October 13, 2025 • 51 mins
Jared Leto leads the charge in TRON: Ares, Disney’s electrifying return to the Grid. On this episode of The Moviegoers Society, Sean Tajipour, the Mayor of Nerdtropolis, and Drew Munhausen break down the long-awaited sequel’s stunning visuals, Nine Inch Nails–powered soundtrack, and bold direction from Joachim Rønning — and ask the big question: does TRON: Ares live up to Legacy’s legacy?
📽 Follow us on Letterboxd:
https://letterboxd.com/dmunhausen/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:13):
Well, hello and welcome back to the Moviegoers Society podcast.
I'm Shawn Toshibor, the Mayor ofNeutropolis here with my Co host
Jumanhausen, the professional media and movie mastermind.
And tonight we're heading back into the digital frontier with
Tron Aries, the long-awaited chapter and Disney's high tech
(00:33):
saga. Drew just came back from a
screening. We have a lot to dive into, but
Drew Emmanuel asked us this question about Peacemaker.
We're not talking Peacemaker, solet's just let him down easily.
We're not going to talk about it.
I did watch it. You did not.
Yeah, it just came out tonight and I was in the movie.
So I, you want me to see Trinary's?
(00:54):
You want me to watch Peacemaker?I can.
I can. You got to watch every time in
the night, you got to consume everything, anything.
I will tell you this, I had my review of the first few episodes
of Peacemaker. I did not like it.
Still feel the same after finishing the season.
Interesting. And see, I have, I've watched
every episode except the finale that just came out tonight and
I've actually really been enjoying this season.
So I just need to finish it and I've like, I don't think this.
(01:18):
What was that? I just like 2 episodes of it and
it's only because it broadens. It's like outside of Peacemaker.
Anything that's like not Peacemaker I like about the show
if that makes. Sense I very much like the vibe
of peacemaker and yeah, I don't think the finale is going to
change the fact that I've reallyliked this season so far.
I don't think it's going to I don't think the finale can do
(01:39):
anything that's going to make meturn on it.
I've I've enjoyed it, but I I will watch the finale after this
podcast and, you know, just message me about it because this
is the movie goers society. You know, we talked about going
to the movies in the name. Which you just came back, you
did, you went to the movies. But before we do dive into all
(01:59):
that, Drew job well done on yourShelby Oaks interview.
I have put that together. It's going live Saturday.
But I have to applaud you, man. That's a really good interview.
You did a great job. Thank you, I appreciate it.
I was like pretty nervous about it, mostly from a technical
perspective. No, it turned out great.
It worked. Don't worry about it.
(02:19):
It works. It's good.
It's good. It's good.
I was proud of you. Really great conversation.
She seemed to have a great time,too, with it.
And yeah, that's like your firstjunket pretty much, right?
Like your first, like, Oh yeah, that's exciting and.
Camille Sullivan, she was, She was lovely.
And this is a movie that I saw at Shelby Oaks.
I saw it at Fantastic Fest. I really liked it.
(02:42):
Kind of a cool blending of, of filmmaking techniques in the
genre. Like you have like some, some
Blair Witch style, you know, like found footage style, but
you have documentary and then you have kind of traditional
horror does a lot and, and I, I enjoyed it.
I think it's kind of a little hidden gem.
I'm, I'm going to be interested to see if it gets a like a
(03:03):
little bit of a cult following and it's in its own right.
I will say this, I went last night to watch Roof Man.
I have that review on the website but Shelby Oaks had a
screening as well. And dude, I have not seen a line
out the door around the corner around the theater for something
like any film. Honestly, it felt like it was a
Marvel film. Oh good.
(03:24):
And it was stacked. Biggest line I've ever seen
honestly of recent times for early screening.
So a lot of excitement there. I will say Shelby Oaks review
from Drew is on Nurtropolis. Roofman review is on
Nertropolis. I'm exhausted, Drew, because I
(03:46):
just came back from LAII. I'm very aware.
For those I don't know, Netflix flew me out to LA to check out
Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein.
So I went to the Netflix campus,went to the To Doom Theater,
which was awesome, and then spent the next day with the cast
(04:08):
and director himself. Let me see if I can pull this
up. Let's see how this is going to
go. Yeah, there we go.
So I got to hang out with Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac,
Jacob Allordy, and Mia Goth got to do the press conference and
they actually allowed me to get on the mic and ask my question.
I liked my question for Oscar Isaac.
(04:29):
I did round tables with Mia Gothand the costume designer and
then one of the other cast members in the oh, drawing a
blank, the cinematographer and the composer as well.
So a lot of Frankenstein stuff coming your way.
But I do have my review of Guillermo del Toro's
Frankenstein Honortropolis. But dude, Guillermo is awesome.
(04:54):
Like he, he just felt like he knew me already.
It was weird. We're like nerding out together.
Got to talk to him about a few things.
I told him how Hellboy 2 is one of my favorites because it came
out of my birthday, and that's afilm my my father and I went
together to watch. And then I got to give him props
for Tales of a Arcadia, that troll hunter show on Netflix
that he helped create, which is fantastic.
(05:14):
It's really cool world. And he was like, yeah, it's
going to get darker. So he said it was a big nerd.
I took the pin off my lapel and gave it to him.
He loved it. And he like, wore it all day.
Press conference, all the junkets.
You got the Nerdtropolis. I thought that was so cool.
I saw the picture of him, you know, during the press
conference wearing the pin. You could clearly see it.
It's a big one. I thought that was really.
Cool. I didn't think he was going to
(05:34):
put it on. I was like, here you go.
He's like, I'm putting this on now.
So he was super awesome. I mean, everyone was Oscar Isaac
dude, so much awesome swag and drip.
Like with that outfit he was wearing.
Super awesome guy, great in thisrole.
I know we're talking Tron, but Igot to get this out of the way
because it's so fresh. Jacob already plays the
creature, super tall guy. I'm about 6-1 and look at his
(05:55):
towering over me. He's a fun guy.
He loved my shirt. So I actually had a sticker and
a pen I gave him and he was like, oh man, I love this.
And so it's exciting. And Mia Goth is is a true
talent. I think she is really
underrated. She's a talented, talented
actress. But I'll share more.
I don't want to bore bore y'all too much or Frankenstein.
We'll get we'll get to that whenthe time comes.
(06:17):
I'm really. Eager to see it and I was
looking, I was, I'm pretty sure it's out on Netflix in November.
And then I got all excited because it said October, October
17th on Wikipedia. I was like, ah, but that's its
limited theatrical, that's not Netflix.
So I have to I have to wait a little bit longer.
But I did catch Tron and IMAX 3Din LA.
(06:37):
I swung by the world premiere. I didn't have access to that
obviously, but I I was so close by.
I went to that and then went to my screening.
But it was crazy. It was very cool to see the big
how it was set up. So that was super awesome.
Before we dive into Tron, Aries Drew, if you if it's OK, I like
to do some show and tell of somecool stuff that got mailed my
way. I got to show it off and kind
of. I like swag.
(06:58):
I'm I'm cool with this. Swag the Does the Laboo boos
exist in your family? Are we staying away from Laboo
boos? La La Boo boos.
What I don't I'm I'm I don't know what you.
Mean you're that far of removed from LA Boo boos, OK?
I guess so. La Boo boos are something you've
been seeing on a bunch of people's backpacks purses.
They're those little, little Furby looking things.
(07:19):
Yeah, OK. I'm looking at that.
Yes, I've seen these. I got sent from Simon and
Schuster makes a lot of, you know, books and stuff like that.
The La Foo Foo which is the RIP off of the La Boo Boo coloring
book which is really cool. And then there's also a
Christmas themed La Fufu coloring book that you can get.
(07:41):
They send this my way and I knowsome people are big fans of La
Boo Boo La Fufu's and coloring but just FYI anyone that has La
Boo Boo lovers in their family friends, they have these fun
coloring books that you can get.It says it's funny on this
holiday one it says spend the holiday season.
(08:01):
What your favorite knock offs cause lafoofoos are like the
knock off versions of the real thing.
So that's hilarious right there.I must say.
Also, what is now I believe on 4K Ultra HDI think ballerina is
out now John Wick ballerina as Ilike I really like this cover
(08:24):
art. I mean that is awesome.
You got Lance. I love that Lance is on here.
I just love it's the it's it's the trio plus on an Armas.
Is that the regular or is that a?
Steel book I couldn't. It's not a steel book, but it's
a really nice with a really niceslip cover.
Yeah, all the John Wick movies have had nice slip covers.
I think I own the 1st 4 on 4K and they all, or at least my my
(08:48):
copies of three and four have really nice slip covers.
On them, yeah, that's super nice.
Also. You can also find the bad guys
too on 4K now for you know, for home release.
This is a really great movie, really great, lot of fun, great
for the big kids, small kids, adults, whatever you want to
call it. So that is also I enjoyed it.
(09:10):
So you got 2 varieties right there.
I believe this is already out because Peanuts just turned 75
years old and they have this Ultimate TV Special collection
on Blu-ray. This has 40 classic TV specials.
The only way you can really watch Peanuts is on Apple TV
Plus and not everyone has that. But if you want to get this for
(09:31):
the ultimate Peanuts lover, theyhave that the Ultimate TV
Special Collection. So that's I, I'm a big Peanuts
fanatic. Had to have this the easy way to
watch your Peanuts favorites, especially with the holidays
coming up. You know, they have a lot of fun
specials for that. That is my show and tell folks.
Drew, thank you for indulging mein that.
(09:52):
Actually, I have one more show and tell.
Let's do one more, because as wejump into Tron Aries, I had to
pick up this popcorn bucket. Oh, nice.
And it's the arcade cabinet. That's that's cool.
That's cool. Where does it open?
Where does the show me? I know, right?
You're like, where does this open up?
And almost confused and I'm like, there's the like the power
(10:14):
and stuff. So apparently it's in here.
This there you go where the battery is.
Just like myself, it is powered by popcorn.
But this one's really cool. I mean, I had to get this one.
There's the Tron cycle one, but like we'll get into it.
I like the Tron cycle, but it's not this nostalgic means I like
the arcade cabinet. I mean, I thought that's that's
(10:34):
pretty cool. So I will say that's lights on
lights. Very nice, very nice.
I like that. That's a good one.
I like the you know, a lot of them are getting to be more like
this, but the popcorn buckets that work for as shelf art in
its own way. As you can see behind me,
there's a few sneaking around. I'm covering few of them, but I
got the Galactus one, the bat signal.
I mean, there's a bunch of stuff.
The Ghostbusters, everything else, but yeah.
(10:57):
Now on to Tron Aries. I saw this one Drew.
The only way I think you should have, and I think you kind of
missed out is Inglorious IMAX 3D.
Same way I watched Tron Legacy back in 2010, a film honestly
Drew that didn't get much love for whatever reason and then
(11:19):
found like more of a following afterwards.
I don't know if it did well at the box office.
It didn't, and it got like hand by critics I believe, which I
don't know why. I remember that too, 'cause I
saw it in theaters and really liked it.
And then I remember being kind of surprised after the fact to
learn that like, oh, wait, people, people didn't like this.
(11:41):
Yeah, strange, but yeah, Tron legacy.
I love that you have daft Daft Punk leading the way, but in
this film, you know I really like the immersion in IMAX
Three. DI thought it was fantastic,
especially with the sound designreturning to the grid.
But you saw this in regular format, correct?
(12:01):
As what was it like? Onyx.
