both digitally and physically in a meta game of chess using the grid of city streets as a battleground is thrilling, especially during the light cycle chase.
The concept of the digital world invading the physical world is something Clu strived to do in “Tron: Legacy,” so seeing it executed similarly here is nice, considering that “Tron: Ares” doesn’t touch on much else from its predecessor.
That being said, the film does still have some problems adjacent to the story seen in the previous two films.
“Tron: Ares” explores two deeper themes of AI seeking humanity and the idea of only having one life to live, but both are so in your face and explicitly stated that it feels like preaching more than meaning.
Exposition doesn’t help any either, as new characters get time to explain who they are outright without us being able to gradually gather that instead.
But let’s be honest for a minute: nobody cares about the story of the Tron films.
The appeal of the Tron franchise stems from its exploration of technology and its ability to push technology forward, and its visuals.
While “Tron: Ares” doesn’t introduce any newer techniques, the visuals are incredible and more detailed than the previous installments.
Interestingly enough, the film also revisits both the ‘80s and modern iterations of The Grid, which worried me going into the film as the VFX in “Tron” don’t hold up the best.
The film strikes a nice balance between the two, and they both have a purpose within the plot that I’ll avoid for spoiler reasons, but it does create a new factor: nostalgia.
Nostalgia will turn a lot of people off from the film, but it’s not over the top and serves a purpose within the film’s plot. None of it is soulless fan service, which is greatly appreciated.
Another aspect of the Tron franchise that’s appealing is the soundtrack, which is composed by Nine Inch Nails for “Tron: Ares.”
“Tron: Legacy’s” soundtrack, being composed by Daft Punk, set the bar incredibly high for Tron soundtracks, but NIN does a phenomenal job.
Heavier synths and electronics in the soundtrack are the standout and fit the darker and more antagonistic themes within the film as compared to the more well-balanced themes in “Tron: Legacy.”
The soundtrack isn’t as complex as what is found in “Tron: Legacy” because the same motif from “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” continually appears with not as much variety compared to Daft Punk.
That being said, I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t get goosebumps listening to the soundtrack and watching the hype moments and aura emanate from the screen.
Expect there to be edits on social media within the next few weeks.
“Tron: Ares” isn’t perfect by any means, but it’s not bad either. The film remains competent and quite thought provoking despite its missteps, namely Leto’s casting and the usual problems that plague the franchise.
The visuals and soundtrack are also impeccable and highly detailed, allowing for an enjoyable watch.
It’s not quite to the level of “Tron: Legacy,” but “Tron: Ares” had the potential to be on par with its predecessor had those few issues been resolved before release.
Rating: 3.5/5
Luke Brewer can be reached at 581-2812 or at lsbrewer@eiu.edu.
