3,267 reviews
I'll be honest, Dark Fate is more mediocre than unwatchable, probably the best Terminator since T2... yeah, I know, the bar is so low, it's like limbo dancing at this point. This feels similar to The Force Awakens: in itself a slick, decent movie, but I've already watched the much better original, so thanks but no thanks.
Positives? Mackenzie Davis, for whom I've had a hopeless crush since seeing her as a cute NASA geek in The Martian (and then again in Blade Runner 2049), plays a relatable, compelling character, with an intriguing mix of power and vulnerability. There are also a couple of neat set-pieces, especially in the first half, before everything becomes over-the-top tiresome.
Linda Hamilton and Arnold show up for fanservice. It's kind of nice to see them both back with significant roles but, as is typical of fanservice, it's like gorging on too much chocolate: tastes good at first, but then come nausea and a vague feeling of shame.
My main point is, the Terminator series is now hopeless, as the last movies, especially Genisys, have poisoned the well. The continuity is a mess and keeps being rebooted, so everything is pointless: no development can feel meaningful. Show of hands: who would be particularly surprised if the next Terminator movie was once again about John Connor leading the Resistance in another alternate continuity? No one? Thought so.
Also, the new villain being so talkative was possibly the single stupidest idea in the whole project. You know why Arnold in T1 and Robert Patrick in T2 were so terrifying? Because they shut up! They said very little and, the few times they spoke, it always felt like something they did out of pure necessity (probing for informations, setting up a trap) but was fundamentally alien to their nature.
This Rev-9 tries to talk its antagonists out of fighting him! Can anyone picture the T-1000 reasoning with its targets? The great Robert Patrick studied and imitated the body language of birds of prey to look creepier and inhuman, and the new bad guy wants to chat. Give me a break.
5/10
Positives? Mackenzie Davis, for whom I've had a hopeless crush since seeing her as a cute NASA geek in The Martian (and then again in Blade Runner 2049), plays a relatable, compelling character, with an intriguing mix of power and vulnerability. There are also a couple of neat set-pieces, especially in the first half, before everything becomes over-the-top tiresome.
Linda Hamilton and Arnold show up for fanservice. It's kind of nice to see them both back with significant roles but, as is typical of fanservice, it's like gorging on too much chocolate: tastes good at first, but then come nausea and a vague feeling of shame.
My main point is, the Terminator series is now hopeless, as the last movies, especially Genisys, have poisoned the well. The continuity is a mess and keeps being rebooted, so everything is pointless: no development can feel meaningful. Show of hands: who would be particularly surprised if the next Terminator movie was once again about John Connor leading the Resistance in another alternate continuity? No one? Thought so.
Also, the new villain being so talkative was possibly the single stupidest idea in the whole project. You know why Arnold in T1 and Robert Patrick in T2 were so terrifying? Because they shut up! They said very little and, the few times they spoke, it always felt like something they did out of pure necessity (probing for informations, setting up a trap) but was fundamentally alien to their nature.
This Rev-9 tries to talk its antagonists out of fighting him! Can anyone picture the T-1000 reasoning with its targets? The great Robert Patrick studied and imitated the body language of birds of prey to look creepier and inhuman, and the new bad guy wants to chat. Give me a break.
5/10
In its core its a rehash of everything we have seen before only worse. As many said before some characters are almost a parody of their former selfs. The writers wanted to mess with the viewers expectations. So they also included a couple of surprises that no one asked for. They even succeeded in gender swapping a key character which happens a lot in movies theses days. And of course lots of stupid jokes. The action seems to be all CGI so nothing really exiting happening. I hope they won't do another one. Its depressing to see a franchise getting destroyed this way.
- Mynameisroman
- Aug 30, 2021
- Permalink
Arnie saves this,
Seen it a few times, skip till when Arnie comes in the movie. He has a great subtle wit about him. This kind of humour would be great to see him do more of.
