Genisys

[thesalmonofdoubt]

Ok - so took the kids to see this yesterday to fill in an cold winter night and empty the wallet.

The movie seems to be getting hammered by the critics and audience alike - I deliberately didn't read anything about it and didn't go on the IMDB page just so I could go into the movie untainted and register my own reaction. And, overall, I really enjoyed it.

It's a Terminator movie and so, should be judged on the strength of whatever expectorations a movie that has Arnold in a lead role should generate. And, to me, it was a good sequel to the 2nd terminator movie with a nod to the third while completely deleting "Salvation" .. which is as it should be, Salvation was awful.

It was a retcon, and cleverly so, maybe a little too clever given the plot/time line was ridiculously complicated and left (what feels like) some deliberate plot holes to be filled in on further instalments.

Jai Courtney was ok, better than Sam Worthington at pretty much anything (I have no idea why that man still finds work) . but I honestly don't think he has the screen charisma to pull off this big of a role. Not terrible or anything. We have Daneries from GOT as Sarah Conner, who was surprisingly good, Dr Who played John Conner and was fine, not a particularly challenging role.

So, Story was good especially by way of cleaning up all the sequels and TV series, bit over complicated and unexplained but fine. Movie starts off brilliant with an almost shot for shot homage to T1 .. action ensues quickly and is paced out nicely thru the entire movie. Story gets bogged down towards the middle then gives way over to an expected boss fight at the end. Last scene was about the most disappointing but not bad enuff to detract from an enjoyable romp.

Better than Jurassic world, not as ground breaking as T1, probably on par with T2, way better than T3 and miles ahead of Salvation.

Solid 7.5/10

[BruceSmith78]

I tend to boycott PG-13 movies that should be rated R, which is what this is. I might watch it when it's on TV, but really don't care if I never see it. My biggest incentive right now to watch this is Emilia Clarke is fucking hot.

[thesalmonofdoubt]

A great deal of the flak this movie is receiving seems to be along the same lines - that its too toned down than what it should be to get the PG-13 rating.

For me, I really don't care, just as happy with an action movie being full of big effects and explosions than I am seeing anything that would push it into an M rating .. and given I was taking my 12 year old, I'd actually rather it spend on the spectacle than gore or language.
Having said that, It didn't feel any different than any of the other instalments, and I have no idea what they are rated.

[BruceSmith78]

The first two Terminators are rated R. I think the third is rated R, but I never saw it cuz it looked kinda lame. The next one or two were rated bullshit, and I never saw them either.

[thesalmonofdoubt]

Ok - guess that makes sense. The difference in content wasn't all that noticeable to me. I guess there were a few things in the second one that would have pushed it into an R rating (like the finger spear thing going thru the head of the security guard etc) .. can't think of anything in the first one that would make it an R rating today. Plenty of people were shot in Genisys and I don't remember anymore on screen gore in T1 than this altho I could be forgetting certain bits given I haven't seen it in like 20 years.

So, guess what I am saying is that despite its pg-13 rating, it doesn't feel any different from the previous instalments.

And you were correct to avoid Salvation.

[Derived Absurdity]

Sorry, nothing anyone can say will be able to convince me this movie isn't a giant bag of shit.

[thesalmonofdoubt]

I would never try

[Derived Absurdity]

Good call.

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

Sam Worthington still finds work? I hadn't heard anything from him since the dreadful "X of the Titans" remake/reboot franchise.

[CashRules]

I just can't see Emilia Clarke pulling off a role like Sarah Connor, but I'll eventually watch it just to see. In fact, I can't see her doing much of anything that actually requires talent. Also, what's this about Doctor Who playing John Connor? The cast list has Matt Smith playing a character named Alex. Is this some big reveal during the movie?

