In 1984 James Cameron only had two directing credits to his name when he wrote The Terminator. Initially, the studios and the actors involved weren't very optimistic about the project but it became a hit worldwide and created a franchise that has spanned over thirty years. This past Fall the sixth installment hit movie theaters and once again saw the reunion of the Cyberdyne Systems model 101 (Arnold Schwarzenegger; Predator) and Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton, Dante's Peak). Terminator: Dark Fate continues the saga of the fight of "man against machine" with great graphics and a kickass team of strong women including Hamilton. This week the movie becomes available for purchase on 4k, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD.
Daniella "Dani" Ramos ( Natalia Reyes; Birds of Passage) lives a simple life in Mexico where she is a factory worker. However, unbeknownst to her, a Cyborg from the future is coming to kill her in order to stop a revolution. Luckily, another time traveler, Grace (Mackenzie Davis; Blade Runner 2049), is also there to help Dani stay alive. Together they escape the factory where Dani works and where the "Terminator": REV-9 (Gabriel Luna; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) has come to destroy her. Along the way, Grace and Dani are helped by a stranger…Sarah Connor (Hamilton) and the three of them manage to temporarily elude the REV-9.
However, Sarah and Grace both know that the REV-9 won't stop until Dani is dead so they travel to Laredo, Texas to enlist the help of a stranger. Only he isn't a stranger, at least not to Sarah. He is "Carl", the T-800 terminator who came to an earlier past and killed Sarah's son, John – the leader of the rebellion. Sarah immediately wants to kill him but he explains that he has learned compassion and he is sorry for what he did. Grace convinces Sarah that they need Carl to try and beat the REV-9 so the four of them formulate a plan to kill the cyborg and keep Dani alive.
This "reboot", if you will, isn't so much about the futuristic machines but rather about the females that kick ass and take names. Davis is mentally and physically strong like the modified soldier she portrays. Reyes starts the film as sweet and demure but steps up to fight when necessary and Hamilton is exactly as we remember from the original films. Of course, Schwarzenegger's appearance in the movie is expected but delightful. Sadly, it seems fairly obvious that this was his last Terminator film.
The 4K 2160p resolution with Dolby Vision HDR offers the best video quality one can get. The details are sharp and the colors are deep and true. The Dolby Atmos audio matches the video making for a fantastic visual and audio experience. The sound effects are layered and crisp and the dialogue is clean. The Combo pack comes with the following extras: Deleted and Extended Scenes, A Legend Reforged, World Builders, Dam Busters: The Final Showdown, and VFX Breakdown: The Dragonfly. The extras are there because fans would be upset if they weren't but it isn't necessary to watch them more than once.
I can't imagine the producers of the original film could have foreseen the franchise The Terminator has become. This latest chapter serves to move things along by highlighting the females in order to pass the legacy on to them. Unfortunately, it didn't as well as the box office as the studio would have hoped so it will be interesting to see if they make another film. I personally enjoyed this installment and I thought all three ladies were terrific and had great chemistry.
If you are a fan of the franchise and Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, then you should pick up this combo pack.
Grade: B+
