Terminator: Dark Fate

"Terminator: Dark Fate" attempts to revive the franchise with a blend of new characters and old favorites, but ultimately falls short of recapturing the magic of the original films.

The decision to ignore the events of previous sequels and serve as a direct sequel to "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" may have seemed like a promising approach, but the execution falters in several crucial ways. Despite the return of Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800, their characters feel underutilized and fail to reignite the same spark that made them beloved in the past.

The introduction of new characters, such as Dani Ramos and Grace, brings a fresh perspective to the story, but their arcs are underdeveloped and lack the depth needed to truly invest audiences in their fates. Mackenzie Davis delivers a serviceable performance as Grace, but her character is ultimately overshadowed by the legacy of Connor and the T-800.

The film's attempts to modernize the franchise with updated technology and visual effects often come across as superficial, failing to enhance the core themes and emotional resonance that made the original films so compelling. The action sequences, while well-executed, lack the visceral impact and tension that defined the earlier installments, feeling more like generic blockbuster fare than a worthy continuation of the Terminator legacy.

The plot twists and revelations feel contrived and predictable, robbing the film of the suspense and intrigue that characterized the best entries in the series. The pacing also suffers from uneven storytelling, with rushed exposition and clunky dialogue that detract from the overall coherence of the narrative.

In the end, "Terminator: Dark Fate" is a missed opportunity to breathe new life into the franchise, delivering a lackluster and forgettable addition to the Terminator saga. Despite its best intentions, the film fails to recapture the magic of the original films, leaving fans and newcomers alike with a lukewarm experience at best.

It's the same story as the original only this time with the now common women empowerment theme added to it.

And a very irritating Linda Hamilton.

Reminds me of how the Force Awakens was a copy of the original SW film but slighten towards women too.

Shame but we need some fresh stories. I expected MUCH better from James Cameron.

I'll be honest, Dark Fate is more mediocre than unwatchable, probably the best Terminator since T2... yeah, I know, the bar is so low, it's like limbo dancing at this point. This feels similar to The Force Awakens: in itself a slick, decent movie, but I've already watched the much better original, so thanks but no thanks.

Positives? Mackenzie Davis, for whom I've had a hopeless crush since seeing her as a cute NASA geek in The Martian (and then again in Blade Runner 2049), plays a relatable, compelling character, with an intriguing mix of power and vulnerability. There are also a couple of neat set-pieces, especially in the first half, before everything becomes over-the-top tiresome.

Linda Hamilton and Arnold show up for fanservice. It's kind of nice to see them both back with significant roles but, as is typical of fanservice, it's like gorging on too much chocolate: tastes good at first, but then come nausea and a vague feeling of shame.

My main point is, the Terminator series is now hopeless, as the last movies, especially Genisys, have poisoned the well. The continuity is a mess and keeps being rebooted, so everything is pointless: no development can feel meaningful. Show of hands: who would be particularly surprised if the next Terminator movie was once again about John Connor leading the Resistance in another alternate continuity? No one? Thought so.

Also, the new villain being so talkative was possibly the single stupidest idea in the whole project. You know why Arnold in T1 and Robert Patrick in T2 were so terrifying? Because they shut up! They said very little and, the few times they spoke, it always felt like something they did out of pure necessity (probing for informations, setting up a trap) but was fundamentally alien to their nature.

This Rev-9 tries to talk its antagonists out of fighting him! Can anyone picture the T-1000 reasoning with its targets? The great Robert Patrick studied and imitated the body language of birds of prey to look creepier and inhuman, and the new bad guy wants to chat. Give me a break.

5/10

"Dark Fate" is a direct sequel to Cameron's original "Terminators" and ignores movies and series that have come out in the meantime, treating them as alternate timelines. I count that as a plus because the films in question are a desecration of Cameron's legacy. Also, I was glad to see Linda Hamilton and Schwarzenegger again in this franchise. But to be fair, this is no sequel, but a rather pathetic recycling of the first two films bordering on a remake. It is effective in arousing nostalgia among fans, but if we ignore that, the film is completely redundant and its only goal is to milk a few more dollars on account of the old glory.

5/10

Great action scenes. And the rest is pathetic. The new terminator made a few jokes. - really? The latino girl character is SO dull and such a cliche. I am so disappointed. This is nothing like T1 and T2. When you have all the tools and resources to make it work and all you do is produce this FAILURE. SHAME!