‘Tron’ rehashes tired, dystopic plotlines of tech run amok through stale, plodding action

It’s been over four decades since the pioneer of the digital world, Tron, was released, a film exploring the cause and effects of humanity’s relationship with new and exciting technologies. Hailed for its cutting edge special effects and ominous warnings of technology ruling over humanity, the 1982 release foreshadowed in many ways the current world order as it struggles with the grip of tech giants on the day to day lives of the individual. Tron:Ares reimagines that digital world for a new generation with modern, cutting edge graphics and visuals, an AI themed plot, and an interesting cast led by Jared Leto. Disney’s latest addition to the Tron universe aims to modernize the franchise for the AI and virtual identity challenges that humanity currently faces. Despite its stunning visual design, Tron: Ares struggles to balance a good story, showing again that stunning graphics and aesthetics are no substitute for a well-written story. 

photo courtesy of Tron:Ares website

The film starts off with multiple newscasters talking about the new CEO of ENCOM, Tess Kim (Selene Yun, The Recruit) and her sister, Eve Kim (Greta Lee, Past Lives). The sisters have apparently revitalized ENCOM and the gaming industry through AI technology. At the end of a short montage, one last caster proclaims that after the death of Tess Kim, her sister Eve has been missing for a couple of weeks. After the short intro, the screen then introduces the other main character, Ares (Jared Leto, Requiem for a Dream), an AI super soldier, shown through another montage of slow-paced, robotic combat training. Ares exists for the sole purpose of following orders from his creator, Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters, X-Men: Days of Future Past) the owner of Dillinger Corp. Dillinger wants to use Ares as a combat option for the US military but, as in all such films, there is one conflict that stands in the way.  Permanence, a code designed by the original creator of the Tron games, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges, Iron Man), gives any AI from the digital realm permanent life in the real world. The race for the permanence code drives the story line, but all is not as it seems. 

This series of awkwardly placed cuts are director Joachim Rønning’s biggest flaws throughout this movie, as the abrupt and choppy moves to the different characters and setting occur during the middle of sentences or a heated moment. These cuts were meant to create suspense throughout the film, but in reality, Rønning placed them so closely together it felt sloppy and unprofessional. 

After the cuts, it is revealed that Eve has arisen, having found the permanence code in Alaska, and is back on her way to ENCOM. Julian, in his obsession over the permanence code, sends Ares into ENCOM’s server base to find the code and capture Eve. Ares listens to Julian and, along with a team of AI soldiers, hack ENCOM’S data and find out the code is actually imprinted into Eve’s mind. As Ares keeps looking through the data, he sees all of Eve's memories and what she’s gone through after losing her sister, triggering human emotions in the process. This leads to Julian interrupting Ares and telling him to forget that feeling, and focus on capturing Eve. 

After a slow and poorly choreographed fight with Eve, Ares, and her co-solider Athena (Jodie Turner Smith, Bad Monkey), Athena captures Eve and sends her into the digital world. Smith does a great job of playing the role of an AI soldier through her monotone voice and stoic, machine-like attitude.

One element Rønning nails is the production of the digital world itself; it’s very sleek and modern, giving off the gloomy, villainous vibe of Dillinger Corp. After an epiphany, Ares realizes he’s just a soldier and machine for Dillinger to carry out his dangerous acts and chooses to save Eve from being killed by Athena, who still doesn’t realize she is just a pawn for Dilinger as well. 

Spoilers are coming!  Turn back now if you want to go in fresh!  Ares starts to learn more about human emotions, even displaying them as the movie reaches its climax. As Ares gains permanence he realizes that it isn’t really permanence at all, it’s gaining true humanity and living a life that is his own, not being controlled by anyone and free to do as he pleases. Defeating Dillinger and Athena, Ares and Eve use the permanence code to change the world for the better by creating vaccines and new ways to grow food more sustainably. 

Ares manages to blend the need of humanity for autonomy with a secondary message that AI and humans can be of use to each other to make the world a better place. While AI has drawbacks and can be scary, learning to embrace technology and work side by side can help the world for generations to come. Despite the idyllic theme, the main message and story gets drowned out and often forgotten towards the end. The goal of achieving permanence feels rushed, and the rest of the movie is slow paced and hard to follow. Additionally, all the action scenes were poorly choreographed and felt robotic and unnatural–Ares and Athena were supposed to be super soldiers, while all they did was fail to capture and, in some cases, take out their target even with high-tech planes, bikes, and warships. 

There is plenty that Disney and Rønning could have done better. However, Tron: Ares is a visually stunning movie that appeals and applies to young adults and teens alike. While Leto embodies his role convincingly, the rest of the cast members are bland and don’t contribute as much as they could have. Moviegoers will be left wanting more action and excitement, hoping Disney puts Tron to bed for once and for all.

Grade: C+

Jared Leto’s amazing acting just can’t quite carry Tron: Ares as a great addition to the Tron franchise.

by Logan Auxier

Published November 3, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue II