ANIME REVIEW: TERMINATOR - ZERO

4/5

Lost In Salvation.

8 Episodes. Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Yasuhiro Mamiya, Sonoya Mizuno, Toa Yukinari, André Holland, Yuuya Uchida, Rosario Dawson,  Atsumi Tanezaki, Ann Dowd & Mari Yokoo. Screenplay: Mattson Tomlin. Director: Mattson Tomlin. Created By: Mattson Tomlin. On: Netflix.

DUNDUN-DUN-DUDUN. That iconic, Matthew McConaughey chest bumping, sound of metal theme is as synonymous with 'The Terminator' as Schwarzenegger himself. And in 'Terminator: Zero', now streaming on the Netflix service, we hear the big guns of an epic Easter Egg reference that sounds, take your headphones off as you answer the call for dinner, and you'll miss it, perfect. Now, all those thinking we don't need another 'Terminator', didn't you just get back from watching 'Alien: Romulus'? Face it, like a 'Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes' soft-reboot of sorts, these cult tent pole franchises will be made to do this until they're 90. Just ask Old Man Logan.

At least Arnie isn't shelling shower curtain rings this time. Although, he'll always be welcome back. This 'Zero' dark thirty is no movie like Jessica Chastain. Nor is it 'The Sarah Connor Chronicles' made for TV. Instead of picking up from the actually enjoyable 'Terminator: Dark Fate' and 'Genisys' which went back to the motherboard roots after the gritty 'Terminator: Salvation' got more hype for the on-set judgement of Christian Bale, 'Terminator: Zero' is right there with the 'Judgement Day' of 'T2'. Perhaps the only sequel to best its original (a true science-fiction horror, genre, time and mind bender) aside from 'The Godfather' and 'The Dark Knight' (and speaking of the third, we all know how trilogies end up). And you know, like the 'Dark Fate' throwbacks, that's exactly what the fans fiend for. Meanwhile this machine with a gun arm nails it...quite literally.

Tokyo, 1997. It's not just America where machines are wreaking havoc in this franchise hybrid. Why not the rising sun land of technology, from the Casio digital basics, to the innovations today that could see Skynet thrive? I mean, head into your local Japanese shopping mall today, and you'll be greeted by an affectionate 'I, Robot' like droid called Pepper, whose cute, loving eyes literally follow you around the store. And you thought A.I. was taking over. All for these model episodes that mirror the Tokyo gas attacks and the atomic bomb like a Godzilla metaphor. What more fitting of a time to be alive with one of the most original and outstanding sci-fi franchises around, even if they have been doing this to death for the longest, outdated, old machine time? These new parts really fit though, as this original show, originally called, 'Terminator: The Anime Series' shoulders a story another movie perhaps couldn't show. Telling it like the 'Pacific Rim: The Black' spin-off.

From the same Production I.G. house that recently gave you the great 'Kaiju No. 8', 'Terminator: Zero' brings out the top guns. Created, developed, scripted and directed by showrunner Matt Tomlin (the writer of 'Project Power' who gave an assist to 'The Batman' like Alfred), 'Zero' features Timothy Olyphant, Sonoya Mizuno, André Holland, Rosario Dawson and Ann Dowd for those who like to watch Studio Ghibli movies with American actor's voices for the big names. But, if you don't mind subtitles, are learning Japanese, or if you want to hear the original voices, then the stars themselves of, Yasuhiro Mamiya, Toa, Yukinari, Yuuya Uchida, Atsumi Tanezaki and Mari Yokoo have got you. So have some of the most amazing action scenes you have plugged into in a long time, as 'Zero' terminates on site any notion that this franchise has run out of time. There's always more road. And in Tokyo, that looks picture-perfect here, they keep building a net of Murakami '19Q4' highways to the sky for cop cars to chase. Save your judgement today, 'The Terminator' is well and truly back. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day', 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles', 'Pacific Rim: The Black'.