Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi, Matt Smith, Courtney B. Vance, Byung-Hun Lee, Michael Gladis, Sandrine Holt, Wayne Bastrup, Gregory Alan Williams, Otto Sanchez, Matty Ferraro, Griff Furst, Robert Patrick, Kerry O’ Malley, Mark Adam, Bryant Prince.

At least with a new Terminator film, the public’s suffering at the hands of Terminator: Salvation can now be start to be forgotten, left to rust in its own cage of insipid pop culture and if possible banished from the memory forever, skipped over when watching the series of films back to back and the DVD given away to charity, though to be fair, they might not thank you for it.

Terminator Genisys is the fifth in the series of films but has been stated by original producer James Cameron as being the natural third in the succession, high praise when considered that Terminator: Rise of the Machines, whilst not universally enjoyed, still retains great affection amongst many, especially for Kristina Loken’s appearance as the Terminator in question.

The explosive start, the returning feel of dread and fear that comes with the notion of being supplanted by our own demonic creations and the knowledge that whilst in 1984 the thought of such actions was still remote, thirty years on the chilling possibility of placing trust and our lives into the minds of synthetic material is now perhaps even more closer to reality, even closer to deadly and utter damnation; humanity is doomed eventually, the goal posts just keep being put back a few years each time.

With the special effects and the natural feel of the acknowledgement of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ageing being the main selling points of the film, the human quality that brings the film to its direct appeal falls to Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor and a worthy successor to Linda Hamilton’s outstanding portrayal of the young frightened waitress turned heroine in the first film over thirty years ago and J.K. Simmons turn as police officer O’Brien, who brings much relief and enjoyment to the screen with his nervous energy and range.

For Emilia Clarke to match the quality of performance that Linda Hamilton gave in the original Terminator without descending into a physical madness is not only central to the core value of the film but one that could have played into the hands of the cynics if not handled with extreme care. This is a Sarah Connor whose life has been blighted from an even younger age but whose resilience, fortitude and appreciation for the battle at hand makes her the true heroine of the film that Cameron first envisaged.

With two sequels already being planned, the Terminator story is going to continue and with a lick of the lips, the stirring of the same fascination that caught the imagination between all three original time-line films, he is back and it’s a good job too.

Ian D. Hall