Action-Adventure Terminator: Dark Fate

[DarthSkywalker]

This is absolutely not worse than that campy Genisys garbage or T3 which pissed all over the first two movies. And Salvation....McG is all i need to say. I know its all subjective but come on now, Tim Miller directed this way better than those other 3.

To be fair, Dark Fate pisses all over the first two movies in the first 5 minutes as well.

 

[Ninjablade]

I’m not going to say this one is worse than Genisys as a whole, but it’s almost as bad (if not worse) as it when it comes to crapping all over the first two movies.

 

[PhasedPlasma101]

This was worse than those. The direction really isn't the problem, it's a well-made movie (other than fighting CG). Too bad Miller couldn't pull out better performances

I can view Genysis like some have said before, kind of fan fiction that you know is terrible but it already has that disconnect due to the poor recasts. It was kind of fun to see the time displacement equipment and some future aesthetics as portrayed before.

This was supposed to be the definitive T2 sequel. You're already risking a lot when you go back and claim" oh this is the real sequel." That's why it is the worst one for me.

This movie was such crap that Jonathan Mostow's friggin work comes out looking shiny lol

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Everything since T2 has basically been ****. Different varieties of ****, but still **** nonetheless. So I don't really think it is important if this ****, smells a little better then that ****. It's still all ****.

 

[Hurm...]

This was worse than those. The direction really isn't the problem, it's a well-made movie (other than fighting CG) in some respects besides not getting better performances for key characters.

I can view Genysis like some have said before, kind of fan fiction that you know is terrible but it already has that disconnect due to the poor recasts. It was kind of fun to see the time displacement equipment and some future aesthetics as portrayed before.

This movie was such crap that Jonathan Mostow's friggin work comes out looking shiny lol

Pretty much. There's a big disconnect with Genysis because of the casting. With this film and Hamilton returning, it's harder to draw a line, at least for me, between this movie and the original two films. So in a way, it takes an even bigger dump on the first two movies by trying to take its terrible plot seriously.

Essentially, Genisys felt like an intentional parody film, whereas this one is an unintentional one.

 

[PhasedPlasma101]

Terminator 3 suffers from Nick Stahl's terrible performance and kind of a cheap made-for-tv sheen to it. Salvation has a very bland palette, Bale let down but Anton helps that one a lot. Genysis, as mentioned above, fan fiction trash.

After thinking on it, the only things I liked about this movie was the grained out T2 footage at the beginning (Lol) , the setting of Mexico was great and felt authentic for Ramos' character who was pretty good. Mexico/ Central American is important mythos. Rev-9 was well-acted despite looking fake af pretty much all the time. Arnold and Linda nostalgia...

Umm, I think that about does it

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Terminator 3 suffers from Nick Stahl's terrible performance and kind of a cheap made-for-tv sheen to it. Salvation has a very bland palette, Bale let down but Anton helps that one a lot. Genysis, as mentioned above, fan fiction trash.

After thinking on it, the only things I liked about this movie was the grained out T2 footage at the beginning (Lol) , the setting of Mexico was great and felt authentic for Ramos' character who was pretty good. Mexico/ Central American is important mythos. Rev-9 was well-acted despite looking fake af pretty much all the time. Arnold and Linda nostalgia...

Umm, I think that about does it

All three of those play out like fan fiction, that have no story to justify their existence in the canon. T3 is a bad version of T2, just like the other two. All three ring false with their "twists".

 

[PhasedPlasma101]

Oh, chalk one up for the de-aging effects in the beginning. That was brilliant work; the other effects go to opposite direction, off a cliff at times lol.

 

[Sithborg]

Like I said, the love the design of the Rev9, and the colors used. But, the colors make the choice of putting the final fight in a dark (color wise), concrete room a big mystery. Strangely, it seemed to work better in the auto factory.

At this point, I think I have to accept that I have a different connection to this franchise than most.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Like I said, the love the design of the Rev9, and the colors used. But, the colors make the choice of putting the final fight in a dark (color wise), concrete room a big mystery. Strangely, it seemed to work better in the auto factory.

At this point, I think I have to accept that I have a different connection to this franchise than most.

If that means you enjoy it more then most, good SB. I am happy you are getting enjoyment out of it.

 

[Mysteryman]

Re: Rev-9, I feel like every installment tries to outdo T-1000, and fails.

I imagine the fan reception to Dark Fate would be much different if they found a way to bring Robert Patrick back.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I imagine the fan reception to Dark Fate would be much different if they found a way to bring Robert Patrick back.

I don't think so. A big issue with the post T2 stuff is trying to outdo the original ideas of the first, but trying to copying them while taking them to the "extreme". You don't need to top the T-1000. You do something different. Like not send a terminator back to kill the protagonist.

