MOVIE REVIEW - "Terminator: Dark Fate" (2019)

Synopsis: The presence of a new and modified liquid metal exterminator threatens the safety of the planet when it is sent from the future by Skynet to destroy a cyborg hybrid with humans and their friends.

34 years ago, Cinema has undergone a real revolution in the technology of special effects / visuals that help build a more credible and impactful narrative in the public eye. James Cameron has been responsible for this innovation and since then he has been working tirelessly on new techniques that offer the world a new and different way to watch a movie... But unfortunately, with this sequence the result has not been exactly what was expected (at least not by fans of the first two movies).

Freakpop

First of all we need to understand that to buy the idea of ​​this sequel one has to completely ignore all the movies that follow after Terminator 2: Judgment Day and also, the fact that Cameron's return to this franchise is only in the producer role. Once that is said, it may be possible to justify why the movie really failed to deliver on all that it had promised in the promotional materials (and all the nostalgic power that was inculturated in them).

Acting as a third party within the franchise universe, the movie can't beat its predecessors and despite all their efforts, can't even compare to what has been seen before. Despite trying to spread new elements to the plot, the main bet of the script is to invest in nineteen nostalgia (something that certainly had an effect on many people) with a new outfit. The problem is that this play works to a certain extent... Then the resemblance to the franchise's second movie becomes more and more apparent and all it can do is one big - and beautiful - tribute (or even kind a "remake").

Los Angeles Times

In practice, that's not a bad thing (because the second movie is one of the best in the franchise)... But what really bothers us here is the fact that the more the script strives to deliver something different, the less identity by itself he can create because he cannot develop a narrative line that sets him apart as a sequence that should be original. There is nothing very unique here, so... Don't expect to watch a movie with specials for future sequences.

Throughout the projection (which happens 27 years after the judgment day), the plot tries to impose itself on the viewer for its grand, creative and violent action scenes (undoubtedly one of the high points of the film), but once they momentarily cease (the bright side is that there are many she once again feeds on all the nostalgia that surrounds her in a way that causes some discomfort. Sometimes a feeling of emptiness sets in in the middle of the narrative and this further impairs its development.

Monsters & Critics

While the return of Sarah Connor and the original Extreminator (iconic characters that still work very well together) was an interesting addition to the script, the long-awaited presences of Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, while relatively functional, only reinforce the nostalgia on which the film is based. Most likely, their lack would result in a very large loss of impact on the end result, which of course would be very frustrating (considering the extreme importance of these characters to the franchise).

The new characters try to be differentiated and they even have interesting moments. The cast that brings them to life (Gabriel Luna, Natalia Reyes and Mackenzie Davis), while not connecting well to each other on screen, can deliver reasonable work that doesn't compromise the whole story. On the other hand, it should be noted that this combo represented lack of chemistry and better performances is one of the direct responsible for the lack of energy that is seen in the most dramatic moments and that also help to decrease the quality of the movie.

Radio Times

This new journey has an extremely well made production (and it could not be different, after all... it is the work of the original creator of the franchise) and its technical aspects are virtually untouchable. With a frenetic pace packed with explosive action scenes, everything is very well executed in order to make a great visual impact (something the movie can do without having to work hard for it) and no one can complain about it.

Special effects / visuals are a luxury accessory that is exalted to its fullest. Their need is vital to make this world real and to solidify all the mythology that has been created, making it credible in its objectivity. A similar importance should be attributed to the soundtrack, which plays an indispensable role in the whole construction of the narrative and this is because it has become a fundamental element throughout the other copies.

Bloody Disgusting

It would not be unfair to say that a part of this flaw should be attributed to director Tim Miller, who despite working with an average script at hand, cannot extract better performances from the cast. He also can't deliver very consistent work (although there are some pretty good times where you can see some effort) because the film has often lost focus and just seems to be recycling some events without much originality.

The feeling of watching this movie is that, in fact, it can only work for those who have watched the previous two movies... Not just because it is a continuation (which would be something more than obvious, after all, there is a line narrative that being good or bad needs to be respected in order to have an understanding of the facts), but because it is only possible to see some relevance in it if a parallel with its two existing sequences is drawn.

Geek Verso

I come to the conclusion that Terminator: Dark Fate is indeed an intentional movie (and one that is worth seeing in the Cinema for its technical qualities), but visibly lacking in inspiration and not much to offer after the end credits. begin to appear on the screen, revealing its opacity amidst all that is already known in the franchise's history.

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MOVIE URL:
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/290859-terminator-dark-fate?language=en-US

MY RATING: AA (7,5/10)