Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

Terminator: Dark Fate (Dir: Tim Miller, 2019).

Terminator: Dark Fate does its best to refresh a tired franchise after the last 3 series' entries were met with disappointment. As such we are advised to forget those, as this 6th movie reboots the series continuing where Terminator 2: Judgment Day (James Cameron, 1991) left off. 

Taking place 25 years after the events of Terminator 2, Dark Fate sees the return of original movie's hero Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton). Teaming up with time travelling augmented human Grace (Mackenzie Davis), the pair are tasked with protecting Dani (Natalia Reyes) a young woman who is the target of REV-9 (Gabriel Luna), a Terminator sent from the future to kill her. The threesome eventually team up with Conner's old foe the T-800 model Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), now 'living' in a secluded woodland retreat. Reality kinda takes a back seat as the four battle the seemingly indestructible Rev-9, intent on succeeding in its mission. 

The ending of the original The Terminator (James Cameron, 1984) suggested that any sequel would continue the saga of Sarah Conner. However, such was the impact made by Mr Schwarzenegger that any further Terminator movie would centre on the Terminator himself (itself?). Sarah’s story was told on TV in The Sarah Conner Chronicles (2008-2009) but it is nice to finally see her character receive the big screen outing she was previously denied. 

Based on a story by series creator James Cameron, fans of The Terminator franchise are on pretty safe ground with this latest movie, which sees the series finally back on track. It is less goofy than the entertaining nonsense of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Jonathan Mostow, 2003) yet with enough of the humour missing from the rather dry Terminator Salvation (McG, 2009). Spectacular special effects and high octane action sequences are present and correct. The pace barely waivers and an early car chase is so impressive that the remainder of the movie has a hard time topping it. An extended climax somewhat stretches believability but, ultimately, Dark Fate is one of the more satisfying sci-fi actioners of recent years and a good addition to the series.

Performances are strong throughout. Those expecting a top lining Arnie may be a little disappointed; his screen-time is less than some publicity may have lead you to expect. Yet, serious minded female centred action movies are still a rarity and the three-hander between its leads lends this a welcome and distinctly different flavour to most action flicks. 

Despite its good points Dark Fate has been greeted with a lukewarm box office. Possibly the decision to market it a sequel to Terminator 2 has alienated younger audiences or, more likely, sequel/re-make/re-boot fatigue has set in. If this is the last we see of Terminator then at least the series has gone out on a high. I suspect this movie might find more appreciation in the home market and could well mean the series will "be back" at some point in the future.