Action-Adventure Terminator: Dark Fate

[Zorro]

I forgot the date but that day in 2029 should officially be declared a holiday the honor The Terminator. TechnologyRobotics Day!

Skynet logos all over!

 

[Zantera]

Big fan of the franchise, like most people I love the first 2 but then it gets gradually worse and worse. T3 felt like a b-movie. Recycled T2 plot but executed so much worse. Salvation just felt like something else, kinda like a fan film. When you don't have any of the original actors it just feels weird. To me they could just as well have done this as a story with brand new characters. Genisys had some interesting ideas but the result was just a mess.

It's hard to fathom how they could screw up the franchise so bad IMO. What's been missing in the movies post-T2 has been the horror element. I know T2 was lighter on it than T1 but the T1000 was still really scary and I remember as a kid being at the edge of my seat when he went to the mental hospital to get Sarah Connor. The scenes when he took out innocent people, it was done in a scary way.

For me the biggest issue with movies like T3 and Genisys was they tried the whole "stop things before things go bad" again but it just undermined the point of T2. We did that plot in T2 and I think we need to move forward. We still need Terminators and Skynet to make a Terminator movie but we can at least change things up a bit.

What I really hope Dark Fate does is that it adds suspense back into the mix. I want scenes of a Terminator walking slowly through a corridor following a target who is running for their life and is legit terrified at what's chasing them. I want some of that T1 element of preparing to fight a terminator and making bombs and so on. Miller did a great job with Deadpool but for me the biggest thing with Dark Fate will be if they take the movie in a direction I want to see.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Cameron was able to communicate the fear of nuclear apocalypse and machines attempting to take over. Desperate battle for survival. Barely any of that was in the sequels. Terminator has badass moments, but they aren't what makes JC's Terminator films what they are. Badassery - icing on a cake, but the important part is genuine drama. As well as desperation, tension, horror.

People who saw the footage describe it as "badass this and badass that! huge gun! huge explosions! Sarah kicking ass is everything you ever wanted to see in a trve Terminator film!". Which is completely not true in my case, at least. Granted, Miller was talking about making audiences care about the characters and story when action arrives, so it gives me hope he's focusing on the important things. I'm not saying action isn't important, I'm just saying that it should be in service of everything else. Not the opposite. Too many movies forget about that.

 

[Zantera]

I think Salvation had a cool premise but failed to deliver. A post-apocalyptic Terminator movie set in the future, Mad Max with Terminators in the rubble of what's left of society.. that could make for a cool movie. I don't know too much about Dark Fate other than some images but the fact they got Linda Hamilton back and the few things I've heard seems to point in the direction that this could be good. At least I hope it will be. Similar to the Alien franchise, it's gotten to a stage where there's more misses than hits and I really hope T6 could be great.

 

[StarLord]

People who saw the footage describe it as "badass this and badass that! huge gun! huge explosions! Sarah kicking ass is everything you ever wanted to see in a trve Terminator film!". Which is completely not true in my case, at least. Granted, Miller was talking about making audiences care about the characters and story when action arrives, so it gives me hope he's focusing on the important things. I'm not saying action isn't important, I'm just saying that it should be in service of everything else. Not the opposite. Too many movies forget about that.

To be fair, it sounded like footage they would have to show to get people talking. A few scenes of dialogue with not much else going on wouldn't have had the same response and buzz afterwards, but I see what you mean.

 

[OutOfBoose]

I'm probably just triggered by the expressed idea that if original actors are in the film, means it's a true Terminator and it's all that a Terminator fan can desire. Or if original actors don't return, it doesn't feel like a true sequel. There can be a great Terminator film without Sarah kicking ass. Or without Sarah at all. And great example of it is Fury Road. "Toecutter" aside (who is impossible to recognize unless you look into the credits roll), it keeps the spirit, yet offers new stuff. Without any of the previous actors, including Mad Mel.

 

[henzINNIT]

I find T3 kind of fascinating in hindsight. It doesn't feel like a victim of "studio interference" in the typical ways you see nowadays. I don't think Mostow is a hack director*, it wasn't forced to fit a PG-13 rating, the budget was huge, and that ending is still quite something. It seems that more than anything the film was impacted by the insane legacy of the series and Arnold himself. Those familiar moments and unpopular jokes reek of a character/actor that has become so huge the film simply can't handle it. Arnie was basically a proto-meme at that point. He certainly superseded Cameron and Hamilton as franchise necessities, as both were approached to return but only half-heartedly.

I was 13 when it came out and so excited. Despite its flaws I still quite enjoy it. There will be some serious mental gymnastics to do if Dark Fate breaks the curse and is actually great.

