Review: Tron: Ares

The “Tron” franchise is interesting. The original from 1982 is groundbreaking when it comes to filmmaking and special effects, but it didn’t do that well critically or financially. At the time, Disney had to write off most of the budget, and the film was seen as a failure (except by Roger Ebert!). Over the next decade-plus, the film became a cult classic for nerds like me, who were in love with the effects and the strange beauty of the world.

After 18 years, Disney decided “Tron” had enough of a following to not only make a legacy sequel, but to position it as their company’s answer to “Star Wars.” Thus, we got “Tron: Legacy” in 2010, a decent movie that grossed around $400 million for the “Tron” brand, but was still seen as a disappointment by Disney, which had hoped it would cross the $1 billion mark. Same story, different movie: the movie was forgotten almost immediately after release and then slowly over the last 15 years has built up enough of a cult following that Disney is ready to dust off the old arcade cabinet and tap back into The Grid.

In rewatching “Tron” and “Tron: Legacy” in preparation for the release of “Tron: Ares,” I learned a few things about the franchise, always enhanced by rose-colored nostalgia glasses for me. First, the original “Tron’s” actual plot is secondary to the effects. If the revolutionary computer effects and world-building weren’t there, no one would really care about Jeff Bridges’ mission to regain ownership over a video game he invented. The film is actually pretty dull, with Bridges doing his best to energize a fairly mellow story.

“Tron: Legacy” does a good job expanding the scope of the world and has a ton of exciting action and sci-fi shenanigans, but is completely hobbled in 2025 by the de-aged version of Jeff Bridges, who serves as the villain of the film. The character looks so AI and phony that (especially when standing next to the REAL Jeff Bridges) it grinds the movie to a halt whenever it shows up.

But “Tron: Legacy” had one thing that really elevated the film into cult classic territory: The score by Daft Punk is an all-timer -- so propulsive and intense that it carries the movie through even some of its worst moments. Even if you have zero interest in ever watching a “Tron” movie, listen to the score from “Tron: Legacy” and create your own version in your imagination.

Now, we have “Tron: Ares,” fresh with many of those same lessons from the previous “Tron” movies learned and unlearned. Obviously, the effects are incredible with astonishing production design, cinematography and action sequences. This was always going to be a given. Director Joachim Rønning really does some awe-inspiring stuff with the camera that always manages to keep the film interesting to look at, even when the pedestrian story falters along the way.

My biggest problem with “Tron: Ares” is something that might not bother anyone else, but I’ll bring it up anyway: Jared Leto doesn’t know how to modulate a performance. It seems like he’s way more concerned with making an impression than creating a character that fits in the world he’s a part of. His Joker is cartoonish without any subtext, his performance in “House of Gucci” is garish and worthy of “SNL,” and his work in “Ares” is like he googled being “subtle” and pulled off “sleepy” instead.” He’s not a consistent performer, and in roles like this, “Blade Runner 2049” and “Morbius,” he actively makes the films worse.

Luckily, the one thing Disney retained from “Legacy” is finding a brilliant band to provide an omnipresent and transporting score and dialing into it with intensity and gusto. Nine Inch Nails' score for “Tron: Ares” isn’t just one of the best of the year, but will be in the conversation for GOAT. It held me rapt, watching every single frame, even as the story (about AI, freedom and other trite conventions) bored the hell out of me. I hope “Tron: Ares” is watched by millions of people, not as an extension of another Disney franchise or a Jared Leto vehicle, but as the most expensive NIN music video ever made.

I couldn’t tell you half of the plot points or story ideas in “Ares,” but as a visual ride, it’s pretty incredible. If you just want two hours of NIN elevating film scores into another stratosphere while you’re watching the insanely layered imagery, then look no further. Think of it like “Koyaanisqatsi,” but with 100 percent more Leto. Gummies were invented for “Tron: Ares.” Do with that what you will.

Grade: A- or a C+, I have no idea.