Tron: Ares wages war on AI

The 1982 movie Tron transported the character Kevin Flynn and audiences into a digital world called The Grid. The project gained an underground following, which spawned video games, an animated series and a 2010 sequel Tron: Legacy.

Disney, Jeff Bridges and nostalgia have returned for the third film in the franchise Tron: Ares, in 2025. The direct sequel to Legacy, Ares juices up the special effects and eye-popping technology to reflect the times of a gap of 15 years.

Tron is the name of a security program and a shortened form of the word electronic. Artificial intelligence enters the real world as Ares and is played by performer Jared Leto. He's engaged in a battle between two companies, Encom linked to the Flynns and the Dillinger company.

All the classic toys and gimmicks from the first Tron are used by the end of the odyssey. Longtime fans will see retro references, light cycles and destructive discs. There's a new flying contraption along with several other bells and whistles to admire.

The cast of strong players spout video game dialogue to the best of their abilities. Some fare better than others. Leto seems to be in his element with slick long hair and a tight suit, complete with a codpiece. Arturo Castro as Seth Flores hits a wall with humor and Greta Lee is left holding the bag of humanizing the storyline. Evan Peters is over the top as Julian Dillinger and Gillian Anderson plays his mother with limited screen time. Jodie Turner-Smith could be brewing up a Storm to be in the next X-Men flick or at least another sequel as Tron: Athena. Jeff Bridges returns for a cameo and links all three films together.

Visually, Ares should be applauded with technical awards and is recommended for IMAX viewing. The frenetic pace rarely lets up for almost two hours and there's dialogue where a character waxes poetic about technology moving too fast. Some will like that aspect of Ares and some will be overwhelmed. Critics are already shaking their floppy discs about it as expected, but the original was never a critical darling; instead, it slowly gained traction by building a cult following over the years.

Electronic group Daft Punk composed the music for Tron: Legacy and Industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, with members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross also serving as executive producers. The music is haunting at times, similar to the Netflix series Stranger Things and creates an '80s atmosphere that older folks will appreciate.

The god of war chapter of Tron doesn't always find its footing, but it is off to the races to explore more in the future.

Tron: Ares speeds into theaters on October 10, 2025.