# Half in the Bag - Tron: Ares Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTj2n6XytrA Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/nTj2n6XytrA Generated: 2025-10-11T23:34:56.266+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The reviewers generally enjoyed the movie "Tron: Ares" more than expected, citing Trent Reznor's excellent score and understandable plot as major strengths, though they criticized the clunky action direction and noted the franchise's recurring weakness in lacking human connection and characterization, predicting it will likely flop commercially like its predecessors. **Key Points:** - The reviewer found the action in "Tron: Ares" clunky, noting that the Trent Reznor soundtrack elevated the movie, making it seem grandiose and preventing the content from feeling cheesy. - The film is described as very derivative of many pop culture sources, but one reviewer found the plot understandable, unlike the previous entries, and enjoyed it more because they had not seen the other Tron movies. - The core McGuffin in the film is the "permanence code," which the reviewers found unbelievable that 1982 Jeff Bridges could have written code functional for modern systems. - Jared Leto's performance as a program learning humanity was criticized, with one reviewer calling him a "charisma black hole" and suggesting Evan Peters or Alexander Skarsgård would have been better. - The visual design of the vehicles and the Tron world in this installment largely pulls directly from "Tron: Legacy," making it feel less unique compared to the distinct looks of the first two films. - The speakers agreed that the main draw of the Tron franchise is the music and visuals, but the weak point across all films is the lack of human connection, which prevents them from catching on with a wider audience. - The film sets up potential sequels by revealing that Evan Peters' character (Dillinger) will resurrect bad guys to get revenge on Ares, suggesting a path for future installments if the movie succeeds at the box office. **Context:** The discussion centers on the analysis of the newly released film, "Tron: Ares," within the context of the entire, historically unsuccessful Tron franchise, which began with the 1982 film known for its groundbreaking visuals but boring plot, followed by the 2010 sequel, "Tron Legacy," which also bombed despite having Daft Punk's score. The speakers examine whether this new installment successfully updates the concept of a person being sucked into a computer world and attempts to build a franchise, noting the recurring pattern of Disney trying again every 15-20 years after a flop. ## Detailed Analysis The reviewers concluded that while "Tron: Ares" featured an awesome score by Trent Reznor that elevated the experience, the action direction was clunky, similar to 'Matrixy vibes' but poorly executed. They found the plot accessible, especially for newcomers, but noted the film relies heavily on elements from "Tron Legacy," making it feel less visually unique than its predecessors. A key point of contention was the casting of Jared Leto as an AI learning humanity, which was poorly received due to his perceived lack of charisma, while the concept of Jeff Bridges' character writing a code powerful enough for modern times seemed far-fetched. The film establishes a conflict between two companies—one led by the villain Dillinger (via Evan Peters) attempting to 3D print weapons of war, and the other represented by Eve Kim, who 3D prints a tree—all struggling for the 'permanence code.' Despite the film's seriousness, the limited comic relief character was deemed just enough not to be obnoxious. Ultimately, the speakers determined that similar to previous entries, the film suffers from a lack of characterization and human connection, making it feel cold, though they recommend it as a solid, high-mediocre popcorn movie, largely carried by the music and visuals. ### Franchise History and Reception - 1982's "Tron" bombed because it was boring despite state-of-the-art effects and Wendy Carlos' score - 2010's "Tron Legacy" also bombed despite Daft Punk's score - Disney keeps trying to make Tron a franchise every 15-20 years. ### Tron - Ares Plot and Concepts: The plot revolves around controlling the 'permanence code' that allows 3D printed objects to materialize in the real world - Evan Peters' character, Dillinger, seeks to use the code for war, while Eve Kim seeks to use it for good. ### Technical and Artistic Critique - The action sequences were clunky, but the Trent Reznor soundtrack was praised for elevating the tone and making the superficial plot seem more important - Visually, the movie relies heavily on designs pulled directly from "Tron Legacy," lacking the distinctness of the first two films. ### Casting and Performance Issues - Jared Leto's wooden portrayal of an AI learning to become human failed to convince the reviewers - Evan Peters' character, who was briefly shown, is heavily implied to return for future installments to seek revenge. ### Audience Accessibility - One reviewer found it accessible because they hadn't seen the others, while the other felt it was less accessible than "Legacy" due to its serious tone, suggesting Disney should have made it lighter for mainstream appeal.