Yeah, I saw it in Onyx, which for those that aren't aware,
Onyx is like a it's, there's notvery many of these theaters
throughout the country, but Onyxis, it's an LED cinema.
So it's not projector. It's it's a giant LED screen.
So the colors really pop and theshadows are dark.
(12:22):
And it, it looks really, it's like having a really nice OLED
TV in your home. But imagine that you know the
size of movie screen. And so so do.
You think this? Is a premium format.
So did it. Did you think this format really
enhanced this type of film? You thought it did?
I mean, it looked really good. The colors popped, especially
with it being so dependent on like the Reds and the lighting
(12:44):
and and everything. I thought it looked phenomenal
on the screen that I saw. OK, that's good to hear.
I'm actually going to watch thismovie again on this coming
Sunday. I want to watch it again in IMAX
3D and we're going to have some people, some fellow friends and
fellow Metropolis people come join us.
For me, big Tron fan, I felt like this is like a coming home
thing. It's, I can't believe it's what,
(13:04):
15 years since the last Tron film?
Tron's like a digital religion to many of us.
The FX is awesome, the lighting,I love the 9 Inch Nails score.
I thought it was brilliant to bring him on board with Trent
Reznor and Atticus Ross. You know, they scored so many
great films. I know Challengers is probably
your favorite one they've done. Yes.
(13:26):
Well, and the people say the social network I really love.
Mutant the challenger score is so good.
Mutant Mayhem is pretty good too.
Don't sleep on the Ninja Turtles.
It is. No, That's great.
Yeah, and I thought the 3D moments that I don't think we
got enough were really in your face.
But Drew, you know with your type of non IMAX set up, how did
(13:47):
the visuals and sound play together in that type of Onyx
screening? It was great.
I mean, it's it's a big theater.Like I said, it is a premium
format. At the theater I went to, they
have like a bunch of regular theaters and they have an Atmos,
the Adobe Atmos theater and theyhave an Onyx theater.
And, and so I saw an Onyx. So it is like considered
premium. The sound in my theater was
(14:10):
incredible. My, my seat was pulsing with the
music, which that's what you really want for something like
this because it enhances the experience.
I'm not a huge 3D fan in general.
I've, I've never really have been back in the like 2010, you
know, when it was like every movie was coming out in 3D.
Do you remember Beewolf in 3D? Do you remember Beewolf when
(14:32):
that came out? That was in three.
DI do I do? And here's here's a little
tidbit. So in college, I worked at a
movie theater in Oklahoma duringthe summer and it was actually
really nice theater, one of the nicer ones in the state.
And we had at that theater during this rush of 3D, they had
(14:52):
instead of having the disposableglasses, you know, that you
would just get in like a pack and, you know, have your glasses
that then you would toss into the, you know, the big cardboard
looking things you'd see at theaters when you were done.
This theater, we had our own glasses that every showing you'd
have. The people would get glasses.
They were nice, and when you were done, you turned them back
(15:13):
in and we would have to go and sterilize them and everything
because we reused them and they were like really nice glasses.
We'd have these huge racks of them and that was a really
interesting time. In movies, that's not really a
thing anymore where you have like where theaters have their
own set of glasses. But that's what we did.
And that's when just literally every movie that was coming out.
(15:34):
Was 3D and you don't see it, buthonestly 3D.
The only films that you should really see in 3D are Avatar
films and Tron films, and I can't think of anything else
honestly that I've watched in three.
DI honestly couldn't tell you what the last movie I saw in 3D
was. I feel like there was something
I did see a few years ago and I was surprised like, oh, this
actually looks pretty good. So, you know, I'm not like like
(15:57):
super, super anti, but it's justif I, if I can see it in a
different premium large format with that's not 3D, that's my
preference. I do understand how seeing this
in IMAX 3D would be a benefit tothe experience, but I don't know
if it would really add that muchas opposed to just seeing it in
(16:18):
IMAX. But maybe, maybe I'm being
naive, I don't know, you know? We'll get into a little bit of
that, but in Tron Aries, the story takes us to a new
territory the franchise has never been into.
It's like, I guess it's 15 yearslater after like, I think it
really is a true like follow up years wise.
It's quite some time since Legacy kind of jumps forward
(16:40):
quite a bit. Aries is a sophisticated program
played by obviously Jared Leto, sent to the digital world, into
the real one on a dangerous mission.
It is a fascinating set up, but there's a big gap between Legacy
and Aries. I just kind of was like, I guess
we have to accept it. We have to accept that we have.
(17:00):
We're not going to be talking about really what's going on in
the beginning. They do kind of give us a little
back story of what is happening since then, since Legacy, but I
had more questions than. Yeah, there's like a really fast
montage at the beginning that kind of info dumps on you.
Like here's where we're at now. And even I was trying to like,
(17:22):
you know, trying to connect the dots and figure out what's going
on as the movie plays out. I think you get a pretty clear
idea. But in the beginning I was a
little bit overwhelmed to be honest.
Yeah, I just have to accept it. Like this is not like a straight
sequel to Legacy. I thought the director, what is
it joke joke Roning? He has he has.
(17:44):
He did The Woman in the Water, that one film that came out last
year with Daisy Ridley. Yes.
You were very high on that. Movie and I liked it so I was
excited for it and I thought he did a great job for what he had
you know the visuals, the style.My biggest issue with this film
drew was like the screenplay definitely felt wonky.
I looked at like, who wrote it? I'm like, it's people that don't
(18:06):
even have that much of experience per SE.
I think the writers are behind dared the Daredevil show for
Disney Plus and they just they don't they don't have like the
biggest, the the longest resume.I really wanted this movie to
have stronger ties to legacy like as much as possible.
(18:26):
And we just kind of glossed overit.
And I really think it puts the director in the corner kind of
giving a halfway done story or halfway story because I felt
like this was like AI call this,OK, so Tron Tron one point O
Tron legacy Tron 2 point O Tron Aries is like Tron 2.65 to me.
(18:51):
It's a weird filler film, but it's fun and he tries so hard to
kind of make something out of a a story that's not fully there
for the Tron fans. So how did you feel about the
story overall, Drew? Did you think it balanced the
idea as well from previous films, or if too focused on
something that's kind of disconnected from the world of
(19:14):
Tron that we're used to? I feel like it just it kind of
does the obvious thing that you have to do with the franchise
here, right? Like you have Tron, the
original, you have Tron legacy, which it's in the title, right?
It's it's Flynn's son trying to find Flynn and kind of doing the
legacy equal thing that we've been getting across all kinds of
franchises for the past 15 years.
(19:35):
That's this is commonplace now. It, it's, and, and the big thing
then was in 2010, the, as, as far as effects had come from the
80s from the original Tron came out.
It's like, here's a chance to doTron with some really cool big
effects. Well, now, 15 years later, the
effects have gotten even better,which is great.
(19:57):
But then the obvious thing to dois how do you get Tron and
elements of, of Tron in the computer world into the real
world? And so I, I don't even think
that's like lazy or anything. I think that's just, it's
obvious. So that's that's what you do.
Well, that's how the last film ended too, is that Garrett
(20:18):
Hudlund's character and Olivia Wilde, the Flynn's son, they
came into the real world. And then all of a sudden you'll,
you'll get that story kind of inthe beginning of Tron Aries, but
then it's just kind of glossed over that he he has left the
company on personal reasons. And we don't know what those
personal reasons are. Yeah, you see, like magazine
covers, like he's, he has stepped down.
(20:40):
Yeah, and, and obviously he did not.
I don't think they could come toterms of him returning.
He's also busy with Tulsa King, like really busy with Tulsa
King. Olivia Wilde just maybe didn't
fit in this. And we'll get to the Olivia
Wilde part of it. Jeff Bridges was supposed to be
a surprise cameo, but then he like revealed that he was in the
movie. So then that's why he's a part
(21:01):
of all the. I have thoughts on that whole
thing later too. Yeah, I mean, not trying to run
4, but let's let's talk about who's in the film and their
performances. Drew, obviously Jared Leto, the
lead of this film as Aries. A lot of people have love, hate
relationship with him. I like him and everything he
does. A lot of people don't like him
for whatever reason. I think he's great in this role
(21:24):
actually. I actually am fine with him as
Aries taking the lead of this franchise as this program he
was. He's fit for the type of world I
I like it. And then you have Evan Peters,
who plays Dillinger's grandson, the adversary to Jeff Bridges,
Flynn, and I thought he was a great addition as well.
(21:44):
And I thought Evan Peter's greatin this.
Obviously we have Jeff Bridges. I'm glossing over this Drew
before we dive into it. Then we have Jeff Bridges and
limited screen time, but also a very important part of this film
just kind of piercing things together to previous ones.
But also Drew outside of that, the cast is lackluster.
(22:05):
Can we at least agree on that? We have I'm a fan of Greta Lee.
I am, but she does not fit in this role.
And then you have. See, I'm like the opposite, like
Greta Lee, the only one. I walk out of this being like, I
like Greta Lee. I like her, but some of the
moments did not work for me as her position, like the position
(22:26):
of the Ceoi liked it, but reallyleading the charge alongside
Leto. I thought it was a mismatch.
I thought this was a they were amismatch together.
I liked her role, but I didn't think it needed to be front and
center. And then you have Artura Castro,
who is just, I'm sorry to say itis a joke to me in this film.
I'm, I'm gonna say it like I didnot see him needing to be in
(22:48):
this film. And now.
And same with Hassan. What's his name?
Hassan Minog. Son Minaj, it's he's such a
nothing part in this movie. Exactly.
For somebody who I actually really like, 'cause I'm.
Yeah, I like him. He's funny and he's just not
utilized in this movie at all. This film was just strange when
the casting and and then you have I forget, who is Jodie
Turner Smith, right. Is that who's Athena?
(23:09):
Who is Athena? Yes, this is Athena, right?
Yeah, Yeah. I mean, like I was like, that
was a flat. Like can we get some big?
She had a cool look though. She at least had a striking
look. But we needed some bigger names
and I think a bigger personalities from these people
like Athena was not a great. I guess you can call villain was
(23:33):
really flat for me. I didn't think she could go toe
to toe. I didn't think it was great.
I I just wasn't believable for me.
I know I'm like rambling on the cast and I'm going to ask Drew
this question, but I I thought the budget went mostly to Leto,
which is fair to some extent. And but maybe they couldn't
afford anyone else on his on histear.
(23:54):
We need more star power to balance this film out.
So I need to know, Drew, your overall take on the cast, who
stood out to you? You just said go to leave, but
who else? And do you think this world
deserves more recognizable talent than what we got?
Jared Leto is black licorice forme.
(24:15):
You know, some people love it. It's an acquired taste.
I, I'm not a fan in general. I, I do think he's at least
interesting. Like if you look at his
filmography, especially post Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club,
like I I love Blade Runner 2049 and he's in that and you know,
I'm not a fan of what he was doing as the Joker in Zack
(24:38):
Snyder's Justice League and and DC over there House of Gucci.
He's like a cartoon character. He's great at that.
I like that. I like his role.
He goes all out. He has talent.
You can't say he's not talented.And you're not a leading man.
I like when he's being weird to an extent just because it's like
sometimes it is almost like a train wreck you can't look away
from. So like, I appreciate that in
(25:00):
this, I feel like I think you kind of praising his performance
is also like speaks to him in general in the sense that yes,
he's good at playing like a soulless AI, you know, computer,
computer program. And because that's what he has
to do here. And he yes, he is good at that,
(25:22):
like kind of playing this soulless character.
