Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
By Daniel Andrade
You would think that after FIVE movies, three of which did not fare too well with both critics and audiences, the Terminator franchise would be a forgotten relic of a bygone era, with viewers lamenting for the good ol’ days of the first two films, rightly regarded as classics today. Particularly after the trainwreck that was Terminator: Genisys, that wouldn’t seem like such a far-fetched idea. But thanks to the return of James Cameron behind the scenes and Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger in front of the camera, the sixth Terminator film proves the franchise still has some fight left in it.
Terminator: Dark Fate pretty much asks you to forget every movie that came after T2: Judgement Day (much like the newest Halloween film retconned much of its franchise’s history as well), as we focus our attention back to Sarah Connor and her history with Terminators. Without giving too much away, Dark Fate takes place 20+ years after the events of T2. We are introduced fairly quickly to our main protagonist, Grace (played effectively by Mackenzie Davis), an enhanced human sent from the future to protect the “new Sarah Connor” Dani Ramos (portrayed energetically by Natalia Reyes). She is pursued by the newest and most intimidating Terminator we’ve seen thus far, the Rev-9 (frighteningly performed by Gabriel Luna). When the Rev-9 proves to be practically impossible to defeat, they end up enlisting the help of Sarah Connor (once again played by the incomparable Hamilton) and a reformed Terminator, the one who started it all, the T-800 “Model 101” acted wonderfully once again by Schwarzenegger.
While the newcomer actors do a fine job in their roles, there is no denying that Hamilton and Schwarzenegger steal the film every time they are on screen. Hamilton brings a grittiness to her character that aligns with the life she has had to live in the past 22 years, and she absolutely kicks ass every chance she gets, going toe-to-toe with her younger counterparts with ease and schooling them on how to properly dispose of a Terminator. But she comes even more alive when she is paired with the equally captivating Schwarzenegger. He maintains his cool, charming demeanor and unintentional humor, ramping it up even more so this time around (let’s just say the audience in our theater was laughing out loud at many of his quips). This is mostly due to the odd but undeniable chemistry shared between him and Hamilton. They play off of each other so naturally that it makes you notice the obvious lack of chemistry between the rest of the cast. But don’t think that Schwarzenegger is here solely as comic relief, he still knows how to deliver incredible action scenes. Even with this new and seemingly unstoppable Rev-9, Schwarzenegger continues to be an imposing and intimidating figure who gives the new Terminator a run for his money.
Speaking of which, the action in Dark Fate is incredibly fun. While it can sometimes be very fast and hard to keep up with it, when you can follow it, it’s mesmerizing and engaging. The choreography is fluid and smooth, which makes sense with the new Rev-9. The action set-pieces are exciting and jaw-dropping, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. What makes it even more thrilling to watch is how unbelievably versatile this new Terminator is. The protagonists have to keep coming up with new and creative ways to slow him down, since they can’t seem to kill him, and that makes for some highly entertaining scenes. Because he is so difficult to defeat, this also means awesome fight scenes with all of our characters working together to do whatever they can to this killing machine.
Additionally, the CGI and special effects in this film are also quite impressive, without being too overwhelming either. The way that the Rev-9 can not only separate from its endoskeleton but also put itself back together again is terrifying and unnerving, and continues to look cool throughout the film. It’s also neat to see how the Rev-9, T-800, and Grace all have very distinct-looking displays of the world, matching their different time periods and purposes (Arnold still has his classic, simple red-tinted display, which the Rev-9’s is more complex and higher definition).
As for the story, this comes down to a matter of opinion. Some are content to say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and Dark Fate certainly echoes the first two Terminator films in many ways (a Terminator is sent to kill a woman who is the key to the resistance, while a human is also sent to protect that same woman). Others would call that derivative and want something completely new and original. In my opinion, while there certainly are similarities between this film and the first two, there are enough new and exciting elements to make this story stand out on its own. The nostalgia definitely plays a key factor in the appeal of this movie, but it also has some interesting new elements that I’m sure will come into play if any sequels are made (and based on the reviews from fans and critics alike, I wouldn’t count that out).
CONCLUSION: Terminator: Dark Fate is indeed a return to form for the franchise, and has everything you’re looking for in a good Terminator film: awesome special effects, intense action scenes, a healthy dose of humor, and a frightening look into the future. While some elements of the plot could have been expanded upon, the overall story is compelling and exciting. Hamilton and Schwarzenegger absolutely carry this film, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
FINAL SCORE: 4/5
Comments