*The writers were certainly questionable though. Their credits do not paint a good picture. Even though they rehashed tons of its beats, they didn't like T2.

 

[Deck Rickard]

T3 had some okay moments I guess but I really, REALLY hated Nick Stahl's John Connor. I mean, Eddie Furlong's Connor is a smartass but you can also see his character growing up to be the badass resistance leader. But the Connor we meet in T3 just comes off like a whiny coward. I remember when Salvation came out, I thought they were righting the ship, as Bale seemed like perfect casting and the concept sounded great. But sadly, the film was another mess. And the less said about T:G Connor, the better. Maybe Dark Fate is making a wise decision by (apparently) sidestepping the character entirely.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Maybe Dark Fate is making a wise decision by (apparently) sidestepping the character entirely.

If this is a direct follow on from T2, how on earth can they just excise him completely, surely he'd be integral to it.

 

[Deck Rickard]

If this is a direct follow on from T2, how on earth can they just excise him completely, surely he'd be integral to it.

I don't know, honestly. But apparently the only Connor that appears is the young Furlong version. Maybe Sarah sends him away at the beginning of the movie?

 

[Mandon Knight]

I don't know, honestly. But apparently the only Connor that appears is the young Furlong version. Maybe Sarah sends him away at the beginning of the movie?

Okay, question 1 solved but now, wait ? what ? Furlong returning, is that another actor with CGI face mapping of Furlong, de-aging EF or somebody else entirely.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Stahl was a giant miscast. Maybe script and direction contributed too.

Furlong isn't in shape to return anywhere. They will be CGI-ing young Connor on some other kid. I pray it's as good or better as in BR49, but...

 

[StarLord]

Stahl was a giant miscast. Maybe script and direction contributed too.

I remember baulking at the scene where it showed him as the leader of the resistance.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

What is the statu quo among scholars about T2 original (open) ending versus the remastered happy ending version ? I'm asking because I watched the happy ending version for the first time.

 

[OutOfBoose]

What is the statu quo among scholars about T2 original (open) ending versus the remastered happy ending version ? I'm asking because I watched the happy ending version for the first time.

Cameron prefers the theatrical ending (and cut for that matter) and finds the happy ending redundant. I personally prefer the theatrical cut too, including the ending. But in the end the happy ending just details a bit more the future they altered. There's the other hand in the factory left by Archibald. Skynet is meant to exist, nuclear apocalypse still happens and Kyle is sent back, so John Connor can be born. The only difference T2 made - Kyle didn't grew up in the nuclear wasteland and John Connor has a child.

Who the **** knows how TDF is injected into this time loop...

 

[henzINNIT]

John's role (or lack-there-of) is one of the big questions I have going into this. I like the look of the cast so far, and I'm okay with John not being the focus. He's an important figure in Terminator history, but not necessarily an important character to follow, and kinda works better as a legend.

And I'm aware that this is an extreme minority opinion, but I liked Stahl a lot and he's easily my favourite John in the franchise.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Genisys had some interesting ideas but the result was just a mess.

For me the biggest issue with movies like T3 and Genisys was they tried the whole "stop things before things go bad" again but it just undermined the point of T2. We did that plot in T2 and I think we need to move forward. We still need Terminators and Skynet to make a Terminator movie but we can at least change things up a bit.

I think Genisys really had potential. As you say, interesting ideas. But it got screwed along the way. And the Marvel-ising was a baaad idea.

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Mysteryman]

That Dark Fate trailer release sounds kind of iffy.
Fingers Crossed.

 

[Daywalker89]

That Dark Fate trailer release sounds kind of iffy.
Fingers Crossed.

Hmm well Spidey came out today and i've just been on the IT2 thread and they have Thursday confirmed so hopefully Terminator follows suit

 

[Quentin Beck]

Yeah, the Spidey trailer came out today, and the IT Chapter 2 trailer confirmation was shown in Times Square.

I reckon they will release it Friday as to get max publicity.

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

Looking forward to this... hopefully it doesn't disappoint.

 

[OutOfBoose]

I don't quite understand. How Spidey and IT trailers are related to TDF trailer?

 

[BeserkerHilf]

It's just by association: somebody got word of three trailers being released, two of those have wound up true, so it's not so 50-50% on TF's trailer.

 

[Mysteryman]

Hmm well Spidey came out today and i've just been on the IT2 thread and they have Thursday confirmed so hopefully Terminator follows suit

Dark Fate is listed as RUMORED to come out this week and they are not sure which day.