The Terminator Films - Some thoughts

[Smoo]

I know many of the non bb groups are rather dead, this one included, but I just saw the newest Terminator movie and just thought Id share some thoughts on the series, films and see what others thought as well!  Also, there are some small spoilers.  Kinda.  This is more my thoughts then a proper review though.

The Terminator
Okay.  Everyone knows - or should know this one if they've seen any of the others.  It's a classic.  It's very well done - great suspense, cool action scenes (even if low key) and some pretty good character development!  I don't really need to say much about this one, it's just great!
Fav scene: The lead-up to the Tech-Noir battle.  Watching the T just miss her, watching Sarah be worried about Kyle and playing against the whole feeling of being safe in a crowd!
*two terminator thumbs up*

Terminator 2: Judgement Day
I've often heard this hailed as one of the sequals that's even better then the original, up there with the likes of Aliens and SW Empire Strikes Back.  Sure, its a different style then T1, similar to how Aliens is more action-ey then the suspense/horror of Alien.  It just does pretty much everything right.  Several times friends and I have discussed this as what we think as the highest quality action movie ever.  Is it the actioney-est?  Nope.  It's actually rather slowly paced, yet I feel that works in the films favor.  The pacing even feels like a Terminator - you know you're getting the story just the way the movie wants.  It doesn't need to hurry.  There are also great character arcs, from John to Sarah and even Dyson.
Favorite shots: The T1000 giving the 'evil eye' to the silver store manquin.  The T1000 growing an extra pair of arms in the helicopter so it can reload while flying.
Favorite scene: The whole hospital escape scene.  Some epic CGI for the T1000, Sarah is bad ass and we even see John keep his cool helping reload weapons and calm down his mum when she sees the T800.
*two terminator thumbs up*


T-3: Rise of the Machines
Yeah, not really a fan.  Had a couple cool scenes but a few good scenes a movie, does not make.  John didn't work, some of the comedy was horrific and even the evil Terminator had nothing on the T1000.  Nothing against Lokken, she did a great job for what she was given to work with, but the T1000 was just far more sinister and terrifying.  The film wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either.  And compared to 1 and 2, it looks even worse.
Favorite Scene: The ending.  The slow music while the missles fly and John reaches out to the military commanders.  For such a lackluster movie, that end scene brought the holy-shit quotient.

*no terminator thumbs up or down* really just due to the ending - otherwise would be one down

Terminator Salvation
Sorry, I felt this was even worse then the prior.  They tried too hard and nothing seemed to fall into place.  Bale was just blargh.  Worthington had a bigger range then Bale and he was a machine!  I just - no.  From lame plot points, Transformer terminators to a PG-13 rating?  Sure, that shouldn't be a bad thing, but it seemd to be trying to reach too broad an audience with that rating.  As T-2 proved, you don't need a ton of guts and gore or swearing, but this just seemed too soft.  Not much to say.
Favorite Scene: Bales meltdown on the camera guy.  After hearing about it and then watching the movie - never is there a scene that required so much from Bale that he had any right to flip out.
*two Terminator thumbs down*

Terminator Genysis
I skipped this one in theaters entirely, just like the previous one.  I had no desire to see it.  Last week I saw it in the library and figured what the hell.  Could it really be worse then Salvation?  I was surprised.  I found it better in every way.  It had good pacing, it was fun and had some cool action scenes.  I was very surprised.  I expected nothing from this movie and came out entertained.  Was it quality like the first two.  Nope, not even close.  Did it have problems.  Plenty.  Oddly, it still worked.  I don't know why or how but it did.  Even the comedy mostly worked for me.  Sure a few really lame jokes that had me rolling my eyes.  But others that I genuinley lol-ed at.  I'm sure if others do read all this, they'll hate this one.  Shrugs.  It got pretty lame reviews.  I dunno - it got me just the right way, it redeemed itself in my eyes.  One thing that did bother me though was how Emilia Clarke seemed too young.  Despite similar age to Linda Hamilton  in T1, she just seemed tooo young to me.  Didn't act it, just physically looked so young
Favorite Scene: The scene of Kyle and Sarah prepping for their time travel.  Some nice character building and more play with Kyle and Pops.  I loved when Sarah starts looking at the ceiling and walls to try and not be looking at naked John.
*3/4 Terminator thumb up*  1/2 didn't feel like enough but one full seemed a little too much.  It was enjoyable but hardly quality.

So there.  That's them.  Curious to hear what others think!  Feel free to lambast me for my opinions too.  I'm a big lob, I can handle it!  :)

[CC]

Pretty much the same opinion as yours.  Well minus Genesys because I never saw it.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was pretty good too, I recommend checking that out if you haven't.  Although I didn't read the comics (the series was cut short, and the comics continued the story).

[Smoo]

I just noticed this now - also, in Genisys there is a quick bust!  Emilia Clark knees Jai in the 2017 hospital scene!  A quick shot from behind him and you can even see her knee coming up between his legs!

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Kind of curious if anyone is planning to see the new one, Dark Fate?  I'm off with a friend to see it tonight.  Not expecting quality like 1 or 2, but I'm hopeful that it's a god one!