Book Review: Terminator Genisys: Resetting the Future – Author David S. Cohen

Terminator Genisys: Resetting the Future
by David S Cohen (Author), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Foreword)

2015 brings us to a whole new entry into the Terminator franchise. The name of the film “Terminator Genisys”. With it arrives the original central characters, Sarah, Kyle, John, and of course our mainstay favorite, Arnold Schwarzenegger (as “some form” of his Terminator self).

We’ve seen variations of the Terminator films come and go. With it ..not much more than some great visual eye candy and a shrug. Will 2015 be the year that re-sets the franchise back onto the right path? We hope so. With that said, it also provides a chance for book publishers such as “Insight Editions” to provide some visual swag to the masses (and FANS!). On the cusp of the film arriving at theatres we have the release of “Terminator Genisys: Resetting the Future”, written by David S. Cohen, published under Insight Editions.

If you have read any of my reviews in the past, of the company’s book releases, you already know what high standards they set for every book they release. At the retail of $45, you should expect nothing short of the usual greatness starting with the tightly bound full color hard-cover edition. Totaling 160 pages, this release sports a 4 color cover glazed with a 5th color high gloss matte coat over a looming picture of the Terminator cyborg.

It’s a solid book that “feels like” the kind of product that will last you the rest of your lifetime (the quality of book that all respectable books should meet). It’s also the kind of read that feels like it’s begging for a coffee table to sit on (for visitors you want to impress with your science fiction saviness) (Hey agencies…take note ..for all those interviewing techies you want to inspire)

The book of course is all about the film. It’s the behind the scenes, the production tales, the effects, the actors, the set, the creators, the locations, and the art spaced over plenty of high color photos to peek more than your interest in the film. As of review, I had yet to see the film itself, so I was leery of how much “advance” info I should be reading thru (as to prevent spoilers..). However, it’s safe to say that you can still work your way thru all the pages without really feeling like you know every moment of the film (that’s a good thing). The book is created to support the production and pay homage to the great work that went into its making. We get plenty of commentaries by the films creators on how they wanted the film to flow, what basis a new Terminator film “should” rest upon and how “this” time things will be different.

Reading thru the various chapters, I was entertained with multiple pages of concepts, robots, and the creators passion at capturing what the first 2 films set out to do (maybe that’s reason enough to see the film).

Each character is presented with commentary, storyboards, costuming, production art, and a nice chapter on who and what they are to the film. I loved the presented artwork that inspired the film producing some really top notch paint and digital renderings. The “looks”, the time periods (3 to be exact), the weapons, the training sessions, the robots (cyborgs..is it?), the villains (more cyborgs of course), and the 2015 version of upgraded effects sequences….. all contribute to a well rounded read.

I know we’ve all heard the same stories in the past, even to the point of similar pre-movie book releases, such as this one. However I will say that after reviewing the book I am much more inspired to spend $ to see the film itself.

With all that said, what are you waiting for? Grab a copy and impress your friends with an early release book that gives them even more reason to jot this one down on their must-see summer movie list.

The book Terminator Genisys: Resetting the Future is now available thru Insight Editions or thru Amazon