REVIEW COLLECTION: “TRON” Series, Part 3

(Courtesy Amazon) 

Tron: Ares (2025) 

Talk of a third entry in the TRON film series had been circling since the release of the second installment back in 2010. But nothing official was greenlit over the years, and the closest thing that fans ever got to a follow-up was an animated TV series on Disney XD, titled Tron: Uprising, and some video game spinoffs. (For the former, Bruce Boxleitner reprised his role as the titular computer program, as did Olivia Wilde as Quorra from Tron: Legacy.) Fast forward to 2025, and it was official that Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Rønning would be helming a third theatrical release with actor-musician Jared Leto in the title role. 

Tron: Ares may be the first standalone entry in the franchise, despite several nostalgic throwbacks and references to the previous films (particularly the landmark 1982 flick that started it all). It’s also the first to receive a PG-13 rating, mainly for its intense action and violence. Leto plays a super-soldier computer program who, along with the digital Grid itself, is zapped into the real world (a concept that was implied in the last movie), develops a conscience, and questions his purpose, conflicted between programming and free will. (Sound familiar?) Some references to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (of which new film adaptations from Guillermo Del Toro and Maggie Gyllenhaal, respectively, will be released within the next six months) set up subtle conflicts between creator and creation, before becoming a chase picture. 

The supporting cast includes Greta Lee (as businesswoman Eve Kim, who is determined to carry on her late sister’s legacy for the better), Gillian Anderson and Evan Peters (as the daughter and grandson of former business CEO Ed Dillinger from the original movie, the latter’s body covered in code tattoos), and, of course, Jeff Bridges (irreplaceable as Kevin Flynn). The narrative suggests there are limits and flaws in this cyber system, as said elements can last no more than twenty-nine minutes in the real world, before disintegrating and resurrecting in the Grid. A subplot follows characters and rival companies in search of a device called the “Permanence Code,” which suggests prolonged life. 

The motif of red neon lights and larger-than-life action and visuals are dazzling and jaw-dropping (especially in IMAX). Ditto the booming and awesome sound design, and equally booming retro music by rock band Nine Inch Nails (whose members Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, both frequent collaborators of director David Fincher, serve as co-executive producers of the film). Unlike its predecessors, Tron: Ares presents a more grounded approach, taking place in the real world arguably more than the digital one. A balance of CGI and practicality gives the film a lot of credibility. This includes the use of analogue equipment from the 1980s, such as older computer boxes with floppy disc compartments, and original arcade systems. And wait until you see the newly designed light cycles and discs. You’re in for some mind-blowing rides. Not to mention some impressive fight choreography. 

I’ll admit, I was skeptical how the rest of the film would turn out, as the human elements haven’t been as strong by comparison in previous installments. Like the visual look throughout Ares, this aspect (despite a few ridiculous moments) comes across as sincere and credible, with Leto (despite some current personal controversies) giving easily one of his better roles in recent years. It’s a shame that this genre tentpole hasn’t been doing well in theatres, because it’s a beamingly awesome time at the movies. It represents the current generation of artists, technicians, and storytellers carrying on where the last generation left off at. I found it narratively and thematically strong, in terms of what it means to be human and to live, with dashes of humor. Don’t believe everything you read or hear about it. Remember, the original Tron was initially a box-office flop before becoming a classic over time. Let’s wait and see about Tron: Ares.