 

[Schlosser85]

I imagine the fan reception to Dark Fate would be much different if they found a way to bring Robert Patrick back.

Eh, he doesn’t have the look for it anymore.

 

[Teelie]

I don't know why some of you are ****ting all over this movie (okay, I can think of two reasons, one is reasonable because of past sequels, the other not so much). The movie was a big step up from everything prior up to Terminator 2.

The movie is far from perfect but I gave up on a perfect sequel to a Terminator movie after Terminator 3 came out. I'll take anything half decent I can get. This is at least three quarters decent.

If they do a sequel to this I will definitely watch it. I see no reason to hate this movie just because it changes a few things. Literally the only difference between this and the first two is when/how Judgement Day happens and a slight alteration to the savior. Everything else is identical. It's a good retelling and jumping off point to ignore all the baggage of the past 3 sequels.

 

[-JKR-]

Yup, I really liked it!

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I don't know why some of you are ****ting all over this movie (okay, I can think of two reasons, one is reasonable because of past sequels, the other not so much). The movie was a big step up from everything prior up to Terminator 2.

The movie is far from perfect but I gave up on a perfect sequel to a Terminator movie after Terminator 3 came out. I'll take anything half decent I can get. This is at least three quarters decent.

If they do a sequel to this I will definitely watch it. I see no reason to hate this movie just because it changes a few things. Literally the only difference between this and the first two is when/how Judgement Day happens and a slight alteration to the savior. Everything else is identical. It's a good retelling and jumping off point to ignore all the baggage of the past 3 sequels.

Spoiler

I see no reason to be upset with this James Bond movie where they kill James Bond off in the first 5 minutes. It only slightly alters things.

Also you call it a retelling, and I think that in and of itself is a big problem. That means they made a ****ty version of T2 for a 4th time since T2 came out. Why would people be excited to see that? I get that you will take anything half decent, but by saying that are you not basically admitting you are lowering your own standards?

 

[terry78]

Okay I just got out of it and it was tolerable for the most part. I appreciate the little callbacks and I enjoy all the scenes with Linda and Arnold together, but most of it was unnecessary like most people said regarding the plot and the twists. I'll probably go see it again once more just to get a full feel for it but it was slightly above average for me.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Pretty much. There's a big disconnect with Genysis because of the casting. With this film and Hamilton returning, it's harder to draw a line, at least for me, between this movie and the original two films. So in a way, it takes an even bigger dump on the first two movies by trying to take its terrible plot seriously.

Essentially, Genisys felt like an intentional parody film, whereas this one is an unintentional one.

Oh it's easy to draw a line for me. This is an optional sequel like T3. Regardless if Linda Hamilton was in it or not. The series ended at T2. Clean ending

 

[PhasedPlasma101]

I don't know why some of you are ****ting all over this movie (okay, I can think of two reasons, one is reasonable because of past sequels, the other not so much). The movie was a big step up from everything prior up to Terminator 2.

The movie is far from perfect but I gave up on a perfect sequel to a Terminator movie after Terminator 3 came out. I'll take anything half decent I can get. This is at least three quarters decent.

If they do a sequel to this I will definitely watch it. I see no reason to hate this movie just because it changes a few things. Literally the only difference between this and the first two is when/how Judgement Day happens and a slight alteration to the savior. Everything else is identical. It's a good retelling and jumping off point to ignore all the baggage of the past 3 sequels.

Slight alteration? Lol smh that was the entire universe's plot fulcrum and the soul of why Sarah and John's journey was so heroic.

Everything else is identical? Umm.. you probably should reexamine that statement because prime Jim Cameron changing movie history and an awful blockbuster cash-in that will fail critically and financially isn't exactly "identical." But hey, glad you had a good time with it, at the expense of the core audience of fans.

 

[samsnee]

I actually liked what they did with the Rev 9. Much better than T-X and Terminator John Connor. I also like the new look of the endoskeleton.

Nothing is ever going to top T2 or even come close. Arnold became a fully fleshed character that added to the story. You can’t recreate that again and make it feel fresh. But I thought what they did here with him served its purpose. There’s probably a much more interesting, less action heavy movie with just Arnold’s Terminator.

 

[Teelie]

Spoiler

I see no reason to be upset with this James Bond movie where they kill James Bond off in the first 5 minutes. It only slightly alters things.

Also you call it a retelling, and I think that in and of itself is a big problem. That means they made a ****ty version of T2 for a 4th time since T2 came. Why would people be excited to see that? I get that you will take anything half decent, but by saying that are you not basically admitting you are lowering your own standards?

Slight alteration? Lol smh that was the entire universe's plot fulcrum and the soul of why Sarah and John's journey was so heroic.