So it's like him being good at this is almost like a knock
against him in in a way. But you know, he does at least
have presents and things in thismovie.
And to his credit, the long hair, the suit, he looks good in
it all like so like it. You know, there's presents
(25:44):
there, but he's he wasn't doing anything here to like knock me
out of my socks. He he's being a soulless AI.
He's a program, not an AII guess.
Yeah, he's a program, and I got to also have some blame on the
screenplay and the writing that that didn't really deliver the
best, best lines, the best stufffor him.
(26:06):
And that's. Really get to comment as much on
that. Cause like I'm with you, I think
that the first half of this movie, when it's kind of setting
things up, I was more interestedin the plot.
And you know, OK, they found a way to make these programs be in
the real world, but it's they can only be around for a limited
amount of time before they breakdown.
(26:28):
So everybody's on the hunt for this code, which this is the
kind of stuff I thought was really silly from a screen
writing perspective that it's like you have the permanence
code and just the name of that and what it.
And it's like just this kind of Mac guffin code that they're
after because if you have this code, it makes these programs
not breakdown, right? They can exist in perpetuity
(26:51):
and. Which, sorry, real quick.
Which I'm assuming is what Olivia Wilde's character and
legacy had. Sure.
I mean, I, I, you know, I. Didn't rewatch legacy.
I need to rewatch it. We need to.
We should. It's.
I saw Tron Legacy twice in theaters and maybe once after it
came out, but I haven't seen it since.
(27:12):
So yeah, I haven't seen it 14 years probably, but so I can't
remember that well. But like all that stuff I
thought was kind of silly and then but I but I was at least
interested. The second-half.
I feel like it just kind of getsinto there's just a lot of stuff
happening all at once. And that's fine for the most
(27:34):
part because I was at least entertained and it all looks
really good. I think that's where the movie
excels the most. But no, this is not a movie
that's going to be remembered for its plotting or for its
acting or characters. It's going to be remembered for
light cycle chases, you know, inthe in the streets, in the real
(27:54):
world. And that's, I think, kind of a
high point of the movie. Jared Leto fine.
I like Greta Lee. We didn't really, you didn't.
Did you talk about Evan Peters? Really, 'cause he's.
Kind of just real quick, yeah. A Dillinger?
Yeah. I mean, he's fine.
He's playing like kind of just astereotypical villain trying to
(28:16):
think of has he done this before?
Has he done the villain like this before to this?
Degree. I mean, not like a like, not
like a tech tech guy, like see. I'm trying to see.
I was trying to. See, but it worked like he's
like a nepto baby like his grandfather and his mom's there.
His mom is played by oh who? What's her name from X-Files?
(28:37):
It's Gillian Anderson plays mom in in a really thankless role
and I like Gillian Anderson a lot.
And I was like, man, this is a atough go for you in this movie.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I was like, she's a big name,
but she doesn't have much of A role in it.
Would have been nice. You know who's in this film that
is like in it for five seconds? Oh man, he's the one that's in
(29:01):
the Star Wars video games. Cameron Monaghan, Yes, I saw his
name in the opening credits. I was like, oh, cool, good for
him. He's in this.
And then he shows up for a scene.
I'm like, all right, there he is.
And then I don't think I ever saw him again for the movie.
And he's like pretty high build.In that's what I'm saying, he
would have been an awesome addition as well as something
like as a as a if he was like kind of like the villain at the
(29:24):
same time, like from the the grid would have been awesome
too. Yeah, it was just weird.
But but finish your thought. Go ahead.
Well, I was just going to say, Ithink that you have Jared Leto,
who is not really able to emote much in this movie because of
the role, and you have Greta Lee, who I really like, but
(29:45):
she's not. I think she has a sense of
comedic timing 'cause she does have some moments of comedy in
the movie, but like, that's not her, at least from what what
I've seen of her so far in her career.
Like that's not what she's knownfor.
So then they kind of try to hastily surround them with like,
well, here's some comedians, youknow, here's Sasan Minhaj and
(30:05):
here's Arturo Castro as you mentioned.
And like in those parts just really don't work and don't
really don't really add anything.
Jodi Turner Smith is as Athena, as you mentioned, is like has a
cool look and presence, but likeshe's just playing the inverse
Jared Leto. She's also soulless robot, but
(30:27):
but bad, you know, but mean. So it's like, it's tough because
I think people are doing what they can, but like with the
material provided here, going back to the screenplays, you've
said like there's only so much you can do with it.
Yeah. And obviously we, my biggest
gripe is we spent too much time in this real world and no one
(30:50):
watches Tron for the real world.But I understand the concept
where the digital world enteringhours, but the grid is where the
Tron world thrives. It's the best part of Tron.
It's a glowing sandbox with circus as identity disk.
And we see a lot of that, which is awesome.
And we do visit it. Not as much as I wanted that
(31:12):
digital magic that made legacy so cool.
Like we spent so much time in there and legacy and it looked
awesome and then when we re entered it, a lot has changed.
I had questions. I was trying to figure out where
how it all works out and obviously we had Jeff Bridges
return and I was just kind of confused and couldn't figure out
like how is he in this version of the grid?
(31:34):
And I need to re watch legacy. There's just so many questions I
have. Maybe I just don't I, I
mentally, maybe I dozed off watching the film.
So that's what I'm going to watch this Sunday and get all my
questions hopefully answered. It, it, it does feel like it was
kind of shoehorned in there. You know, when, when Legacy came
out, Bridges was kind of having his, his own little renaissance
(31:56):
in theater. You know, like he was in Iron
Man as the villain and then it was like, boom.
Then he won an Oscar for Crazy Heart and then he's in Crown
Legacy and True Grit. And all of a sudden it was like
the second coming of, of, of Bridges.
And then that, you know, I feel like his kind of petered out a
little bit. Since then, he's been in in a
(32:18):
few movies. I mean, I mean, he really hasn't
been in any movies at all in thepast.
Gosh, the last like real movie he was in was Bad Times at the
El Royale in 2018. Otherwise, he's been in
documentaries since. And I know he has that show, the
Old Man, that I've heard really good things about him.
(32:39):
I've never watched it. So he's been doing that post
2020. But I mean, yeah, I, I don't, I
guess he's just kind of slowed down.
You would have thought what they've going to the Vance, the
Tron Airy like the Tron franchise.
They really would have used him more than just kind of a a
cameo. And I'm looking forward to
rewatching this movie. I know it seems like we're we're
(33:00):
we're crapping on it, but honestly, I gave it a good
rating. I'm just now talking about some
of my gripes. What it did not it has not
become my favorite Tron movie, Imust say.
And let's not forget about that animated show, Tron uprising.
I'm not sure if you've seen that.
I think you can watch that on Disney plus and that's a great
like in between. It's a prequel, I believe, to
(33:21):
legacy and it shows you what happened before Legacy happened
and it's fantastic. So Tron Uprising, check that
out. I forget how many episodes it
is, but it's really awesome. But I really want it.
Go ahead, I. Was just going to say, I think
that Aries, it's, it's just in the format that we're talking
(33:42):
about it here. It's a little difficult because
I think the things that work best about the movie are visual.
And I, I agree with some of yourgripes of like it's a lot of
time in the real world and I think the movie pops when it's
in the digital world, especiallyin the scene with Bridges.
It's a little bit more of like aretro version of that world.
And when that happened, I was like, oh, it kind of popped in
(34:02):
the way that they make Leto lookin that world.
I thought I looked looked prettycool.
But yeah, when they're in the digital world, you're kind of
like, oh, this is this is interesting.
But there is. Did you notice that there wasn't
a lot of people like a lot of people in the streets?
Did you feel like it was like quiet in the city?
Yes, I would agree, other than the chase scenes where there's a
(34:24):
lot of cars, but still not a lotof people.
Yeah, it's just it's it's tough because the visuals are probably
the biggest strengths of the movie.
When you start delving into the the characters and the
performances and the the writingand the plotting, it's like
that's kind of the stuff where the movie's lacking a little
bit. If you want to go see some
really cool visuals on a big screen, go see this in IMAX 3D.
(34:48):
As you, as Sean said, you know, go see it in.
If you can't do that, go see it in Dolby Atmos or go see it in
whatever premium large format you can, because I do think it's
kind of a feast for thine eyes. You know you're going to you're
going to find something to enjoythere there.
Like I said, the the movie to mepeaks with a big light cycle
chase, which that takes place inthe real world, but it's cool
(35:08):
like the the the light cycles inthe real world.
The design of them in the suits look look awesome.
They do, and I'm laughing because of that chase scene, the
one where Greta Lee has to pick up the bike.
Yep. And and then Athena's chasing.
I thought that was a ridiculous scene.
I I laughed at the going around in circles.
(35:29):
Well, I, I laughed for many things.
I just thought it was a poor scene.
I just thought it was a waste ofa scene.
Too comedic. Weird.
I was just like, that's kind of cringy.
That was a very cringy scene to me.
I would just say that I just, that's what I'm laughing about.
Yeah, the movie is awesome. The 9 inch nose track is amazing
(35:49):
and this movie gets kind of sluggish at times where
nothing's really happening and the soundtrack makes you feel
like something important is happening, kind of gets you
going. And when it's like not much
happening, which is good. So the soundtrack does help a
lot, kind of keeping you intrigued and kind of focused on
what's happening when honestly not much is happening.
(36:11):
But I loved it. I I mean, I love the soundtrack.
It's very strange for me though when Daft Punk was so great in
Legacy. This one quite isn't as amazing
as the Daft Punk one, but for this, for this version of Tron
with Aries, it worked, but I just wish there was more digital
world stuff with that soundtrack.
(36:33):
I thought that's what it worked best when they're in the real
world, Yeah, that's what where the soundtrack worked best for
me. But I can't wait to watch it
again honestly, because it's really great visually.
It just lacked a screenplay. I want to ask you, Sean, what do
you think for the future of Tron?
(36:53):
You know, like what I guess I'm kind of interested to see this
movie allegedly cost a lot and Ihave not looked at any of the
box office tracking. I don't know what it's supposed
to do and it doesn't really matter.
But I think that I think Tron was kind of this weird Disney
Colt movie from the 80s. And I think we were all
(37:14):
surprised when it was getting a sequel in the 20 tens.
And that movie came out and I liked it and it made me visit
the first one, the first movie for the first time at that,
around when that was coming out.And you know, but Tron Legacy
underperformed. And so I think back then in
2010, we thought, well, you know, it was fun to bring it
(37:34):
back. But I guess that's it for Tron.
And now here we are in 2025 getting a Neutron movie, and
obviously Disney has some investment in this.
Well, they have the. They have the right.
They have the new right they thebig roller coaster I think just
opened within the last year or two.
It looks really awesome. I've heard that that coaster has
(37:55):
gotten reviewed really well and I'm excited to hopefully one day
go and ride that coaster becauseI love roller coasters.
But so like obviously they have some investment in in this
franchise, but if this movie underperforms, it's like, is
that it for it from a theatricalstandpoint or would they do
(38:16):
Tron, you know, animated versionor would they do a?
Smaller form. Well, you saw it took 15 years
since Legacy to even get this film and obviously it took
longer from the first Tron to Legacy.
The Tron franchise is a unpopular Disney IP that has a
fan base that also can become mainstream just by the regular
(38:37):
moviegoers. I just want to see awesome
blockbuster on screen. That's not what Legacy was,
right? If you want to see an awesome
block like a summer blockbuster in October, Tron Aries is it.
