by ECI Released : 2025-10-10
Tron: Ares is directed by Joachim Rønning and stars Jared Leto as Ares, Greta Lee as ENCOM CEO Eve Kim, Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger, with Jeff Bridges returning as Kevin Flynn.
Visually, Tron: Ares is nothing short of stunning. Jeff Cronenweth’s cinematography and Nine Inch Nails’ industrial, pulsing score combine to create a hypnotic, metallic dreamscape—one that feels both new and nostalgic. The design work is breathtaking: the glowing circuitry, towering Recognizers, and red-tinged Grid aesthetics make every frame feel like a living digital painting.
Narratively, however, it’s uneven. Although I view it as the weakest of the trilogy, the film still offers intriguing ideas about artificial life, permanence, and humanity’s relationship with technology. Unfortunately, those themes get lost in a clunky, overlong middle act that drags instead of dazzles. The pacing often stalls, with too many chases and too little focus on character.
The biggest disappointment is how little time we spend on the Grid—the heart of Tron’s identity. The decision to ground much of the film in the real world feels like a missed opportunity, as does the limited screen time for Jeff Bridges, whose presence remains magnetic but all too brief. And I’ll admit it: I missed Sam and Quorra from Tron: Legacy—their absence leaves a hole the film never fills.
Still, the visuals alone make Tron: Ares worth seeing—especially at a drive-in near you, where its glowing reds and pulsating blues can wash over the screen like a digital fever dream. It’s a flawed film, yes, but a gorgeous one that reminds you why the Tron universe still has power, even when the code runs messy.
