Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
6.5 /10
3693 Reviews
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Decades after Sarah Connor prevented Judgment Day, a lethal new Terminator is sent to eliminate the future leader of the resistance. In a fight to save mankind, battle-hardened Sarah Connor teams up with an unexpected ally and an enhanced super soldier to stop the deadliest Terminator yet.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Sarah Connor
... T-800 / Carl
... Grace
... Daniella "Dani" Ramos
... Gabriel / REV-9
User reviews
Leaving ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’, I never felt like they managed to save the franchise, nor overwhelmingly glad this movie exists. It’s an adequate addition in a messy franchise that never reaches the heights of the first two films but is just above the three films before it, and because of this a lot of people will like it much more than they should. It’s not the ‘Halloween’ or even the ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ of the 'Terminator' franchise; it’s a fine follow up, and sadly nothing more.
- Chris dos Santos
Read Chris' full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-terminator-dark-fate-say-hasta-la-vista-you-wont-want-to-be-back
Director:
Writer:
Gale Anne Hurd (Characters)
David S. Goyer (Screenplay)
David S. Goyer (Story)
James Cameron (Characters)
James Cameron (Story)
John Friedmann (Story)
Billy Ray (Screenplay)
Justin Rhodes (Screenplay)
Justin Rhodes (Story)
Charles H. Eglee (Story)
Amanda Boyd (Writers' Assistant)
Genres:
Release Date:
2019-10-23
Run Time:
128 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
Terminator: Dark Fate
Leaving ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’, I never felt like they managed to save the franchise, nor overwhelmingly glad this movie exists. It’s an adequate addition in a messy franchise that never reaches the heights of the first two films but is just above the three films before it, and because of this a lot of people will like it much more than they should. It’s not the ‘Halloween’ or even the ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ of the 'Terminator' franchise; it’s a fine follow up, and sadly nothing more.
- Chris dos Santos
Read Chris' full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-terminator-dark-fate-say-hasta-la-vista-you-wont-want-to-be-back
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When it comes to the Terminator franchise, I share the same opinion as most people. The 1984’s original became a cult classic, and it’s one of the most influential sci-fi/action films of all-time. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the (very) few sequels to such a beloved movie that actually improves on its predecessor, standing as the number one film of the saga, quality- and entertainment-wise. James Cameron left the franchise, and suddenly it all went down the sewer. While Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is still tolerable, Salvation is absolutely terrible, and the reboot, Genisys, failed to change the saga’s history compellingly. So, obviously, even with the return of Cameron to the production team, my expectations were moderately low.
That said, Dark Fate is the best Terminator installment since T2 … which is not saying much. The last two flicks have great casts (from Christian Bale to Emilia Clarke), but their scripts are baffling bad. This time around, the cast has amazing chemistry, and their characters have better dialogue, but it comes at a cost. The last three movies possess stories that are not as captivating or entertaining (or even rational) as the first two films. Dark Fate has a much better screenplay, but again it comes at a cost. What cost is this? Basically, it repeats the exact same bits as The Terminator.
An extremely thin line exists between paying homage to a movie and blatantly copying it. Tim Miller’s team of screenwriters walk that line, stumbling to both sides several times along the way. Some scenes are indeed wonderful nods to the saga’s first two installments, but a lot of other moments (too many, to be honest) are pretty much a copy-paste version of a significant plot point or character development arc from one of those films. In case you’re wondering, this is the reason behind some of the “hate” from both critics and fans all over the world. Nowadays, people are harsher with this sort of homages, and the previously mentioned line is getting thinner and thinner.
Another reason for the divisive opinions is the opening sequence. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil. They simply make a sudden and surprising narrative decision that takes some of T2’s emotional impact, at least without first clarifying why they made such a call. Therefore, I gave the movie a chance to develop its idea, but it doesn’t. It just goes with it, and it never returns to this initial moment. Having this in mind, I understand if people instantly decided to hate the film based on just that very first scene…. Because it really doesn’t have any justification besides “well, we need a story”.
Dark Fate’s screenplay is emotionally resonant, and it’s also packed with (mostly) well-directed action sequences, but it resembles the 1984’s original plot too much. There’s even a direct line from Sarah Connor saying that a particular character is the equivalent of her son, John. This unnecessary and lazy exposition is surprisingly not as used as I expected it to be, but when it occurs, it’s like they chose the lamest, silliest, worse possible moments to place it. However, I can’t deny I actually had fun with the movie.
