TERMINATOR: DARK FATE Review - An Exciting Return To Form For A Franchise That Badly Needed A Win

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE Review - An Exciting Return To Form For A Franchise That Badly Needed A Win

The review embargo has now lifted for Terminator: Dark Fate, and we are very pleased to report that those early reactions were not exaggerating... at least, not by much! Get our thoughts after the jump.

Review Opinion
By MarkCassidy - Oct 22, 2019 04:10 PM EST
Filed Under: Terminator
It was difficult for anyone to muster much excitement for a new Terminator movie after the disaster that was Genisys, and although the trailers for Dark Fate weren't terrible by any means, they didn't really do enough to assuage jaded fans' concerns that this latest effort would fail to return the flailing franchise to its former glory.

Well, the Terminator faithful might just be in for a very pleasant surprise. Although Deadpool director Tim Miller's film definitely has its share of problems and doesn't come close to matching the quality of James Cameron's originals (honestly, was it ever going to?), it is a worthy follow-up.

Dark Fate works as a direct sequel to T2, but it also resets the switch somewhat and serves as a soft reboot/do-over. To explain how it achieves this would take us too close to spoiler-ville, so let's just say after three movies of convoluted time-displacement plots and hamfisted attempts to build on what came before, this entry actually succeeds by going back to basics and telling a (relatively) straightforward story. This may not sit well with those hoping for a new spin on the well-worn tale of (wo)man vs. machine, but what Dark Fate lacks in originality it more than makes up for in many other areas.

First and foremost, the decision to bring Sarah Connor back pays off big time. Linda Hamilton hasn't missed a beat as the world-weary warrior, and gets back to smashing metal mother[frick]ers to smithereens with aplomb. Likewise fellow franchise vet Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has a smaller role here, but absolutely makes the most of his screentime.

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The new recruits are all on top form, too. Mackenzie Davis kills it as enhanced super-solider Grace, bringing warmth and incredible physicality to her character. She does get landed with most of the exposition-heavy dialogue (more on that later), however. As Dani Ramos, the young woman Grace is assigned to protect, newcomer Natalia Reyes is also very impressive, doing plenty of heavy lifting in some of the more emotional scenes and giving us a likable new hero to rally behind.

As our new and improved Terminator, the Rev-9, AOS actor Gabriel Luna is a formidable screen presence, and he injects a bit more personality into his cyborg assassin than his predecessors did.

If you're here for the action, you will not be disappointed. There are some set pieces in this movie that are undoubtedly among the best of the year, and they manage to crank the tension up to maximum levels. Miller proved that he's a dab hand at conducting this type of visceral mayhem on Deadpool, but he has definitely honed his craft. There are a couple of spots of dodgy CGI here and there and things do get a little OTT by the end, but it manages to stay just the right side of ridiculous.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for some of the dialogue. The script is solid enough for the most part, but from time to time a character will drop an absolute howler - usually in an attempt to get a laugh. The humor works, on occasion, but a lot of the gags are signposted and poorly delivered.

Dark Fate is an exciting return to form for a franchise that badly needed a win, and - you're going to hear this a lot, but it's true - is easily the best Terminator movie since T2. A great cast and some truly jaw-dropping action sequences make this a must see.

There are some elements that could have been improved upon, but this is still much better than any of us will have been expecting, and a damn good time at the cinema.


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SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 10/22/2019, 4:16 PM
Wow, cannot believe the positive reviews, including, here, at Ign and Empire.
Terminator is back baby.........................!!!

HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 10/22/2019, 4:37 PM
@SimplyAz - I just watched the IGN video, will post it below for others to watch since I thought it was really good. But hell yeah buddy, seems that Terminator is back!!

SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 10/22/2019, 4:43 PM
@HeavyMetal4Life - I am so happy dude, just happy for us Terminator fans
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 10/22/2019, 4:45 PM
@SimplyAz - heck yeah buddy, cheers!!

SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 10/22/2019, 4:51 PM
@HeavyMetal4Life -

dragon316
dragon316 - 10/22/2019, 5:23 PM
@SimplyAz - @SimplyAz - if 5 star chef recommend liver and onions with deep fried crickets will you order it same can be said about movies if you have not try dinner don’t say you don’t like it , same with movies if you have not see movie don’t say movie is good by stranger review who gave it four star until you yourself have seen movie to judge for yourself if it’s good people make movies money not critics
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 10/22/2019, 4:38 PM
This IGN Review is very good too

HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 10/22/2019, 4:49 PM
Very nice review Mark. Great to hear that the initial reactions out last night were not exaggerating. I don't think anyone honestly believes there will ever be a Terminator movie to top T2, and that's perfectly fine, but it sounds like things turned out better than expected and we are all in for a huge treat and a good time that will give this franchise a much needed path for future endeavors/sequels. Awesome!! Can't wait to see in person.

WeaponXCII
WeaponXCII - 10/22/2019, 4:51 PM
LordHarryLatts
LordHarryLatts - 10/22/2019, 4:59 PM
I...just..don't see how this won't be terrible. I'll definitely try to be open minded, but the last few were just really horrendous.
Deodorant
Deodorant - 10/22/2019, 5:06 PM
Don't care what anyone thinks but I thought Salvation was great, and better than the other sequels! Definitely looking forward to this film, tickets bought!
BigDriggs
BigDriggs - 10/22/2019, 5:44 PM
@Deodorant - I really liked salvation too. Much better than t3 and genesys
BrainySleep
BrainySleep - 10/22/2019, 5:06 PM
Good to hear it's not bad.

I was worried that Dark Fate would refer to the suffering of the people who went to see it.
dragon316
dragon316 - 10/22/2019, 5:24 PM
@BrainySleep - how would you know it’s my bad if you yourself have not see it to judge
BrainySleep
BrainySleep - 10/22/2019, 5:33 PM
@dragon316 - From the reviews obviously.
MuadDib
MuadDib - 10/22/2019, 5:11 PM
For me.. T1>T2>Salvation>T3> Genysis

Let see where Dark Fate stacks up.. but I’m still a huge fan of Salvation
BigDriggs
BigDriggs - 10/22/2019, 5:45 PM
@MuadDib - glad to see salvation getting some love. I really liked it, too
Jimster
Jimster - 10/22/2019, 8:39 PM
@MuadDib - Same order for me too except Genysis. Never saw that one. As much as I love T2 the original is my all time favorite.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 10/23/2019, 7:52 AM
@MuadDib - That's my exact ranking.
ElJefe
ElJefe - 10/22/2019, 5:17 PM
We should have never doubted Tim Miller! The man knows how to make action movies!
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 10/22/2019, 5:28 PM
I don't think I've ever been this surprised by positive reviews. From the trailers, this movie looks like complete shit.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 10/22/2019, 10:47 PM
@THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - Okay, never mind. Reviews aren't as positive as I thought. 58% RT.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 10/23/2019, 7:52 AM
@THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - well 68% now...
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