Publications
Partners
Film: Terminator Genisys (UIP)
Director: Alan Taylor
Featuring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jai Courtney, Emilia Clarke, JK Simmons and Jason Clarke
Like the characters in Terminator Genisys, I feel like I am lost in the space-time continuum. Every decade, a new episode of the franchise comes out and, each decade, humankind beats the machines – who then just reboot the war for another incarnation of Sarah and John Connor.
And, of course, allow Arnie to recreate the role that showcases the range of his acting ability to such excellent effect.
Saying all that – and allowing for the science nonsense and the tiresomeness of unkillable robots – I really rather enjoyed this latest trip back (then forward) in time to have another go at pulling the plug on the end of the world.
Cleverly though, Arnie’s back (as regularly threatened) as the everlasting original Terminator (or a future version, or whatever) and the two leads are picked from the new generation of actors. Better known as the Mother of Dragons in Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke trades her fire breathers for firepower as Sarah Connor.
Jai Courtney, from the dystopian teen fantasy Divergent, is Kyle Reese, future (or is that past?) lover of Sarah and father of John Connor, whom he has been fighting alongside in the future, having been raised by him. Whew, try not to think too hard or indeed sort your Connors or you will probably self-terminate in a way the evil computers in this franchise refuse to.
The “I am your father” moment in this film rivals the greatest one of all – from another timeless (or is that endless?) franchise, Star Wars. This moment also ends in mortal combat that does nothing for the Connors’ already fragmented and time-warped sense of family.
Director Alan Taylor, who directed episodes of seasons one and two of Game of Thrones and Thor: The Dark World, manages to keep his sense of timing (excuse the pun). The young cast are energetic, Arnie is pretty funny when he’s sending himself up and the action comes fast.
It isn’t a classic like either of the first two films, but the liquid-metal Terminator that was introduced in the 1991 sequel has maintained its cool, and there’s a chance to see how Hollywood can make you young again, as Arnie also goes back in time to his 1984 Terminator self.
All in all, the less mental energy you put into sorting out the convoluted plot, the more fun you’ll get out of this fifth robot instalment about how dangerous your iPhone could be if it decided to go postal.