With a much better script than the last films, the cast was able to not only shine in a few scenes, but their incredible chemistry allowed for outstanding moments. Seeing Linda Hamilton portray Sarah Connor once again is a delight to my eyes, and Arnold Schwarzenegger is an awesome badass with hilarious lines. These two are phenomenal! Nevertheless, Mackenzie Davis steals the show as the enhanced soldier, Grace, especially regarding the action scenes. I don’t think Natalia Reyes offered what her character needed since she’s the protagonist, after all, but she’s able to stand her ground. I did enjoy Gabriel Luna take on the Terminator Rev-9, but I wish he had a little bit of more screentime besides the action.
Tim Miller brings his talented directing chops from Deadpool and applies his action techniques to deliver a lot of entertaining sequences. The VFX team provides with some impeccable CGI, but there are a couple of shots concerning a few speed bursts that should have received better treatment.
All in all, Terminator: Dark Fate is the best Terminator installment since Judgment Day, but it still doesn’t even reach the latter’s heels. It boasts a fantastic cast, with Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to their respective iconic roles, but Mackenzie Davis outshines both with some badass moments and great acting. Natalia Reyes, as the protagonist, is disappointingly fine. Despite the action being well-directed and the screenplay being well-written, it all comes at the cost of essentially replicating the 1984 original’s plot. Some homages are notable, but it’s so identical story-wise that it takes away any sort of surprise, severely lacking creativity. In addition to this, it makes a narrative decision in the opening sequence that removes some of T2’s emotional impact, damaging the saga’s best movie and one of the greatest sci-fi/action films of all-time. I don’t exactly recommend it, but if you’re a fan of the franchise, go see it but with moderate expectations.
Rating: C
Pretty good (second) reboot for this long-running franchise with some decent action, respectable enough visual effects (some parts looked off, though) and I did genuinely liked the two new cast members while Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger were fine.
That being said, it's also pretty clear this is not a franchise that needed to have gone beyond the two movies (and I might give leniency to "The Sara Connor Chronicles"). The saving grace is that on the technical front, it was an entertaining popcorn flick but like Genysis (which I also liked tbh), not really sure when I would revisit. **3.5/5**
"For John."
'Dark Fate' was meh. I mean it's basically the Force Awakens of the franchise just more cash grab. Like...how many times can they keep alternating T1 & T2, and yet it's astounding that it never ruins the legacy of the series.
Despite all that, it's the third best in the series. At least this movie knows that Terminator is not for kids! I had some engagement in the movie, even through the reason being that it follows a familiar plot line.
Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger are both the stand outs. Hamilton playing a cranky bad-ass and Arnold playing an involved machine that has a life of his own. Mackenzie Davis was surprisingly not as annoying as I thought she will be just from the marketing alone. Her character was straight forward in terms of motivation and can take damage.
Tim Miller really knows how to direct action scenes effectively and in this movie he delivers some grand action set pieces. However, after seeing the movie a few days ago, only a small selection stick to memory.
Gabriel Luna did a decent job playing the new advance Terminator. They took the "Robert Patrick" approach with picking an ordinary looking guy and making him into the biggest threat of humanity. Although it was a bit hard for me to feel threaten by him as throughout the movie he seemed easily out match by pretty much everyone.
I didn't really buy into Dani played by Natalia Reyes as the main "saviour of the future", mainly because of her stiff acting and everytime she holds a gun it's twice her size.
The visual effects at times looked pretty OK, but the rest looked really bad. It really doesn't help when there's close ups on the effects where you can see the fakeness. At times the movie was a little too dark and I don't mean in tone, just whenever it's night time.
Overall rating: Not as great as T1 & T2, but nothing will without James Cameron magic touch.
Let it never be said that they aren't trying. Everybody's trying, even the cast, and there was a genuine question mark over the head of that one going in, but people have been trying to make a great _Terminator_ sequel for a very long time, and not a one of them has succeeded at the job since before I was even born, so maybe what we really need, is for the film industry to just stop trying for a little while. Not stop trying to make good movies, just stop trying to make Terminator movies. Like, at all.
_Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
Great watch, would watch again, and do recommend.
First, time travel is the worst, but it's what allows the premise.
I don't like divergent timelines, but it allows for some interesting scenarios, so when an android that never would have been created kills someone that would had stopped it from existing had it not been erased from existence, I'm a little interested.
The other big difference, and I'm not really opposed, is that they turned this into a women's empowerment movie when it could have just been bad ass women on screen and it wouldn't have slapped the audience so hard. Plus there is a weird parallel there where they still need a "big strong man" to save them, but it's a machines, so the only man a woman really needs is a "machine"? I don't know, I really liked the movie, and I sure wouldn't change the cast, just maybe point it in a more linear direction than the "protect the womb" mislead they threw in to throw shade at the original.
Linda Hamilton is just as bad ass as ever, and Arnold Schwarzenegger is really keeping up too. I love Mackenzie Davis in this: she plays a no-nonsense, dedicated soldier so well.
