In terms of belated sequels Tron Ares must top every franchise. The first film was released in 1982, its first sequel was released 28 years later in 2010 and now fifteen years later we get the latest film but this is very much its own thing rather than a direct sequel.
Torn Ares is Jared Leto a kind of cyber security system programme, a kind of master control for Dillinger Systems a breakaway company from ENCOM. They are headed up by Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters) grandson of the late villainous David Warner whose character headed up ENCOM in the first film and is something of a stroppy kid that inexplicably heads up the company with his ever present mum Elizabeth (Gillian Anderson) keeping an eye on his errant ways and surely tempted to give him smack across the back of the head with some of the decisions he makes. One of which is having presented the military and investors with the future of warfare where he creates the ultimate soldier in front of them via AI he neglects telling them that the creation only lasts 29 minutes before turning into dust. It’s like Meghan Markle’s reverse Midas touch where every venture she touches turns to shite.
But the question of ‘Where is Kevin Flynn?’ the computer genius played by Jeff Bridges who fleetingly returns here is one that both EMCOM and Dillinger are keen to locate or more specifically ‘permanence code‘ that will extend the 29 minute existence for these super soldiers indefinitely. And it’s been located by Eve (Grace Lee) an employee of ENCOM that sees her pursued by Ares and his second in command Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith) in a brilliantly realized light cycle pursuit that sees those laser ribbons come in to deadly effect. It’s the culmination of this chase that sees Ares develop a flicker of empathy and sees Eve escape. From here it’s a now gone rogue Ares & Eve vs Athena who channels Malcolm X with her determination to finish the job, ‘by any means necessary’.
In keeping with the franchise the technology has developed massively over the past 40+years and whereas the first film was ahead of the time with its use of computer graphics that now look quaint, those scenes were largely restricted to a light cycle race on the grid but here there is barely a CGI-less shot and its stunning realized and benefits from being seen on IMAX. Added to that is a soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails who also get executive producer credit. Having scored many of David Fincher’s films their big bombastic synth sound is ideally suited to a sci-fi spectacular like Tron Ares – and there’s a nod to a classic synth song with Depeche Mode’s, ‘I Just can’t get enough’ (released in 1981 the year before the first Tron film.
Director Joachim Ronning is no stranger to big budget blockbusters having helmed Pirates of the Caribbean 5 and rumoured to helm a sixth film too as well as CGI green screen fest ‘Maleficent Mistress of Evil’ and he handles the computer wizardry and action spectacle with aplomb keeping the film moving along its two hour duration making this a highly entertaining Autumn blockbuster.
related feature : Jared Leto at the ‘Tron: Ares’ London launch event for sci-fi fans
related feature : Lance Guest reveals plans for The Last Starfighter sequel …..
Here’s the Tron Ares trailer…..
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