You're going to be. A franchise that is most
identifiable or probably most revered for its visuals.
Yeah, and it's a cool IP. I I just don't know why it's
getting mismanaged because it could be their front and center
(39:03):
IP for, for Disney amongst the other ones.
You know, I could have, I could have seen it like the next
Marvel, right. And this is something they
created pretty much. So with Tron going back, you
asked the question what the future might hold for it.
Well, how it ended was should have been the second-half of the
film. I totally agree.
(39:23):
Which I'm going to say spoilers right now.
We're going to go in deep spoilers, but at the end, Jared
Leto is on a search for Cora, Olivia Wilde's character based
on a photograph. To learn how to survive in the
real world pretty much, and how to adapt to it and just be part
of it as a program and. In expanding on that, even
(39:46):
Dillinger Evan Peters role, you know, all of his part in the
movie is basically in his space,you know, company, wherever he's
at, it's like this giant warehouse looking deal like
that's where he is. And he's just if he's not in
that big open space in the wherehe's like on his computer and
he's just kind of a stereotypical bad guy.
(40:08):
Well, spoilers you know, but at the end of the movie he is in
the digital world. He's in the.
Grid and you see some referencesto you know his his grandpa, his
grandfather yes and so like someinteresting things there and I'm
like yes, I'm way more interested in him being in this
world. I'm interested in the search for
(40:31):
Cora. I'm like, those are things that
I would have liked to see to your point, and that's what it
ends on. And we didn't get any of that
here and. I'm like, no.
So the second-half should have been as you just mentioned,
Dillinger, Evan Evan Peters Dillinger becoming master
control as he does, donning his grandfather's awesome iconic
(40:52):
costume or suit and going after people in the in the in the real
world. And on top you have Jared Leto
trying to find Korra to maybe help him with something and then
have Korra on them team up. See the Olivia Wilde in this
movie would have been great overgreatly if I saw Leto with Wilde
teaming up on in this film. Would it awesome?
(41:13):
I thought it would have been a much better film and that's what
they set up though. So the true Tron sequel, Tron 3,
which is after Tron Harry's, I'mgoing to call it because I
thought this was like 2.65 will be a a great film if they decide
to do it. I think they'd really put
sprinkled some great stuff and if they really lean into it and
then bring back Flynn's son. I forget.
(41:34):
I keep forgetting his name. I I just call him Flynn's son.
I can't remember what the character's name.
Is it is horrible, but if they bring back Flynn's son and then
bring back Bridges and just do aproper follow up to legacy.
Sam Flynn. So Jeff Bridges is Kevin Flynn
and Garrett? No.
But what's the actor's name though?
I keep. Oh, Garrett Hedlund.
(41:54):
Yes, Garrett, yeah, that's what I want to see.
But what they ended on is what Iexpected in the second-half.
Yes. But so if I had to to rank, rank
the Tron saga, whatever you callit, Tron Legacy, I still holds
(42:16):
the crown for me, followed by the original Tron.
I'm going to slip in Tron Uprising, the animated series,
and then I'm going to follow with Tron Aries.
My order is the same except I haven't seen Uprising so I can't
include that, but I would say 213.
Yeah, but honestly, it's so close between the original and
the second one, even though it'slike obviously old, like it's
(42:39):
not the technology they had backthen.
There's just something so charming and it's the fact that
it's the first film that introduced us to this world
something special. So honestly, like it's a very
close for the original and Legacy, like it's almost head to
I mean, it's the reason I love Legacy is because of the first
Tron film. Where would you insert into your
Tron rankings? The The Tron world from Kingdom
(43:01):
Hearts 2 circa 2004 ish when that game came out.
The King of Hearts games, I mean.
Yeah, I played the Kingdom Hearts game the second.
One has a Tron world in it. It does.
I've seen all that stuff. I don't think I've played that
one that. Is that The one that came out
for the Wii had the Tron stuff in it I believe.
(43:22):
No, it was on the place I playedit on PlayStation 2.
I love that Kingdom Hearts thingand hopefully it did make a
Kingdom Hearts movie like it. They are so close.
I think pulling the trigger on something like that, but I'll
say this, like I said, Aries feels like a filler movie.
It's still very bold. It's beautifully with the
graphics and effects, the soundtracks, awesome.
(43:42):
There is quite a bit of fan service to some extent, but the
story does fumble quite a bit onwhat you get, especially because
of the screenplay. And then like the casting was a
little off for me. But like I said, it's a summer
blockbuster in October and I'm all for that.
So Drew will be your biggest take away from Tron Aries.
Like how do you would you you recommend it?
(44:04):
I recommend if you want to go see something that looks cool on
screen, go see it for the visuals.
But there's not too much about the plotting that could be like,
man, yeah, you're going to get super invested in the story of
Tron. No, it's it's if you want to go
see cool light cycles or neat ships.
And like I did think some of thedesign, we didn't get into this
(44:27):
as much, but some of the designslike the flying suits and things
that they have for the characters that are new here,
like I thought looked really cool.
So every time a new vehicle popped up, that's cool, that's
slick. Some of them, you know, you
don't get to see for very long. The only one that I thought was
kind of a waste was there's a a like water, almost like a jet
(44:48):
ski, like a Tron jet ski when during a brief scene in the
digital world, but during the part where they're using that,
there's like nothing happening. I was like, this is it's just
almost like a scene set to music.
It's more for it's more for the 9 inch nails of it all at that
time. That's true.
It is for the plot or what's happening in the movie.
I'm not sure if there is one butthere needs to be a Tron Bible
(45:09):
as I mean I need something that really like layers down like all
the rules and like how the grid works and all this stuff.
I want like a true like history book of the grid based in the
Tron world and kind of study that because I'm really
intrigued by like what they introduced in the first film and
how they fall open second film. And I just want to learn more
about like, I don't know if there's even, I think there's
(45:31):
making up as we go probably. I'm sure there's somebody that's
even nerdier than us that is creating like a Tron wiki, you
know, Wiki Fandom Online that has an an encyclopedia of Tron
terminology and lore. But we can't wait 15 years for
the next one like. Could you imagine, Sean?
(45:52):
Imagine. It's 2040 and you and I.
Are doing this again. In our 50s and we're, you know,
here we are episode 900 of the Moviegoers Society and we're,
we're covering Tron once again. I mean, we're, we're going to
and I'm going to have a new popcorn bucket by then probably
(46:14):
or one that probably just feeds me a popcorn bucket that's
already feeding me. I'm not giving us enough credit.
There would be at least. We'd be at least on episode 1600
of. Movies.
I was going to say, you're kind of low on that maybe.
More right, right. Right.
No. But I'm excited, I'm going to
catch it again this Sunday, IMAX3D, going to want to see what
other Easter eggs I missed and stuff like that.
(46:35):
I'm going to have to roll my eyes when it comes to the side
characters and the comedy reliefbecause I was like, we didn't
get that much in Legacy, I believe.
But what I'm probably going to do this weekend is rewatch the
first two films and then see howthis one works.
With I'd have to go back and seewhat the criticisms were of
legacy. Was it like, was it too self
serious? And they're, you know, whatever.
(46:57):
And then so they're like, throw in, throw in some comedy here
that like really doesn't work. And that's a good question, what
it was. Were they trying to course
correct? Yeah.
I just remember when it was so bad but I enjoyed it when when I
saw it in IMAX 3D back then. Me too and directed by Joseph
Kaczynski, who has now directed Top Gun Maverick, which was a a
huge an F1, one of your favoritemovies of the year this year.
(47:19):
You know, he directed Tron Legacy.
So still out there making huge blockbusters that are super
entertaining on the big screen. Yeah.
And and and the director for Tron Aries, Joachim Roning or
whatever his name is, is a really good director.
And so I don't fall to at all for this movie having some dips.
He did his best. He pulled off a visually great
(47:40):
film and it is entertaining. But we'll just see where those
end credits or whatever you wantto come mid credit or just
ending takes us. You.
You be. Seated for the next film if it
doesn't come sooner or later. And I mean, if they make Tron
this, I I feel like I say this with every franchise, even when
we've kind of sat and like picked the movie apart, my if
(48:03):
they make more of them, I'll be there for it.
But it's true. Like I like the visuals of Tron
and I think if I didn't like howit all looked, I'd be really
dogging on this movie hardcore because but but like I'm with
you, like even though there's a lot to pick apart, I didn't hate
watching it. Like I I found things to enjoy,
(48:23):
it's just it's a hard movie to analyze because when you really
start digging into it, there's there's just not much there.
No, it's super polished looking with a great soundtrack and
awesome, but just it kind of covers up the bad screenplay.
They do enough for you to kind of ignore the bad screenplay on
that. Yeah, I agree.
But yeah, I think that that wraps up our Tron Aries review.
(48:46):
If you are seeing it, I guess a lot of people saw it tonight.
Some people are watching. My theater was pretty busy for a
Thursday night and I know a lot of kids are getting out for like
fall break and things like that.School.
I know that my my kindergartner doesn't have school tomorrow
because of fall break so could be that there's a little bit
more people out there but my theater was was pretty busy.
(49:08):
Yeah, so tell us if you end up watching, if you're watching
IMAX 3 or what you know, what format you're watching it, if
what you thought of it, if if the grid going back to the grid
really reignited you for the Tron franchise.
But yeah, make sure you follow us on Letterbox.
Drew and I are on there. Follow Nurtropolis on all the
socials for more reviews, interviews and movie talk.
(49:29):
We have a lot of fun stuff coming your way, lots from Drew
Drew before we sign off coming up soon.
If anyone's in the San Antonio area, I'll be at Space Con San
Antonio. I got a lot of awesome panels to
moderate the big, big names. I'll just tease them now.
But if you're a fan of Marvel, there's some fun stuff there.
(49:50):
If you're fan of Starship Troopers, fun stuff there, fun
Star Trek, there's a lot of stuff.
And especially if you're a big fan of Wanda Vision, wink wink.
I said both. Wanda Vision, I have an exciting
panel I'll be hosting and moderating at Spacecon.
That's going to be at one of thehighlights for me.
(50:11):
I can already tell on that. And if you're a big fan of The
Matrix and X-Files and amongst other things, there's a lot
going on at Spacecon. I will be monitoring panels
there. So if you see me at Spacecon San
Antonio, please say hello. I'm super excited to give you
all some great panels there. Anything you want to end on,
(50:31):
Drew? Last call for thoughts on Tron
movie going experience. Are you going to catch roof man?
That's the question I have. I'd like to see it.
I don't know if I'm going to catch it this weekend just
because things are busy. I will say next week I'm
planning to go see Black Phone 2again.
Yes, right. We are going to watch that.
(50:52):
So we will. Yeah, we'll watch that together.
Then. That'll be a horror date night.
Yeah, I saw, I saw it at Fantastic Fest and really
enjoyed it enough that I'm goingto go see it again at the
screening and see it with you and that'll be that'll be fun.
And then also, as you mentioned,the top of the show, check out
the interview with Camille Sullivan from Shelby Oaks, a
movie that I really liked, and check that out when it comes out
(51:13):
in a few weeks when it's released wide.
Yeah, and that interview should be up this weekend.
Also check out my Robert Patrickinterview, Talking Tulsa King,
Peacemaker and, you know, revisiting a Terminator legacy
and some other stuff. That was a great conversation I
had. So a lot of other stuff you can
check out on nurtropolis.com. Thanks for listening.
