Tron: Ares starts with the familiar Disney logo in hues of red as opposed to the blues that transformed the castle at the beginning of Tron: Legacy. The similarities do not end here. The first few minutes of the movie feel like a copy and paste job as we are retold about the disappearance of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) and how it affected the company he created. The images flashed on the screen seem AI generated and tell the tale of two sisters one of them being Eve Kim (Greta Lee) that took the Encom company back to the top. 

WIth the rise of Encom, Dillinger Systems is creating AI programs that can leave the Grid and come into the real world. While Encom is using the same technology to try to create something good, Dillinger is usng the technology to create armys for sale. In a cocky demonstration, Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters), brags about creating expendable soldiers while his creation Ares (Jared Leto) scans the potential buyers and tries to connect with them. 

The mcguffin in the movie is what gets the story going. There is a flaw to Dilllinger’s creation and they need to find a certain code to correct this issue. Eve’s sister was looking for this code and with extensive research through all of Flynn’s old files, a discovery is made. Knowing of this discovery, Julian sends Ares along with Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith) to get the device. Without giving away a twist in the story, this code leads to a series of events that changes the lives of those on the Grid and those in the real world. 

Visually, Tron: Ares looks spectacular! The world of the Grid vibrantly comes off of the screen and is incredible to see on an IMAX screen. It is pretty fascinating to see programs fight each other in the Grid, while in the real world it is just “users” typing keys to prevent hacks to their system. While this sentence might sound confusing , it will all make sense once you see the movie. It is also great to see the how the bright colors of the Grid characters dull down a little once they are in the real world. 

As fantastic as the visuals are, the bass-heavy soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails helps propel each moment to another level. The music does not only enhance the action on screen but at times it seems to be on beat with what is happening. Tron: Ares hits you with an aural sensation that it might cause sensory overload in some viewers. I will admit there were moments where I had to close my eyes due to all the images coming at me from the IMAX screen. 

While the story of the movie feels familiar, the cast does well with what they have in front of them. Greta Lee has some powerful moments when talking about her sister and Evan Peters chews up the scenery when he starts feeding his need for power. Jared Leto feels too robotic at times and that might just be the way he decided to play Ares. The stand out in the movie is Jodie Turner-Smith as the fierce Athena, who even though conflicted with her loyalty, shows that she will do what is necessary to complete her mission.

Final Thoughts: Tron: Ares is visually stunning and pops off of the screen with it’s vibrant colors and bass pounding soundtrack. The storyline of a program developing feelings and wanting to be real feels pretty Pinnochio-ish which matches Leto’s robotic-like performance. The movie has some great sequences but the dialogue during some moments feels flat and truncated. The movie hints at a possible sequel and is full of Easter eggs for the fans of the original Tron. Make sure to stay for the mid-credit scene.  

Violence: There are moments of violence that take place within the Grid. In these moments, characters/programs disintegrate into pieces when struck down. There is some violence in the real world but no blood is shown There is one moment when a program stabs a person but the blood is not shown as red.

Kid-Friendly: Tron: Ares is rated PG-13. There are physical confrontations between the characters/programs in the movie that are pretty tame compared to some of the violence in the Marvel movies. The storyline might be a little slow for younger kids but the music and vibrant style might keep them entertained.

TRON: Ares follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings