Terminator: Dark Fate's new spin on the franchise mythology deserves to be preserved by future sequels
This article is frustrating for me because it first asserts:
“To say that Terminator: Dark Fate, the most recent attempt to revitalize the series, is the best sequel since Terminator 2 isn’t any high compliment. The film itself is a thoroughly mediocre soft reboot that attempts to use the same formula that Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Creed perfected by essentially remaking the first film and using it as a “passing of the torch” to a new generation of lead characters. While Dark Fate is no standout, it indicated a future for the series that didn’t need to rely on Arnold Schwarzeneggar and Linda Hamilton. The new characters introduced were the first exciting new element to a Terminator film in thirty years, and if the franchise continues it would be better to continue this chronology rather than attempt another rehash.” but then posits this: “Similar to what Harrison Ford and Sylvester Stallone did in their respective franchise returns in The Force Awakens and Creed, Hamilton is essential in establishing these stakes for Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes), a working class woman from Mexico City who is unveiled to be a future leader in the resistance against Legion (Dark Fate’s iteration of Skynet, the murderous AI that destroys humanity). While Dani’s character could have easily been a shameless retread of Sarah Conner in The Terminator, reframing her as an actual future savior and not just the mother of one is refreshing. Dani possesses the same fears and anxieties that Sarah did initially, making their bond more authentic. It’s also frankly just nice to see a blockbuster series led by a woman of color.” and: “Davis is fantastic in the role, highlighting Grace’s internal conflict over possibly influencing her future mentor as well as providing some well-timed levity. The Terminator timeline is so ridiculously complicated that having a character who can explain the situation while also acknowledging its convolution is exactly what is needed.” so anyway, like most people who criticise the film, this man can’t help but underline how groundbreaking it was, despite calling it a failure. 🙄🙄🙄 Hindsight is 20/20 so hopefully, Dark Fate characters will be reprised after men can constructively reconcile what “success” is for audiences outside themselves.