Once again, I'm Sean George withthe mayor of Nurtropolis.
(51:36):
And I'm Drew Munhausen, the professional media and movie
mastermind. And we'll see you at the movie.
Well, hello and welcome back to the Moviegoers Society podcast.
I'm Shawn Toshibor, the Mayor ofNeutropolis here with my Co host
Jumanhausen, the professional media and movie mastermind.
And tonight we're heading back into the digital frontier with
Tron Aries, the long-awaited chapter and Disney's high tech
(00:33):
saga. Drew just came back from a
screening. We have a lot to dive into, but
Drew Emmanuel asked us this question about Peacemaker.
We're not talking Peacemaker, solet's just let him down easily.
We're not going to talk about it.
I did watch it. You did not.
Yeah, it just came out tonight and I was in the movie.
So I, you want me to see Trinary's?
(00:54):
You want me to watch Peacemaker?I can.
I can. You got to watch every time in
the night, you got to consume everything, anything.
I will tell you this, I had my review of the first few episodes
of Peacemaker. I did not like it.
Still feel the same after finishing the season.
Interesting. And see, I have, I've watched
every episode except the finale that just came out tonight and
I've actually really been enjoying this season.
So I just need to finish it and I've like, I don't think this.
(01:18):
What was that? I just like 2 episodes of it and
it's only because it broadens. It's like outside of Peacemaker.
Anything that's like not Peacemaker I like about the show
if that makes. Sense I very much like the vibe
of peacemaker and yeah, I don't think the finale is going to
change the fact that I've reallyliked this season so far.
I don't think it's going to I don't think the finale can do
(01:39):
anything that's going to make meturn on it.
I've I've enjoyed it, but I I will watch the finale after this
podcast and, you know, just message me about it because this
is the movie goers society. You know, we talked about going
to the movies in the name. Which you just came back, you
did, you went to the movies. But before we do dive into all
(01:59):
that, Drew job well done on yourShelby Oaks interview.
I have put that together. It's going live Saturday.
But I have to applaud you, man. That's a really good interview.
You did a great job. Thank you, I appreciate it.
I was like pretty nervous about it, mostly from a technical
perspective. No, it turned out great.
It worked. Don't worry about it.
(02:19):
It works. It's good.
It's good. It's good.
I was proud of you. Really great conversation.
She seemed to have a great time,too, with it.
And yeah, that's like your firstjunket pretty much, right?
Like your first, like, Oh yeah, that's exciting and.
Camille Sullivan, she was, She was lovely.
And this is a movie that I saw at Shelby Oaks.
I saw it at Fantastic Fest. I really liked it.
(02:42):
Kind of a cool blending of, of filmmaking techniques in the
genre. Like you have like some, some
Blair Witch style, you know, like found footage style, but
you have documentary and then you have kind of traditional
horror does a lot and, and I, I enjoyed it.
I think it's kind of a little hidden gem.
I'm, I'm going to be interested to see if it gets a like a
(03:03):
little bit of a cult following and it's in its own right.
I will say this, I went last night to watch Roof Man.
I have that review on the website but Shelby Oaks had a
screening as well. And dude, I have not seen a line
out the door around the corner around the theater for something
like any film. Honestly, it felt like it was a
Marvel film. Oh good.
(03:24):
And it was stacked. Biggest line I've ever seen
honestly of recent times for early screening.
So a lot of excitement there. I will say Shelby Oaks review
from Drew is on Nurtropolis. Roofman review is on
Nertropolis. I'm exhausted, Drew, because I
(03:46):
just came back from LAII. I'm very aware.
For those I don't know, Netflix flew me out to LA to check out
Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein.
So I went to the Netflix campus,went to the To Doom Theater,
which was awesome, and then spent the next day with the cast
(04:08):
and director himself. Let me see if I can pull this
up. Let's see how this is going to
go. Yeah, there we go.
So I got to hang out with Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac,
Jacob Allordy, and Mia Goth got to do the press conference and
they actually allowed me to get on the mic and ask my question.
I liked my question for Oscar Isaac.
(04:29):
I did round tables with Mia Gothand the costume designer and
then one of the other cast members in the oh, drawing a
blank, the cinematographer and the composer as well.
So a lot of Frankenstein stuff coming your way.
But I do have my review of Guillermo del Toro's
Frankenstein Honortropolis. But dude, Guillermo is awesome.
(04:54):
Like he, he just felt like he knew me already.
It was weird. We're like nerding out together.
Got to talk to him about a few things.
I told him how Hellboy 2 is one of my favorites because it came
out of my birthday, and that's afilm my my father and I went
together to watch. And then I got to give him props
for Tales of a Arcadia, that troll hunter show on Netflix
that he helped create, which is fantastic.
(05:14):
It's really cool world. And he was like, yeah, it's
going to get darker. So he said it was a big nerd.
I took the pin off my lapel and gave it to him.
He loved it. And he like, wore it all day.
Press conference, all the junkets.
You got the Nerdtropolis. I thought that was so cool.
I saw the picture of him, you know, during the press
conference wearing the pin. You could clearly see it.
It's a big one. I thought that was really.
Cool. I didn't think he was going to
(05:34):
put it on. I was like, here you go.
He's like, I'm putting this on now.
So he was super awesome. I mean, everyone was Oscar Isaac
dude, so much awesome swag and drip.
Like with that outfit he was wearing.
Super awesome guy, great in thisrole.
I know we're talking Tron, but Igot to get this out of the way
because it's so fresh. Jacob already plays the
creature, super tall guy. I'm about 6-1 and look at his
(05:55):
towering over me. He's a fun guy.
He loved my shirt. So I actually had a sticker and
a pen I gave him and he was like, oh man, I love this.
And so it's exciting. And Mia Goth is is a true
talent. I think she is really
underrated. She's a talented, talented
actress. But I'll share more.
I don't want to bore bore y'all too much or Frankenstein.
We'll get we'll get to that whenthe time comes.
(06:17):
I'm really. Eager to see it and I was
looking, I was, I'm pretty sure it's out on Netflix in November.
And then I got all excited because it said October, October
17th on Wikipedia. I was like, ah, but that's its
limited theatrical, that's not Netflix.
So I have to I have to wait a little bit longer.
But I did catch Tron and IMAX 3Din LA.
(06:37):
I swung by the world premiere. I didn't have access to that
obviously, but I I was so close by.
I went to that and then went to my screening.
But it was crazy. It was very cool to see the big
how it was set up. So that was super awesome.
Before we dive into Tron, Aries Drew, if you if it's OK, I like
to do some show and tell of somecool stuff that got mailed my
way. I got to show it off and kind
of. I like swag.
(06:58):
I'm I'm cool with this. Swag the Does the Laboo boos
exist in your family? Are we staying away from Laboo
boos? La La Boo boos.
What I don't I'm I'm I don't know what you.
Mean you're that far of removed from LA Boo boos, OK?
I guess so. La Boo boos are something you've
been seeing on a bunch of people's backpacks purses.
They're those little, little Furby looking things.
(07:19):
Yeah, OK. I'm looking at that.
Yes, I've seen these. I got sent from Simon and
Schuster makes a lot of, you know, books and stuff like that.
The La Foo Foo which is the RIP off of the La Boo Boo coloring
book which is really cool. And then there's also a
Christmas themed La Fufu coloring book that you can get.
(07:41):
They send this my way and I knowsome people are big fans of La
Boo Boo La Fufu's and coloring but just FYI anyone that has La
Boo Boo lovers in their family friends, they have these fun
coloring books that you can get.It says it's funny on this
holiday one it says spend the holiday season.
(08:01):
What your favorite knock offs cause lafoofoos are like the
knock off versions of the real thing.
So that's hilarious right there.I must say.
Also, what is now I believe on 4K Ultra HDI think ballerina is
out now John Wick ballerina as Ilike I really like this cover
(08:24):
art. I mean that is awesome.
You got Lance. I love that Lance is on here.
I just love it's the it's it's the trio plus on an Armas.
Is that the regular or is that a?
Steel book I couldn't. It's not a steel book, but it's
a really nice with a really niceslip cover.
Yeah, all the John Wick movies have had nice slip covers.
I think I own the 1st 4 on 4K and they all, or at least my my
(08:48):
copies of three and four have really nice slip covers.
On them, yeah, that's super nice.
Also. You can also find the bad guys
too on 4K now for you know, for home release.
This is a really great movie, really great, lot of fun, great
for the big kids, small kids, adults, whatever you want to
call it. So that is also I enjoyed it.
(09:10):
So you got 2 varieties right there.
I believe this is already out because Peanuts just turned 75
years old and they have this Ultimate TV Special collection
on Blu-ray. This has 40 classic TV specials.
The only way you can really watch Peanuts is on Apple TV
Plus and not everyone has that. But if you want to get this for
(09:31):
the ultimate Peanuts lover, theyhave that the Ultimate TV
Special Collection. So that's I, I'm a big Peanuts
fanatic. Had to have this the easy way to
watch your Peanuts favorites, especially with the holidays
coming up. You know, they have a lot of fun
specials for that. That is my show and tell folks.
Drew, thank you for indulging mein that.
(09:52):
Actually, I have one more show and tell.
Let's do one more, because as wejump into Tron Aries, I had to
pick up this popcorn bucket. Oh, nice.
And it's the arcade cabinet. That's that's cool.
That's cool. Where does it open?
Where does the show me? I know, right?
You're like, where does this open up?
And almost confused and I'm like, there's the like the power
(10:14):
and stuff. So apparently it's in here.
This there you go where the battery is.
Just like myself, it is powered by popcorn.
But this one's really cool. I mean, I had to get this one.
There's the Tron cycle one, but like we'll get into it.
I like the Tron cycle, but it's not this nostalgic means I like
the arcade cabinet. I mean, I thought that's that's
(10:34):
pretty cool. So I will say that's lights on
lights. Very nice, very nice.
I like that. That's a good one.
I like the you know, a lot of them are getting to be more like
this, but the popcorn buckets that work for as shelf art in
its own way. As you can see behind me,
there's a few sneaking around. I'm covering few of them, but I
got the Galactus one, the bat signal.
I mean, there's a bunch of stuff.
The Ghostbusters, everything else, but yeah.
(10:57):
Now on to Tron Aries. I saw this one Drew.
The only way I think you should have, and I think you kind of
missed out is Inglorious IMAX 3D.
Same way I watched Tron Legacy back in 2010, a film honestly
Drew that didn't get much love for whatever reason and then
(11:19):
found like more of a following afterwards.
I don't know if it did well at the box office.
It didn't, and it got like hand by critics I believe, which I
don't know why. I remember that too, 'cause I
saw it in theaters and really liked it.
And then I remember being kind of surprised after the fact to
learn that like, oh, wait, people, people didn't like this.
(11:41):
Yeah, strange, but yeah, Tron legacy.
I love that you have daft Daft Punk leading the way, but in
this film, you know I really like the immersion in IMAX
Three. DI thought it was fantastic,
especially with the sound designreturning to the grid.
But you saw this in regular format, correct?
(12:01):
As what was it like? Onyx.
Yeah, I saw it in Onyx, which for those that aren't aware,
Onyx is like a it's, there's notvery many of these theaters
throughout the country, but Onyxis, it's an LED cinema.
So it's not projector. It's it's a giant LED screen.
So the colors really pop and theshadows are dark.
