We finally get the T2 sequel we deserve. Terminator: Dark Fate is the easily best sequel after Terminator 2: Judgment Day. I know, the bar is low. But it was a really fun ride.
When it wasn’t trying too hard to be emo and drama, the movie really rocked. The action set pieces were spot on. Some of the CG was a little weak in small places, like one or two face-transformations but it was not Gemini Man level bad.
And wow. Linda Hamilton really stole the show. So glad she is back. She spent a year with no carbs and full exercise to get back in shape for this and it shows. I want to look like this kind of Merdeka Generation.
Maybe it is me getting older and grumpier but I totally connected with the cranky badassery that Sarah Connor brought to the table.
The new Terminator Rev-9 looks sufficiently dangerous. You could say he is twice the man the others were.
Arnold is back this time too. He has appeared in the other sequels before but I like this version of him. He brings a quiet strength to the movie and has some of the funniest lines. This is Swarzenegger’s best outing since T2.
Mackenzie Davis was also a delight to watch. Her lean, statuesque figure was a nice contrast to the brute force of the Rev-9 when they fought. Grace was a good name for her. I also liked the subtle details like the surgical lines on her body.
As for the other post-T2 sequels, let’s call them Terminator Legends. As far as I am concerned, Dark Fate is the true Terminator 3. Let’s forget the other sequels existed.
Is Terminator: Dark Fate better than Terminator 2? No. That is a difficult movie to follow. But Dark Fate holds its own.
Oh, James Cameron, welcome back. We missed you. Please do the real Aliens sequel too. Thanks.
