By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Rent for $2.99 or Buy for $9.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video

Get ready for some one-liners, over-the-top violence, and some ridiculously good special effects because the “Terminator” franchise is back with their sixth film, “Dark Fate”. Forget the two previous installments, or even the original trio, Tim Miller’s take is a completely new game, and it’s also back to the R rating the series was made for. Linda Hamilton is bad-ass as ever, and the new Terminator is just as wonderfully familiar as fans were hoping for. Don’t worry, the film is entertaining and fast-paced enough to overcome the franchise fatigue, and the rehashed plotting. Maybe the series should end, it’s been going on since 1984, but “Dark Fate” makes moviegoers desire to see the story go on.

After Sarah Connor (Hamilton) saved three billion lives from the so-called Judgement Day, the world has survived. However, the film focuses more on its new main character, Daniella (Natalia Reyes), who after finding that an advanced “liquid” Terminator (whatever that means) has been sent from the future to kill her. To combat the threat, enhanced human Grace (a stunning McKenize Davis) was sent to protect her from the same time period. While on the run, Grace and Daniella run into the face of nostalgia, the definition of a tough grandma, Sarah Conner. Conner finds that similar to her, Daniella will be the mother of the child that saves the world. That’s when it becomes prophecy time.

How does something so familiar become so damn fun the sixth time around. Right when the film starts to wear out its welcome, right when the movie starts to become chase, banter, chase, Arnold comes to save the day. Schwarzennegger returns as the iconic T-800, and that’s when things start to pick up. He’s dubbed himself Carl, and is a professional in Draperies. The James Cameron-invented machine has also got himself a cliched family, a dog, wife and a single child, and a massive stash of guns. “It’s Texas”, he argues. From there, Arnold gets audiences through the affair, and surprisingly, but surely, it works effectively.

Tim Miller, director of “Deadpool”, has all the right tools to make a successful “Terminator” film, and he uses them well enough. While not taking full advantage of the MPAA rating, Miller expertly directs action sequences full of excellent visual effects spectacle. There’s a sufficient amount of gory fun, and he plays around well with the talented cast. There’s not much to say about the storytelling, but honestly, that isn’t necessarily crucial for a film such as this. Also, it’s great to see the series back in action, especially after the fourth and fifth films completely failed. Yes, “Salvation” and “Genisys” both were expensive slogs. Who knows, “Dark Fate” could be a new beginning for the franchise, just don’t screw up the potential.

The final opinion is: While the plot is rehashed as always, “Terminator: Dark Fate” is a dazzling, over-the-top and welcome installment that features some notable performances…$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 29M

Domestic Total: 62.2M

Worldwide Total: 261.1M