terminator: dark fate review
The instant James Cameron and Linda Hamilton attached themselves to Terminator: Dark Fate they created the expectation the film might finally have something in common with the first two terminator films, both of which are unquestioned classics. While this latest return to the robot apocalypse well is far from bad and competent in most every respect, nothing about it feels manifestly different than the other three largely forgotten sequels released since T2. The action scenes are bombastic and thrilling but does this offering bring anything to the Terminator franchise approaching the overall standard set by Terminator 1 and 2? The answer is a resounding “not really.” It’s a shame because you can tell the producers and writers tried valiantly to capture the story-driven magic of T2. Serious chances are taken with the canon that are ill-guided at worst and polarizing at best. They also painted themselves into a corner casting an aging Schwarzenegger. The rationale for why he’s still around and what he’s been doing all this time feels like fan-fiction. The laughably tone-deaf opening completely invalidates the core conflict of the first two films in an attempt to be shocking. It doesn’t work and feels unearned. The obligatory new terminator model feels yet again like a downgrade from the T-1000. It’s more complex and admittedly visually interesting but as with the TX from T3, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Skynet took a step backwards in going away from the 100% liquid poly-mimetic alloy. The franchise is a prisoner of its own success as the standards set by the decades old T1 and T2 seem more and more out of reach with each new film. There will always be a market for the Terminator property and it is likely these watered-down, cash-grab sequels will keep releasing every few years. Fans will continue to show up at the cinema but it's time to do a proper reboot with new characters and new ideas. The logic is questionable in continuing to remind us of the better films in the franchise.
Terminator: Dark Fate, like all Terminator sequels save for T2, is crushed by the weight of expectations. It receives a score of 6/10 for both general audiences and Terminator franchise stalwarts.