Terminator Genisys
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Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNU_jrPxs-0
Going all the way back to when we were tracking Terminator Genisys here (http://pennycan.createaforum.com/movies/terminator-5-(working-title-tba)/msg14400/#msg14400), there was this gnawing feeling that this was going to be a train wreck. The initial trailer turned me off immediately and all hopes for something remarkable or at least something that does the series justice were dashed right then and there. And then the movie came out and the negative reviews were everywhere. I expected it. So, with the sh*tty trailer and the bad word of mouth since then, I was still somewhat hopeful and kind of excited to see this for myself today when I picked up my DVD copy from the Library. I was actually kind of enjoying the spectacle of the first 20-30 minutes in spite of not liking the idea of Emilia Clarke and Jai Courtney replacing iconic characters. For the record, I do like Emilia in GoT, but I've always hated Jai. So, the first 30 minutes or so, kind of enjoying it. And then the big twist (which wasn't a twist as everyone already knew about it, myself included) that revealed John Connor to be a T-3000 happened. This is where the movie lost me as it went careening off the rails. Really dumb move on the part of the writer to take it there. If that wasn't bad enough, the whole alternate time line plot was a convoluted mess and gave me a massive headache. FYI, I thought Jason Clarke was a horrible choice for the role of John Conner.
Now the one thing that I thought would be the biggest misstep was having Arnold Schwarzenegger return as the T-800 was asking too much given his age. It turns out that the one thing that I liked about Genisys was his role. I thought that his Pop's version in 1984 looked better than he did in Rise of the Machines. Go figure. And even the Old Pops in 2017 made sense and didn't do harm to the character given the fact that he does have Human Flesh and he will naturally age over time. FYI, his role is very limited. Even though he has top billing, he's more of a minor supporting player. But that's about the only thing I can come away from this movie as far as liking. There were just way too many 'Homages" throughout the movie that lifted scenes and actions directly from Terminator and T2. I can't recommend this as a Rent as I know I will most likely never watch this again.
Now, with that all out of the way, one thing I kept asking myself throughout the movie. Would this film have worked had they made it in 1994 with Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn reprising their roles? If it was the same script, would I have been more forgiving of the major plot holes and alternate reality? Even with James Cameron behind the lens, would he have been able to make this a better film? Speaking of Cameron, what the f*ck was he smoking to go on record saying that Genisys would reinvigorate the franchise? I wanna know how much he got paid for lying outright.