For decades, the "Tron" franchise has been a recurring effort by Disney to create a lasting cinematic impact, often praised for its stunning visual marvels but consistently struggling with impactful storytelling. Following the 1982 original and 2010's "Tron: Legacy," and even an animated series "Tron: Uprising," the series' most successful iterations might arguably be theme park rides like the Tron Lightcycle Power Run, which embrace the aesthetic 'vibe' without the narrative complexities. Despite "Tron: Legacy" grossing $400 million worldwide, the limitations of the series in terms of story depth became apparent, leading to a prevalent perception that while visually pleasing, the narratives were often 'mind-numbingly silly'. However, after approximately 15 years in various stages of development, "Tron: Ares" emerges as Disney's latest attempt, signaling a potential turning point where the third time might be the charm, beginning to realize the possibilities of this world created over four decades ago.

"Tron: Ares" reportedly acknowledges the convoluted nature of previous installments by maintaining a relatively simple, though still somewhat 'goofy', storyline. The plot centers on two rival tech companies battling for the future of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically technology capable of bringing digital constructs from 'the Grid' into the physical world. One faction is Dillinger Systems, now led by Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters), grandson of Ed Dillinger from the original "Tron." Julian, having recently taken over from his mother Elisabeth (Gillian Anderson), intends to weaponize this technology for military purposes, creating rebootable super-soldiers with advanced tanks and weaponry. His challenge lies in the current 29-minute time limit for these digital creations to survive in the real world before disintegrating.

Opposing Julian is Eve Kim (Greta Lee), the current CEO of Encom, the company where Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) worked in the original film. Eve is determined to complete her sister Tess’s work by locating Kevin Flynn’s 'Permanence Code.' This code is vital as it would allow digital creations to exist indefinitely in the real world. Eve, however, envisions this technology for benevolent uses, such as solving world hunger and facilitating medical breakthroughs. Upon Eve’s discovery of the code at her sister’s former lab, Julian swiftly employs his system's Master Control, Ares (Jared Leto), and his second-in-command, Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith), essentially '3D printing' them into existence. Their mission: to hunt down Eve and secure the 'Permanence Code' for Dillinger Systems. Yet, Ares, being super-intelligent and capable of learning about both Julian and Eve, finds himself caught in an ethical dilemma, questioning whether to follow Julian's questionable commands or assist Eve in her quest for global good.

While "Tron: Ares" might not be an 'action masterpiece' or the definitive solution to making the series 'great,' it represents a significant step forward. It embraces the inherent absurdity and 'vibe-over-story' nature of the Tron universe. The film excels when it allows its stunning visuals and 'brilliant' soundtrack to take center stage, much like "Tron: Legacy." The score, composed by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, is highly praised for its thrilling quality and its homage to the '80s aesthetic, drawing comparisons to their acclaimed works on "The Social Network" and "Challengers." Director Joachim Rønning, known for revitalizing Disney franchises, along with cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth, delivers a visually gorgeous film despite more of the action taking place in the real world. The movie skillfully references past installments while bringing the series into a more tangible modern setting, showcasing 'badass' vehicles and characters that stream beams of light through city streets.

Despite its visual and auditory strengths, the world of Tron inevitably retains its inherent 'goofiness' and 'ludicrous' elements. Screenwriter Jesse Wigutow’s approach simplifies the narrative, focusing on the combination of virtual and real worlds, and the conflict between 'good and bad CEOs,' avoiding the overly complex and bland MacGuffin hunts of previous films. This simplified approach, likened to 'Barbie but with virtual tanks and a Nine Inch Nails soundtrack,' aims for a coherent and understandable story, acknowledging that audiences come for the visuals and score, but still desire an accessible plot. Nevertheless, the film presents some paradoxical and arguably silly scenarios, such as cheering for one tech billionaire over another based on AI usage, a brief appearance by Jeff Bridges as an 'Internet Jesus' character, and Jared Leto's Ares delivering an unexpected Depeche Mode dissertation.

The characters in "Tron: Ares," while generally one-note, show slight improvements. Jared Leto portrays Ares as a robot gradually gaining self-awareness, delivering a decent performance. Greta Lee is lauded as a charming protagonist capable in action sequences, while Evan Peters' Julian Dillinger is considered an 'underwhelming' villain, primarily confined to computer commands. Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena, a more binary program, stands out for her nuanced portrayal, hinting at human emotion while rigidly adhering to her mission. Secondary characters played by Hasan Minhaj, Sarah Desjardins, and Arturo Castro are noted to primarily fill in plot gaps. The film debuted with a 62% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 39 reviews, with many praising the visuals but some criticizing retreaded concepts. While this score is subject to change, for a high-budget film that took years to develop, 'just fine' may not be enough.

Ultimately, "Tron: Ares" might not transform "Tron" into the major franchise Disney has long sought, but it signifies a 'smarter understanding' of what these films need to be: visually exciting, with a great soundtrack, and a story that offers 'dumb fun.' The film not only achieves these goals but also finds 'fun ways to fit in the other installments,' fostering a genuine desire for more entries in this universe rather than them feeling forced. Described as a 'solid upgrade' rather than a 'killer app,' "Tron: Ares" promises an engaging cinematic experience when it comes to theaters on October 10.