Terminator Genisys Review: The Best Terminator in Decades!

While I was lucky enough to see Terminator Genisys twice already, I was unfortunate in my seating. I was in the very front row, looking straight up at an IMAX press screening on my first viewing and then I was in the very back row at the Hollywood premiere. While my seats may not have been great, I can not say the same for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest release in US theaters TONIGHT!

While T3 failed to connect with fans due to a lack of originality and an overdose of bad humor and T4 failed with happy daytime battles, an irritating soundtrack and the unfortunate Marcus Wright character, Genisys provides successful comedy, a powerful score, huge action, much improved special effects and the emotionality which was missing from the last two films.  More than just following a love story between Sarah and Kyle, we understand the emotional burden Connor feels of everyone who gets close to her, she’ll lose. You may also feel the strong, loving bond between Sarah and her father-figure Terminator guardian, played by Schwarzenegger.

Genisys is not the Terminator perfection, which we were exposed to in our youth from the ‘80s and ‘90s, but the good news is that this does not feel like a reboot nor tired, rehash of already existing plot lines (T3). Instead, this film, directed by Alan Taylor, provides the much-needed rejuvenation the franchise with fresh ideas and interesting twists. The biggest upset with this movie was the spoiler revealing John Connor’s part. On paper, in the script, the idea for John Connor is brilliant, but horrifically spoiler-heavy in the trailer. Still, there is a very special twist to behold at the end, an ending to leave you salivating for a very hopeful next installment.

Terminator Genisys is left with so many positives that you will not help but cheer, laugh and be moved by Schwarzenegger’s best film since his post-Governor days. Schwarzenegger is truly BACK in this one. THIS is an Arnold movie! So get ready to reshuffle your top ten list of best Schwarzenegger films and tell us where you put it. It certainly cracks my top 10!

Even if the box office turns out to be weak this upcoming opening weekend, at least the fans should all be in agreement that this is the best Terminator film in decades. Some of you may even like it the most. I spoke with 39-year-old Sam Hazlewood, Omaze.com’s Terminator Genisys contest winner on the red carpet who tells me this is even better than T1 and T2!

“Terminator Genisys took the franchise to a whole new level,” says Hazlewood. “With the new twists and turns, you never know what to expect until it smacks you in the face. Best Terminator so far!”

While there’s not overwhelming love for Terminator Genisys by the majority of film critics, nearly all the fans are in agreement that Genisys is the best Terminator film since Terminator 2: Judgment Day. But who cares what the critics say, right? After all, according to Rotten Tomatoes, T3: Rise of the Machines is rated a very positive 70% fresh rating but is rotten with many fans. According to fans having seen the film already, including TheArnoldFans, we’re hailing it as the best Terminator film in over 24 years! Never go by the critics; go by our own judgment (day).

Considering I only do about one or two reviews per year, I’m not exactly a film critic, just an Arnold fan such as yourself! So here’s this fan’s rating!

Stogie rating from Randy Jennings:

T1: 10 out of 10 stogies

T2: 10 out of 10 stogies

T3: 7 out of 10 stogies

T4: 6 out of 10 stogies

T5: 8.5 out of 10 stogies

(Ed note: As the Gillinator, you can guess I have many thoughts and a full review coming, too, don't worry! The short version is, I agree with most of Randy's review and encourage all Terminator and Arnold fans to see it opening weekend starting tonight, IMAX 3D if possible! It's a very worthy entry in the series. More detailed files from me coming soon here and on Arnold Radio News!)