A Dark Fate Does Seem To Be In Store For Terminator Franchise

“Terminator: Dark Fate” is science fiction action film that continues the franchise started by “The Terminator” which was released in 1984.  Original cast members Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton are reunited and joined by newer actors Gabriel Luna, Mackenzie Davis, and Natalia Reyes.  The screen play was written by David Goyer, Justin Rhodes, and Billy Ray.  James Cameron returns as a story contributor and producer.  Tim Miller is the director.

Well, much of the continuity from the first two films is blown all to hell.  Davis plays an enhanced human who makes a formidable opponent to the newer Rev-9 model Terminator who has traveled back through time to kill young Daniella Ramos, a resident of Mexico City.  An embittered Sarah Conner returns to the franchise after her son is murdered by a more familiar Terminator at the beginning of the film.  Schwarzenegger is back in the fold as well.  The cast did the best they could with some of the clunky dialogue they were given.  It was kind of cool to see Hamilton and Arnold back on screen together.

Mackenzie Davis really has the role of lead protagonist and does fine.  Luna was appropriately menacing as the Rev-9 Terminator.

Overall, it’s better than I anticipated.  Not much better, but James Cameron;s contribution was likely of some help here.

The fight scenes were pretty spectacular in their choreography for the most part.  There were some moments that seemed a little cartoon at times.

I ended up having some mixed impressions when it was all said and done.  The movie did fairly well in some areas but struggled in others.  I wasn’t a big fan of how Arnold’s Terminator was reintroduced.  It’s still fun to see him though.  I also appreciated how much Hamilton worked on her physique to make her action sequences seem reasonably plausible for a woman her age.  She’s fine for the most part, but the cynicism and sarcasm the writers saddled her with was just a little too cliche.  Saying that, I found that I didn’t really mind her presence.  Most of my misgivings about this film have to do with the plotting and dialogue.  And I also think this franchise has gone a little too long and has gotten a little too repetitive in some ways.  Although I found much of it underwhelming, it really wasn’t that bad.