Terminator Genisys

The script must have been written by Jára Cimrman, based on one of his plays. So it's clear, you are my son, but you could actually be my father, or brother, and if the time paradox allows, father and son at the same time, along with my mother, who’s actually my daughter. Whatever. Time paradoxes have always been there, they are part of the sci-fi genre. What I just realized is that the Terminator has no place in today's cinemas. What seemed revolutionary and innovative at the time of the release of Cameron's first two Terminators, which enchanted awestruck audiences with the metamorphoses of the T-1000 model thanks to digital effects that were at the dawn of their age, now, in an age overcrowded and overstuffed with CGI atrocities, no longer impresses anyone and has nothing to offer beyond that. And when you present the core of the story, those time paradoxes I mentioned earlier, as clumsily as Alan Taylor does, then there's a problem. Especially since the film doesn't have a single (!) memorable action scene that you'll remember years from now. Unlike, for instance, Terminator 2, which is a textbook of the action genre. And Arnold? Due to the plot, his presence here is rather symbolic, all he has to do is show up and throw in a few one-liners and fans will be satisfied. But he's fine, and it has to be said, the only (surprising) bright spot of the whole film. If the Terminator has to age, it should certainly be in the way Arnold has demonstrated here. (14/07/2015)

Everything with measure is okay, as long as you don't start thinking about it. Because getting into this mess of a script is really tricky, because all the pasts, futures, presents, alternative pasts, etc., will make your head spin, and that's a shame for a property like Terminator. However, as a compilation of the best shots and iconic scenes from the previous four parts, it works quite well. Unfortunately, in general, it totally lacks the feeling of the second one, it doesn't have the drive and the well-crafted eye-candy visuals from the third one, and you won't find the gloomy post-apocalyptic atmosphere from the fourth one either. Where are the times of Kristanna Loken and her battles with Arnold, because after 12 years, we haven't really moved forward in terms of technology! For example, there's nothing like awesome truck scene. And that is something to think about. (16/07/2015)

Each further rewriting of the notoriously well-known history is riskier, but the path in this direction is more than promising. Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier confront iconic scenes head-on, showing us explicitly the use of time travel and giving Arnold Schwarzenegger a chance to break his metal jaws himself – and he fulfills this deadly task perfectly. At the moment when it is clear that Mr. Schwarzenegger will not leave any scene without proclaiming it properly, Terminator: Genisys becomes almost a family spectacle, which perfectly suits the fact that the changes concern exactly those storylines that used to disappoint me with their pessimistic outcome. Even a heretical thought crossed my mind that this ending could be a complete conclusion and end the whole saga with a thirty-year gap. If I am really just naive and the subsequent installments will crush my optimism, it will be a great pity. The Terminator no longer chills you like it used to, but considering that it doesn't even try to do so, such a transformation is accepted surprisingly easily in view of zero expectations. Especially since Emilia Clarke throws Game of Thrones far behind her and becomes a Sarah Connor straight from the most ambitious fan fantasies. (11/07/2015)

Meh The Fifth Terminator pretty much disappoints in pretty much everything. Arnold is pushed to the background at the expense of Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese's story, which admittedly isn't very compelling, nor are the two actors. The script makes virtually no sense and the paradoxes and problems associated with time travel are all openly disregarded, and when it stops playing on a nostalgic note after half an hour, it ends up being a generic action sci-fi flick that relies more on quantity than quality. There's plenty of action, but it is usually no more than average, and at some points they go way too over-the-top (the helicopter chase was something truly terrifying). The film plays second league in all aspects and hopes to bludgeon you with references, Arnold, and lots of explosions, shootouts, and fights. And it doesn't quite work. The result is a more or less uninteresting hundred and fifty million action sci-fi flick where there's always something going on, but you probably won't be entirely sure you're enjoying it. Not enough for Terminator, but speaking for myself, I'm not too surprised. (30/06/2015)

And the arrival of Windows 10 begins to provoke a wave of fears... An entertaining mishmash spiced with action with an interesting theme, but a miserable screenplay, ruined in places by stiff dialog and sloppy effects. Overall, I had a better feeling after watching part five than after four and five because it at least tries to link the story to Cameron’s masterpieces, even though this comes nowhere near them. Courtney is still miserable, but less irritating than in the preceding movies, the Clarkes had their best moment some other time or in some other movie, but they give a decent performance. In fact, I would say that we were treated to the most ingenious version of John Connor yet and the twist in the spoiler trailers is one of the most positive aspects of Genisys. Good ol’ Arnold Schwarzenegger is the viewer’s favorite, of course, and the best thing you’ll see in the movie. He repeats himself, says great lines the way we love it, but he’s no longer the Terminator we know. There was only ever one of those - or rather two - Cameron’s. Overall pretty decent entertainment that updates us (very like Jurassic Park, but with diametrically different results - a box-office failure), but not a full-fledged part of the saga, more of a bolt-on. (09/07/2015)