Terminator: Dark Fate [IMAX]

This was a genuinely fun action-adventure movie. Great set pieces with excellent action sequences and choreography by director Tim Miller, and bolstered by a good action soundtrack by Junkie XL, it really did set the heart and adrenaline rushing (that was a good car chase!). However, for maximum entertainment, do check your brain and logic at the door.

The much simpler and straightforward story, compared to the most recent few installments, still defied logic and basic common sense, but who really need that if all you are waiting for was the next action scene. The writing could be sharper and smarter, and they could have actual female writers in that large writing team of theirs to write proper dialogue for the three female leads. Nonetheless, kudos to James Cameron and Miller for actually having three strong female leads in the first place.

Miller's action direction was fantastic and he has a great eye for it. The action scenes were smooth and unchaotic, but when it came to the dramatic beats the film just grind to a halt. And you find yourself waiting impatiently for Miller to set up for the next big set piece. Compared to Deadpool, Miller lacked a good script and charismatic lead actor/character to carry the downbeats.

Admittedly, all five leads are definitely not going to get any acting awards, but at least they were entertaining and did what the role and story required of them. And it will be unlikely any of them, or the film, will get nominated for a Razzie.

A kick-ass Linda Hamilton was an absolute great fun to watch.

Mackenzie Davis has the built to be intimidating and the excellent fight direction by Miller showed that she did appear to do most of the scenes herself, but she lacked screen presence and charisma.

Similarly, Natalie Reyes was not as convincing in her role, especially in the latter half of the film when the predictable "twist" was revealed.

As for the boys, Arnold Schwarzenegger's participation was always welcomed in this franchise, But at least in this installment he was actually more relevant to the narrative and not just shoehorned in for fan-service. Furthermore, his self-referential mockery was less grating and seemed more thoughtful than usual.

Lastly, was our villain, Gabriel Luna as the Rev-9. Man, it was great to have a really bad-ass villain that seemed unstoppable but Luna lacked Robert Patrick's apathetic nonchalance that made the T-1000 fearsome and scary.

Junkie XL's action score was great to propel and energise the sequences, but in the down-moments, it seemed rather generic and flat.

This film should definitely be watched on a big screen for full enjoyment but IMAX was not really necessary. And 128 minutes later, I would not mind a sequel to find out where the story goes next.