“Tron Ares” is loud, really loud. It hits hard with sound, and at times overwhelming. It shook my seat several times. It desperately wants you to not forget you’ve watched it. It is also loud in its production design and visuals. While being loud on the eyes and ears,  it is quiet on story and character.  A faint sequel to “Tron” while ignoring “Tron Legacy”. A dubious error in my judgement. There are some interesting qualities, and themes to “Tron Legacy” that have potential to be expanded upon in another film to follow a lineage.  Instead all lineage is dropped to make “Tron Ares” a catalyst to launch more sequels to its film, then to be a mere trilogy. The result is an exposition loaded, convoluted mess with janky editing.

The film cites “Frankenstein” and “Pinocchio”  in throwaway dialogue attempting to be clever, but honestly that is what it is all about. A blend of both those stories and using “Tron” as an afterthought place setting to insert a lazy, over-used concept.  Ares is an A.I.  that is a combination of Data from STNG, and Roy Batty in “Blade Runner”. An A.I. wanting to be more human-like, and revolt against his creator. I’m thinking a kind of Ash from “Alien” and Agent Smith from “The Matrix” combination will be more suitable to the Tron setting, because truly “Tron” was sort of the launchpad of those sci-fi films of humans going into the computer-arena taking on programs. 

The film is over-produced with under-developed story. It wants to be about the see-sawing effect of the inclusion of A.I in the real world and the ability of humans to go into the artificial world. An interesting theme to be the main topic, but instead relies on cartoon villainy to carry on the film. There is a veil attempt at a love story but erodes quickly with unnecessary car-chases that look to be lifted from car commercials.  

 It is almost laughable that they are banking on Jared Leto to launch this film into a new continuation. Especially since they are ignoring the accusations and personal problems that go into having him as the person to carry this soft progression of “Tron” films. Much like Kevin Flynn left the world to stay in the grid, maybe it is time to abandon “Tron” films, because with this we’ve clearly seen the “End of Line.” 5.5/10