More than four decades after the original Tron offered a glimpse into a digital frontier, and 15 years since Tron: Legacy revived it with a pulsing electronic score, Tron: Ares brings the franchise back to the grid, only to break out of it. The new film inverts the series’ core concept, pulling a program from the digital world into our own, with visually spectacular but narratively safe results.
Directed by Joachim Rønning, the film introduces Ares (Jared Leto), a sophisticated program brought to life by Julian Dillinger, head of Dillinger Systems and grandson of the original film’s antagonist. The catch is that Ares can only survive in the human world for 29 minutes. This premise sets up a race against time, as Encom CEO Dr. Eve Kim (Greta Lee) holds a “permanence code” that could grant Ares indefinite life.
While Eve intends to use the code for the good of humanity, Julian has other plans and dispatches Ares to retrieve it, setting up a conflict that explores familiar questions about creation, control, and artificial intelligence.
Sensory Overload
Where the story feels conventional, the film’s technical execution is outstanding. The digital aesthetics have evolved with modern technology, resulting in gleaming armour, cascading light trails, and a tangible sense of motion. A bike chase sequence set in the real world is a particular highlight, showcasing the seamless blend of practical effects and digital augmentation.
The experience is amplified in IMAX, where the scale and sound design are fully immersive. The score from Nine Inch Nails provides a thunderous, apocalyptic counterpoint to Daft Punk’s symphonic work on the previous film. While Legacy sounded like a neon concert, Ares roars with the intensity of a digital storm.
The Human Element
Leto delivers a restrained performance as Ares, balancing the character’s machine-like stoicism with the emergence of a reluctant saviour. Greta Lee provides a grounding human presence as Dr. Kim, but it is Jodie Turner-Smith who makes the strongest impression as Athena, a program operating in a morally ambiguous space. Her cool, composed menace gives the film a much-needed edge.
Elsewhere, the cast is less well-served. Evan Peters is caught in a derivative subplot, and the commanding presence of Gillian Anderson is unfortunately underused. The emotional arcs for most characters feel underdeveloped, limiting the film’s resonance beyond its impressive visual surface.
Tron: Ares is a visually thrilling and musically powerful entry that honours the franchise’s identity while struggling to innovate. It is a worthwhile cinematic experience, especially for long-time fans, offering a stylish sci-fi ride with enough voltage to hold your attention. However, like its protagonist’s initial lifespan, its impact may prove to be short-lived.
Director: Joachim Rønning
Cast: Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith
Stars: 2.5/5
