The TRON franchise can’t seem to escape its own loop

THE Tron franchising has always fascinated me. It’s one of those sci-fi franchises that feels like it should be more successful than it has been, a universe that explores fascinating concepts, full of fantastic visual style, wild ideas, and interesting storytelling.

Yet somehow, despite the wonder of the franchise, Tron has never managed to free itself from the same cycle of criticism and box office disappointment.

I love these movies. Every one of them. But man, being a Tron sometimes fans feel like they’re defending a misunderstood digital underdog who simply can’t catch a break.

Let’s start at the beginning with Tron (1982). Rotten Tomatoes score: 60%. Opening weekend: $4,761,795.

It’s not exactly the start of a blockbuster empire, but it’s also not terrible for a film that was light years ahead of its time.

The thing is, most reviews from that era sound eerily familiar to the ones we would read decades later.

Variety criticized it as being “loaded with visual delights but falling short on story and viewer involvement.” The New York Times went even harsher, calling the effects “noisy, bright and empty” and saying that “they are all this film has to offer.”

Gary Arnold of The Washington Post stated that the images “don’t unfold dramatically” and Jay Scott of The Globe and Mail summarized it as “a visionary technological achievement without vision”.

It’s as if the critics were amazed and annoyed at the same time, amazed by what they saw but frustrated that they heard nothing.

This is the recurring theme with Tron. Every time Disney turns it back on, the pattern is the same: incredible design, immersive sound, next-level effects, and a story that critics say falls short.

Fast forward almost thirty years later Tron: Legacy (2010). Rotten tomatoes: 51%. Opening weekend: $44,026,211.

Fans like me were thrilled. THE Daft Punk the soundtrack was an all-rounder. The world seemed incredibly beautiful. But once again the reviews came in and déjà vu hit hard.

Film Threat stated, “For all its visual impact, there’s no crackle to the story or standout to the characters.” Io9 called it “useless”, saying it “looks like a computer in someone’s basement built for the sole purpose of cooking, twenty years ago”.

Newsday noted that “like the original, Tron: Legacy he is obsessed with technology and style but forgets important details like character and plot. Film.com nailed the familiar refrain: “All digital dazzle and little substance.” And the LA Times once again twisted the neon knife: “Unfortunately, there’s not enough new life.”

It’s surprising how similar the complaints are. Nearly three decades later, critics were still seeing the Tron the world like a beautiful shell without a heart inside. It’s as if every review could be copied and pasted from 1982 with a few technical updates.

Then it arrived Tron: Ares. The film opened with $33,500,000 and sits at 56% on Rotten Tomatoes.

And guess what? From the reviews it seems like we are living in a time loop. SlashFilm wrote, “There are several tantalizing sci-fi ideas within Tron: Ares that the filmmakers aren’t remotely interested in exploring.”

New York Magazine added: “Especially when you watch Tron: Aresyou realize the degree to which this franchise has exhausted its own metaphor.

And The Playlist hit it with: “It’s big, blinding, and full of phosphorescent spectacle. Unfortunately, beneath the neon surface lies a script so empty that even the AI ​​might reject it for lack of substance.”

So here we are again, same damn criticisms, same frustrations, same light loops. It’s amazing how consistent everything is. Whenever a Tron the film ends, encounters this push-pull between amazement and apathy.

Yet I can’t help but love these films. Every time I look Tron AND Tron: Legacy I’m reminded of how special this franchise could be if it simply met more people. It’s crazy to think that this franchise is bigger and more successful!

The world of Tron it has so much potential and I personally think it achieves that potential with its storytelling, philosophy, thought-provoking imagery, digital gods and pixelated existentialism wrapped in synths and light. It’s a geeky wonder!

But for most audiences, it seems the franchise fails to bridge the emotional gap between the screen and the heart.

But maybe that’s part of its charm. Tron is the cult classic that continues to get big-budget sequels that some people didn’t ask for but some of us desperately wanted. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a bright, glitchy dream that refuses to fade away no matter how many times the system tries to reboot it.

I will always be connected to the network, even if the rest of the world never connects.