'Terminator: Genisys' - What Did You Think?
This week brings the first Terminator film since 2009, and the first Terminator film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger since 2003. Directed by Alan Taylor, Terminator: Genisys builds on the storylines from earlier Terminator movies, while simultaneously setting course for a completely new direction.
The story jumps between time periods and alternate timelines, as John Connor (Jason Clarke) sends Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke). When he arrives, however, he discovers the past is nothing like he expected. For one thing, this version of Sarah was raised by a T-800 (Schwarzenegger) who's already informed her of her fate.
It's a big story for sure, and the cast and crew are clearly working hard to revive a franchise that lost its way over the past couple of installments. Arnie in particular shines bright; his years away haven't dulled his portrayal of the character at all. Whether the rest of the film measures up, however, is open for debate.
Peter came out in favor of this movie, calling it "the best Terminator movie since T2" and praising its "return to the humor and heart" of earlier films. However, other critics have not been so kind, calling it tired and tedious. Personally, I just wish they'd spent more time exploring the bizarre dynamics of the Connor family, which involves a time traveler, a robot dad, and a soldier who has to orchestrate his own conception.
So, what do you think? How have the intervening years treated our favorite franchise about time-traveling robots? Is it completely obsolete, or just old? Did you struggle to remember all that history? Do the new versions of Sarah, John, and Kyle do justice to the originals? (And am I the only one who thought Emilia Clarke's American accent was off?) Did the marketing give away too much, as Taylor complained?
Weigh in with your thoughts below. Spoilers are encouraged.