As a kid, I loved “Tron.” Or at least, I thought I did. My older brother and I watched that VHS tape so many times, imagining ourselves riding light cycles and zipping through the Grid.

As I got older, I realized I didn’t really love the movie. It was the battle sequences I liked, the visual flair and the thrill of the digital world.

Fast forward to 2010, nostalgia hit me hard and I got excited for “Tron: Legacy.” The movie looked good, and the Daft Punk soundtrack was incredible, but the story itself didn’t grab me. Jeff Bridges’ de-aged character looked weird, the Grid was flashy but ultimately uninteresting, and the narrative couldn’t hold my attention.

Now, we have “Tron: Ares,” rounding out the trilogy. Does it make up for the shortcomings of “Legacy”? Are the light cycles cooler? Well, here’s my take.

The goodIt looks amazing

Gone are the clunky graphics from the 1980s and the uncomfortable de-aging of the 2010 version. “Ares” is visually breathtaking. From light cycles racing through downtown Seattle to towering Recognizers patrolling the streets, the film delivers a feast for the eyes. The Grid itself is crisp and polished, retaining much of the 2010 aesthetic while adding clarity and detail.

There’s a light-cycle chase scene in Seattle that’s worth the price of admission alone. It’s absurd, it’s over-the-top and yet it works brilliantly. The choreography, camera work and sheer audacity make it a standout moment not just for this film, but for the entire franchise. If you came for the visual spectacle, this movie delivers.

It sounds amazing

The sound design and score elevate the experience even further. Nine Inch Nails provides over 70 minutes of original music, paired with impeccable sound design that rattles your chest as light cycles scream by and Recognizers glide past skyscrapers.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have done fantastic work with other films, but their style fits “Tron: Ares” perfectly. The combination of booming digital effects and industrial-inspired music gives the Grid a visceral, almost physical presence. You don’t just watch this movie, you feel it.

The not-so-goodI didn’t care

For all its visual and auditory achievements, “Tron: Ares” suffers from a recurring franchise flaw: The story takes a back seat to spectacle. The filmmakers try to give us stakes by pitting a villain facing familial and financial pressures against a protagonist wrestling with past ghosts and an anti-hero figuring out his identity. In theory, these arcs should add depth, but for me, they didn’t.

I didn’t feel invested in who would win or lose, nor did I care about the characters’ personal struggles. The action was fun, sure. But the “why” behind it all felt secondary. The narrative teases motivations and backstories, but it never hooked me emotionally. I watched the events unfold with interest, but without attachment.

A massive world feels small

Despite the grandeur of the Grid and the promise of a sprawling digital universe, the movie makes it feel surprisingly small.

The constant ping-ponging between Seattle and the Grid creates a sense of claustrophobia. We jump from the real world to virtual reality and back again so quickly that it’s hard to feel settled anywhere. The stakes get diluted because we never have the time to fully inhabit either world.

What should feel vast and immersive sometimes comes off as rushed and underexplored.

Overstuffed but underwhelming

Part of the issue comes from the film trying to balance too many ideas: high-stakes digital battles, corporate intrigue, personal struggles and anti-hero identity crises.

There’s a lot going on, and while it looks and sounds incredible, the storytelling can’t keep up. It’s like a tennis match bouncing between storylines without giving us time to truly connect.

What parents should know

“Tron: Ares” is rated PG-13, and the rating feels appropriate. The action is intense but not overly graphic, with lots of light-cycle chases, explosions, and futuristic combat. There’s some stylized violence, but nothing particularly gory or disturbing for older teens. There’s very little language and no sexual content to speak of.

That said, the fast pacing, constant switching between worlds, and sci-fi themes might make it difficult for younger viewers to follow. Overall, however, the movie will be entertaining for most kids with the visuals and action.

Conclusion

I didn’t dislike “Tron: Ares.” I had fun watching it, especially the visuals and the music — they are enough to make the experience memorable. The light cycles, Recognizers and the sheer scope of the digital world are fantastic. But the story? It’s still the franchise’s weak point.

The characters are underdeveloped, the stakes don’t land, and the constant back-and-forth between Seattle and the Grid leaves the world feeling smaller than it should.

Ultimately, “Tron: Ares” is a movie to experience, rather than to care about. If you want an immersive, flashy, and sonically thrilling ride, it’s worth your time. But if you’re hoping for emotional engagement or a compelling narrative, you may leave the theater wanting more.

For fans of the franchise, or anyone craving a visually spectacular, high-energy sci-fi action film, “Tron: Ares” delivers plenty of thrills, even if the heart of the story is still lost in the Grid.

“Tron: Ares” is officially rated PG-13 for action and thematic elements.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.