The 'Tron' franchise is running low on battery
"Tron: Ares" is the third film in the popular sci-fi series. The film stars Jared Leto ("Morbius") as Ares, a brand new artificial intelligence that is introduced as the first AI capable of leaving the digital plane and accessing the real world.
Ares is sent out by its creator, Julian Dillinger, played by Evan Peters ("American Horror Story"), to retrieve a scientist by the name of Eve Kim, played by Greta Lee ("Russian Doll"). It's said she holds the key to AI's salvation, and Ares must succeed or it could mean the end of his world and ours.
I'm not the biggest fan of "Tron" as a franchise, but I love Nine Inch Nails, who did the soundtrack to the movie. So, my expectations were pretty low going in. Coming out, I can say this movie is one of the most OK movies I've ever seen. From beginning to end, it has a very basic plot and wants to push some boundaries, but never has the confidence to pursue those ideas.
For starters, the acting is abysmal. Jared Leto is not bad in this movie, but very forgettable, even though he's the main character. Ares feels very bland and doesn't do a whole lot in the movie. He's got some cool chase scenes and a really cool fight at the end, but there is nothing character-wise that makes him stick out.
Greta Lee was terrible in this movie. It must have been the script because I chose not to believe her performance. All her line delivery was so flat and wooden, and her story was really uninteresting.
Evan Peters was the best out of everyone as he plays a great villain and is the most entertaining character.
It was also great to see Jeff Bridges ("Tron") back as Kevin Flynn as The Creator. He was great for the five minutes he was in the film.
The story of the film is very weird and is a very straight line. Essentially, it's a race with light disks and motorcycle chases. The movie has a lot to show off but very little to tell. I bet I will forget the plot after I finish this review.
But the picture itself looks amazing. The Tron world hasn't looked better until now, as all the CGI is really impressive and immersive. Although the story is boring, the fight and chase sequences are all well-choreographed and are fun to watch. Nine Inch Nails also delivers one killer soundtrack that will have your head bopping after the movie.
Overall, this is a very non-offensive movie to see, but I do suggest you wait until streaming to see this movie. At least give the soundtrack a listen over on Spotify. I'd give "Tron: Ares" a 5/10.
Carter Salley is Central Michigan Life's resident film reviewer and co-host of the pop culture podcast "Raving Geeks." He is majoring in media arts.