- petercoleman555
- Aug 12, 2020
- Permalink
If you are a fan of the first 2 Terminator movies , a fan of the characters Sara Conner , John Conner , and Arnold's first Terminator then don't waste your time and money on this piece of crap. This movie undoes and destroys the original Terminator movie characters with time twisting and ludicrous story gymnastics that obliterates the entire original Terminator that's all idiotic crap writing. I would never had imagined that a movie sequel could be this bad but it is. Listen to a spoiler review first , I wish I had, and you will be shocked as to how bad this movie is written .
- harosyn-10350
- Nov 1, 2019
- Permalink
Doing the same thing expecting different results .
What is the point? This PC bs is to contrived and forced
Takes away from the film going experience !
Besides what is different ? It is same story we've seen in the first 2.
- alienlegend
- Feb 23, 2023
- Permalink
The Terminator franchise is a defining one in the genres of sci-fi, action and horror. While the imagery and the catchphrases have become ingrained in popular culture, the film series has struggled to recapture the glory of the first two entries. The underrated spinoff television series was sadly short-lived. James Cameron, who directed the first two films and helmed the theme park attraction but has had no direct involvement in the series since then, returns as a producer for this sixth film.
Terminator: Dark Fate learns from the failure of the previous entries. The most recent Terminator film before this, Terminator: Genisys, was a jumbled mess of multiple timelines and attempted to remix beloved elements of the series, alienating fans in the process. Dark Fate benefits from more of a back-to-basics approach, presenting a straightforward story without relying too much on exposition. It functions as a direct sequel to Judgement Day, with all the other films taking place in alternate timelines. This is not dissimilar to 2018's Halloween, which was a direct sequel to the 1978 movie and ignored the many sequels that were made in the intervening years.
The film's biggest asset is Linda Hamilton, who has not appeared in any of the films since Judgement Day. This is much more than the glorified cameo which we could've gotten, with the Sarah Connor character front and centre. Hamilton took some convincing to come back on board, and the film really wouldn't have worked if she had said no. Hamilton easily conveys the no-nonsense toughness fans of the series know and love, but also delivers a genuinely good performance beyond that. The R-rating means that she gets to swear a whole lot, and she's amazing at it. There are several moments when just a look from Hamilton tells us so much. This is a character who has been through the wringer and would like the world to think she can just shrug it off, but there is a lot of sadness and pain that she's internalised - when those shards are visible, that's when Hamilton's immense contribution to the movie really registers.
Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in more of a supporting capacity, but completely steals the show when he's onscreen. The film wisely makes use of Schwarzenegger's comedic talents while also preserving the formidable physical power associated with the T-800 character.
One scene in the film showcases the most convincing digital de-aging/face replacement effects I've ever seen.
The film clearly aspires to the heights of Judgement Day, so it is noticeable when it falls short of those heights. There are moments when the film is almost emotional, and while there are some moving beats, there is nothing nearly as sublime as "I know now why you cry, but it's something that I could never do." While the stronger connection to the first two films anchors Dark Fate in the tone and mythos of the earlier movies, it also prevents the movie from being too innovative on its own terms. Also, much of the events in Judgement Day seem to have been rendered moot - not quite to the level of "Ripley finds Newt and Hicks dead at the beginning of Alien 3," but it does approach that.
While some action sequences are brilliantly executed, others feel just a touch too synthetic. The visual effects are leaps and bounds over the somewhat unpolished work seen in Genisys, but there are still moments when one thing made of CGI is being thrown into another thing also made of CGI. Out of necessity, the earlier films made ingenious use of practical animatronic effects and miniature models. Director Tim Miller of Deadpool fame is a co-founder of Blur Studio, best known for making animated cutscenes and cinematics for video games. The action sequences in Dark Fate can sometimes come off as a little too video game-esque, but Miller does often demonstrate a keen awareness of how to place elements in space to create action sequences.
The Dani character is sympathetic and Natalia Reyes gives the role her all, but she can sometimes come off as a little whiny and is not written that well.
Another way that the film echoes Judgement Day is in its villain, the shape-shifting Rev-9. Like Robert Patrick, Gabriel Luna is less conspicuous in a crowd than Arnold Schwarzenegger, meaning the Rev-9 is more convincing as an infiltration unit. It also has a neat gimmick of being able to separate itself into liquid metal outer shell and endoskeleton, allowing it to perform tag-team attacks. Rev-9 is perhaps a touch too indestructible, such that the action sequences become a little repetitive.
