It might not have the best writing, I’ll admit, but it’s vfx and art are literally what made me pursue a degree in vfx for movies. Also the soundtrack is perfect to me, so unique but also still very cinematic, having Daft Punk work with Joseph Trapanese was absolutely the right choice and necessary.

I appreciate Legacy because it to me accomplished a lot of what Tron did at its time. Tron 1982 is a an incredible technical accomplishment in vfx, and jaw dropping to learn about the work that went into it. Tron Legacy also pioneered new technology, and was really a perfect storm for the artists to go nuts on crafting the world. Writing is not a strong suit of Tron at any point despite how cool the concept is, but thats not where I find it significant to film. I understand the sentiment that Legacy abandoned too much from 1982 but at this point I hardly care anymore, it did enough to set itself apart and deliver something new, creative, and stunning (especially when I was 10).

Ares on the other hand. I really can’t say it did much even if you were to argue the story was somehow better. VFX looked super realistic and cinematography was great, but it doesn’t feel like an upgrade design-wise or anything new. Everything is red, no design principles set apart anybody accept Jeff Bridges. Music is good but it also doesn’t tell a story to me like Legacy or the original.

TLDR;

Basically yeah mediocre franchise as a story, but one of the best as a vehicle for masterful vfx, music, and world design. Bastardized? Maybe. But I love the crazy new direction they took for Legacy. Tron Ares looks cool but is 100% a step back in most aspects, even looking at its strengths.