Plenty of Style – But What's Beneath the Surface? Our "Tron: Ares" Review

43 years after the original and 15 years after the last installment of the franchise to date, a new "Tron" film is being released! "Tron: Ares" does some things differently, but in some ways remains true to the sci-fi saga. The new entry in the series has both clear strengths and noticeable weaknesses. What's new in the digital world? How much "Tron" is there in "Ares"? And was the long wait for a new film worth it? In our new KinoCheck film review, we reveal what you can expect from "Tron: Ares" – and what not.

What is Tron: Ares about?

The starting point of the plot is the ever-increasing fusion of the real and digital worlds. Under the leadership of corporate boss Julian Dillinger, a descendant of the villain Ed Dillinger from the original film, a new master control program is created: Ares, played by Jared Leto. Dillinger (Evan Peters) and his team manage to deploy Ares as a kind of super soldier in the real world – but only for 29 minutes. But Dillinger is not the only one trying to find a solution for the permanent manifestation in the real world. ENCOM CEO Eve Kim (Greta Lee) also embarks on the search – and seems to be close to an answer.

So "Ares" is not a direct sequel to the previous film "Tron: Legacy". Almost no character from the previous series is relevant to the new film. The exception is franchise veteran Jeff Bridges, who makes a brief appearance. You can therefore watch "Ares" largely without any previous knowledge. However, there are a few references to the film from the 80s in particular. Overall, it doesn't hurt if you are at least familiar with the basics of the world of "Tron".

Good actors, artificial characters

At the center of the story are the characters Ares, Julian and Eve. The roles are clearly defined: Eve is the sympathetic figure, while Julian is the antagonist, just like his ancestor in "Tron". Both actors have already proven their skills – Greta Lee especially in "Past Lives" and Evan Peters, for example, as notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in the Netflix series "Monster".

They also do a good job in "Tron: Ares". But overall, the movie struggles to bring its characters fully to life – even though it tries to tell an emotional story at times. The character developments are mostly told in a rather clichéd way. The development of Ares in particular has been seen in similar variations several times before in the sci-fi genre.

How new is the story of Tron 3?

This means that the story is also told in a rather conventional way. In general, the film only scratches the surface of many typical sci-fi themes such as AI, humanity and the consequences of technological progress. In terms of plot, there is hardly anything new. Rather, numerous genre representatives have already dealt with these topics in a similar way. Of course, not every sci-fi film can reinvent the wheel. But we would have hoped for a little more innovation or a more exciting, new approach.

Nevertheless, you have to give the movie credit: It doesn't really get boring. Despite the classic themes and narrative patterns, "Tron 3" manages to remain relatively entertaining. However, this could be due to aspects other than the plot – because the movie has two main strengths.

Look and design: simply spectacular

One of these is certainly the striking look. The bright red against a dark background is omnipresent. Whether on the iconic motorcycles, in the digital world or on all other objects in the world of "Tron: Ares". The typical "Tron" look is stylish in every case. The film shares its visual strengths with its predecessor "Tron: Legacy". Here, too, the visuals were a clear plus point – together with the magnificent score.

How is the new Tron soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails?

This time, the French electro duo Daft Punk are not responsible for the soundtrack. But if you have to replace Daft Punk, this is how you do it: For "Tron 3", Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have taken on the musical arrangement with their well-known music project Nine Inch Nails. The duo already has plenty of experience in the world of film. They are responsible for the music in numerous David Fincher films. Of course, their Academy Award winning score for "The Social Network" stands out. Most recently, they also caused a stir with their music for the film "Challengers".

In our opinion, their pulsating score is completely convincing in "Tron: Ares". Reznor and Ross have composed exactly the right music for the look of "Tron". They don't just repeat the iconic Daft Punk music, but put their own stamp on the movie. Nine Inch Nails rely on a dark, sometimes melancholic, but also intense and driving electro score. In combination with the convincing look, "Tron: Ares" offers many audiovisual highlights. The action sequences in particular benefit immensely from the successful symbiosis of score and look.

Our verdict: lots of style, little substance

For us, "Tron: Ares" has both strengths and weaknesses. If you like stylish sci-fi films and action sequences with a pulsating electro score, a visit to the cinema could be worthwhile. However, you have to make concessions in terms of plot, themes and characters – a lot of things remain fairly conventional here.

Our verdict:"Tron: Ares" delivers exactly the style that fans expect.

You can form your own opinion on October 10 – that's when "Tron: Ares" opens in cinemas. Our tip: If you are still struggling with the decision to go to the cinema, listen to the already released soundtrack and take a look at the trailers and clips we've linked.