Skyler Orton
Tron Ares, the newest installment of Disney’s classic sci-fi franchise, hit theaters this past weekend, and critical reception was outlandishly poor. While I was worried when it was first announced (after all it stars Jared Leto, historically a grim reaper of sorts for countless franchises) I didn’t expect anything like this. Reviews are skewering the movie including comparisons to some of the largest flops of the 2020s like Sony’s Madam Web.
This is fascinating because, while not a masterpiece, Tron Ares is a perfectly serviceable film and an enjoyable time at the theater. Here’s the good and bad of the movie before you give this newest installment a chance.
The good
The Tron series has always been known for its striking and groundbreaking visual effects and Ares is no exception. The movie’s environments are gorgeously rendered, especially the time inside The Grid, the Tron franchise’s digital world. When brought into the real world these elements look great too, especially the famous lightcycles.
Even the most negative reviews admit that Tron Ares’ soundtrack is one of the highlights of the movie. This couldn’t be more true as Nine Inch Nails provides a dark electronica soundtrack that highlights every scene it’s in. Especially viewed on a good sound system like an IMAX theater, the score elevates scenes into something engaging.
Not enough reviews are talking about the action sequences, but there is a lot to love here. In The Grid, the famous Tron light beams instantly vaporize the digital programs who inhabit it. By taking Tron into the real world these light beams become physical objects that give the action a more grounded feel. For example, characters are able to jump and flip off of light trails let off by their own weapons. This is a genuinely creative use of the setting that is a joy to watch on screen.
The bad
Unfortunately, a lot of reviews are right that the plot is the weakest part of the movie. The story of two rival tech corporations in a race to make their digital creations exist in the real world is mostly nonsense. Once given ten minutes of thought, the entire concept starts to fall apart on itself.
The acting is also laughably bad at parts. Infamous method actor Jared Leto is the star of the movie playing rogue program Ares. On one hand his stiff acting fits the robotic character he plays. On the other hand, once the movie wants the audience to sympathize with Ares his line delivery is hilariously flat.
Greta Lee was one of the upcoming actors I had on my watchlist after her fantastic performance in 2023’s Past Lives, but her performance as Encom CEO Eve Kim doesn’t add anything to the already weak script.
The film also wastes several fantastic actors. Gillian Anderson of X-Files fame plays the matriarch of evil tech corporation Dillinger Systems is a waste of her time and she is given very little material to work with.
Likewise, Cameron Monaghan (best known for Shameless and the Star Wars: Jedi series) is given laughably little screen time. He plays one of Ares’ fellow programs who is unceremoniously written off early on. His appearance is interesting since I can’t see any good reason for Disney to cast a recognizable face in such a small role. It makes me wonder if he had a larger role that was eventually cut down.
In Conclusion
My review of this movie may seem overall negative, but I actually couldn’t recommend it enough. The strong elements of the film work together to elevate the weaker elements in the script and performances. Especially seen in an IMAX theater, the film is a non-stop entertaining thrill ride.
Anyone who has been put on the fence by the overwhelming negative reviews, go see for yourself on the biggest screen possible. You’ll likely have a really fun theater experience of an overall serviceable film. Plus if this does well, maybe we can finally get a Tron Legacy sequel that reunites Daft Punk. Please I need this.
Tron Ares 7/10