Mackenzie Davis' Grace is a great addition to the canon. This reviewer enjoys seeing actors whom one wouldn't typically associate with action movies take on action-heavy roles. Davis underwent a complete physical transformation to play the muscular, angular Grace. There is a tragedy to the character, who has sacrificed her physical autonomy for the cause, so she is always sympathetic.
Terminator: Dark Fate is in a way commenting on the history of the series. There is so much that's memorable about the first two Terminator films that it's hard to resist the temptation to make constant references to them. Yes, Sarah Connor does say "I'll be back", but Dark Fate demonstrates restraint and refuses to lean on the series' storied past as a crutch.
Terminator: Dark Fate is not a film that strictly needs to exist, but by building a strong connection to the second film and by getting Linda Hamilton back in a starring role, it satisfyingly echoes the franchise at its best.
Terminator: Dark Fate learns from the failure of the previous entries. The most recent Terminator film before this, Terminator: Genisys, was a jumbled mess of multiple timelines and attempted to remix beloved elements of the series, alienating fans in the process. Dark Fate benefits from more of a back-to-basics approach, presenting a straightforward story without relying too much on exposition. It functions as a direct sequel to Judgement Day, with all the other films taking place in alternate timelines. This is not dissimilar to 2018's Halloween, which was a direct sequel to the 1978 movie and ignored the many sequels that were made in the intervening years.
The film's biggest asset is Linda Hamilton, who has not appeared in any of the films since Judgement Day. This is much more than the glorified cameo which we could've gotten, with the Sarah Connor character front and centre. Hamilton took some convincing to come back on board, and the film really wouldn't have worked if she had said no. Hamilton easily conveys the no-nonsense toughness fans of the series know and love, but also delivers a genuinely good performance beyond that. The R-rating means that she gets to swear a whole lot, and she's amazing at it. There are several moments when just a look from Hamilton tells us so much. This is a character who has been through the wringer and would like the world to think she can just shrug it off, but there is a lot of sadness and pain that she's internalised - when those shards are visible, that's when Hamilton's immense contribution to the movie really registers.
Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in more of a supporting capacity, but completely steals the show when he's onscreen. The film wisely makes use of Schwarzenegger's comedic talents while also preserving the formidable physical power associated with the T-800 character.
One scene in the film showcases the most convincing digital de-aging/face replacement effects I've ever seen.
The film clearly aspires to the heights of Judgement Day, so it is noticeable when it falls short of those heights. There are moments when the film is almost emotional, and while there are some moving beats, there is nothing nearly as sublime as "I know now why you cry, but it's something that I could never do." While the stronger connection to the first two films anchors Dark Fate in the tone and mythos of the earlier movies, it also prevents the movie from being too innovative on its own terms. Also, much of the events in Judgement Day seem to have been rendered moot - not quite to the level of "Ripley finds Newt and Hicks dead at the beginning of Alien 3," but it does approach that.
While some action sequences are brilliantly executed, others feel just a touch too synthetic. The visual effects are leaps and bounds over the somewhat unpolished work seen in Genisys, but there are still moments when one thing made of CGI is being thrown into another thing also made of CGI. Out of necessity, the earlier films made ingenious use of practical animatronic effects and miniature models. Director Tim Miller of Deadpool fame is a co-founder of Blur Studio, best known for making animated cutscenes and cinematics for video games. The action sequences in Dark Fate can sometimes come off as a little too video game-esque, but Miller does often demonstrate a keen awareness of how to place elements in space to create action sequences.
The Dani character is sympathetic and Natalia Reyes gives the role her all, but she can sometimes come off as a little whiny and is not written that well.
Another way that the film echoes Judgement Day is in its villain, the shape-shifting Rev-9. Like Robert Patrick, Gabriel Luna is less conspicuous in a crowd than Arnold Schwarzenegger, meaning the Rev-9 is more convincing as an infiltration unit. It also has a neat gimmick of being able to separate itself into liquid metal outer shell and endoskeleton, allowing it to perform tag-team attacks. Rev-9 is perhaps a touch too indestructible, such that the action sequences become a little repetitive.