(12:22):
And it, it looks really, it's like having a really nice OLED
TV in your home. But imagine that you know the
size of movie screen. And so so do.
You think this? Is a premium format.
So did it. Did you think this format really
enhanced this type of film? You thought it did?
I mean, it looked really good. The colors popped, especially
with it being so dependent on like the Reds and the lighting
(12:44):
and and everything. I thought it looked phenomenal
on the screen that I saw. OK, that's good to hear.
I'm actually going to watch thismovie again on this coming
Sunday. I want to watch it again in IMAX
3D and we're going to have some people, some fellow friends and
fellow Metropolis people come join us.
For me, big Tron fan, I felt like this is like a coming home
thing. It's, I can't believe it's what,
(13:04):
15 years since the last Tron film?
Tron's like a digital religion to many of us.
The FX is awesome, the lighting,I love the 9 Inch Nails score.
I thought it was brilliant to bring him on board with Trent
Reznor and Atticus Ross. You know, they scored so many
great films. I know Challengers is probably
your favorite one they've done. Yes.
(13:26):
Well, and the people say the social network I really love.
Mutant the challenger score is so good.
Mutant Mayhem is pretty good too.
Don't sleep on the Ninja Turtles.
It is. No, That's great.
Yeah, and I thought the 3D moments that I don't think we
got enough were really in your face.
But Drew, you know with your type of non IMAX set up, how did
(13:47):
the visuals and sound play together in that type of Onyx
screening? It was great.
I mean, it's it's a big theater.Like I said, it is a premium
format. At the theater I went to, they
have like a bunch of regular theaters and they have an Atmos,
the Adobe Atmos theater and theyhave an Onyx theater.
And, and so I saw an Onyx. So it is like considered
premium. The sound in my theater was
(14:10):
incredible. My, my seat was pulsing with the
music, which that's what you really want for something like
this because it enhances the experience.
I'm not a huge 3D fan in general.
I've, I've never really have been back in the like 2010, you
know, when it was like every movie was coming out in 3D.
Do you remember Beewolf in 3D? Do you remember Beewolf when
(14:32):
that came out? That was in three.
DI do I do? And here's here's a little
tidbit. So in college, I worked at a
movie theater in Oklahoma duringthe summer and it was actually
really nice theater, one of the nicer ones in the state.
And we had at that theater during this rush of 3D, they had
(14:52):
instead of having the disposableglasses, you know, that you
would just get in like a pack and, you know, have your glasses
that then you would toss into the, you know, the big cardboard
looking things you'd see at theaters when you were done.
This theater, we had our own glasses that every showing you'd
have. The people would get glasses.
They were nice, and when you were done, you turned them back
(15:13):
in and we would have to go and sterilize them and everything
because we reused them and they were like really nice glasses.
We'd have these huge racks of them and that was a really
interesting time. In movies, that's not really a
thing anymore where you have like where theaters have their
own set of glasses. But that's what we did.
And that's when just literally every movie that was coming out.
(15:34):
Was 3D and you don't see it, buthonestly 3D.
The only films that you should really see in 3D are Avatar
films and Tron films, and I can't think of anything else
honestly that I've watched in three.
DI honestly couldn't tell you what the last movie I saw in 3D
was. I feel like there was something
I did see a few years ago and I was surprised like, oh, this
actually looks pretty good. So, you know, I'm not like like
(15:57):
super, super anti, but it's justif I, if I can see it in a
different premium large format with that's not 3D, that's my
preference. I do understand how seeing this
in IMAX 3D would be a benefit tothe experience, but I don't know
if it would really add that muchas opposed to just seeing it in
(16:18):
IMAX. But maybe, maybe I'm being
naive, I don't know, you know? We'll get into a little bit of
that, but in Tron Aries, the story takes us to a new
territory the franchise has never been into.
It's like, I guess it's 15 yearslater after like, I think it
really is a true like follow up years wise.
It's quite some time since Legacy kind of jumps forward
(16:40):
quite a bit. Aries is a sophisticated program
played by obviously Jared Leto, sent to the digital world, into
the real one on a dangerous mission.
It is a fascinating set up, but there's a big gap between Legacy
and Aries. I just kind of was like, I guess
we have to accept it. We have to accept that we have.
(17:00):
We're not going to be talking about really what's going on in
the beginning. They do kind of give us a little
back story of what is happening since then, since Legacy, but I
had more questions than. Yeah, there's like a really fast
montage at the beginning that kind of info dumps on you.
Like here's where we're at now. And even I was trying to like,
(17:22):
you know, trying to connect the dots and figure out what's going
on as the movie plays out. I think you get a pretty clear
idea. But in the beginning I was a
little bit overwhelmed to be honest.
Yeah, I just have to accept it. Like this is not like a straight
sequel to Legacy. I thought the director, what is
it joke joke Roning? He has he has.
(17:44):
He did The Woman in the Water, that one film that came out last
year with Daisy Ridley. Yes.
You were very high on that. Movie and I liked it so I was
excited for it and I thought he did a great job for what he had
you know the visuals, the style.My biggest issue with this film
drew was like the screenplay definitely felt wonky.
I looked at like, who wrote it? I'm like, it's people that don't
(18:06):
even have that much of experience per SE.
I think the writers are behind dared the Daredevil show for
Disney Plus and they just they don't they don't have like the
biggest, the the longest resume.I really wanted this movie to
have stronger ties to legacy like as much as possible.
(18:26):
And we just kind of glossed overit.
And I really think it puts the director in the corner kind of
giving a halfway done story or halfway story because I felt
like this was like AI call this,OK, so Tron Tron one point O
Tron legacy Tron 2 point O Tron Aries is like Tron 2.65 to me.
(18:51):
It's a weird filler film, but it's fun and he tries so hard to
kind of make something out of a a story that's not fully there
for the Tron fans. So how did you feel about the
story overall, Drew? Did you think it balanced the
idea as well from previous films, or if too focused on
something that's kind of disconnected from the world of
(19:14):
Tron that we're used to? I feel like it just it kind of
does the obvious thing that you have to do with the franchise
here, right? Like you have Tron, the
original, you have Tron legacy, which it's in the title, right?
It's it's Flynn's son trying to find Flynn and kind of doing the
legacy equal thing that we've been getting across all kinds of
franchises for the past 15 years.
(19:35):
That's this is commonplace now. It, it's, and, and the big thing
then was in 2010, the, as, as far as effects had come from the
80s from the original Tron came out.
It's like, here's a chance to doTron with some really cool big
effects. Well, now, 15 years later, the
effects have gotten even better,which is great.
(19:57):
But then the obvious thing to dois how do you get Tron and
elements of, of Tron in the computer world into the real
world? And so I, I don't even think
that's like lazy or anything. I think that's just, it's
obvious. So that's that's what you do.
Well, that's how the last film ended too, is that Garrett
(20:18):
Hudlund's character and Olivia Wilde, the Flynn's son, they
came into the real world. And then all of a sudden you'll,
you'll get that story kind of inthe beginning of Tron Aries, but
then it's just kind of glossed over that he he has left the
company on personal reasons. And we don't know what those
personal reasons are. Yeah, you see, like magazine
covers, like he's, he has stepped down.
(20:40):
Yeah, and, and obviously he did not.
I don't think they could come toterms of him returning.
He's also busy with Tulsa King, like really busy with Tulsa
King. Olivia Wilde just maybe didn't
fit in this. And we'll get to the Olivia
Wilde part of it. Jeff Bridges was supposed to be
a surprise cameo, but then he like revealed that he was in the
movie. So then that's why he's a part
(21:01):
of all the. I have thoughts on that whole
thing later too. Yeah, I mean, not trying to run
4, but let's let's talk about who's in the film and their
performances. Drew, obviously Jared Leto, the
lead of this film as Aries. A lot of people have love, hate
relationship with him. I like him and everything he
does. A lot of people don't like him
for whatever reason. I think he's great in this role
(21:24):
actually. I actually am fine with him as
Aries taking the lead of this franchise as this program he
was. He's fit for the type of world I
I like it. And then you have Evan Peters,
who plays Dillinger's grandson, the adversary to Jeff Bridges,
Flynn, and I thought he was a great addition as well.
(21:44):
And I thought Evan Peter's greatin this.
Obviously we have Jeff Bridges. I'm glossing over this Drew
before we dive into it. Then we have Jeff Bridges and
limited screen time, but also a very important part of this film
just kind of piercing things together to previous ones.
But also Drew outside of that, the cast is lackluster.
(22:05):
Can we at least agree on that? We have I'm a fan of Greta Lee.
I am, but she does not fit in this role.
And then you have. See, I'm like the opposite, like
Greta Lee, the only one. I walk out of this being like, I
like Greta Lee. I like her, but some of the
moments did not work for me as her position, like the position
(22:26):
of the Ceoi liked it, but reallyleading the charge alongside
Leto. I thought it was a mismatch.
I thought this was a they were amismatch together.
I liked her role, but I didn't think it needed to be front and
center. And then you have Artura Castro,
who is just, I'm sorry to say itis a joke to me in this film.
I'm, I'm gonna say it like I didnot see him needing to be in
(22:48):
this film. And now.
And same with Hassan. What's his name?
Hassan Minog. Son Minaj, it's he's such a
nothing part in this movie. Exactly.
For somebody who I actually really like, 'cause I'm.
Yeah, I like him. He's funny and he's just not
utilized in this movie at all. This film was just strange when
the casting and and then you have I forget, who is Jodie
Turner Smith, right. Is that who's Athena?
(23:09):
Who is Athena? Yes, this is Athena, right?
Yeah, Yeah. I mean, like I was like, that
was a flat. Like can we get some big?
She had a cool look though. She at least had a striking
look. But we needed some bigger names
and I think a bigger personalities from these people
like Athena was not a great. I guess you can call villain was
(23:33):
really flat for me. I didn't think she could go toe
to toe. I didn't think it was great.
I I just wasn't believable for me.
I know I'm like rambling on the cast and I'm going to ask Drew
this question, but I I thought the budget went mostly to Leto,
which is fair to some extent. And but maybe they couldn't
afford anyone else on his on histear.
(23:54):
We need more star power to balance this film out.
So I need to know, Drew, your overall take on the cast, who
stood out to you? You just said go to leave, but
who else? And do you think this world
deserves more recognizable talent than what we got?
Jared Leto is black licorice forme.
(24:15):
You know, some people love it. It's an acquired taste.
I, I'm not a fan in general. I, I do think he's at least
interesting. Like if you look at his
filmography, especially post Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club,
like I I love Blade Runner 2049 and he's in that and you know,
I'm not a fan of what he was doing as the Joker in Zack
(24:38):
Snyder's Justice League and and DC over there House of Gucci.
He's like a cartoon character. He's great at that.
I like that. I like his role.
He goes all out. He has talent.
You can't say he's not talented.And you're not a leading man.
I like when he's being weird to an extent just because it's like
sometimes it is almost like a train wreck you can't look away
from. So like, I appreciate that in
(25:00):
this, I feel like I think you kind of praising his performance
is also like speaks to him in general in the sense that yes,
he's good at playing like a soulless AI, you know, computer,
computer program. And because that's what he has
to do here. And he yes, he is good at that,
(25:22):
like kind of playing this soulless character.
So it's like him being good at this is almost like a knock
against him in in a way. But you know, he does at least
have presents and things in thismovie.