Everything else is identical? Umm.. you probably should reexamine that statement because prime Jim Cameron changing movie history and an awful blockbuster cash-in that will fail critically and financially isn't exactly "identical." But hey, glad you had a good time with it, at the expense of the core audience of fans.

This is going to be one giant spoiler response.

Spoiler

James Bond is a terrible example unless you mean how many actors played the character. John Conner does not exist in the first movie except as a cameo lasting literally like 5 seconds. He had a big part of the sequels up to this point.

They changed James Bond into Jane Bond. Big whoop. They gender changed to a she and took away Skynet and replaced it with Legion. Otherwise the story is the same. And every movie since Terminator 2 is essentially the same thing. Terminators from the future and a protector come to save someone from the past. T2 did the same thing. So did T3. Salvation took place in the future and was a wash. Genisys was an abomination of Terminators 1-3.

Again, John is a MacGuffin in Terminator. He's the reason everything happens, he is not the story. Sarah is. This movie takes Sarah and refocuses it on her new adopted child.

Now if they make a sequel to this and it continues without Sarah, that still won't be a big change (see T3 and Salvation) but it might move the story forward somewhere different than before that doesn't suck.

As to "core audience fans" being exclusive to those like you who hate it? And any who actually enjoyed it are not "core audience fans"? That is your problem, not mine. I have been a fan of these movies since the first one in the 1980's. And I am going to take a guess that is longer than you have been alive.

Don't come at me with this bull**** only fans who agree with you are acceptable. You can hate it. Clearly you do. I didn't. Did I go and call you a fake fan? Did I say your opinion was worthless and held no meaning? That would only apply if you hated it for a certain reason that had absolutely nothing to do with the story.

 

[Sithborg]

I do feel this is a bit of a weird hybrid between T1 and T2 that might put people off. The story very much follows T1's beats, and tries to up T2's action.

 

[Ninjablade]

Ah yes, a fundamental change to the mythos that renders the entire first two movies pointless because at the end of the day it doesn’t matter.

Spoiler

You know the worst part about all these freaking half-assed replacements is the fact that Sarah doesn’t even care. She learns that she doesn’t manage to stop Judgement Day and her boy died for nothing. That the man she fell in love with sacrificed himself to protect her for no reason. That fate does exist and it always results in a freaking war. She’s not phased in the slightest by any of this news. No instead the film picks and chooses when it wants her to care about John’s death and that’s only once Arnie shows up. Before that she’s making resentful comments about John existing in the first place because “he gets all the credit” for saving the world and she’s just a nobody .

I mean what is even the point of protecting Dani in this film? It’s not like she’s won the war in the future like John did. She’s just general like any other. If she does die the universe will just replace her with someone else.

I also fail to understand this whole defeatist attitude towards getting a higher quality film. I don’t want to accept the fact that I’m not going to get a film of the same quality as T2, that’s insane, I shouldn’t be lowering my standards to be pleased by Hollywood’s output. Yeah the other films suck, that doesn’t mean the next one should try to hit the low bar of being slightly better. If you don’t want to be judged by the standard of a franchise with a high ceiling, don’t make a sequel to those films.

 

[Daywalker89]

Just looking at these reactions just makes you feel " Meh " doesn't it. It once again confirms just how special T1 and T2 are, they captured lighting in a bottle not only once but twice. After all this analysis of TDF. you just have to admit these films were never meant to have endless sequels. The first two films are in our top ten films of alltime, we are talking 5/5's 10/10's. I can't even imagine how difficult the pressure was to try to get these films on par with their chances with T3 till TDF. Just heaps of money down the drain. Countless John Connor castings and continuity out of wack. Four different attempts in the last 20 years and nothing to show for it.

The only franchise where i feel a Terminator revival needed its template based off from was Blade runner 2048. It kept the organic tone of the first movie while carrying it in another direction of 21st century film making. That had a crew(Particularly the director) that was passionate about the mythos and wanted to expand and honour Blade Runner. The same passion was needed for T3 back in the day instead we got a rehash and failures after that. Johnathan Mostow,McG and Tim Miller were just puppet fillers getting the job done without stamping any authority on these films. They had none of the ingredients of the original two behind the scenes from producers(Gale Anne Hurd) to music composers (Brad Fiedal)to practical effects (Stan Winston) and even the era they were filmed in. Pretty much everything was against them when they were writing the script for number 3 onwards. They had top brass of every department working on T1 and T2 that anything after that was always going to be below the standard they set. After watching the Full Special Edition of T2 on Blueray with the deleted scenes added in , that just cemented the fact that James Cameron could never capture the lighting in the bottle for a Third time. He knew this film hit the peak in storytelling, It started with him and it will finish with him in the the directors chair (which it did)

The guy is done with this franchise . I know there will be another Terminator in the next coming years we all know its going to happen. There will be another director off the treadmill another convoluted plot and new characters we really don't give a toss about. Just another pointless remake or reboot. The people green lighting the next movies really need to check there sanity on this franchise because the fans are pretty much tired of the Terminator name being dragged off in all directions and the low ratings and box office is showing that.

