Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwatzenegger, Mackenzie Davies, Gabriel Luna
Primary genre: Science fiction
Secondary genre: Action
"Terminator: Dark Fate" (2019) seemed to have the right ingredients for a successful return to form: James Cameron was involved in the story and Linda Hamilton was officially back. It is a mystery then how the filmmakers managed to deliver something worse than the abysmal "Terminator: Genisys" (2015).
Taking cues from the Star Wars sequel trilogy, “Terminator: Dark Fate” is a rehash of the first two entries (“Terminator” (1984), “Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)) and a direct continuation of one of the greatest sequels ever made with a distinct lack of ideas. Nullifying the end of “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” within the first few minutes to make way for a wokier carbon copy that sees key roles reversed and new names given to already known concepts.
The script undermines several times the established mythology by treating Sarah Connor - one of the greatest film heroes of all time - as a joke while the creative choice of bringing Arnold back flirts with self-parody and disperses any good will that the previous entries had. The remaining politically correct characters are placed front and center muttering banal lines (i.e., “Fuck fate”) being one-dimensional and unrelatable. It does not help that the cast moves from point A to point B supported by tedious exposition, edgy flashbacks and a segment at the US border which sole purpose is to use the film as a social issue platform against immigration. Yet events that could flesh out the (unlikeable) characters more are sidelined hastily and by the time we reach the heavy CGI climax, you will be wishing for Skynet… I mean Legion to wipe out humanity.
Mackenzie Davis has (some) presence as the futuristic protector but she is borderline unlikeable as opposed to the human vulnerability that Michael Biehn brought as Kyle Reese while the latest Latino version of John Connor (Colombian Natalia Reyes) comes across as a rebellious teenager that speaks mixed languages with serious eye-rolling moments and a lack of conviction.
Tim Miller ("Deadpool" (2016)) brings absolutely nothing exciting to the table making Jonathan Mostow's “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003) and McG's “Salvation” (2009) action masterpieces in comparison. Every shot is banal - from the employment of blurry cinematography with pale yellows/oranges and eye-numbing grays - to quick and awkward cuts undermining in the process any potential drama by an inconsistent tone which calibrates between adult oriented entertainment and light hearted action adventure.
Make no mistake: all the action clichés that has been plunging the latest attempts in cinematic adrenaline are present. Miller uses obvious digi-doubles, extended fight sequences that employ glorious (and fake) slow motion, and CGI explosions that strip the proceedings from any concrete tension or threat. He frames his action with jarring camera-work, wonky one on one fights and moderate violence that checks nicely the tick boxes of today’s mediocre standards. Even his car chase at the beginning is anything but special, surrounded by CGI cars, sparks and environments when his predecessor at least story wise, 28 years ago, employed helicopters, trucks and motorcycles in incredibly practical fashion .
Perhaps the only saving grace is the acting of the criminally sidelined Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor. This is still her franchise and she carries enough emotional depth to make us care even when the lazy script portrays her as one-dimensional grumpy grandma.
An exact replica of what made the first two films successful but without the passion, panache or enthusiasm for the material, "Terminator: Dark Fate" fails at every level: action, direction, story, acting. What was once an achievement in filmmaking and novel sci-fi ideas has been devolved into a blob of clichés, unconvincing CGI and mediocre action pieces that lack emotion, tension and most importantly, heart.
One of the worst films of the decade
+Linda Hamilton is back
+Arnie still looks like a terminator
-Leader of mankind's resistance is totally unconvincing
-Bad action sequences
-Unconvincing CGI
-No tension/drama
-Copycat of Terminator 2: Judgement DAy
-Sarah Connor is treated as a joke
-Lazy direction
-Bad cinematography
-Copies shamelessly the same concepts that made the previous films good