NOW that Arnold Schwarzenegger has retired from gubernatorial duties, the best description for the timeline in the screenplay that Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier confected to wring more juice from the Terminator franchise is “crazy”.
Arnie once again plays the android Guardian sent in the first Terminator film to kill Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and who, after a change of heart, becomes Sarah’s protector. Australian Jai Courtney plays Kyle, sent back to 1982 by John Connor (Queensland-born Jason Clarke) to save his mother who is at risk of being destroyed when Skynet in 2017 is about to destroy humanity before climate change does so.
If you think that’s confusing, don’t be alarmed or distressed. You’ve chosen to watch “Terminator Genisys” because either you are a “Terminator” fan from way back or you’re bored and need a mindless diversion.
From out there beyond the known universe in a time that has yet to arrive, a society of antagonistic animal or mechanical beings is sending its colonisers to dispossess us puny earthlings from our home turf and prepare it for occupation.
That plot became rancid long ago. What it now says to us mere earthlings is: “Buy a ticket to see the new impossibilities we’ve created for your entertainment”.
The film’s best moments are when 68-year-old Arnie smiles. He knows what it’s about. The Guardian’s builders programmed it to arrange its face just so when it wants to display pleasure. It’s a satire on Arnold Schwarzenegger. And very funny self mockery. Well done, big fella.
At all cinemas
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