The TRON series returns after years with a fresh chapter directed by Joachim Rønning. Jared Leto plays the lead role of a digital program crossing into our reality. Joining him are Greta Lee, Evan Peters, and Jeff Bridges, who comes back from the earlier movies.
This sci-fi film runs close to two hours. It explores how artificial beings might understand human life. The movie continues from where the 2010 film left off but tells its own story about technology and existence.
The Plot
A program called Ares leaves the digital network and enters physical space. His mission brings him face-to-face with real people and unexpected challenges. Two powerful tech owners battle over breakthrough inventions while Ares searches for his purpose.
The narrative asks what makes someone truly alive. These moments slow down between action scenes. I noticed the film struggling to keep momentum when switching between excitement and reflection. Conversations sometimes drag when they should move faster.
The Actors
Leto commits fully to playing something non-human trying to grasp humanity. His work shows dedication though the character has limits built into how he’s written. You see effort in every scene even when the material doesn’t give him much room.
Greta Lee delivers the most natural work here. She keeps things believable when the story gets abstract. I connected with her scenes more than others. Evan Peters appears but doesn’t get enough screen time. Bridges links everything to the older films nicely.
The Look
This movie shines brightest through pure visuals. The glowing digital spaces look incredible with colors that pop off screen. Chase sequences through these environments feel fresh while respecting what came before. Watching in IMAX takes everything up several levels.
Rønning understands how to make frames interesting. Switching between computer worlds and reality shows technical command. Still, I kept thinking beautiful pictures alone don’t make a complete film. The gap between how it looks and how it feels stays noticeable.
Audio Work
Nine Inch Nails provides electronic music that pulses through scenes. The soundtrack fits the digital atmosphere perfectly. Sound design wraps around you in theaters with proper equipment. I appreciated how audio and image work together.
Music from the 1980s gets referenced in ways that add texture. The whole audio experience supports what you’re watching. Theater quality matters here since home viewing won’t capture the full impact.
Strengths
Production values stay high throughout. Details in every corner show care from the crew. Action delivers genuine thrills when it happens. Those glowing motorcycle chases blend computer effects with real camera work smoothly.
Topics about artificial thinking feel current. The questions matter as computers get smarter. Lee’s performance anchors emotional moments that could float away otherwise. She makes you care about what’s happening.
Weaknesses
Writing becomes the main problem. Words sound written rather than spoken. People explain situations constantly instead of living through them. Attempts at depth come across as surface level. The script needed more passes before filming.
Side characters barely register as individuals. I found myself watching pretty lights without investment in outcomes. Borrowed ideas from other robot films appear without enough fresh perspective added. The story doesn’t earn the themes it wants to explore.
Critical Views
Professional reviewers split down the middle on this one. Rotten Tomatoes ratings hover just above half positive. Most agree visuals impress while story disappoints. Several wrote that style overwhelms substance here.
One major site called it mechanical despite dazzling effects. Another mentioned missing emotional weight. A few gave stronger praise for design and pace. But the majority sees a movie that looks better than it plays. Technical skill gets acknowledged universally though.
Viewer Reactions
Regular audiences seem more forgiving than writers. Fans enjoy returning to this universe with updated technology. Premium theater formats get recommended repeatedly. The film entertains even when it doesn’t fully satisfy deeper expectations.
People new to the series react better in some cases. Social platforms show viewers enjoying the ride despite noted problems. It finds an audience wanting spectacle over substance.
Closing Thoughts
TRON: Ares succeeds as visual entertainment. It works in big theaters with great equipment. Character work and storytelling don’t match the technical achievement. I left impressed by what I saw but wishing for more in what I felt.
Lee does solid work with what she’s given. Ideas about humans and machines matter but get simplified treatment. The movie knows its strengths and plays to them. Fans of the series will find enough to appreciate even if it’s not perfect.
Rating: 3 out of 5
