maninahat
Since: Apr, 2009
07/03/2015 00:00:00
Hmmm, I think this could have benefited from a self-congratulatory opening paragraph. I kid, I kid! It's a good review and makes me want to try out a film that I was very much on the fence, in terms of whether to watch.
Book me today! I also review weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs.
SpectralTime
Since: Apr, 2009
07/03/2015 00:00:00
I appreciate that, bro, and I appreciate you not taking that personally. I hope you enjoy yourself. Sincerely.
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A Joyful Celebration of the Franchise
This is a pretty good year for soft reboots. Hot on the heels of the excellent Mad Max: Fury Road comes another great new installment in another 80's film series.
This is a truly enjoyable action flick, with plenty of exciting set-pieces, dramatic fights, and decent storytelling ideas that don't ever weigh the film down. The characters are likable and relatable, whether it's Reese struggling to deal with the strange novelties of the world he's ended up in, Sarah torn between fear and resentment at the destiny that feels forced upon her and her natural inclinations towards heroism, and "Pops," Arnold himself, playing an evolved version of his celebrated character from T2. They are all well-acted, and they all feel human and vulnerable at times, even the robot.
Speaking of robots, virtually every Terminator in the franchise makes at least one appearance over the course of the film, and all of them have their chance in the sun to remind people of why we loved to be afraid of them in the past. It's great, and there's less CG involved than you'd think.
The plot itself is quite sound, even if the time travel gets really convoluted and stops making sense partway through. But that's okay: time travel in the Terminator franchise has never made any sense more-or-less from square one. And, unfortunately, the bloodsucking vampires in marketing who only vaguely remember what it is to be human, with human feelings, decided to spoil the excellent second-act twist in all the trailers. That's a damn shame, and shame on them for doing it, but it's not the filmmakers' fault their hard work got ruined by stupid people.
The direction is great, always showing who's doing what where without the usual shakey-cam trash that ruins so many action films these days. And the special effects, while occasionally a bit too CG heavy, were generally at least fun to watch.
The story ends on a very upbeat and final note. Some things are deliberately left open, coyly hinting at a sequel in a very tasteful way without cramming it down the audience's throats or damaging Genisys as a standalone film. And through my family, I can confirm that it holds up for viewers who don't know anything about the franchise, casual fans, and long-time Terminator lovers alike.