When you think of a good sci-fi film, the first things that come to mind are sleek futuristic visuals, cutting-edge tech, and cool action sequences. Tron: Ares, the newest entry in the Tron franchise, has all of that; however, these are the very elements that make the movie fall flat. As mentioned in the film’s synopsis, what should’ve been a love letter to connection, rebellion, and identity ends up as a hollow spectacle. Directed by Joachim Rønning and starring Jared Leto, Greta Lee, and Evan Peters, here is our review for Tron: Ares.
Plot of Tron: Ares
The story follows Julian Dillinger (played by Evan Peters), who creates a virtual reality grid where AI humanoids, like Ares (played by Jared Leto), reside. However, to become truly invincible, these humanoids require something that only the CEO of Encom, Eva Kim (played by Greta Lee), possesses, a ‘permanence code’. Thus begins the blood, or rather the code battle.
Performances
Jared Leto as Ares
Leto plays Ares, a sentient AI humanoid grappling with human emotions. On paper, this sounds compelling: an empathetic AI who enjoys 80s rock and contemplates humanity. In execution, it’s painfully dull. Leto hasn’t delivered a standout performance since Dallas Buyers Club in 2013, and his recent missteps, like Suicide Squad’s Joker and Morbius, don’t help his case. As Ares, he brings little depth or intrigue, leaving the audience unmoved.
Greta Lee as Eve Kim
Fresh off her critically acclaimed role in Past Lives, Greta Lee had the potential to shine here. She steps into grittier, darker territory, but the weak writing undermines her performance. Eve Kim is set up as a fascinating character, yet never escapes flatness.
Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger
Peters plays the unhinged villain who thrives on chaos. Known for delivering layered performances in projects like Dahmer and American Horror Story, Peters is reduced here to a caricature. He either slams tables or spouts cartoonishly evil lines, an utter waste of his talent.
Hasan Minhaj as Ajay Singh
Yes, Hasan Minhaj is in this movie, and no, he doesn’t get much to do. His sidekick role amounts to popping up at the start, reappearing at the end, looking confused, and somehow helping things work out. His presence feels more like a diversity checkbox than a meaningful character.
Verdict: A Cinematic Treat With A Hollow Plot
At 1 hour 59 minutes, the plot of Tron: Ares moves at godspeed, resolving conflicts before you’ve even had a chance to care about any of the characters or worldbuilding. Themes about humanity and emotion are tossed around by Ares and Eve Kim, but ironically, none of it resonates with actual humans watching. The stakes never feel real, so you don’t care who wins, loses, lives, or dies. One of the major themes that I felt had been greatly left out was the topic of AI. Artificial Intelligence is becoming a huge aspect of our lives and it is today that topics like AI ethics and machine learning to take over the world are more relevant than ever before. However, Tron: Ares, despite setting up a perfect place to have that discussion, never really dives into it, making it a greatly missed opportunity.
To its credit, the film shot for IMAX looks stunning, the visual effects are jaw-dropping, and the catchy music score by Nine Inch Nails builds you up for moments that never arrive. But at the end of it all, Tron: Ares is just that: a gorgeous, expensive-looking void.
Tron: Ares is now available to watch in theatres near you!
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