Terminator

The last Terminator Genisys trailer was so convoluted and confusing that ScreenCrush editor Mike Sampson and I spent an entire piece trying to figure out the plot of the film. (We were not successful, either.) At the very least, the new Genisys spot makes things a bit clearer. Right off the bat they also reveal one significant plot twist: John Connor (Jason Clarke) has been mechanized by Skynet and the evil computers of the future, and sent back in time to kill his mother Sarah (Emilia Clarke). Also, I just realized that Sarah and John Connor are played in this film by two actors with the same last name. Which, whoa. And, of course, there’s also Arnold Schwarzenegger back as the T-800, but this time he’s an older model who’s Sarah Connor’s protector. How and why remains to be seen, but hey, that’s why you’ve got to buy a ticket. To figure out how a robot can age and learn to a be a good guy who smiles awkwardly. (Very awkwardly.)

Of all of the big sequels opening this summer, Terminator: Genisys is easily the strangest of the bunch. Simultaneously a sequel and a reboot, the film follows the template of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, using time travel to overwrite everything we know about this series so the characters can play in a wild new sandbox. Although we still don’t know the exact shape of that sandbox, a new batch of images from the film give us a look at the players in it, including Arnold Schwarzenegger’s aged Terminator, Emilia Clarke’s Sarah Connor and J.K. Simmons’ Detective O’Brien.

‘Terminator 2’, James Cameron’s sequel to his cult hit from 1984, had a budget of $94 million. That may not sound like much these days when Michael Bay movies routinely cost over $200 million, but in 1991, when ‘Terminator 2’ first opened in theaters, it was the most expensive movie ever made (this was even more impressive considering that the original ‘Terminator’ cost only $6 million to make). A good chunk of that money went to star Arnold Schwarzenegger who was paid a then-record $15 million, plus they bought him a private jet! Want to know more? No problemo, just watch the latest installment of You Think You Know Movies!

Even as a nearly lifelong ‘Terminator’ and Arnold Schwarzenegger fan, it is tough to figure out what to expect from ‘Terminator Genisys.’ Those ultra-agro cast photos looked like a cosplay party gone wrong, the title looks like an autocorrect disaster, and the plot synopsis as we understand it right now (with Sarah Connor, played by Emilia Clarke, raised from childhood by a Terminator, played by Schwarzenegger, she calls “Pops”) sounds ... weird. Like, really weird.

Do you see that look of disapproval on Arnold Schwarzenegger's face in the image above this sentence? That's how we feel about the latest batch of images from 'Terminator: Genisys,' a film that couldn't have have built up more bad press in the past 24 hours unless it was actively out to sabotage itself. Just scroll down and prepare to go, "Yikes."

Arnold Schwarzenegger is 67 years old, which makes the idea of him playing an ageless, robotic killing machine in the upcoming 'Terminator: Genisys' seem oh-so-very silly [Ed. note: as silly as that title?]. However, it turns out that there's some fairly level-headed science fiction going on the explains Arnie's senior citizen appearance in the new film and it came courtesy of the franchise's original creator, James Cameron.

What the heck is 'Terminator: Genisys,' other than a title that seems just plain incorrect no matter how you look at it? We know it's the fifth film in the once-great 'Terminator' franchise and that it features Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to the character who defined him as a movie star. We also know that Emilia Clarke will play Sarah Connor (farewell, Linda Hamilton). Now, thanks to Jai Courtney, aka the new Kyle Reese (farewell, Michael Biehn and Anton Yelchin), we know a little more.

Despite that horrific subtitle for its reboot (yes, we're still not over that title), Paramount Pictures announced release dates for the next two 'Terminator' movies in the new trilogy to hit theaters in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Where 'Fantastic Four' and 'Jurassic Park 4' recently wrapped up principal photography, Arnold Schwarzenegger took to Twitter to reveal that he too has finished work on his upcoming project, 'Terminator 5.' But, while he did have some kind words for his fellow cast mates and the fans, his photo update revealed that we've all been wrong about what the fifth movie is called!

James Cameron has applied his fondness for 3D technology to the world of 'Avatar,' and he even gave his blockbuster 'Titanic' a 3D conversion for a theatrical rerelease. But what about some of his other films -- specifically, the 'Terminator' movies? According to Cameron, a 3D version of 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' is a possibility.