Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

From producer James Cameron comes the sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day that audiences have been waiting for since 1991. Sure, there were a couple of other instalments to the series over the years, but none of them came from the mind of Cameron, the original creator of the characters.

And so, we are taken back to the original storyline, with the original characters, and the original universe. You won’t find any of that alternate timeline nonsense here (I’m looking at you, Terminator Salvation), but what you will find is the next chapter in the original storyline and throughline; it feels very much like the story Cameron always intended to tell all along, and would have done so sooner had technology allowed him to do so.

I can’t say too much about the plot in this review, because almost anything I say could potentially contain too many spoilers, but if I stick to information that is already known I should be safe.

Grace (Mackenzie Davis) and Daniela (Natalia Reyes).

The most significant thing about this film is that not only have Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to reprise their original roles (Sarah Connor and the original Terminator, respectively) but Edward Furlong returns as John Connor (though if you blink, you’ll miss it, to be honest).

However, most of the story takes place over twenty years after the events of Terminator 2, which for the purposes of this film, was the previous instalment of the series. We find ourselves in Mexico City, where local girl Daniela Ramos (Natalia Reyes) and her brother Diego (Diego Boneta) find themselves being relentlessly pursued by an all-new Terminator, sent from the future, the REV-9 (Gabriel Luna). If you thought the T-1000 was a formidable opponent, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

As always, the future hasn’t left our heroes high and dry. A mysterious woman named Grace (Mackenzie Davis) has also been sent back, to protect Daniela at all costs. Grace is not a Terminator, or even a machine at all, but rather a supercharged human, with incredible speed, strength, reflexes, etc.

The original T-800 Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger).

The Terminator’s mission is simple: destroy Daniela at all costs. Grace’s mission is equally as simple: protect Daniela at all costs. Obviously, only one of them can succeed.

The screenplay, written by David S. Goyer & Justin Rhodes and Billy Ray (though James Cameron had a hand in the plot, having co-written the synopsis), is very clever, and filled with all the things audiences of the previous instalments have come to expect. The characters are all very clearly defined, with plenty of conflicts both internal and external, and the plot has so many twists and turns, it will keep you guessing till the very end. The tension doesn’t let up for a moment, so be prepared to spend most of the film’s two-hour running time perched on the very edge of your seat.

The music, by Junkie XL, also doesn’t let up for a moment. There are moments in the film that I first thought felt overscored, but on later reflection, found that I was mistaken. The use of music to highlight these moments of tension (which admittedly is most of the film) is superb, and the music itself is also superb.

The new Terminator, REV-9 (Gabriel Luna).

The performances of the cast are brilliant, with the definite and clear standouts being Linda Hamilton and series newcomer Natalia Reyes. Schwarzenegger also shines in what is clearly one of his career-defining roles, portraying a character he has played many times now, but still manages to bring something new and unexpected to the role this time around.

I am not at all ashamed to admit that by the end, I had tears in my eyes. I never thought I would find myself crying while watching a Terminator film, but this film has plenty of heart to go along with all the action and the thrills.

Director Tim Miller has made an exceptional film here, a film that has well and truly earned its place as the second-best Terminator sequel, and an appropriate third part to the franchise. It may be the last film of the series, but leaving the story here isn’t a bad thing. If you enjoyed Terminator 2, you have to see this film. In fact, if you didn’t enjoy any of the three dismal efforts that followed Terminator 2, you have to see this film. Basically, what I’m trying to say is, you have to see this film.

8 out of 10.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Based on the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins, this film shows the lengths to which people will go for entertainment.

Following a massive rebellion against the government of the nation of Panem, the government instituted an annual ceremony known as The Hunger Games, in which each of the twelve districts of Panem put forward two contestants, one male and one female, to fight each other to the death in a massive arena, until only one remains victorious.

On the day known as The Reaping, names are drawn at random from all eligible residents of each district, all those between the ages of 12 and 18 years old.

When 12-year-old Primrose Everdeen’s (Willow Shields) name is drawn, her older sister Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to participate in her place to protect her from certain death.

Along with her male counterpart Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), Katniss now finds herself in the Capitol, training for a ‘game’ that will likely result in her death.

Mentored by Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and District 12’s only winner of the Hunger Games, Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), Katniss must learn to defend herself in order to survive, against opponents from the other districts, several of whom have been training for this moment their entire lives.

I won’t spoil the rest of the film for you. There are just a few things I will mention, however.

As an adaptation, the script by Suzanne Collins herself, co-written with the film’s director Gary Ross, and screenwriter Billy Ray, is pretty good. There are a few key elements of the novel that are not present in the film, but I think this was due more to length and complexity issues. What is left in, however, is very close to the original source material, which makes for a very entertaining film.

The cast are well suited to their roles, including performances from Donald Sutherland as President Snow, a leader who may well be more than what he seems, and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna, Katniss’s personal stylist in the Capitol, who is definitely more than what he seems, too.

The pacing of this film is quick, with many very short, sharp shots, which keeps the tension until the final moments.

Of course, this is the first film of a trilogy (it actually became four films in the end, with the final volume of the trilogy turned into a two-part film), and so, there is definitely more to come from the main cast, so the tension that builds doesn’t completely resolve itself in the end, but leaves the viewer expectant for a thrilling follow-up later on. (Stay tuned for reviews of the remaining films in this series to follow at a later date).

All in all, this is a thrill ride from start to finish, definitely worth watching if you haven’t already seen it. Or better yet, read the book and then see the film.

7 out of 10.