Recxpectations - Tron: Ares

Tron: Ares is the latest attempt to elevate the Tron franchise. To me, Tron kind of is what it is; a style over substance exercise with scores that are better than the films (well, at least for the last two entries; I don’t remember the score of the original.) In this one, the plot is basically that rival corporations struggle to find the key to 3D printing living organisms, one side wanting to use it to help those in need and the other side wanting to create supersoldiers and military hardware to go with them.

EXPECT: A SERVANT WITH TOO MANY MASTERS
To me, the biggest issue for Tron: Ares is that it doesn’t seem to know what it is. It’s a Disney movie but it seems more aimed at adults than kids. It’s a sequel that tries to cater to new viewers but then has some moments that require you to have seen the earlier films. The core is a Sci-Fi film but it’s dumb Sci-Fi and really, it’s just a vehicle for a few cool-looking action scenes. It wants to be a message movie but doesn’t really seem to have much to say. The film is also torn between Ares and Greta Lee’s character and it doesn’t really tell either story with much depth. But, again, this is a movie about FX and the scores and it succeeds on that end… mostly.

EXPECT: CINEMA OF CHAOS
Cinema of Chaos is a term that was coined a while back to describe the trend of action scenes that had fast, hectic editing to the point that it was hard to decipher what was happening. The peak example is the opening scene of Quantum of Solace. It’s a lot of action and noise but it’s also complete mayhem and hard to follow. Tron: Ares isn’t as bad as that scene but nothing is really set-up and it’s basically just “Cool looking cars with neon tails coming out of them!” There also is a complete lack of fallout from most of the chases. One car is cut in half by the laser trail and then… it’s basically people breaking quickly like the cars in a Smokey & the Bandit movie. Now I have to admit that I’m bored of most chase scenes but these felt even more lackluster because of direction.

DON’T EXPECT: A SMART MOVIE
Listen, it’s Tron. It was never going to be hard sci-fi. And it’s not the dumbest movie and not near the suspension of disbelief needed by something like a Fast and Furious movie but the movie doesn’t have much of a relationship with logic. Especially when it comes to the antagonists’ weapons. Things that seem all-powerful one second seem to get nerfed when a key character is in the fight. Everyone chooses hand-to-hand combat when they clearly have better options at their disposal. To best enjoy the movie, you need to just turn your brain off and sit back and enjoy.

DON’T EXPECT: TRON ON EARTH
Most of the Tron on Earth scenes are in the trailer and the premise of these programs invading Earth doesn’t really come to fruition until the final act and even then it is on a smaller scale. This is another example of how the film was serving too many masters. They shoved too many premises into one film.

Ultimately, this film ended up at #36 on my list, in between The Lost Bus and The Roses.