TERMINATOR GENESYS
On the brink of victory in the war against Skynet in 2029, John Connor sends his trusted lieutenant Kyle Reese back in time to save his mother’s life and ensure his own existence. He finds Sarah Connor orphaned at the age of 9 by a Terminator and raised by another Terminator programmed to protect her. This Terminator trains her to face her destiny, which she relentlessly struggles to reject.
Arnold remains at his post, smoothly aged, since his leather covering ages along with him in this 2015 sequel. Not bad, not good either (in excellent Greek 😅).
Terminator is a strong franchise, with this addition trying both to continue the story and somehow break away from it. That’s where it kind of loses its way, I think. It has spectacle, it has action (somewhat repetitive at times, especially compared to the earlier films), but the overall result feels like a bit of a patchwork. Yes, you’ll have a good time, especially if you know what you’re watching, but I don’t think it comes anywhere near the first two films.
The script starts with a smart idea in its quiver, but as the story progresses, they overstuff it, resulting in an ending that’s a bit disappointing. Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) and Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) felt a bit weak in their performances to me, while Arnold is Arnold (though he was a bit too comedic in this film). Jason Clarke, for his part, doesn’t bring anything new to the role he plays.
The effects are okay, the first few minutes of the film are a clear copy of the original—but I didn’t really mind that.
Overall, it’s okay, but not as good as I expected or wanted it to be.
HIGH CRIMES
A successful lawyer is unaware that her husband was involved in secret military operations in El Salvador. When he is accused of civilian massacres, she seeks the help of an experienced military attorney to prove his innocence in a court-martial. But is her husband truly innocent?
A 2002 legal-military thriller starring Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman, which generally went unnoticed. Deservedly? Both yes and no.
It’s certainly not an ambitious film, but I think it’s quite watchable and enjoyable. Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman deliver good performances and, to some extent, salvage the quality of the film, which features a script that tries to be clever but doesn’t quite succeed. For example, the twist at the end is obvious to a more seasoned viewer, and overall, the film follows some familiar genre clichés.
While it sets you up for a suspenseful experience, the final result—especially in terms of direction—is somewhat flat and lukewarm. I don’t think Jim Caviezel was a good fit for the role.
One of the film’s positives is the evident chemistry between the lead duo.
If it had more intensity—some spice to elevate the overall impact—we could say it’s a genuinely good film. In any case, although it feels a bit dated today, it remains quite enjoyable to watch.
