Terminator Genisys
(2015)
Annapurna Pictures / Paramount Pictures / Skydance Media : Paramount Home Media Distribution
8.25 / 10
Yet another Terminator time-travelling yarn. This time, because of previous alterations in the past, when this new timeline's John Connor sends Kyle Reese back to save his mother and himself from Skynet he is attacked by an unknown assailant. Kyle see's this and as he passes back through time he catches some strange images of his younger self.
One of the reasons I loved this movie was the superb homage to the original by recreating some of the opening segments; this was a brave and daring move by the writers Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier, and director Alan Taylor. This could have gone so wrong... but it was so right. Even more so, because the humour that appeared in T2 and was missing in the first as it was played more seriously, is here in these recreated scenes.
When Reese lands in this timeline he finds that the Terminator he is following is not the only one on the hunt for Sarah Connor. From here on it's a race, not to shut down Skynet as that never come to fruition, but the Skynet AI, which has only been delayed and is now branded as Genisys. A total package app that will allow users to have control over all their gadgets... as will the AI. This AI will bring on a nuclear devastation as well as give birth to the Terminators.
However, all of this leads to some paradoxes, one of which I really loved, though I couldn't really bring myself to believe it was actually an option. I don't like spoilers so I won't say anything else, though you'll spot it when it happens.
The special effects are, as always, brilliant and larger than life. Taylor does a great job of keeping the pace going throughout the film, right from the tribute at the beginning to the reveal at the climax.
Arnie Schwarzenegger is still the Terminator and it was great to see him back in the role, both real and CGI'd. He brings a nice joyful feel to the character, which is strange saying he's playing an android. This humour was added in T2 and worked really well, now he feels as though he's part of the family. A Terminator film isn't a Terminator film without Arnie. Now they have his CGI image he can keep appearing forever.
However, though Emilia Clarke, did a nice job as Sarah Connor I still preferred Linda Hamilton's strong single-minded character in T2.
I also wasn't too keen on this film's John Connor, played by Jason Clarke, or Kyle Reese, played by Jai Courtney. Maybe because the original film had such an impact when I first saw it. Michael Biehn was a much better Reese and I could believe the sexual chemistry between him and Sarah... that chemistry is lacking in this film - John Connor may never be born. Even John Connor's character isn't without flaws, he doesn't appear to be from Sarah's loins or even a "super" soldier created from her extensive training after his birth.
These slight issues could be down to the writer, director, or actor. However, it doesn't stop the movie from being good fun... and giving plenty of scope for a sequel.
If you enjoy The Terminator films then you will like this one. I would recommend you to give this a viewing, at least once. If you've not watched a single Terminator film then don't start here, go back to the original, you won't be disappointed.
One of the reasons I loved this movie was the superb homage to the original by recreating some of the opening segments; this was a brave and daring move by the writers Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier, and director Alan Taylor. This could have gone so wrong... but it was so right. Even more so, because the humour that appeared in T2 and was missing in the first as it was played more seriously, is here in these recreated scenes.
When Reese lands in this timeline he finds that the Terminator he is following is not the only one on the hunt for Sarah Connor. From here on it's a race, not to shut down Skynet as that never come to fruition, but the Skynet AI, which has only been delayed and is now branded as Genisys. A total package app that will allow users to have control over all their gadgets... as will the AI. This AI will bring on a nuclear devastation as well as give birth to the Terminators.
However, all of this leads to some paradoxes, one of which I really loved, though I couldn't really bring myself to believe it was actually an option. I don't like spoilers so I won't say anything else, though you'll spot it when it happens.
The special effects are, as always, brilliant and larger than life. Taylor does a great job of keeping the pace going throughout the film, right from the tribute at the beginning to the reveal at the climax.
Arnie Schwarzenegger is still the Terminator and it was great to see him back in the role, both real and CGI'd. He brings a nice joyful feel to the character, which is strange saying he's playing an android. This humour was added in T2 and worked really well, now he feels as though he's part of the family. A Terminator film isn't a Terminator film without Arnie. Now they have his CGI image he can keep appearing forever.
However, though Emilia Clarke, did a nice job as Sarah Connor I still preferred Linda Hamilton's strong single-minded character in T2.
I also wasn't too keen on this film's John Connor, played by Jason Clarke, or Kyle Reese, played by Jai Courtney. Maybe because the original film had such an impact when I first saw it. Michael Biehn was a much better Reese and I could believe the sexual chemistry between him and Sarah... that chemistry is lacking in this film - John Connor may never be born. Even John Connor's character isn't without flaws, he doesn't appear to be from Sarah's loins or even a "super" soldier created from her extensive training after his birth.
These slight issues could be down to the writer, director, or actor. However, it doesn't stop the movie from being good fun... and giving plenty of scope for a sequel.
If you enjoy The Terminator films then you will like this one. I would recommend you to give this a viewing, at least once. If you've not watched a single Terminator film then don't start here, go back to the original, you won't be disappointed.
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