“I’m old, not obsolete,” says Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator Genisys. That might be wishful thinking. Critics say the latest entry in the Terminator franchise benefits from the Governator’s return to his most iconic role, but the rest of the film is a mishmash of confusing plotting and wall-to-wall special effects, with little of the smarts and heart that made this universe so appealing in the first place. This time out, Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) goes back in time to defend Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) from a killer robot. But when he arrives, he discovers that Sarah has joined forces with the T-800 (Schwarzenegger), altering the future and setting up an apocalyptic battle between man and machine. The pundits say Terminator Genisys references its predecessors but brings little new to the table beyond several plot twists that make little sense on reflection. (Check out our video interviews with the stars, and this week’s Total Recall, in which we count down Schwarzenegger’s best-reviewed films.)
For a movie about male strippers, Magic Mike was darker and more thoughtful than people expected. The sequel is all about the dancing, and critics say that while Magic Mike XXL is awful thin in the plot department, it’s got plenty of goofy, infectious energy, thanks in large part to Channing Tatum in the title role. The Kings of Tampa decide that if they’re going to leave the adult entertainment world behind, they should go out with a bang. So they head for the Male Strippers Convention in South Carolina to strut their stuff one final time. The pundits say Magic Mike XXL is undoubtedly lightweight, but it’s a lot of fun, thanks to strong performances and lively dance numbers. (Flip through our gallery of memorable strippers from TV and the movies.)
