“I’ll be back.” It’s a true statement for Arnold Schwarzeneggar and the “Terminator” franchise. Our J.P. has his take on the fifth installment, “Genisys.”
TERMINATOR GENISYS
PARAMOUNT PICTURES and SKYDANCE PRODUCTIONS
Release Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2015 (Wide)
Rated: PG-13 FOR INTENSE SEQUENCES OF SCI-FI VIOLENCE AND GUNPLAY THROUGHOUT, PARTIAL NUDITY AND BRIEF STRONG LANGUAGE
Directed by: Alan Taylor
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney, Byung-Hun Lee
Studio Synopsis:
When John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline. Now, Sgt. Reese finds himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past, where he is faced with unlikely allies, including the Guardian (Arnold Schwarzenegger), dangerous new enemies, and an unexpected new mission: To reset the future…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62E4FJTwSuc
J.P.’s Take:
If “Terminator Genisys” seems like a retrofitted sequel, I wouldn’t disagree. It seems to flow in a different direction from “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” or “Terminator Salvation.” Writer/director James Cameron, the director of the first two “Terminator” films, considers “Genisys” a revitalization of his franchise. Something I would agree with to some extent. In a matter of speaking, it’s both a sequel and a reboot rolled into one. And nearly a self parody as well.
Unlike many movies that play with space-time theories, this fifth film of the franchise runs in a straight line. It makes efficient use of the plot, without the muddled scientific jargon. Not that the first four “Terminator” films were mind bogglers. We’re already familiar with the storyline; only here we’re welcomed to an alternate 1984. One where Sarah Connor (Emily Clarke) is no longer the naïve waitress, struggling to make ends meet. She’s armed with even further knowledge of a possible future. Notice the operative word “possible.” She’s also the strong feisty warrioress as seen in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.”
We also know of Skynet’s many attempts to send another terminator back and forth through time to stop humanity’s rage against the machines. Nothing has changed there as well. The kicker is how this war will end for this particular timeline. Writers Laeta Kalogridis (“Shutter Island”) and Patrick Lussier (”Drive Angry”) and director Alan Taylor (“Thor: The Dark World”) backtrack to the original “Terminator” to remind us of the events that took place in the 1984 we’re familiar with. However, there are event shifts that may throw viewers for loop.
We get to 1984 from the future this time, where we find John Connor (Jason Clarke) rallying the troops for one final effort to take down Skynet. John Connor sends Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) to the past, the other 1984. As Kyle meets up with Sarah, they time jump again, this time 33 years into the future – to the year 2017 to be exact. This may leave some viewers scratching their heads; there is actually an interesting explanation for these paradoxical events. Not to divulge much more I will say this, think of this as a game of chess. Each of the players has to calculate the possible moves of their opponent and the outcome thereof in order to win the game. Chew on that one a bit, because that’s about as twisty as it gets from there.
There are some tonal differences at the heart of T5 as well. Looking back on “T1” and “T2,” the atmosphere felt heavier, more apocalyptic. Here in “Genisys” the mood is lighter and glossier with bigger explosions and more creative stunt work. The evolutionary technological advances made for the new terminators was thoughtful. Nano-technology is becoming the next step, and the newer T models were made from it. The effects are back to basics — nothing ultra futuristic, but that’s fine, because they’re no less effective. Some of the best take down scenes come early in the movie, as an aged Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) comes face to face with his younger version. Sarah and “Pops,” as she affectionately names the 40+ year old Terminator, team up to put a wallop on his factory fresh self. It’s both unexpected and nicely paced. I also found the uncanny digital reconstruction of Schwarzenegger as the younger “bot” well done. In addition, thankfully none of the many battles that take place last any longer than need be.
Schwarzenegger singlehandedly takes on the straight man role in comedy department. As the T-800, he attempts to copy human emotion but fails miserably, which conjures up a few good chuckles from the audience. Even his signature catch phrase “I’ll be back” makes it’s way in the final moments of the movie.
As for the cast, there are some hits and misses here. I found Emily Clarke’s portrayal of Sarah Connor in her younger days to be spot on. Some of her mannerisms are there, even her temperament harkens back to Linda Hamilton’s original performance. Jason Clarke as John Connor somewhat inspires a warriors spirit. I wish I can say the same for Jai Courtney. He plays Kyle Reese and, try as he might, he just couldn’t sum up the same paranoid mood as Michael Biehn. Something I do miss to be honest. Yet, he gave it his best-shot performance wise. The underestimated J.K. Simmons also brings the comedy as only he can. Schwarzenegger still has some juice left in him to pull the T-800 out of the ashes. Doing most of his own stunt work, he gets a few good hits in and manages to resurrect the comical spirit of “T2.” Other include Courtney B. Vance who makes a brief appearance as Miles Dyson (interesting choice), Dayo Okeniyi (“The Hunger Games”) as Danny Dyson Mile’s son, and Skynet the T-5000 is played by former “Doctor Who” star Matt Smith.
The hardcore “Terminator” fan may not fall head over heels for this incarnation, but I believe they won’t brush it off like dandruff either. Cameron feels this could jump start the next chapters and get the franchise off to a good start. I, for what it’s worth, enjoyed the freshened story piece.