It was cringing and disappointing. After watching many interviews and reviews of this movie. How the writers and producers researched what the fans want, bragging about the movie and keeping as much information about the movie withheld until its release, I have to watch it for myself.
Knowing that James Cameron said that he’s disregarding the other Terminator movies made in between, Dark Fate is suppose to be continuing from T2. They could’ve taken all the good bits from the movies inbetween and keep the foundational aspects of T1 & T2. I feel that the formula of T1 and T2 (terminator sent back through time to save the leader of the resistance) is long expired and done its justice that we don't need anymore Terminator movie. I think if they did, they can expand on the mini-movie they made following T2. OR John Connor has a child who is the next generation leader of the resistance to protect by a modified terminator (made by the Resistance) going against Skynet's new terminator. Skynet needs to create a whole new terminator. Just as on T1 & T2 has two completely different terminators, (knowing of the other terminators types in the other movies in between). Technology changes over time so Skynet must build a more superior AI. In T1’s terminator is a robot but can malfunction. In T2, the terminator posing as a police officer, is made of liquid mental, can mold into different human shapes and looks and can regenerate, however, its weakness is high heat. So in the Dark Fate, Skynet has to evolve and do better than these two. Rev-9 is underwhelming, disappointing and not original. Also Rev-9 sounds like a car model. People may complain that Rev-9 looks like an average Joe, but terminators are meant to be stealth and blend in.
I think Arnold could’ve played a T-800 that is now a grand-father who has a 12 year old grand-daughter and became a family friend of the leader of the resistance. It won’t arouse suspicion and over the many years of building trust the grand-daughter is Skynet’s new model and tries to assassinate them. She kills off their family and their friends. But you get my point.
It is such a cringing movie to watch because it's using the same formula just with different people. There are no surprises just disappointments. When you watched T2 after T1, you are surprised that the same looking terminator who tried to kill Sarah in the first movie is actually protecting her in the second movie. I feel like the story writing of this movie is to suit the formula of T1 & T2, and the ages of the actors. I really wish they could just play themselves and set the movie in the year 2029 or do better in their story writing.
The Terminator Salvation is better than this.