Mackenzie Davis' Grace is a great addition to the canon. This reviewer enjoys seeing actors whom one wouldn't typically associate with action movies take on action-heavy roles. Davis underwent a complete physical transformation to play the muscular, angular Grace. There is a tragedy to the character, who has sacrificed her physical autonomy for the cause, so she is always sympathetic.
Terminator: Dark Fate is in a way commenting on the history of the series. There is so much that's memorable about the first two Terminator films that it's hard to resist the temptation to make constant references to them. Yes, Sarah Connor does say "I'll be back", but Dark Fate demonstrates restraint and refuses to lean on the series' storied past as a crutch.
Terminator: Dark Fate is not a film that strictly needs to exist, but by building a strong connection to the second film and by getting Linda Hamilton back in a starring role, it satisfyingly echoes the franchise at its best.
I really enjoyed this movie. I thought the story could have been better, but I thought the acting, action sequences and humor made up for it. This movie isn't perfect but it's a fun movie to go watch that has some heart to it. I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to have a good time.
- panthersfreak
- Nov 1, 2019
- Permalink
- BA_Harrison
- Oct 22, 2019
- Permalink
A truly dark fate for the Terminator franchise.
Too bad, because the film could have been good but the script is disastrous. The T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has been turned into a ridiculous parody, and after all the whole film seems like a parody of previous films.
The dialogues are comical, the characters are hilarious, and the film is tedious and boring. Another franchise that the writers managed to destroy.
The writers simply could not restrain themselves and managed to destroy this film. The movie had great potential, but in the end it turned out to be a total failure.
The villain just talks too much and most of the characters are irritating. Not even an R rating can save this disaster.
The so-called entertainment industry has almost nothing to do with entertainment anymore.
Truly disappointing, this is the reality of today's film production, the good special effects and the catastrophically bad script. Watching this movie turned out to be a total waste of time.
It's really sad to see what the Terminator franchise has become.
Too bad, because the film could have been good but the script is disastrous. The T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has been turned into a ridiculous parody, and after all the whole film seems like a parody of previous films.
The dialogues are comical, the characters are hilarious, and the film is tedious and boring. Another franchise that the writers managed to destroy.
The writers simply could not restrain themselves and managed to destroy this film. The movie had great potential, but in the end it turned out to be a total failure.
The villain just talks too much and most of the characters are irritating. Not even an R rating can save this disaster.
The so-called entertainment industry has almost nothing to do with entertainment anymore.
Truly disappointing, this is the reality of today's film production, the good special effects and the catastrophically bad script. Watching this movie turned out to be a total waste of time.
It's really sad to see what the Terminator franchise has become.
I've reappraised this. The action is quite good. Arnie is excellent. The problem is the female characters - I don't mind whether they live or die as, with the exception of the younger one they're trying to save, the other two are dreadfully badly written. They've removed any female characteristics and made them them into rather unpleasant men. What's the point - they might as well have had conventional male characters. Where the Alien and earlier Terminator franchises worked was that there was a hint of vulnerability and you willed them on.
The Mexican/immigrant piece is a bit obvious and tedious too.
The Mexican/immigrant piece is a bit obvious and tedious too.
The action scenes are the best I've watched, the CGI and deaging of the actors because of the end of the second installment (28 years ago) is amazing. All effects in general are very good. Good direction. The performances seeems VERY GOOD. Still it seems saturated with the action, too much and lacks taste. The film also starts well and then falls into a hole and has a hard time getting out, SSSLOWWW and when Arnie comes, it gets up; i don't feel good tempo; slow by pieces and a lot of action on others, that is, I don't think it has a good editing. Is it bad? NOT AT ALL, but it didn't convince me. Worthy sequel to the first 2. Many will hate it for what they did with a certain character.
As a huge Terminator fan, I am rather fine than dissatisfied with Dark Fate.
Reviews are full of hatred and devastation... Apparently, I wasn't expecting a legendary T-movie as if we were talking about T-1 and T-2. You can't touch them and you shouldn't. Though Dark Fate puts its events after T-2, it can't be matched with the other two Big T-s.