Unfortunately Natalia Reyes just doesn't sell the character she's supposed to be to me, and Gabriel Luna doesn't quite pop for some reason. Granted the T-1000 has some surprise and charm to it that the REV-9 doesn't quite have just in the nature of it.
I will say the REV-9 does bring a very specific flavor to the action, being 1, 1.5, or even 2 separate characters really has a lot of potential to it, and I do want to see a different story that does intelligence work with a similar concept, but the action this gives is pretty sweet.
And that's where it is special, mostly in the nano-bot effects. Most of the rest of the action is pretty standard, but good, and Mackenzie Davis does such a great job playing up being super powered against such a crazy machine. I do how she joins the Marvel Universe.
Fans of the Terminator franchise, androids, action should like this, though I'll admit it's not a return for formula, but it better than some of the other movies in the franchise.
It has its fair share of time travel nonsense and weird timeline stuff, but it's still **so much better than Terminator Genisys**. The cast is pretty good and the action is great to watch. If this is the last Terminator movie, at least it ends on a decent note.
Cast & Crew of
Terminator: Dark Fate
Cast
... Sarah Connor
... T-800 / Carl
... Grace
... Daniella "Dani" Ramos
... Gabriel / REV-9
... Diego Ramos
... Flacco
... Felipe Gandal
... Young Grace (10yrs)
... Lucas / Floor Guard
... Hadrell
... Carl's Wife
... Dani Ramos's Father
... Mateo
... Major Dean
... Cholo
... Cesar Mateo
... Pepito
... Rigby
... US Border Riot & Locker Officer
... AFB Operator
... BBQ Host Dad
... US Border - Agent Brenner
... Craig - Factory Supervisor
... Dam Worker
... Diego's Friend at Workstation
... Foreman Silvio
... BBQ Female Guest
... US Border Gate Officer
... US Border Agent
... Miguel
... Old Street Seller
... USAF Loader
... ICE Medic
... ICE Medic
... US Border X-Ray Officer
... Mexican Mum on Train
... Bario Neighbor
... Guatemalan Girl (10yrs)
... Airman Graham / Tech
... Julia
... F-35 Pilot
... Pharmacist
... Texas Ranger
... Texas Ranger
... Detainee Axel
... Oldsmobile Driver
... Mexico City Cop
... US Border Desk Sergeant
... JP
... Rusty
... Zack Hardy
... T. Gill
... Owens
... Ackers
... Surgeon
... Maggie Curtis
... Technician Curtis
... Cohort
... Scavenger with Club
... Pilot #2
... John Connor (voice)
... John Connor Reference
... Resistance Nurse
... Grace's Mother (voice)
... C-5 Co-Pilot (uncredited)
... T-800 (uncredited)
... Stuntman
Crew
... Casting
... Characters
... Costume Design
... Screenplay
... Story
... Executive Producer
... Producer
... Characters
... Story
... Special Effects Supervisor
... Casting
... Makeup Designer
... Makeup Supervisor
... Production Design
... Story
... Screenplay
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Extras Casting
... Casting Associate
... Director
... ADR Mixer
... Sound Recordist
... Sound Designer
... ADR Recordist
... Sound Designer
... Executive Producer
... Original Music Composer
... Producer
... Editor
... Screenplay
... Story
... Stunt Coordinator
... Camera Operator
... Graphic Designer
... Story
... Stunt Coordinator
... Makeup Artist
... Camera Operator
... Director of Photography
... Gaffer
... Key Costumer
... Digital Intermediate Colorist
... Extras Casting
... Stunt Coordinator
... Music Editor
... Stunts
... CG Supervisor
... Stunt Coordinator
... Camera Operator
... Foley Artist
... Key Makeup Artist
... First Assistant Director
... Casting Associate
... Set Decoration
... ADR Voice Casting
... Conceptual Design
... Script Supervisor
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Stunt Coordinator
... Sound Designer
... Second Unit Director of Photography
... ADR Editor
... Gaffer
... Set Designer
... Art Direction
... Still Photographer
... Art Direction
... Set Decorating Coordinator
... Standby Art Director
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Dolby Consultant
... Visual Effects Editor
... Supervising Dialogue Editor
... Camera Operator
... Unit Publicist
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Producer
... Aerial Director of Photography
... Sound Designer
... Digital Intermediate Producer
... Steadicam Operator
... Set Costumer
... Stunt Coordinator
... Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Makeup Artist
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Makeup Artist
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Assistant Editor
... Costume Supervisor
... Hair Department Head
... Key Hair Stylist
... Camera Operator
... Makeup Artist
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... First Assistant Sound Editor
... Animation Supervisor
... Stunt Coordinator
... Art Direction
... CG Supervisor
... Sound Recordist
... Electrician
... Property Master
... Rigging Grip
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Animation Supervisor
... Camera Operator
... Stunt Coordinator
... Animation Supervisor
... Animation Supervisor
... Makeup Department Head
... Production Coordinator
... 3D Artist
... Special Effects Supervisor
... Tattoo Designer
... Sound Mixer
... Gaffer
... Supervising Armorer
... Drone Cinematographer
... Creature Technical Director
