I realize a lot of people don't like Terminator Genisys (2015 movie), and that of course art is subjective, but I also think there's an extreme amount of hyperbole in the negative reception this film has received. I see it called the worst film of the year and one of the worst action movies of all time, I see it called the film that ruined the franchise, but even if people don't like the movie I feel there's no good argument to back up such extreme claims
The film's technical level is top-notch in terms of effects work, lighting, etc; Arnold is his usual Terminatoring awesome self and this performance isn't remotely different or worse than he's done in the series before; the action sequences are at the very least average and perfectly workable, including particularly good editing through the big set pieces; the story is based on the first two films combined and then flipped on their heads a bit with a few unexpected twists that I cannot fathom any fan remotely failed to enjoy as a "hell yeah!" moment (for example: the scene in the trailers of an older Arnold Terminator fighting the original Arnold Terminator from the first film); and the acting by Arnold, JK Simmons, Emilia Clarke, and Jason Clarke is at the very least perfectly serviceable and acceptable (I happen to think it's in fact really good, and that Arnold and Emilia Clarke are particularly great).
Whatever flaws and complaints exist -- and there are definitely some, don't get me wrong -- it's simply not enough to claim this is some sort of awful trainwreck of a film lacking in any entertainment value. It's the extreme exaggerations so common these days of film reviews and of online film reviews in particular that I'm saying make no sense and don't give an accurate impression of the film.
My own reaction is that this movie took bold risks in revisiting the first two movies and simultaneously playing homage to them while also subverting them and their assumptions to wipe the slate clean and reboot the franchise with a brand new timeline and direction.
They provide us with something fans of the series have wanted for a long time -- a full look at the events leading up to the fall of Skynet, with a big portrayal of the future war complete with lasers and all the things from the original James Cameron movies, plus the whole "finding the time machine and sending Kyle Reese back" plot elements. This movie ignores the third and fourth films, basically, and is a direct sequel to the first two films. It uses as its official "history" the events as described in the first Terminator film, and then goes crazy with it.
We get a great new version of Sarah Connor, and a very cool twist on her relationship with the Arnold Terminator, which in turn gives us a fascinating new spin on the Terminator's own arc and thinking. This relationship and how it fundamentally alters things, and the choice to leave some mystery to it for the later sequels to explore and solve, was a very good decision. One of many such smart choices, in fact, that set this film apart from the rest of the series and demonstrate the filmmakers had a real commitment to taking something that's been around for decades and giving audiences a fresh, completely unique and original approach still grounded in the foundations of the series. That's not easy to do, and while it has a few stumbles, the fact that it mostly works -- and works so well -- is impressive.
I wrote a long analysis of the film, including of its flaws, at Forbes, and you can read that full review here:
Review: 'Terminator: Genisys' Is True Heir To Cameron's Films
I gave it four stars here, but really I'd probably give it 3.5 or 3.7 stars if I could adjust the ranking to be more specific. However, I'd rather round up than down, because the sheer entertainment value of the film, and of seeing a Terminator sequel that is so thematically and stylistically an heir to the Cameron movies, makes it deserve the extra boost in the ranking.
My guess is that fans who were disappointed in the last two films will appreciate this one a lot more. The first hour is pretty great throughout, with the only minor quibble being that Jai Courtney is really not the right casting choice to play Kyle Reese. But I'll let you read my full review to see why that's true, and then all the reasons it ultimately doesn't sink the film.
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