Yes, there are plenty of clichés in the plot and all of them are painfully boring. Sure, there are some gaps and theory-craft moments, but still. Maybe it's just me... Yet, I was expecting worse. Much, much worse.
In fact, Dark Fate is more like Action + Terminator, rather than Terminator + Action. All in all, the movie is fine. If you are a big T-fan, just give it a go. I'm sure, you are gonna be AT LEAST okay with it.
Reviews are full of hatred and devastation... Apparently, I wasn't expecting a legendary T-movie as if we were talking about T-1 and T-2. You can't touch them and you shouldn't. Though Dark Fate puts its events after T-2, it can't be matched with the other two Big T-s.
Yes, there are plenty of clichés in the plot and all of them are painfully boring. Sure, there are some gaps and theory-craft moments, but still. Maybe it's just me... Yet, I was expecting worse. Much, much worse.
In fact, Dark Fate is more like Action + Terminator, rather than Terminator + Action. All in all, the movie is fine. If you are a big T-fan, just give it a go. I'm sure, you are gonna be AT LEAST okay with it.
- aninspiration
- Oct 30, 2019
- Permalink
What is Terminator: Dark Fate made of?
- bad cgi: because it makes more sense to use expensive fake looking cgi than actual practical effects that might be ..cheaper? But practical effects require actual thinking and planning.
- bad plot: because it's copied from the best movies from the series (1 & 2) and then gender swapped and twisted to complete mess
- bad acting: exception being the one and only real Sarah Connor
- bad action: looks fake, tries to copy from the other movies in the series and fails
- bad reviews: the only reviews this movie deserves
- bad box office results: the audience has spoken.
- Movies4lyfexx
- Nov 20, 2023
- Permalink
- liz_mclovin
- May 7, 2023
- Permalink
Greetings from Lithuania.
"Terminator: Dark Fate" (2019) surprised me of how well it was made and that actually really enjoyed it. Why surprise? Well because of negative responds from critic and most of regular people. But to me surprise, after seeing it i can only say once thing - "Dark Faith" is like a masterpiece comparing it to "Genesys" and 3rd part. First two of course will ever be on the top, as one of my favorite films ever. And i am in majority when it comes to "Salvation", which i highly enjoyed. So now comes "Dark Faith" and to my surprise as i said it - i really liked it. Maybe the plot revelation at very beginning is a very "take it or leave", but i went with it and i highly enjoyed the ride.
Overall, "Terminator: Dark Fate" is an excellent "Terminator" movie. Its superbly paced (i wasn't bored for a second during its 2 hours run time). Acting by all of them was great, and Linda was superb. Directing was great as well as involving story. This is a really good action / Terminator movie that does not reinvent the wheel, but its a very entertaining film.
"Terminator: Dark Fate" (2019) surprised me of how well it was made and that actually really enjoyed it. Why surprise? Well because of negative responds from critic and most of regular people. But to me surprise, after seeing it i can only say once thing - "Dark Faith" is like a masterpiece comparing it to "Genesys" and 3rd part. First two of course will ever be on the top, as one of my favorite films ever. And i am in majority when it comes to "Salvation", which i highly enjoyed. So now comes "Dark Faith" and to my surprise as i said it - i really liked it. Maybe the plot revelation at very beginning is a very "take it or leave", but i went with it and i highly enjoyed the ride.
Overall, "Terminator: Dark Fate" is an excellent "Terminator" movie. Its superbly paced (i wasn't bored for a second during its 2 hours run time). Acting by all of them was great, and Linda was superb. Directing was great as well as involving story. This is a really good action / Terminator movie that does not reinvent the wheel, but its a very entertaining film.
This film was garbage. I walked out. Hollow plot, hollow dialogue, therefore hollow acting. One of the worst films ive seen. Utter garbage.
- jonathanwebb-12-335619
- Oct 22, 2019
- Permalink
Though I am a great fan of the Terminator franchise, I was very reluctant to see this movie for a while because of the fifth instalment. After a great start to the franchise The Terminator:T1 and T2: Judgement day, T3: raise of the machines turned into a dud followed by a somewhat promising T4: Salvation. T5: Genesis turned out to be a pathetic affair. So I had very low expectations when I started this sixth instalment, Terminator: Dark Fate aka T6.