[sikax]

I just can't see Emilia Clarke pulling off a role like Sarah Connor

She can pull off whatever she wants. Mmm mmm

[Ptolemy_Banana]

Saw this on Sunday and I didn't hate it. It's really not very good and there where a couple of times where I was genuinely annoyed at the stupidity that was onscreen. There's a moment where Kyle Reese says that thinking about time-travel makes your head hurt and I think he was voicing the actual thoughts of the screenwriters there who clearly don't have a grasp on the idea. Characters reacting in horror to events from the future? Which they can therefore actually prevent?

The best part of the movie was Arnie, and the film would have been improved by having more of a focus on his character. I realise how odd that sounds. Emilia Clarke, well she's no Linda Hamilton. She didn't bother me, but I think a lot of that may have to do with her being really, really, really good looking. Jai Courtney, on the other hand...he was fucking abysmal. When I think of the dangerous, resourceful, badass post-apocalyptic soldier Michael Biehn played and compare him to this...doofus, I just shake my head.

[Ptolemy_Banana]

Sam Worthington still finds work? I hadn't heard anything from him since the dreadful "X of the Titans" remake/reboot franchise.

He's got three Avatar sequels in the works. They're kind of a big deal. On the other hand, he's also starring in the film adaptation of The Shack.

[Ptolemy_Banana]

Also, what's this about Doctor Who playing John Connor? The cast list has Matt Smith playing a character named Alex. Is this some big reveal during the movie?

Was he rumoured to be playing John Connor? Jason Clarke was revealed as John Connor in the second trailer. Smith has a fairly small but fairly significant role.

[CashRules]

Salmon's post says Dr. Who played John Connor.

[Blade Azaezel]

Good god, imagine how insufferable steve will be on the Pit when the next Avatar movie comes out

[thesalmonofdoubt]

Salmon's post says Dr. Who played John Connor.

Yeah - I misspoke .. Jason Clarke plays John Connor, I haven't watched Dr Who since I was a kid and just thought he was the chap that did one of the newer Dr's. .. Looking thru his filmography, I have no idea where I got that from so, disregard that statement.

There's a moment where Kyle Reese says that thinking about time-travel makes your head hurt and I think he was voicing the actual thoughts of the screenwriters there who clearly don't have a grasp on the idea. Characters reacting in horror to events from the future? Which they can therefore actually prevent?

Everything to do with the time line jumping in Genisys was muddled, I had plans on sitting down after the movie to see if any of it made any real sense and it was all just cos it was so convoluted that it came off nonsensical while watching the movie, but I didn't. So, from an initial watch, the time jump thing was a hot mess.

She didn't bother me, but I think a lot of that may have to do with her being really, really, really good looking

Prolly a little bit of that .. but also because she seemed to fit the role fine. It's not a role that would have challenged any real actors chops but it was the role she was cast in and she did a fine enuff job of pulling it off.

The best part of the movie was Arnie, and the film would have been improved by having more of a focus on his character.

I'd agree with this.. and I suspect the sequel will focus more on the Guardian story line. Second to this, the opening scene with young Arnie facing off against old Arnie was some of the most impressive/authentic use of CGI mapping that I have ever seen... it was damn near to flawless.

Jai Courtney, on the other hand...he was fucking abysmal. When I think of the dangerous, resourceful, badass post-apocalyptic soldier Michael Biehn played and compare him to this...doofus, I just shake my head.

But this I really don't agree with. Jai is fine, not great and not appalling .. I'm just not completely sold on the push for him to take on these sorts of leading man roles more because he just doesn't seem to have all that much screen charisma .. He's handsome enuff, competent enuff, built enuff but it just doesn't all pull together into an impressive enuff character to leave an impression.

In other news, there's every chance I will be at a party w ith him in the next couple of months given he is very good mates with the son of one of my colleagues and has been invited to and accepted an invitation to a party they are hosting.. Which would be pretty cool

[Gypsy-Vanner]

Jai played Spartacus after Andy died right? I thought he did a decent job with that considering who he was up against being that Andy was brilliant and hot.