Where to watch Terminator Genisys
1 1/2 Stars
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic line “I’ll be back” is starting to become a veiled threat. Terminator Genisys is a crushing disappointment for any fan that can recall the pure cinematic joy of experiencing the James Cameron episodes in theaters. T2 was one of the greatest movie-going experiences of my life. To think that years later the series would be relegated to this shambled, unimaginative bore, is devastating. Lethargic direction, bad casting and confused plotting are issues that bedeviled this blockbuster into submission. Even the usually reliable Schwarzenegger seems to be lost in the ho-hum proceedings.
John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the human resistance against Skynet, once again sends Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back in time to 1984 to protect his mother, Sarah (Emilia Clarke), from a Terminator. During the course of the time-travel an unexpected assassination creates an alternative timeline. Now, instead of being an unsuspecting waitress, Sarah is a honed solider complete with a Terminator guardian (Arnold Schwarzenegger) fighting alongside her. Teamed with unlikely allies and facing new threats, Reese’s mission objectives are rest and the hope for the future is in his hands.
Having exhausted every conceivable angle to approach the project, the writers and producers have decided to use the time-travel gimmick embedded in the material to allow themselves the freedom of changing longtime character’s personalities and intentions. John Connor is not only the world’s savior but he’s also been turned into the villain. This doesn’t do anything but prove the bankruptcy of thought and imagination that went into the project.
Nearly everything that occurs during the course of the story counteracts or trivialized the story-lines that have been clearly established over 31 years and four previous films. This may have been intended as a ‘soft reboot’ but the filmmakers have greatly miscalculated. Terminator Genisys deserves the boot.
Director: Alan Taylor
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney