Better than 'Genesis'

Specialists say the latest ‘Terminator’ film, ‘Dark Fate’, is the closest to the good days. The second film, with a good T-800, another qualified Terminator seeking the human who will save the species, and Sarah Connor, played by Linda Hamilton over three decades after leaving the franchise, is especially anticipated.

Despite appearances, ‘Dark Fate’ is far from reaching the heights of that milestone of commercial cinema of the nineties, but it also falls short of measuring itself against other installments, valued less generously by fans of the series, such as the third part or ‘Terminator: Genesis’ a few years ago.

Let’s look at all of them and put ‘Dark Fate’ in its proper place: why can’t it match the first sequel’s box-office smash? Are all the subsequent ones so bad? The new movie about futuristic androids that kill mankind is set here.

I can criticize Terminator 2: Judgment Day, one of the most beloved films of its generation. Its proposed confrontation of androids from the future to doom humanity is no match for the first installment, which is considerably more brief, clear, and effective. The first sequel docilely turned the unyielding Terminator into a future nanny, distorting the original film’s lovely paradox of time travel.

The first sequel is full of classic moments, breakthrough special effects that still work today, and the introduction of the liquid metal T-1000, whose income the series now relies on. It also maintains the (nearly) straight-line chase framework from the first half, despite its excesses. Despite its age, including the soundtrack, it is still a terrific action and adventure film.

Unfortunately, ‘Terminator 2’ confined science fiction to the anecdotal, a fault that was somewhat washed away in the great ‘Terminator 3’, probably the saga’s black sheep and the most unfairly appreciated in its day. It builds on the first installment with action scenes (the crane, the terminator fight) and a closing piece that pays homage to literary science fiction tropes and codes.

The first trilogy is the franchise’s foundation, yet fans may argue that ‘Terminator 3’ is the worst because it is not a worthy sequel to the second. Time has changed everything, and ‘Terminator: Salvation’ (2009) and ‘Terminator: Genesis’ (2015) were disasters that redeemed the original trilogy’s ending.

In 2018, after the machines have won, John Connor prepares to lead the resistance against the machines in ‘Terminator: Salvation’, breaking away from the plot repetitions of the first two sequels and taking advantage of the rich lore in comics and video games. Though hasty and overdramatic, it has some interesting visual ideas and a good batch of new and “primitive” terminators.

‘Genesis’ was a failed attempt to revive the franchise with a film as good as the second. The production was difficult and the script was a nightmare, with firms going bankrupt at the worst time and copyright battles. With Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor and Schwarzenegger’s better performance than in ‘Dark Fate’, it’s mindless pleasure. Unfortunately, storyline twists have messed up the franchise’s timeline, forcing a relaunch.

The biggest I want and can’t of the saga is ‘Dark Fate’
Where does the next installment fit? Those nostalgic for the good old days (who consider War of the Machines a disgrace) are celebrating Cameron, who now again has creative authority, albeit nominally: the story is his and he’s a producer, but little else. Linda Hamilton, Schwarzenegger (who never left), and the good Terminator (now a human with improved powers) face the bad Terminator, more strong and adaptable than ever.

The machines send Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna) back in time to kill Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes), a vital human survivalist. The upgraded soldier Grace (Mackenzie Davis), Sarah Connor, who lost her son John a few months after ‘Terminator 2’ when the machines sent another robot back in time, and a T-800 that acts like a human will protect her.

The most overrated screenwriter of today, David Goyer, should be mistrusted from the outset, but ‘Dark Fate’ contains true unintended comedy. The reformed T-800’s motivations, the death of the original John Connor, which destroys the mythology built in the first two films that Cameron claims to respect, and the succession of Playstation 2-style sets (a hangar, a factory, a warehouse, a highway…)

Better than ‘Genesis’

By knl9j

Related Post

Guide to an alternative Halloween

Hollywood must reconsider superheroes

Microsoft’s ‘Call of Duty

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You Missed

Guide to an alternative Halloween

Hollywood must reconsider superheroes

Microsoft’s ‘Call of Duty

Max’s new DAZN rate suggests that streaming