In about 30 minutes into the movie I found Terminator: Dark Fate extremely gripping and I N T E N S E with lots of surprises springing up regularly. T6 luckily cut the mistakes that T3, T4 and T5 did, that is cutting up the over complicated Cyber Dyne, Skynet, Resistance, HK Hunter killer, T800, T1000, Judgement day, Kyle Reese Mumbo Jumbo etc. This I believe has made Terminator: Dark Fate a very interesting and a pure action cinema to even new viewers. The movie is loaded with very "Cool" action sequences and springs a host of surprises, about every 20 minutes.
Linda Hamilton's return to the franchise along with newcomers McKenzie Davis and Natalia Rayes adds up tremendous on screen boost to take on the new Terminator Rev9, which is a credible and refreshing upgrade. Awesome screenplay keeps T6 very refreshing and intense for almost throughout the movie. Excellent stunts & cinematography lights up things on screen. Excellent VFX and production design needs a special mention, So does the spectacular Background Score. The movie never lags in any way. In the end all the credit & appreciation should go to the director Tim Miller for T6.
If over the years, one has seen the movies from Terminator franchise, Terminator: Dark Fate is an unmissable movie. I am sure Terminator fans the world over will surely enjoy this one. I thought after T5, the franchise was dead but "It is Back". A must watch for all action fans around the world and not just T fans.....
In about 30 minutes into the movie I found Terminator: Dark Fate extremely gripping and I N T E N S E with lots of surprises springing up regularly. T6 luckily cut the mistakes that T3, T4 and T5 did, that is cutting up the over complicated Cyber Dyne, Skynet, Resistance, HK Hunter killer, T800, T1000, Judgement day, Kyle Reese Mumbo Jumbo etc. This I believe has made Terminator: Dark Fate a very interesting and a pure action cinema to even new viewers. The movie is loaded with very "Cool" action sequences and springs a host of surprises, about every 20 minutes.
Linda Hamilton's return to the franchise along with newcomers McKenzie Davis and Natalia Rayes adds up tremendous on screen boost to take on the new Terminator Rev9, which is a credible and refreshing upgrade. Awesome screenplay keeps T6 very refreshing and intense for almost throughout the movie. Excellent stunts & cinematography lights up things on screen. Excellent VFX and production design needs a special mention, So does the spectacular Background Score. The movie never lags in any way. In the end all the credit & appreciation should go to the director Tim Miller for T6.
If over the years, one has seen the movies from Terminator franchise, Terminator: Dark Fate is an unmissable movie. I am sure Terminator fans the world over will surely enjoy this one. I thought after T5, the franchise was dead but "It is Back". A must watch for all action fans around the world and not just T fans.....
- madhukar30
- Aug 21, 2020
- Permalink
This movie erred in killing off John Connor, not because it was a very bad story choice, but because for many, he was who they wanted to see save the day. I mean, I can't understand the point in that bait and switch myself. Also, bringing in two very non-memorable female characters completely turned off most of the fan base. I honestly had no idea why they were there besides the new terminator needing another target. I personally ignored them for the most part. That said, I loved the movie, but only because I got to see Linda Hamilton reprise my favorite hero Sarah Connor and listening to Arnold as the old terminator joke about drapes was just golden lol ! Too bad the writer forgot who the fan base was. The movie could have been amazing.
This film was always going to be a tough ask with regard to making everyone happy. I can say, that I was pleasantly surprised and came out of the cinema feeling satisfied!
Don't take it so seriously and enjoy it for what it is.
Gave it a 10 to boost the numbers, because this one certainly beats other sequels after T2. Third best in my opinion. Not perfect (the Mexican girl could've been given more depth, to name something) but no other sequel was perfect either. Cheesy, corny, yeah, but so were the others. The acting was good, there was some nostalgia (Linda and Arnie back in) and a lot of action reminiscent of T1 and T2. I was surprised at all the hate reviews. Then I took a good look at what people were saying and I realized it's mostly the fact that 3 women have the lead. A lot of these hate reviews here are shockingly misogynistic and old fashioned. Grow up, boys.