And to his credit, the long hair, the suit, he looks good in
it all like so like it. You know, there's presents
(25:44):
there, but he's he wasn't doing anything here to like knock me
out of my socks. He he's being a soulless AI.
He's a program, not an AII guess.
Yeah, he's a program, and I got to also have some blame on the
screenplay and the writing that that didn't really deliver the
best, best lines, the best stufffor him.
(26:06):
And that's. Really get to comment as much on
that. Cause like I'm with you, I think
that the first half of this movie, when it's kind of setting
things up, I was more interestedin the plot.
And you know, OK, they found a way to make these programs be in
the real world, but it's they can only be around for a limited
amount of time before they breakdown.
(26:28):
So everybody's on the hunt for this code, which this is the
kind of stuff I thought was really silly from a screen
writing perspective that it's like you have the permanence
code and just the name of that and what it.
And it's like just this kind of Mac guffin code that they're
after because if you have this code, it makes these programs
not breakdown, right? They can exist in perpetuity
(26:51):
and. Which, sorry, real quick.
Which I'm assuming is what Olivia Wilde's character and
legacy had. Sure.
I mean, I, I, you know, I. Didn't rewatch legacy.
I need to rewatch it. We need to.
We should. It's.
I saw Tron Legacy twice in theaters and maybe once after it
came out, but I haven't seen it since.
(27:12):
So yeah, I haven't seen it 14 years probably, but so I can't
remember that well. But like all that stuff I
thought was kind of silly and then but I but I was at least
interested. The second-half.
I feel like it just kind of getsinto there's just a lot of stuff
happening all at once. And that's fine for the most
(27:34):
part because I was at least entertained and it all looks
really good. I think that's where the movie
excels the most. But no, this is not a movie
that's going to be remembered for its plotting or for its
acting or characters. It's going to be remembered for
light cycle chases, you know, inthe in the streets, in the real
(27:54):
world. And that's, I think, kind of a
high point of the movie. Jared Leto fine.
I like Greta Lee. We didn't really, you didn't.
Did you talk about Evan Peters? Really, 'cause he's.
Kind of just real quick, yeah. A Dillinger?
Yeah. I mean, he's fine.
He's playing like kind of just astereotypical villain trying to
(28:16):
think of has he done this before?
Has he done the villain like this before to this?
Degree. I mean, not like a like, not
like a tech tech guy, like see. I'm trying to see.
I was trying to. See, but it worked like he's
like a nepto baby like his grandfather and his mom's there.
His mom is played by oh who? What's her name from X-Files?
(28:37):
It's Gillian Anderson plays mom in in a really thankless role
and I like Gillian Anderson a lot.
And I was like, man, this is a atough go for you in this movie.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I was like, she's a big name,
but she doesn't have much of A role in it.
Would have been nice. You know who's in this film that
is like in it for five seconds? Oh man, he's the one that's in
(29:01):
the Star Wars video games. Cameron Monaghan, Yes, I saw his
name in the opening credits. I was like, oh, cool, good for
him. He's in this.
And then he shows up for a scene.
I'm like, all right, there he is.
And then I don't think I ever saw him again for the movie.
And he's like pretty high build.In that's what I'm saying, he
would have been an awesome addition as well as something
like as a as a if he was like kind of like the villain at the
(29:24):
same time, like from the the grid would have been awesome
too. Yeah, it was just weird.
But but finish your thought. Go ahead.
Well, I was just going to say, Ithink that you have Jared Leto,
who is not really able to emote much in this movie because of
the role, and you have Greta Lee, who I really like, but
(29:45):
she's not. I think she has a sense of
comedic timing 'cause she does have some moments of comedy in
the movie, but like, that's not her, at least from what what
I've seen of her so far in her career.
Like that's not what she's knownfor.
So then they kind of try to hastily surround them with like,
well, here's some comedians, youknow, here's Sasan Minhaj and
(30:05):
here's Arturo Castro as you mentioned.
And like in those parts just really don't work and don't
really don't really add anything.
Jodi Turner Smith is as Athena, as you mentioned, is like has a
cool look and presence, but likeshe's just playing the inverse
Jared Leto. She's also soulless robot, but
(30:27):
but bad, you know, but mean. So it's like, it's tough because
I think people are doing what they can, but like with the
material provided here, going back to the screenplays, you've
said like there's only so much you can do with it.
Yeah. And obviously we, my biggest
gripe is we spent too much time in this real world and no one
(30:50):
watches Tron for the real world.But I understand the concept
where the digital world enteringhours, but the grid is where the
Tron world thrives. It's the best part of Tron.
It's a glowing sandbox with circus as identity disk.
And we see a lot of that, which is awesome.
And we do visit it. Not as much as I wanted that
(31:12):
digital magic that made legacy so cool.
Like we spent so much time in there and legacy and it looked
awesome and then when we re entered it, a lot has changed.
I had questions. I was trying to figure out where
how it all works out and obviously we had Jeff Bridges
return and I was just kind of confused and couldn't figure out
like how is he in this version of the grid?
(31:34):
And I need to re watch legacy. There's just so many questions I
have. Maybe I just don't I, I
mentally, maybe I dozed off watching the film.
So that's what I'm going to watch this Sunday and get all my
questions hopefully answered. It, it, it does feel like it was
kind of shoehorned in there. You know, when, when Legacy came
out, Bridges was kind of having his, his own little renaissance
(31:56):
in theater. You know, like he was in Iron
Man as the villain and then it was like, boom.
Then he won an Oscar for Crazy Heart and then he's in Crown
Legacy and True Grit. And all of a sudden it was like
the second coming of, of, of Bridges.
And then that, you know, I feel like his kind of petered out a
little bit. Since then, he's been in in a
(32:18):
few movies. I mean, I mean, he really hasn't
been in any movies at all in thepast.
Gosh, the last like real movie he was in was Bad Times at the
El Royale in 2018. Otherwise, he's been in
documentaries since. And I know he has that show, the
Old Man, that I've heard really good things about him.
(32:39):
I've never watched it. So he's been doing that post
2020. But I mean, yeah, I, I don't, I
guess he's just kind of slowed down.
You would have thought what they've going to the Vance, the
Tron Airy like the Tron franchise.
They really would have used him more than just kind of a a
cameo. And I'm looking forward to
rewatching this movie. I know it seems like we're we're
(33:00):
we're crapping on it, but honestly, I gave it a good
rating. I'm just now talking about some
of my gripes. What it did not it has not
become my favorite Tron movie, Imust say.
And let's not forget about that animated show, Tron uprising.
I'm not sure if you've seen that.
I think you can watch that on Disney plus and that's a great
like in between. It's a prequel, I believe, to
(33:21):
legacy and it shows you what happened before Legacy happened
and it's fantastic. So Tron Uprising, check that
out. I forget how many episodes it
is, but it's really awesome. But I really want it.
Go ahead, I. Was just going to say, I think
that Aries, it's, it's just in the format that we're talking
(33:42):
about it here. It's a little difficult because
I think the things that work best about the movie are visual.
And I, I agree with some of yourgripes of like it's a lot of
time in the real world and I think the movie pops when it's
in the digital world, especiallyin the scene with Bridges.
It's a little bit more of like aretro version of that world.
And when that happened, I was like, oh, it kind of popped in
(34:02):
the way that they make Leto lookin that world.
I thought I looked looked prettycool.
But yeah, when they're in the digital world, you're kind of
like, oh, this is this is interesting.
But there is. Did you notice that there wasn't
a lot of people like a lot of people in the streets?
Did you feel like it was like quiet in the city?
Yes, I would agree, other than the chase scenes where there's a
(34:24):
lot of cars, but still not a lotof people.
Yeah, it's just it's it's tough because the visuals are probably
the biggest strengths of the movie.
When you start delving into the the characters and the
performances and the the writingand the plotting, it's like
that's kind of the stuff where the movie's lacking a little
bit. If you want to go see some
really cool visuals on a big screen, go see this in IMAX 3D.
(34:48):
As you, as Sean said, you know, go see it in.
If you can't do that, go see it in Dolby Atmos or go see it in
whatever premium large format you can, because I do think it's
kind of a feast for thine eyes. You know you're going to you're
going to find something to enjoythere there.
Like I said, the the movie to mepeaks with a big light cycle
chase, which that takes place inthe real world, but it's cool
(35:08):
like the the the light cycles inthe real world.
The design of them in the suits look look awesome.
They do, and I'm laughing because of that chase scene, the
one where Greta Lee has to pick up the bike.
Yep. And and then Athena's chasing.
I thought that was a ridiculous scene.
I I laughed at the going around in circles.
(35:29):
Well, I, I laughed for many things.
I just thought it was a poor scene.
I just thought it was a waste ofa scene.
Too comedic. Weird.
I was just like, that's kind of cringy.
That was a very cringy scene to me.
I would just say that I just, that's what I'm laughing about.
Yeah, the movie is awesome. The 9 inch nose track is amazing
(35:49):
and this movie gets kind of sluggish at times where
nothing's really happening and the soundtrack makes you feel
like something important is happening, kind of gets you
going. And when it's like not much
happening, which is good. So the soundtrack does help a
lot, kind of keeping you intrigued and kind of focused on
what's happening when honestly not much is happening.
(36:11):
But I loved it. I I mean, I love the soundtrack.
It's very strange for me though when Daft Punk was so great in
Legacy. This one quite isn't as amazing
as the Daft Punk one, but for this, for this version of Tron
with Aries, it worked, but I just wish there was more digital
world stuff with that soundtrack.
(36:33):
I thought that's what it worked best when they're in the real
world, Yeah, that's what where the soundtrack worked best for
me. But I can't wait to watch it
again honestly, because it's really great visually.
It just lacked a screenplay. I want to ask you, Sean, what do
you think for the future of Tron?
(36:53):
You know, like what I guess I'm kind of interested to see this
movie allegedly cost a lot and Ihave not looked at any of the
box office tracking. I don't know what it's supposed
to do and it doesn't really matter.
But I think that I think Tron was kind of this weird Disney
Colt movie from the 80s. And I think we were all
(37:14):
surprised when it was getting a sequel in the 20 tens.
And that movie came out and I liked it and it made me visit
the first one, the first movie for the first time at that,
around when that was coming out.And you know, but Tron Legacy
underperformed. And so I think back then in
2010, we thought, well, you know, it was fun to bring it
(37:34):
back. But I guess that's it for Tron.
And now here we are in 2025 getting a Neutron movie, and
obviously Disney has some investment in this.
Well, they have the. They have the right.
They have the new right they thebig roller coaster I think just
opened within the last year or two.
It looks really awesome. I've heard that that coaster has
(37:55):
gotten reviewed really well and I'm excited to hopefully one day
go and ride that coaster becauseI love roller coasters.
But so like obviously they have some investment in in this
franchise, but if this movie underperforms, it's like, is
that it for it from a theatricalstandpoint or would they do
(38:16):
Tron, you know, animated versionor would they do a?
Smaller form. Well, you saw it took 15 years
since Legacy to even get this film and obviously it took
longer from the first Tron to Legacy.
The Tron franchise is a unpopular Disney IP that has a
fan base that also can become mainstream just by the regular
(38:37):
moviegoers. I just want to see awesome
blockbuster on screen. That's not what Legacy was,
right? If you want to see an awesome
block like a summer blockbuster in October, Tron Aries is it.
You're going to be. A franchise that is most
identifiable or probably most revered for its visuals.
Yeah, and it's a cool IP. I I just don't know why it's
getting mismanaged because it could be their front and center
(39:03):
IP for, for Disney amongst the other ones.
