"Terminator: Dark Fate" - watch only in a fit of nostalgia

On October 31, the famous Terminator franchise returned to the screens again. Once upon a time, James Cameron conquered the whole world with the first two parts. And then every few years, other directors tried to talk again about the confrontation between people and machines, the cancellation of the Doomsday and time loops.

Each time it turned out worse and more comical. But now, it would seem, the situation could improve. James Cameron personally refined the script, and "Dark Fates" was directed by "Deadpool" creator Tim Miller.

They decided to associate the picture only with the original dilogy, canceling the plot of all sequels, and show the "real" development of the franchise. As a result, the new film was announced in advance the best after the film "Terminator-2: Judgment Day". But in fact, this is exactly the same nostalgic movie that parasitizes on the ideas of the first two parts, without offering anything original. Unless it makes it prettier and more dynamic.

Once again a familiar plot

After the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Sarah Connor was able to reverse the 1997 Machine Rebellion. But in the more distant future, tragic events occur again, and another terminator (Gabriel Luna) is sent to the past.

Now he must destroy the girl Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes) from Mexico, who will influence the formation of human resistance. And a certain Grace (Mackenzie Davis) will protect her. She is an "improved" person with the strength and endurance of machines.

But the terminator, as usual, is much stronger and practically invulnerable. Therefore, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) comes to the aid of the girls.

Already from the description, one can understand that the story is very much similar to all the previous parts, except perhaps the fourth, where the plot unfolds in the post-apocalyptic future. Again, an important person who must be destroyed. Again, an invincible machine is on the side of evil, and good is protected by weaker, but witty and selfless heroes.

Miller and Cameron deviate from the classic plot only in certain details, trying to adjust events to current trends. It is no coincidence that the action develops in Mexico, and the main character at the very beginning faces problems at work: her brother is fired, replaced by a car.

There is a hint of the real proximity of the day when living workers will be unnecessary in many branches of life. In the future, the uprising of machines occurs in a more believable way, and people do not unite at once - at first they kill each other for the sake of survival.

And, of course, the central role in the whole story is assigned exclusively to women. Although at first it seems quite acceptable: Linda Hamilton already from the second part looked like the embodiment of the mother-fighter. In the third, a female terminator appeared. Why not make the girl the main protector now. But one of the final twists and turns twists this theme to an unnatural pathos, which is already superfluous.

The number of script clichés is off the charts at times. If in “Doomsday” most of them were logically explained, here the heroes are saved every time thanks to the intervention of almost higher powers. As soon as they need to escape, there is a helicopter at their side, it took a superweapon - there is a friendly military here. And for the destruction of the new terminator, of course, there is also a secret means, which they do not immediately learn about.

Twists like these seem like unconvincing crutches for a lame plot. If in the first two parts the evolution of Sarah Connor from a timid waitress to a warrior lasted for years, then Dani Ramos goes the same way in just a couple of days. Simply because the authors want to quickly show as many analogies with the classics as possible.

Nostalgia for the maximum

In fact, "Dark Fate" rests solely on the already mentioned references to old films with minor amendments. In addition to repetition of the plot, most of the images coincide. The new terminator received even more cool abilities: it not only turns into liquid metal and changes shape, but is also able to separate from the rigid skeleton. Yet the pointed limbs strongly resemble the Doomsday robot. And Grace is a clear analogue of Sarah from the second part, only, again, with renewed vigor.

Many scenes even coincide: an attempt to crush the terminator with a press, a chase on the freeway, an interrogation in the police, where everyone thinks that the heroine is delusional. All this was done so that fans of the classics nodded with a smile. Only more skeptical viewers will simply get bored.

Well, it will not do without the return of the classic T-800 performed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Only in the fourth part of the franchise they decided to withdraw from his participation, and the film failed. True, the appearance of the hero will have to wait for a long time. He is assigned a much smaller role here than in Genesis.

And his story, and even the off-screen comments of James Cameron Explains Why Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator Aged In Dark Fate Cameron about the changes in the appearance and character of the robot are too reminiscent of the fifth film. And the relationship with the new family does not receive logical explanations at all. And this despite the fact that even the heroes of the film themselves pay attention to inconsistencies.

But there are pluses: Iron Arnie has ceased to be a comedic element of the story. He's tough again, and the fights with him look really impressive. In general, the atmosphere of a cool, albeit a little outdated action movie is the best thing in the film. There are a couple of problems, though.

Drive and action with kinks

Back in his directorial debut, Deadpool, Tim Miller proved that he can shoot fights and gunfights in an exciting way. And the new Terminator confirms his talent. There is more action here than in all previous parts.

At the first collision of the heroes with the robot, they bent over with mounting glues, but still showed good dynamics. The chase scene looks very cool, and the final fight turned out to be really exciting. Due to the new abilities of the villain, you have to use various weapons against him, and the abundance of characters allows you to periodically shift your attention from one hero to another.

But in the interval, the audience will have to endure some rather difficult battles for perception. The thing is that the authors sometimes flirt too much with special effects. During a fight in an airplane, the atmosphere of a fall is added to the constantly switching camera, and therefore it is easy to get confused in the position of the heroes in space and their actions.

And after that there will be another scene under water, where one computer character will collide with another, and all this against the background of graphics. Despite the fact that the authors try to hide all the flaws in the dark, the feeling of realism in such moments is lost, which greatly affects the ability to emotionally perceive the story. But, as mentioned above, the final fight saves, although it ends quite predictably.

Strictly speaking, the first Western critics did not lie. Terminator: Dark Fate is the best film in the franchise after the classic duogue. But only because the third and fifth parts were frankly bad, and the fourth was simply unnecessary.

The picture captivates with good shooting, and the characters turned out to be bright. But those who expect at least something new from the tape will remain disappointed. This is pure nostalgia for everyone who watched the first parts in the 90s and wants to see a familiar story once again. Apparently, the authors decided that since this approach works for Star Wars, why shouldn't the Terminator exist in eternal repetition. Until the audience gets bored, of course.