Terminator Genisys

Director Alan Taylor and writers Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier reboot the franchise, carefully incorporating bits and pieces of all the movies and TV series since James Cameron's 1984 original, ironing out any conflicts by deploying that trusty old science fiction standby, time-travel paradox. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back, of course—it would hardly be a Terminator movie without him—adding a wry touch of deadpan self-mockery (the fact that this “robot” has aged 30 years is deftly explained away). Under Taylor's briskly over-the-top direction, the movie is good fun, albeit complicated and not always logical. The real secret weapon here isn't time machines or robots, it's Emilia Clarke (of Game of Thrones) as Sarah Conner, tender and forceful as needed in a potentially star-making performance. J.L.