You know, I could have, I could have seen it like the next
Marvel, right. And this is something they
created pretty much. So with Tron going back, you
asked the question what the future might hold for it.
Well, how it ended was should have been the second-half of the
film. I totally agree.
(39:23):
Which I'm going to say spoilers right now.
We're going to go in deep spoilers, but at the end, Jared
Leto is on a search for Cora, Olivia Wilde's character based
on a photograph. To learn how to survive in the
real world pretty much, and how to adapt to it and just be part
of it as a program and. In expanding on that, even
(39:46):
Dillinger Evan Peters role, you know, all of his part in the
movie is basically in his space,you know, company, wherever he's
at, it's like this giant warehouse looking deal like
that's where he is. And he's just if he's not in
that big open space in the wherehe's like on his computer and
he's just kind of a stereotypical bad guy.
(40:08):
Well, spoilers you know, but at the end of the movie he is in
the digital world. He's in the.
Grid and you see some referencesto you know his his grandpa, his
grandfather yes and so like someinteresting things there and I'm
like yes, I'm way more interested in him being in this
world. I'm interested in the search for
(40:31):
Cora. I'm like, those are things that
I would have liked to see to your point, and that's what it
ends on. And we didn't get any of that
here and. I'm like, no.
So the second-half should have been as you just mentioned,
Dillinger, Evan Evan Peters Dillinger becoming master
control as he does, donning his grandfather's awesome iconic
(40:52):
costume or suit and going after people in the in the in the real
world. And on top you have Jared Leto
trying to find Korra to maybe help him with something and then
have Korra on them team up. See the Olivia Wilde in this
movie would have been great overgreatly if I saw Leto with Wilde
teaming up on in this film. Would it awesome?
(41:13):
I thought it would have been a much better film and that's what
they set up though. So the true Tron sequel, Tron 3,
which is after Tron Harry's, I'mgoing to call it because I
thought this was like 2.65 will be a a great film if they decide
to do it. I think they'd really put
sprinkled some great stuff and if they really lean into it and
then bring back Flynn's son. I forget.
(41:34):
I keep forgetting his name. I I just call him Flynn's son.
I can't remember what the character's name.
Is it is horrible, but if they bring back Flynn's son and then
bring back Bridges and just do aproper follow up to legacy.
Sam Flynn. So Jeff Bridges is Kevin Flynn
and Garrett? No.
But what's the actor's name though?
I keep. Oh, Garrett Hedlund.
(41:54):
Yes, Garrett, yeah, that's what I want to see.
But what they ended on is what Iexpected in the second-half.
Yes. But so if I had to to rank, rank
the Tron saga, whatever you callit, Tron Legacy, I still holds
(42:16):
the crown for me, followed by the original Tron.
I'm going to slip in Tron Uprising, the animated series,
and then I'm going to follow with Tron Aries.
My order is the same except I haven't seen Uprising so I can't
include that, but I would say 213.
Yeah, but honestly, it's so close between the original and
the second one, even though it'slike obviously old, like it's
(42:39):
not the technology they had backthen.
There's just something so charming and it's the fact that
it's the first film that introduced us to this world
something special. So honestly, like it's a very
close for the original and Legacy, like it's almost head to
I mean, it's the reason I love Legacy is because of the first
Tron film. Where would you insert into your
Tron rankings? The The Tron world from Kingdom
(43:01):
Hearts 2 circa 2004 ish when that game came out.
The King of Hearts games, I mean.
Yeah, I played the Kingdom Hearts game the second.
One has a Tron world in it. It does.
I've seen all that stuff. I don't think I've played that
one that. Is that The one that came out
for the Wii had the Tron stuff in it I believe.
(43:22):
No, it was on the place I playedit on PlayStation 2.
I love that Kingdom Hearts thingand hopefully it did make a
Kingdom Hearts movie like it. They are so close.
I think pulling the trigger on something like that, but I'll
say this, like I said, Aries feels like a filler movie.
It's still very bold. It's beautifully with the
graphics and effects, the soundtracks, awesome.
(43:42):
There is quite a bit of fan service to some extent, but the
story does fumble quite a bit onwhat you get, especially because
of the screenplay. And then like the casting was a
little off for me. But like I said, it's a summer
blockbuster in October and I'm all for that.
So Drew will be your biggest take away from Tron Aries.
Like how do you would you you recommend it?
(44:04):
I recommend if you want to go see something that looks cool on
screen, go see it for the visuals.
But there's not too much about the plotting that could be like,
man, yeah, you're going to get super invested in the story of
Tron. No, it's it's if you want to go
see cool light cycles or neat ships.
And like I did think some of thedesign, we didn't get into this
(44:27):
as much, but some of the designslike the flying suits and things
that they have for the characters that are new here,
like I thought looked really cool.
So every time a new vehicle popped up, that's cool, that's
slick. Some of them, you know, you
don't get to see for very long. The only one that I thought was
kind of a waste was there's a a like water, almost like a jet
(44:48):
ski, like a Tron jet ski when during a brief scene in the
digital world, but during the part where they're using that,
there's like nothing happening. I was like, this is it's just
almost like a scene set to music.
It's more for it's more for the 9 inch nails of it all at that
time. That's true.
It is for the plot or what's happening in the movie.
I'm not sure if there is one butthere needs to be a Tron Bible
(45:09):
as I mean I need something that really like layers down like all
the rules and like how the grid works and all this stuff.
I want like a true like history book of the grid based in the
Tron world and kind of study that because I'm really
intrigued by like what they introduced in the first film and
how they fall open second film. And I just want to learn more
about like, I don't know if there's even, I think there's
(45:31):
making up as we go probably. I'm sure there's somebody that's
even nerdier than us that is creating like a Tron wiki, you
know, Wiki Fandom Online that has an an encyclopedia of Tron
terminology and lore. But we can't wait 15 years for
the next one like. Could you imagine, Sean?
(45:52):
Imagine. It's 2040 and you and I.
Are doing this again. In our 50s and we're, you know,
here we are episode 900 of the Moviegoers Society and we're,
we're covering Tron once again. I mean, we're, we're going to
and I'm going to have a new popcorn bucket by then probably
(46:14):
or one that probably just feeds me a popcorn bucket that's
already feeding me. I'm not giving us enough credit.
There would be at least. We'd be at least on episode 1600
of. Movies.
I was going to say, you're kind of low on that maybe.
More right, right. Right.
No. But I'm excited, I'm going to
catch it again this Sunday, IMAX3D, going to want to see what
other Easter eggs I missed and stuff like that.
(46:35):
I'm going to have to roll my eyes when it comes to the side
characters and the comedy reliefbecause I was like, we didn't
get that much in Legacy, I believe.
But what I'm probably going to do this weekend is rewatch the
first two films and then see howthis one works.
With I'd have to go back and seewhat the criticisms were of
legacy. Was it like, was it too self
serious? And they're, you know, whatever.
(46:57):
And then so they're like, throw in, throw in some comedy here
that like really doesn't work. And that's a good question, what
it was. Were they trying to course
correct? Yeah.
I just remember when it was so bad but I enjoyed it when when I
saw it in IMAX 3D back then. Me too and directed by Joseph
Kaczynski, who has now directed Top Gun Maverick, which was a a
huge an F1, one of your favoritemovies of the year this year.
(47:19):
You know, he directed Tron Legacy.
So still out there making huge blockbusters that are super
entertaining on the big screen. Yeah.
And and and the director for Tron Aries, Joachim Roning or
whatever his name is, is a really good director.
And so I don't fall to at all for this movie having some dips.
He did his best. He pulled off a visually great
(47:40):
film and it is entertaining. But we'll just see where those
end credits or whatever you wantto come mid credit or just
ending takes us. You.
You be. Seated for the next film if it
doesn't come sooner or later. And I mean, if they make Tron
this, I I feel like I say this with every franchise, even when
we've kind of sat and like picked the movie apart, my if
(48:03):
they make more of them, I'll be there for it.
But it's true. Like I like the visuals of Tron
and I think if I didn't like howit all looked, I'd be really
dogging on this movie hardcore because but but like I'm with
you, like even though there's a lot to pick apart, I didn't hate
watching it. Like I I found things to enjoy,
(48:23):
it's just it's a hard movie to analyze because when you really
start digging into it, there's there's just not much there.
No, it's super polished looking with a great soundtrack and
awesome, but just it kind of covers up the bad screenplay.
They do enough for you to kind of ignore the bad screenplay on
that. Yeah, I agree.
But yeah, I think that that wraps up our Tron Aries review.
(48:46):
If you are seeing it, I guess a lot of people saw it tonight.
Some people are watching. My theater was pretty busy for a
Thursday night and I know a lot of kids are getting out for like
fall break and things like that.School.
I know that my my kindergartner doesn't have school tomorrow
because of fall break so could be that there's a little bit
more people out there but my theater was was pretty busy.
(49:08):
Yeah, so tell us if you end up watching, if you're watching
IMAX 3 or what you know, what format you're watching it, if
what you thought of it, if if the grid going back to the grid
really reignited you for the Tron franchise.
But yeah, make sure you follow us on Letterbox.
Drew and I are on there. Follow Nurtropolis on all the
socials for more reviews, interviews and movie talk.
(49:29):
We have a lot of fun stuff coming your way, lots from Drew
Drew before we sign off coming up soon.
If anyone's in the San Antonio area, I'll be at Space Con San
Antonio. I got a lot of awesome panels to
moderate the big, big names. I'll just tease them now.
But if you're a fan of Marvel, there's some fun stuff there.
(49:50):
If you're fan of Starship Troopers, fun stuff there, fun
Star Trek, there's a lot of stuff.
And especially if you're a big fan of Wanda Vision, wink wink.
I said both. Wanda Vision, I have an exciting
panel I'll be hosting and moderating at Spacecon.
That's going to be at one of thehighlights for me.
(50:11):
I can already tell on that. And if you're a big fan of The
Matrix and X-Files and amongst other things, there's a lot
going on at Spacecon. I will be monitoring panels
there. So if you see me at Spacecon San
Antonio, please say hello. I'm super excited to give you
all some great panels there. Anything you want to end on,
(50:31):
Drew? Last call for thoughts on Tron
movie going experience. Are you going to catch roof man?
That's the question I have. I'd like to see it.
I don't know if I'm going to catch it this weekend just
because things are busy. I will say next week I'm
planning to go see Black Phone 2again.
Yes, right. We are going to watch that.
(50:52):
So we will. Yeah, we'll watch that together.
Then. That'll be a horror date night.
Yeah, I saw, I saw it at Fantastic Fest and really
enjoyed it enough that I'm goingto go see it again at the
screening and see it with you and that'll be that'll be fun.
And then also, as you mentioned,the top of the show, check out
the interview with Camille Sullivan from Shelby Oaks, a
movie that I really liked, and check that out when it comes out
(51:13):
in a few weeks when it's released wide.
Yeah, and that interview should be up this weekend.
Also check out my Robert Patrickinterview, Talking Tulsa King,
Peacemaker and, you know, revisiting a Terminator legacy
and some other stuff. That was a great conversation I
had. So a lot of other stuff you can
check out on nurtropolis.com. Thanks for listening.
Once again, I'm Sean George withthe mayor of Nurtropolis.
(51:36):
And I'm Drew Munhausen, the professional media and movie
mastermind. And we'll see you at the movie.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal: Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a brand new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-4 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.