Tron: Ares

<<

Now Playing

>>

This whole 'Tron' franchise is something I find pretty cool conceptually, but, much like I felt with the last film (which was fifteen years ago now), the execution of it all doesn't do a whole hell of a lot to fuel my interest. In that sense, 'Tron' reminds me of 'The Matrix', where, ultimately, the first one was the only one I truly understood and enjoyed; the extension of its universe seems to get jumbled and confusing. Likewise, the series' animated presentations are probably the best the series has done since its original film.

For a slight recap from last time, the original 'Tron' film shows arcade owner Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) get digitized into a computer, discovering a digital world run by the Master Control Program (whom 'South Park' fans will most assuredly recognize as Moses), which itself is run by Flynn's nemesis, Ed Dillinger (David Warner). The film is a good-versus-evil fight from within the system, as Flynn becomes a freedom fighter for other programs, all of which boil down to the symbolism of the dangers posed by future technology.

Things expand in 'Legacy,' however, with the help of his own creations, "Tron" (Bruce Boxleitner) of the first film and Clu (also Bridges), Flynn creates his own "Grid." However, through, let's say, a "glitch" in Clu's programming, Clu aims to make the "Perfect System," and, as with so much artificial intelligence in films, this turns into the "need" to eliminate humankind with our "imperfections." Spoiler alert, Clu's bested by a trio that includes Flynn, his son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund) and a program named Quorra (Olivia Wilde), whom Sam escapes the Grid with, which is what gives 'Ares' here its fuel to become a thing.

Set in real time, this takes place a full fifteen years after its predecessor, and in cse you're wondering, we really don't find out what ever happens to Sam and Quorra, save for Sam taking over his father's company, but the technology is more of what the primary focus is here as opposed to what could be considered a heartfelt sci-fi/fantasy story. This story involves a race between rival companies, ENCOM, led by Eve Kim (Greta Lee), and Dillinger Systems, led by Ed Dillinger's grandson, Julian (Evan Peters) helped by his Mom, Elisabeth (Gillian Anderson), as they try to figure out the technology to bring digital constructs into the real world.

Dillinger seems to be ahead of the game, as he creates Ares (Jared Leto), whom he brings out to the real world, introducing him to shareholders as the perfect soldier (once again bringing the age old weapons scheme into play), but there's a problem; after just 29 minutes of life on Earth, he falls to pieces in the literal sense, and Dillinger has to try again. The Holy Grail between each company is what's referred to as the "Permanence Code." Long story short, ENCOM finds it first, Dillinger finds out, and sends Ares to infiltrate ENCOM's grid to retrieve it.

With Ares' advanced features, however, he becomes self-aware. He can analyze things like empathy, reasoning, and again, as so many of these stories tend to go, what it means to be "human," and before he knows it, he's wondering if he's on the right side of things. Making things more complicated is the loyal-to-Dillinger Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith), who proves to be just about as skilled as Ares and, like Clu, takes her commands perhaps a little too seriously. Once again, much like 'Legacy,' it's a wild ride of visual candy, but one isn't hit with the substance so much as the style.

It's my humble opinion, but this isn't unlike the previous 'Tron' films. Aside from being stylistic in a massive way between their visuals and dedicated musicians for their soundtracks ('Legacy' featuring Daft Punk and 'Ares' featuring Nine Inch Nails), there's not a whole lot about any of them that suck me in enough to need to see the film time and time again, truly. I think the best way to describe these is that they fall into that "carnival ride" category, where they can be a fun time, but when it's all said and done, you're ready to go on a different ride.

3/5

---