Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media’s Terminator: Dark Fate (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; UA) is set in Mexico city where a newly modified liquid terminator (Gabriel Luna) — the Rev-9 model — arrives from the future to kill a young lady, Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes) who works in a factory. Grace (Mackenzie Davis) also is sent back in time. She is a hybrid cyborg human who is assigned the task of protecting Dani from the liquid terminator who seems to be indestructible.
Grace and Dani find help from seasoned warrior Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and the T-800 Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Sarah hates T-800 as there’s a solid reason for it.
The story, written by James Cameron, Charles H. Eglee, Josh Friedman, David S. Goyer and Justin Rhodes, is interesting but it is very thin. The story, therefore, becomes repetitive as the singular mission is to save Dani from the liquid terminator. The screenplay has been penned by David S. Goyer, Justin Rhodes and Billy Ray. While it keeps the audience fairly engaged, it also fails to offer much variation. This is because there aren’t too many sub-plots. Due to this, monotony sets in after some time. Also, there’s nothing new in the story or screenplay.
Linda Hamilton acts with effortless ease as Sarah Connor. Arnold Schwarzenegger is okay as T-800/Carl. Mackenzie Davis is effective as Grace. Natalia Reyes delivers a fine performance in the role of Dani Ramos. Gabriel Luna is good as the liquid terminator. Diego Boneta has his moments as Diego Ramos. Others are adequate.
Tim Miller’s direction is so-so. Junkie XL’s background music is reasonably impactful. Ken Seng’s cinematography is nice. Production designing (by Sonja Klaus) is of a good standard. Julian Clarke’s editing is quite sharp. Dubbing is nice.
On the whole, Terminator: Dark Fate is an ordinary fare devoid of novelty.
Released on 1-11-’19 at Maratha Mandir (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Fox Star Studios India Pvt. Ltd. Publicity: fair. Opening: so-so in good cinemas, dull elsewhere. …….Also released all over. Opening was fair at places but very ordinary at other places.