TRON: ARES

Directed by Joachim Rønning

Reviewed by Jason King

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Last Thursday, I headed to Tuggerah with my longtime school friend Josh Browne and his son, Marlowe, to finally watch the much-anticipated TRON: Ares.⁣⁣

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I’ll start with full disclosure: I’m a huge TRON fan. TRON: Legacy sits comfortably in my top 20 films of all time. Joseph Kosinski’s dazzling, almost sensual vision, with Garrett Hedlund darting through neon arenas in head-to-toe leather, squaring off against equally stylish programs, all to the pulse of Daft Punk’s iconic score, was, and still is, cinema magic to me.⁣⁣

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So when TRON: Ares was first announced, I resisted. Hard. I wanted Hedlund back alongside Olivia Wilde. For me, they were the continuation of the Flynn legacy, and Hedlund remains the perfect choice to embody Jeff Bridges’ son. Instead, Disney placed Jared Leto at the centre. I’ve enjoyed Leto’s performances over the years, but it’s impossible to ignore his recent fall from Hollywood’s good graces. Once an Oscar-winning darling, he now sits uncomfortably on the industry’s blacklist. So why did Disney book him? And why would a program have a beard? ⁣Haha⁣

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And yet, the trailers drew me in. The red-hued palette promised a striking contrast to Legacy’s cool blue glow, and while this film isn’t a direct continuation, it does manage to tie itself back to the larger universe by the end.⁣⁣

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Visually, Ares is spectacular. The CGI and world-building remain a triumph. The TRON universe is rendered with exhilarating precision: light cycles whip through glowing landscapes, new aircraft dominate the skies, and the return to Flynn’s Grid nearly moved me to tears. The foray into snow-capped terrains and cityscapes expands the scope beautifully, though I longed for more of TRON bleeding into our world; a full-scale invasion would have been thrilling.⁣⁣

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As for the performances: Leto is serviceable, though never exceptional. His subdued approach fits the role of a program grappling with self-awareness and disposability, but it risks flatness, and one imagines acting opposite him may have been a challenge. Evan Peters plays Julian Dillinger, the antagonist pitted against Eve Kim (Greta Lee), who now helms Flynn’s company in Sam’s (Hedlund’s) absence. Peters falls into cliché, the stock “corporate villain” with little depth. More disappointing is Gillian Anderson, whom I personally love with all my heart. Here she’s relegated to a forgettable role as Dillinger’s mother, seemingly shoehorned in for the sake of her value. Even more criminally underused is Cameron Monaghan, whose character appears briefly before vanishing into the cutting room floor.⁣⁣

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Among the cast, Greta Lee shines brightest, carrying her role with precision and presence. Jodie Turner-Smith impresses as Athena, though her turn as the Master Controller lacks the delicious menace the role needed.⁣⁣

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Thematically, Disney leans heavily into its current stance on AI, framing it as the solution to war. The message may irk some viewers, though for me, the theme feels more recycled than provocative.⁣⁣

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The standout element, however, is the soundtrack. Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross deliver a thunderous score, clearly designed to rival Daft Punk’s legendary work on Legacy. While Daft Punk remains untouchable in my book (I bought the soundtrack the day I first saw the film), Reznor and Ross come impressively close, their industrial edge giving the film an urgent, visceral energy.⁣⁣

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It’s worth noting the disparity between critics and audiences: Ares currently sits at 55% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have rated it a glowing 87%. Having read several reviews, I find the critics unusually hostile, some even claiming this is Disney’s “worst film” and predicting it will sink the studio. Negative hype aside, one wonders whether there’s an agenda at play.⁣⁣

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Audience reactions tell another story. Marlowe, at 11, enjoyed the spectacle (though much of the nuance was lost on him), while Josh declared it the best film he has ever seen, overwhelmed by the sheer visual power. For me, Legacy remains far ahead in the franchise, but Ares sets the stage for a potentially brilliant fourth instalment, if audiences show up to support it.⁣⁣

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My verdict: TRON: Ares is imperfect, uneven in places, but undeniably exhilarating. It earns its four stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️