100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 93: Terminator Genisys

Director: Alan Taylor

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction

Runtime: 126 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, J.K. Simmons, Matt Smith, Courtney B. Vance

Description: John Connor (Jason Clarke) sends Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back in time to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke), but when he arrives in 1984, nothing is as he expected it to be.

Review: “Come with me if you want to live!” This and many other classic quotes from the previous Terminator movies are heard in this long awaited sequel. Or is it a prequel, a reboot? Lots of messing with timelines.

The futuristic war against Skynet is finally won, thanks to John Connor, here played by Jason Clarke. Skynet did manage to send a T-800 to the past to kill Sarah Connor, John’s mother. John sends his most trusted partner Kyle Reese back in time to protect his mother. It’s better that you don’t know more about the plot, but it does get complex.

There are lots of references to the previous movies in the franchise, and some look like they have been literally copied. What makes this movie extra fun is the return of the big man himself: Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s like he’s never been away. Emilia Clarke is good as Sarah Connor and Jason Clarke does a good job as well. Jai Courtney, who plays Kyle Reese, is really great to look at, but he isn’t a very good actor.

The role of Arnie as Terminator is more human and his relationship with Sarah Connor is sort of touching. It reminds you about him and John Connor in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”.

This movie is pure action and in that section the movie isn’t very original. It does all look very spectacular and grand.

I read a lot of reviews for “Terminator Genisys” (why is it spelled like this by the way) and I read many bad ones too. I didn’t think it was a bad movie. You shouldn’t expect it to live up to “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” or even the first film “The Terminator”. That’s the problem, many people compare it or expect too much. Just take it as it is, which makes “Terminator Genisys” a good action/ science fiction film, entertaining as hell and for the fans a lot of nostalgia as well.

Rating: 3,5/ 5