 

[GothamAlleys]

Here is my review I posted for my blog. I really really liked the movie and its dark, ominous tone at the same time hated what they did to John but knew it was vital to setting up the tone if that makes sense. Anyway:

How surreal is it to have an actual continuation of T2? 28 years later...wow. I remember very well seeing T2 for the first time, It was an event, an experience, and every family talked about it, waited in lines to rent it, called every video store to ask if its available. I became a fan for life. A hardcore fan, reading books, collecting Terminator comic books, magazines etc. Then after seeing more Jim Cameron movies I realized this man makes miracles.
Fast forward to 2003 when hype was really big because T3 was coming to theaters...without Jim, and with no actor or filmmaker other than Arnold returning. Well, the late great Stan Winston was back and Earl Boen had a short scene, but there weren't any human characters that the movies were actually all about! A recasted character is virtually a new character anyway you slice it, lets face it. And Sarah Connor was absent, replaced with a different female character. Neither actors, nor characters nor any creative forces behind The Terminator and T2 had anything to do with it. So it never really held any merit for me.

Here we are, 28 years later, with James Cameron being actively involved in the story, writing and editing. Hand picking both the director and the writers. Here we are, 28 years later, experiencing an actual sequel to T2. This is massive. I remember first hearing about the news of Dark Fate and not feeling much about it. But when Ive heard Linda Hamilton, James Cameron and Eddie Furlong are returning, no matter in what capacity, it was like a jackpot. Ding ding ding. It did't matter in The Force Awakens that Luke Skywalker was only seen in the very last scene with no dialogue. he was there! After all these years, we saw that character again. Then it was a very mixed bag of expectations, and eventually I went into the theater believing it'll be at least a good movie. It sure was

Spoilers from now on:
The movie starts with a real shocking and powerful punch in the gut, and sets up the tone for me film. This time its back to R rated story, serious, heart wrenching nail biter. My wife could not get past the first scene and the anger it evoked in her and many fans. Look, it's not what I would wish for the character I liked so much throughout the decades to have this finish, but it pushed the story into darker territory. Hey, I didn't wish for Thomas and Martha Wayne to end up dead in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins but it had to be done to add the emotional punch to both the main character of the film and the audience, at the same time setting up a dark, brooding tone of the film, which is exactly what the opening scene of The Dark Fate does. It's tragic and it hurts, but gives the first emotional weight to the film. Linda Hamilton does such a phenomenal, heart breaking performance especially during the motel scene and when meeting "Carl" for the first time. Such a fantastic job


Grace arrives and she's a really, really likeable, great character. McKenzie Davis does such a good job with her, she comes across as not some tough guy strong "chicka" that kicks ass, but a regular, feeling person who does everything to help and defend a person who matters most for her. We can feel her adrenaline, her fear, her anger - great job.

Dani Ramos gets just enough exposition of her normal life for us to care about her and I really did feel for her brother and her when he died, which is an amazing feat for the filmmakers since he really wasn't in the movie for a long time.


And Gabriel Luna as Rev-9 - damn, this guy did such a great job imo. He actually did scare me and I hated him with passion, I mean, his character in the movie, his "smug evilness" as I'd call it, and it's always great to hate the villain because it means you're really invested in the characters and despise the fact that someone wants to hurt them. I wanted to stand up and help the characters push Rev-9 into that grinder, that's how pumped up I was.

Which bring me to action. I'm not a fan of the action cause it usually bores me, but here, especially the car factory fight and first chase sequence, had me squeezing both of my fists. Well done, shot, edited and the fact that by that point I liked the characters helped as well. And the music is so adrenaline pumping and scary at the same time, Tom Holkenborg really did a great job with it.

The only thing I truly didn't like were the action sequences on a plane and underwater. Thought it's too much and too many. Well, and the climax was a bit too Marvel-like.

Like all of you, I'm a fan of the Skynet mythology but it's interesting to see them going with something new (Legion) and I thought it was really cool to see both futures.




Emotional. Brutal. Heart pumping. Intense. Ruthless. That was The Dark Fate for me.

Yes, it is controversial because of the very bold choices made. And I agree its to T2 what Alien 3 is to Aliens, Ill agree with that. But I loved both Aliens and Alien 3