Overall verdict: 8.5/10
The Good: Bold new plot directions, awesome action, great music, real emotional connection to the characters' stories, builds on the underlying themes of previous movies
The Bad: some action pieces too dark, rehashes chase plot of previous movies, some sub par special effects in places
***********Review***********
Terminator Dark Fate is the true follow-up to Terminator 2 Judgement Day. It expands upon the underlying themes that were developed over the course of Terminator 1 and 2, particularly in blurring the lines between increasingly human-like machines and increasingly inhuman-like people. Combining deep themes, well developed characters, and intense no-holds-barred action, TERMINATOR DARK FATE hits every right note with me and my expectations of a good terminator movie.
We all have the power to change our fate, but no one ever said anything about improving our fate. The focus is back on Sarah Connor, whose fate had changed following the events of TERMINATOR 2 JUDGEMENT DAY. With Skynet now erased from existence, the future is rewritten into one where John Connor serves no purpose. In the opening moments of this movie, John is terminated along with any hope Sarah had for a happy life.
Seeing her now, masterfully played by Linda Hamilton, it’s sad. I could feel her emptiness, going day to day, living for the next anonymous tip off about a new terminator, preparing for the next battle. Her eyes weary with age contain both an intense fire, yet a hollowness. Seeing her now, and looking back at that carefree young woman riding down the street on her scooter back in 1984. It’s tragic.
The second character of note is Carl, a terminator who had completed its mission and, of its own free will, overcome its violent programming to integrate perfectly with human society and a family. Carl is exactly how I envisioned “Uncle Bob” would become if he had lived from T2. Almost perfectly human with free will, making his own choices, able to blend in, caring for others, starting a business etc. The evolution of machine into becoming more human-like was a strong theme from the first 2 terminator movies.
Sarah and Carl present two sides of the same coin. Both are soldiers “programmed” for a mission. Both had lived for their mission and when the missions were over what next? In a more meta sense, they are both the sole survivors of a reality that no longer exists.
But enough of them. They are the supporting cast to the new main duo of Grace the protector and Dani the new future resistance leader. I love Grace and the glimpses of the new Resistance, or at least the faction Grace is from (it’s hinted that in the new future, there are different resistance groups, showing a less united mankind). What desperation would drive humanity to willingly turn fellow humans into cyborgs themselves to win the war? I am reminded of the quote “beware when fighting monsters that you yourself do not become a monster”. Again another theme carried over from T2.
I love Dani too. I would dare say Dani is how I would have liked John to be in Terminator 3. Where even in present day without any training, we already glimpses the leadership qualities, resourcefulness and fighting spirit that would eventually turn them into the main inspirational symbol of the resistance.
The action set pieces courtesy of DEADPOOL director Tim Miller are bigger than ever before going from cramped interiors to a freeway chase to an aerial battle to even underwater! It is intense! Though at times the scenes look a little bit too dark (as in literally not lit well enough) but perhaps that was to mask certain CGI effects considering this movie didn’t have that high a Budget compared to other modern blockbusters.
I think my only other gripe is the Rev 9. I never got that sense of dread that I got from the t800 in T1 or the t1000 in T2. Heck I even felt the Tx from T3 was a bigger threat. The concept of a liquid metal covered robot endoskeleton that can operate as separate entities seems borrowed from the “TXA” in the terminator novels (as is the concept of cybernetic enhanced human protectors), and the rev 9 got taken out way too easily each time it was in battle. Yes it kept coming back but really if it weren’t for Grace needing stimulants to prevent her body from shutting down she would easily dispatch it each time it showed up.
Nitpicks aside, I enjoyed TERMINATOR: DARK FATE. It was more emotional than Terminators 3 through GENISYS, it felt most in line with the themes set up through the first 2 movies, the action and accompanying music by Junkie XL were perfect. Most importantly, I want more from the new status quo. I want more stories about Legion and the future war under Dani’s leadership, I want more stories about Sarah, and I sincerely hope we get them.
***********Review***********
Entertainment: A
Story: B
Acting: A-
Characters: A-
Music: B-
Replay value: A-
"Brains": B-
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