The original Tron is one of those formative viewing experiences for me, and it helped solidify my love for the science fiction genre. While the graphics haven’t aged as well as other films from the time period, it’s still a gorgeous, colorful film with its own distinct style. In 2010, this aesthetic was transported well into the sequel Tron: Legacy, a film that I believe is supremely underrated and works as a complementary piece to the first film. I also think you could argue it’s a film that only gets better the second time you watch it.
I was hoping that would also be the case for Tron: Ares, Disney’s latest attempt at making a franchise viable in a modern world where every studio is on the hunt for a sustainable franchise. But Tron: Ares just did not work for me. It felt like a film in search of an identity while trying to mimic what worked in the last two films, which ended up working against it. Yet for all the quality shortcomings I could point to, the big reason Tron: Ares didn’t vibe with me comes down to one decision.
Daft Punk’s music was sorely missed here
The right music can elevate a bad narrative
Hey, don’t get me wrong here: I love Nine Inch Nails. Their soundtrack for Tron: Ares is top-notch, and I’ve listened to it repeatedly since I saw the film. In fact, as far as memorable elements go, the soundtrack is probably the big saving grace here. It’s grungy, dark, and fits the mood of a dark sci-fi dystopian world that’s akin to something out of a cyberpunk story.
The problem here is that Tron: Ares’ narrative and style never really match the mood that the soundtrack is trying to convey. It’s like trying to watch a romantic comedy that suddenly turns into a post-apocalyptic zombie film in the third act. Basically, Nine Inch Nail’s soundtrack deserves a different film, as great as it is. Instead, I really wish we could have gotten Daft Punk back.
Yes, I get it. They’re not making music anymore, and simply rehashing their material from Tron: Legacy or their discography as a whole would have felt hollow. But Daft Punk’s music elevated Tron: Legacy in ways that its narrative could not, and I believe their music would have fit better with Tron: Ares than Nine Inch Nails. Maybe it could have even fooled me into thinking it was a great film, because the right soundtrack can absolutely do that.
Nine Inch Nails should get another shot in the future
They deserve a tone that befits their talent
Assuming that Tron: Ares doesn’t completely kill the Tron franchise, and that’s a big assumption considering how poorly it’s performing at the box office, I think that Nine Inch Nails absolutely should get another shot at a soundtrack. Maybe a gritty, David Fincher-esque film that really captures the dark side of the Tron universe. Or a Tron television show, which could be in the style of a sci-fi thriller that unravels one episode at a time.
Either way, the band deserves a better dramatic tone that would really fit their style of music. And yes, Tron: Ares tried to bring that tone, but director Joachim Rønning didn’t really capitalize on it through his filmmaking style. Should Daft Punk ever decide to come out of retirement, though, I think they should also be given the opportunity to score a Tron film again. Of course, I expect there will be plenty of fan cuts of Tron: Ares with Daft Punk songs included over the coming years.
Does any of this matter if Disney doesn’t understand Tron?
I’m seriously beginning to wonder
Realistically speaking, Tron: Ares is probably going to kill the franchise for a little while, if not permanently. Its box office returns, as previously mentioned, are just not great. Outlets like Deadline report that Disney is expected to lose upwards of $130 million, which is nothing short of a disaster. And while watching the film, it was easy to see why.
There’s a good film buried somewhere in Tron: Ares, and yes, a Daft Punk soundtrack is a big piece of that. But there are other narrative issues holding it back, which is saying something for a franchise that isn’t exactly known for compelling stories. The real-world setting is intriguing, especially as constructs from the Grid invade our world. But thematically, it’s all muddied, and there’s no big follow-through.
Tron: Ares can’t decide what its messaging is, and that lack of commitment bleeds into everything else. It’s enough to make me wonder if Disney even understands the appeal of Tron at all, and how that translates to a modern audience, what with AI being a hot-button issue. Maybe it’s okay if the franchise goes back in the vault for another fifteen years or so.
I still believe that sci-fi can be great for Hollywood
Despite my issues with Tron: Ares and its missteps, I am sad that it hasn’t performed at the box office. The last thing that science fiction needs is more financial failures. It’s already a genre that doesn’t get enough love from Hollywood studios, especially original stories with bigger budgets. And that’s a shame, because it’s a genre that often has a lot of interesting things to say about the modern world and where we’re heading, and I think that can still be the case in the right creative hands.
Instead, a lot of great sci-fi exists nowadays on television, which has become the home for bold creative visions. If you’re looking for some recommendations, don’t miss these great sci-fi shows that were canceled way too early.
