Terminator Genisys

Each further rewriting of the notoriously well-known history is riskier, but the path in this direction is more than promising. Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier confront iconic scenes head-on, showing us explicitly the use of time travel and giving Arnold Schwarzenegger a chance to break his metal jaws himself – and he fulfills this deadly task perfectly. At the moment when it is clear that Mr. Schwarzenegger will not leave any scene without proclaiming it properly, Terminator: Genisys becomes almost a family spectacle, which perfectly suits the fact that the changes concern exactly those storylines that used to disappoint me with their pessimistic outcome. Even a heretical thought crossed my mind that this ending could be a complete conclusion and end the whole saga with a thirty-year gap. If I am really just naive and the subsequent installments will crush my optimism, it will be a great pity. The Terminator no longer chills you like it used to, but considering that it doesn't even try to do so, such a transformation is accepted surprisingly easily in view of zero expectations. Especially since Emilia Clarke throws Game of Thrones far behind her and becomes a Sarah Connor straight from the most ambitious fan fantasies. (2015-07-12)

A narrative mess and basically an unnecessary variation on the already sufficiently dissected Terminator legend, which, despite everything, works quite smoothly and becomes at least a very entertaining, B-grade sci-fi action flick. It's better not to think about the frantic time twists, given the existence of previous episodes, and the suffocating atmosphere of inevitable fatality has been replaced by action, situational humour and a number of necessary postmodern references, but maybe that's why Terminator Genisys pleasantly surprised me and didn't disappoint; it moves along, there's always something going on, the young cast is at least watchable, and the great Arnold, in my opinion, lived up to his questionable presence in the film by more than a measure, and once again strongly reminded the world that he alone is the one and only Terminator. And to be honest, maybe that’s all it was about. 65% (2015-09-15)

A pretty good instalment. There is just the issue that the story with its leaps from the past to the future and from the future to the present made such a mess of it that it is hard to set it to the timeline of the previous instalments. Especially of the third instalment, which it completely ignored. On the other hand, it is made better by Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose sparse acting is good enough to not only entertain, but also awake some nostalgia. Just enough for three stars. (2016-03-29)

Everything with measure is okay, as long as you don't start thinking about it. Because getting into this mess of a script is really tricky, because all the pasts, futures, presents, alternative pasts, etc., will make your head spin, and that's a shame for a property like Terminator. However, as a compilation of the best shots and iconic scenes from the previous four parts, it works quite well. Unfortunately, in general, it totally lacks the feeling of the second one, it doesn't have the drive and the well-crafted eye-candy visuals from the third one, and you won't find the gloomy post-apocalyptic atmosphere from the fourth one either. Where are the times of Kristanna Loken and her battles with Arnold, because after 12 years, we haven't really moved forward in terms of technology! For example, there's nothing like awesome truck scene. And that is something to think about. (2015-07-16)

And the arrival of Windows 10 begins to provoke a wave of fears... An entertaining mishmash spiced with action with an interesting theme, but a miserable screenplay, ruined in places by stiff dialog and sloppy effects. Overall, I had a better feeling after watching part five than after four and five because it at least tries to link the story to Cameron’s masterpieces, even though this comes nowhere near them. Courtney is still miserable, but less irritating than in the preceding movies, the Clarkes had their best moment some other time or in some other movie, but they give a decent performance. In fact, I would say that we were treated to the most ingenious version of John Connor yet and the twist in the spoiler trailers is one of the most positive aspects of Genisys. Good ol’ Arnold Schwarzenegger is the viewer’s favorite, of course, and the best thing you’ll see in the movie. He repeats himself, says great lines the way we love it, but he’s no longer the Terminator we know. There was only ever one of those - or rather two - Cameron’s. Overall pretty decent entertainment that updates us (very like Jurassic Park, but with diametrically different results - a box-office failure), but not a full-fledged part of the saga, more of a bolt-on. (2015-07-10)