SouthernViews

I have several issues with this movie, all of which revolve around its storytelling structure and core premise. As others have noted, the story repeats its narrative, telling it each time from a different character's POV. If you've seen Weapons or Go, to name two movies, you will understand this approach.

I don't mind this type of structure; however, in this film, it does little to fill in major plot holes or explain why different events unfolded. Instead, you learn non-critical things, such as why POTUS was audio-only and not video on key calls. And you see different key players reacting to the same information.

For me, the most shocking aspect was how one lone nuclear missile can spend literally several minutes coming our way, and the US defense network seems woefully incapable of doing much to stop the weapon. If we can't stop one missile, what would we do with five or twenty?

The first 20 minutes were truly riveting, but as the story repeated itself, it became a bit groan-inducing for me. Idris's POTUS came across as embarrassingly incompetent. I'm sure that was the intent, but it was quite sad. The script introduced many characters, some of whom only played a role in one of the three 20-minute repeat segments. I never felt truly connected to anyone or cared about their future.

I do want to say that the cast and acting were great. There was an interesting story to be told, but the structure and final script didn't work for me.

Many have complained that the ending was unresolved. I disagree. Listen to what POTUS is asked to do at the end of the movie, and then look and see what everyone else is doing in that last minute. Put two and two together, and you know the decision he made.

When the credits finally rolled, I wondered whether the movie had a point or a message. I struggled to find one, other than America can't defend itself and has many incompetent leaders. Talk about a downer. Had the producers ditched the "let's tell the same story three times from different POV" structure, they could have made a much more compelling and thought-provoking film. Overall, the movie was a swing and a miss for me.

Caramelo is one of the most beautiful movies I've seen in a very long time. The word "perfection" keeps coming to my mind. At first glance, you expect this movie to be your typical man/dog movie with a silly dog stealing the scenes and acting like a human, while the humans are there in the background just reacting to the dog's antics. Caramelo is nothing like that. This is a movie overflowing with heart and soul.

If the dog, Caramelo, is the heart of the movie, then Pedro is the soul. Pedro has the big character arc, and Caramelo is there to give him unconditional love throughout his journey. Rafael Vitti shines in the lead role of Pedro, an aspiring cook dealing with some serious issues. Caramelo is, thankfully, not some CGI dog but a real flesh-and-blood canine. He brings the laughter, while Pedro often brings the tears.

The movie takes you on a very emotional journey, filled with both laugh-out-loud and get-me-the-tissues moments. I can't say enough wonderful things about this beautiful story. Writer/director Diego Freitas has crafted an amazing movie about love, family, friendship, and living the best life you can.

I wouldn't be surprised if Diego and Rafael get many nominations for such a fantastic and well-told story. The movie is also visually beautiful, showing a very colorful and vibrant Brazil. I loved the score, and the rest of the supporting cast is fantastic.

Caramleo is a must-see for anyone seeking a moving and feel-good film.

I'm a huge fan of the first two films, but I went into the new one with low expectations, given the mixed reviews. I honestly don't get the hate. I'd rank Tron Ares slightly below Tron Legacy. The father/son story in Legacy gave that movie soul missing from the new one, but I also found Flynn's "bio-digital jazz" depiction to be a bit lame. Legacy's Daft Punk soundtrack is still the best out of all three movies, and the VFX (minus the de-aging) are still impressive today.

Many have lamented that Tron Ares doesn't pick up where Legacy left off. They are wrong. The movie references Sam Flynn and Quora, hinting that those characters could return should there be another movie.

I found the script to be fine. I feel they missed an opportunity to make a grander statement about AI. I saw an interview with the director, and he said that they adjusted the script a few times during development to keep up with the rapid advancements in AI. What ended up on the screen is fine. The pacing is excellent with many brilliant set pieces. As expected, the VFX are stunning, and the score by NIN rocks.

I'm not a Jared Leto hater, although I find his past performances to be hit or miss. I thought he was perfectly cast in the role of Ares. The rest of the cast did their job given the script. Let's just say there isn't a ton of depth to the character development, other than the role of Eve, expertly played by Greta Lee.

Tron Ares is a solid sci-fi action movie that you should definitely see in the theaters. Will you walk out in awe, debating the rise of AI with your friends and family? No. But you will leave with a smile after having a fun time. And sometimes, that's all you want from a big blockbuster.