AutoMatters & More: Movie reviews of ‘TRON: Ares’ & ‘Roofman’

by Jan Wagner

“TRON: Ares”

Walt Disney Picture’s “TRON” film franchise is iconic, so when the latest installment of the franchise was previewed in Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center during San Diego Comic-Con last summer, the level of anticipation went through the roof — or perhaps I should say it went through the ceiling, since part of the staging for the preview and panel were bright red laser lights beamed around the perimeter of the ceiling of the enormous Hall H.

Costumed “Program” characters from the new film marched up to the stage where the panel was about to be held. With the level of excitement duly built up, the extended-length preview was shown. It blew me away. I could not bear to wait for the movie’s release, but finally that has happened.

Programs marching to the San Diego Comic-Con TRON: Arespanel (Jan Wagner) — Programs marching to the San Diego Comic-Con TRON: Ares panel (Jan Wagner)

Here is how Walt Disney Pictures describes the film:

” ‘Tron: Ares’ follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings. The feature film is directed by Joachim Rønning and stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, with Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges. Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver, Justin Springer, Jared Leto, Emma Ludbrook and Steven Lisberger are the producers, with Russell Allen serving as executive producer.”

This film is fantastic. Rather than a rehash of an old storyline, which plagues so many sequels, “TRON: Ares” has a fresh, exciting new story, and it takes the action full-speed into the real world as the cycles race through the streets and cause mayhem. The special effects are next-level. I want to see it again.

Jeff Bridges at the San Diego Comic-Con TRON: Ares panel(Jan Wagner) — Jeff Bridges at the San Diego Comic-Con TRON: Ares panel (Jan Wagner)

I saw “TRON: Ares” in IMAX and that is what I recommend for you. The only criticism I have is technical. Granted my hearing is not as good as when I was younger, but the scenes where there were loud sound effects and music drowned out some of the dialog. I wish that theaters would not play the audio so loud but it seems to be a trend. I will have to wait until I can see “TRON: Ares” at home to better control the volume level.

TRON Ares panel at 2025 San Diego Comic-Con(Jan Wagner) — TRON Ares panel at 2025 San Diego Comic-Con (Jan Wagner)

To learn more about “TRON: Ares” and to see Walt Disney Pictures trailers, visit: https://movies.disney.com/tron-ares.

“Roofman”

“Roofman” is based on a true story. I’ll be honest with you. I most wanted to see this film to refresh my memories about the many times that I spent in Toys “R” Us stores (with and without my kids!), since I’d heard that to make this film they basically built a Toys “R” Us store, complete with shelves full of merchandise. The store was so realistic that they had to turn away potential customers!

Here is how Paramount Pictures describes the film:

“Based on an unbelievable true story, Roofman follows Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a former Army Ranger and struggling father who turns to robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting holes in their roofs, earning him the nickname: Roofman. After escaping prison, he secretly lives inside a Toys “R” Us for six months, surviving undetected while planning his next move. But when he falls for Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), a divorced mom drawn to his undeniable charm, his double life begins to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.”

Roofman(Jan Wagner) — Roofman (Jan Wagner)

The story is gripping and I found the Roofman-nicknamed character to be sympathetic, but the title of the film is a little off the mark. Whereas the Roofman earned his nickname from robbing a lot of McDonalds locations and other fast-food restaurants, by cutting a hole in the roof, the majority of the film actually revolves around the time period when Roofman lived in the Toys “R” Us store. It looks like it really was quite possible to live in a Toys “R” Us store — store security measures and all, although the food choices were limited and not particularly healthy.

I enjoyed “Roofman” and recommend it. Be sure to stay for the credits, since updates are shown, complete with photos, of the actual people upon whose lives this film is based.

To learn more about “Roofman” and to see Paramount Pictures trailers, visit: https://www.roofmanmovie.com.

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