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Editor
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Camera Operator
... Animation Supervisor
... Additional Editor
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Assistant Editor
... Visual Effects Editor
... Senior Animator
... Visual Effects Editor
... Location Manager
... Production Sound Mixer
... Makeup Artist
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Producer
... Set Decoration
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Key Rigging Grip
... Production Accountant
... CG Supervisor
... VFX Editor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Stunt Coordinator
... Dolly Grip
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Foley Mixer
... Stunt Coordinator
... Script Supervisor
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Boom Operator
... Casting Associate
... Drone Pilot
... CG Supervisor
... Russian Arm Operator
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Rigging Grip
... Key Grip
... Production Sound Mixer
... Set Dresser
... Techno Crane Operator
... 3D Artist
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Makeup Artist
... Costumer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Makeup Artist
... Storyboard Artist
... Casting Consultant
... Extras Casting Assistant
... Rigging Grip
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Key Grip
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Sound Mixer
... Digital Effects Supervisor
... Key Grip
... Creature Technical Director
... Video Assist Operator
... Sound Recordist
... Compositing Supervisor
... Visual Effects Producer
... Dolly Grip
... CG Supervisor
... Stunt Coordinator
... Extras Casting
... Key Grip
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Art Direction
... Lead Animator
... VFX Production Coordinator
... Wardrobe Supervisor
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Lighting Supervisor
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Dolly Grip
... Creature Technical Director
... Special Effects Coordinator
... Rigging Gaffer
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Digital Intermediate
... Contact Lens Designer
... Stunt Coordinator
... Techno Crane Operator
... Standby Art Director
... Dolly Grip
... Best Boy Grip
... Set Decoration
... Set Decoration
... Electrician
... Compositing Supervisor
... Colorist
... CG Supervisor
... Compositing Supervisor
... Visual Effects Production Manager
... Executive Producer
... Set Decoration
... Lighting Technician
... Dolly Grip
... Production Accountant
... Graphic Designer
... Camera Operator
... Camera Operator
... Production Accountant
... Lead Animator
... Compositing Supervisor
... Set Decoration
... Special Effects Supervisor
... Set Decoration
... Key Rigging Grip
... Best Boy Grip
... Key Hairdresser
... Best Boy Grip
... Animation Technical Director
... Compositing Supervisor
... Creature Technical Director
... Matchmove Supervisor
... Matchmove Supervisor
... Visual Effects Producer
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Supervising Art Director
... Extras Casting
... Rigging Grip
... Casting Assistant
... Stunt Coordinator
... Set Dresser
... Electrician
... Lighting Programmer
... ADR Recordist
... Special Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Producer
... Set Decoration
... Electrician
... Armorer
... 3D Artist
... Compositing Supervisor
... Makeup Artist
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Art Department Coordinator
... Set Decorating Coordinator
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Storyboard Artist
... Best Boy Grip
... Camera Operator
... Drone Operator
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Lighting Technician
... Epk Camera Operator
... Rigging Grip
... Rigging Grip
... Rigging Grip
... Assistant Makeup Artist
... Hairstylist
... Key Hair Stylist
... Key Hair Stylist
... Costume Assistant
... Costume Assistant
... Costume Assistant
... Costume Assistant
... Costume Coordinator
... Costume Supervisor
... Costumer
... Set Costumer
... Set Costumer
... Extras Casting Assistant
... Extras Casting Assistant
... Extras Casting Assistant
... Extras Casting Coordinator
... 3D Artist
... 3D Artist
... Animation Technical Director
... CG Artist
... CG Supervisor
... CG Supervisor
... Compositing Supervisor
... Compositing Supervisor
... Creature Technical Director
... Creature Technical Director
... Lighting Supervisor
... Modelling Supervisor
... Pre-Visualization Supervisor
... Pre-Visualization Supervisor
... Pre-Visualization Supervisor
... Senior Animator
... VFX Supervisor
... VFX Supervisor
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Production Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Production Assistant
... Visual Effects Production Assistant
... Visual Effects Production Manager
... Visual Effects Production Manager
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... ADR Recordist
... Boom Operator
... Sound Engineer
... Stunt Coordinator
... Assistant Editor
... Color Assistant
... Location Manager
... Aerial Coordinator
... Production Coordinator
... Production Coordinator
... Production Coordinator
... Production Secretary
... Travel Coordinator
... Writers' Assistant
... Layout
... Concept Artist
... Compositor