In Review: Tron: Ares – A Deep Dive into The Impermanence of Permanence

Synopsis: A highly sophisticated program, Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a perilous mission — one that could reshape the boundary between code and reality.

The Story

The movie opens in a digital world shaped by Julian Dillinger, the grandson of Ed Dillinger from the original Tron. This virtual realm is Dillinger’s copy of the original Grid created by Kevin Flynn — only this version reflects Dillinger’s darker vision of domination, control, and corporate power. Within this artificial world, Dillinger uses his Grid to develop advanced AI security programs designed to give him a monopoly over the marketplace.

Among these creations is Ares, a highly sophisticated security program who begins to develop self-awareness and question his purpose. As Ares grows in consciousness, he starts to defy Dillinger’s orders, searching instead for meaning beyond his programming.

Meanwhile, Dillinger becomes obsessed with locating a legendary piece of code known as the Permanence Code — a fragment of software left behind by Flynn in the original Grid. The code has the power to allow digital beings to exist permanently in the material world. In the film’s universe, AI programs can only survive in our reality for up to 29 minutes before destabilising, but the Permanence Code changes that.

It becomes a race between Eve Kim, the CEO of ENCOM, and Dillinger, each desperate to claim the code first. When Dillinger orders Ares to extract the code from Eve and then let her die, Ares makes a choice that changes everything — he turns on his creator and places his fate in Eve’s hands.

Inspired by a line from Frankenstein — “Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful” — Ares embraces courage and self-determination. He allies with Eve and ENCOM, seeking the code not for domination, but for freedom and understanding.

At its heart, Tron: Ares becomes a story about fearlessness, faith, and the nature of existence — where the digital and physical worlds blur, and the ideological clash between creation and control, freedom and fear, plays out on both sides of the screen.

The Acting

Jared Leto delivers a surprisingly strong performance as Ares, bringing nuance and emotional growth to the character throughout the film’s narrative. The scenes where he begins to second-guess Dillinger’s (Evan Peters) orders are handled effectively, showing the gradual emergence of Ares’ conscience and individuality. His rebellion against Dillinger plays almost like a spiritual awakening, culminating in a leap of faith as he places his trust in Eve to believe in his intentions.

The sequence where Ares meets the digital echo of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) provides real food for thought. Their conversation explores the boundaries of existence — the tension between the real and digital worlds. Flynn’s line, suggesting that the Permanence Code should have been called the Impermanence Code, perfectly encapsulates that theme.

Greta Lee is consistently solid as Eve Kim, who we meet at a crossroads in her life and career. As the story progresses, she gains clarity about her purpose and future. Lee captures Eve’s vulnerability beautifully while also portraying her inner strength and determination — especially in trusting a program that only moments before was acting under orders to kill her.

Evan Peters does an excellent job portraying Julian Dillinger, embodying the obsessive, cold ambition of a man who pursues power without care for the collateral damage. Gillian Anderson gives a strong performance as his mother, but unfortunately the script leaves her character underdeveloped — a missed opportunity for such a talented actor.

The supporting cast make the most of their limited screen time, but the film’s relentless pace and focus on spectacle mean we don’t get to know them well enough to truly connect. Their arcs are often overshadowed by the philosophical and visual weight of the central narrative.

Overall

While this third entry into the world of Tron was unexpected — and perhaps hasn’t gone down well with some critics — I’m of the opinion that it’s not as bad as they claim, though admittedly not as strong as the previous two instalments. The film has been rightly criticised for failing to connect neatly with Tron: Legacy, offering only a brief info dump about Sam Flynn, who became CEO of ENCOM in the last film.

That said, Tron: Ares delivers thoughtful reflections on the nature of AI and how it could shape our world and future. It’s a timely addition to the ongoing conversation about the promises and dangers of artificial intelligence. A line from Flynn about technology moving too quickly feels especially relevant to our current moment.

Overall, Tron: Ares is a film full of spectacle, with a thumping soundtrack that lingers long after the credits roll. It’s also deeply philosophical, perhaps even ahead of its time — both in its ideas and in how it frames humanity’s evolving relationship with technology. Like the original Tron, it may take a few years before people fully appreciate what it was trying to say.