Review: 'Terminator Genisys' is the salvation to the franchise
The Terminator. (Universal Pictures)
Marcus Goh is a Singapore television scriptwriter. He’s also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. He Tweets/Instagrams at Optimarcus and writes at marcusgohmarcusgoh.com. The views expressed are his own.
Secret ending? Mid credits.
Running time: 125 minutes (~2 hours)
“Terminator: Genisys” is a science-fiction action film, the fifth in the “Terminator” franchise. It revolves around a time travel plot in a war between humans and machines. It serves as a soft reboot to the series by altering the sequence of events that occurred in the first “Terminator” movie, allowing a new tale to be told by the same beloved characters.It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger (Pops/T-800), John Connor (Jason Clarke), Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke), Jai Courney (Kyle Reese), Lee Byung-hun (T-1000), and J.K. Simmons (Detective O'Brien). It is rated PG-13.
Wow. Just, wow. “Terminator: Genisys” manages to both pay homage to the original films, while forging a new path of its own, without invalidating the events of either timelines. It uses the same plot device as “X-Men: Days of Future Past” to achieve the same effect, namely by having time travelers alter the past and change the future. But most importantly, it tells the story of how the genuine emotions of a few good people are enough to change the world for the better. And it’s a completely awesome movie.
Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke). (Universal Pictures)
Highlights
Terminator vs Terminator action
“Terminator: Genisys” knows you’re here to watch super-powered robots battle each other, and it gives you every possible permutation of those fights. Pops smacks down rival Terminators every three scenes, and their rip-roaring battles see them careening through buildings, throwing giant pillars at each other, and just beating each other into submission. The best part is seeing the T-800s battle each other (ie, Arnold Schwarzenegger vs Arnold Schwarzenegger) - now that’s what we want to see!
Relationship between Sarah and Pops
Even though it’s presented as a fairly predictable sci-fi trope (“the machine that gains human feelings!”), it’s the depth of their emotions for each other that’s truly touching. The big gestures, like diving to shove each other out of danger, aren’t the ones that matter. It’s the smaller, imperceptibly subtle actions that slowly sneak up on you, eliciting a tear-jerker during the climax.
Great references to the original
While we have the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger playing a much larger role than the mess that was “Terminator: Salvation” (honestly, this movie is the salvation for the “Terminator” series), all the other nods and homages to the first film are a welcome touch. It’s like coming home to a familiar place for longtime fans, while developing a rich history of the world for new viewers.
Gripping plot and pacing
The problem with time travel plots is that it’s either too complex to understand, or it’s so simplistic that it ignores a black hole of plot problems. “Terminator: Genisys” straddles the fine line between both, giving us an exciting plot that blends action with story. It does have its fair share of time travel loopholes (which time travel story doesn’t?) but it properly sets up plot points that are paid off organically in the climax. Most importantly, it gives you enough drama to care about the protagonists, so that when the action begins, you’re that much more invested in their success.
Lee Byung-hun is the shapeshifting T-1000. (Universal Pictures)
Letdowns
A weak antagonist
While the concept and character of bad guy of the film is suitably compelling, it just doesn’t play out that well on screen. Perhaps it’s because the trailers give away the identity of the villain right off the bat, so that tension is lost, but also because the antagonist comes across as weak and whiny, rather than imposing and dangerous. He’s an intensely personal villain, but it terms of being a threat, he’s just not that menacing.
Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as the T-800. (Universal Pictures)
‘Terminator: Genisys’ is possibly one of the best sci-fi films of 2015 with its excellent blend of melee action and emotional story. You don’t have to be a sci-fi fan, an action buff, or even a “Terminator” enthusiast to enjoy the film. It spins a good yarn and an epic tale of good vs evil, and is the stuff that all good movies should be made of.
Should you watch this in 3D? If you enjoy 3D effects, definitely!
Should you buy the DVD for this? If it comes with extended scenes, yes!
Should you watch it at weekend movie ticket prices? Of course!
“Terminator: Genisys” opens in cinemas 25 June, 2015 (Thursday).
