Terminator: Dark Fate is a direct sequel to Judgement Day.
The team behind Terminator: Dark Fate had a surprise in store for moviegoers. For a mere $5, fans were treated to a special screening of Terminator 2: Judgement Day at Alamo Drafthouse. It was supposed to be accompanied by an additional 20 minutes of Dark Fate footage. Just as the film was about to start, actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton appeared on the big screen to deliver a special message. To the delight of the audience, they announced that instead of T2, they would be watching the entirety of Terminator: Dark Fate. I had known about this surprise in advance, and I was excited to bring my Dad along as we have had a tradition of watching the Terminator movies together since T3: Rise of the Machines.
Synopsis
In Mexico City, a newly modified liquid Terminator — the Rev-9 model — arrives from the future to kill a young factory worker named Dani Ramos. Grace is also sent back in time, a hybrid cyborg human who must protect Ramos from the seemingly indestructible robotic assassin. But the two women soon find some much-needed help from a pair of unexpected allies — seasoned warrior Sarah Connor and the T-800 Terminator.
Throw everything you know and remember from previous Terminator movies post-Judgment Day out the door.
The beginning of Terminator: Dark Fate features a poignant scene. It involves Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor, establishing it as a direct continuation of Judgement Day. This evoked a strong emotional response in me. Shortly thereafter, the movie wastes no time in diving into the action. We meet Dani Ramos, portrayed by Natalie Reyes, who is the young girl in the trailers requiring protection. Alongside her are the famous time-traveling entrances of the Rev 9. It is a hybrid of liquid and metal played by Gabriel Luna, and Dani’s protector, Grace, portrayed by Mackenzie Davis, an augmented human from the future. The audience eagerly awaited the entrance of Sarah Connor, who received a rousing round of applause upon her arrival.
I was thrilled to hear that this latest Terminator movie would be rated R.
It marks the first time since Rise of the Machines that the franchise has received this classification. As expected, the film is packed with F/MF bombs and intense action scenes. This is thanks to the direction of Tim Miller, known for his work on Deadpool. However, I was a bit let down by some of the low-quality CGI renderings throughout the movie. In this day and age, with technology advancements, I had hoped for more polished scenes where CGI is utilized.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator is named Carl.
The latest Terminator movie features Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role as the T-800 unit with an added twist. It’s not just a brief cameo appearance – Arnold will be fully suited up and ready to join the intense action. Additionally, the interactions between Sarah Connor and the T-800 are particularly memorable. It is exciting to see these beloved characters back on the big screen. The rest of the cast also performs admirably, with Mackenzie Davis delivering standout moments throughout the film.
Verdict
I personally give Dark Fate a 4 out of 5 stars. The cost of the ticket is definitely worth it just to witness the on-screen reunion of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton. Whether or not this film will lead to another sequel is uncertain, but I am content with the way the story concluded. Read more Reviews on Nerdtropolis and Subscribe to our YouTube.
Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
What a great film .