‘Terminator Salvation’: Will There Be Ewoks?
by John NolteShould the fourth installment live up to its promise, that promise being the casting of Christian Bale as John Connor, the Terminator franchise will be on the way to being the one of the best and most consistent action/adventure franchises since Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan lived in sin as Tarzan and Jane way back when such things were frowned on. And if director McG and his screenwriters are able to tell their story honoring the mythology of what came before without tripping over the inherent logic issues involved with time travel, well then, they’ve already bested “Melorose Kirk-Can-Drive? Trek.”
Of course, should Ewoks arrive to aid John Connor, all bets are off.
My love for “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003) puts me in the minority, I know, but you have to embrace how different the three installments are from each other to truly appreciate it. “Terminator” (1984) is a brilliant piece of storytelling, but also a gloriously 80’s action film from soundtrack to clothes to hairstyles to mandatory gratuitous sex scene. “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” on the other hand, is arty and existential, with mind-blowing, big budget action scenes. But let’s just admit out loud that a certain viewing mood is required in order to avoid using the word “overlong.” Finally, the third chapter shakes off everything that made two so special, but not necessarily in a bad way. The action scenes are still outstanding, but the plot is simpler and had the casting of John Connor been stronger, people might have warmed up more towards the Governor of California’s final starring role.
What “Terminator 3″ deserves enormous credit for is honoring the time logic and mythology that came before. In that respect, screenwriters John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris wrote an ingenious script that hit with a huge surprise at the end that not only pulled the whole story together but the whole franchise, brilliantly setting up 4 – and the good news is that these guys are back for 4.
Telling a compelling, exciting story while respecting what came before is crucial to the survival of the series. The moment we feel the filmmakers cheated, it’s over. Oh, we may still drop our ten bucks like the lemmings we can sometimes be, but we won’t respect ourselves for it, and this act of paying for movies you know you’ll hate is known as George Lucas of the Caribbean Syndrome.
Until “Terminator Salvation” hits May 21st, if you’re hungry for a timeline franchise that never dropped the ball, check out the original five “Planet of the Apes” films. 1, 3 and 4, are just damn fine films, 2 is salvaged by James Franciscus, and 5 is admittedly weak though entertaining in a TV movie kind of way, but taken as a whole the way the series moves around in time telling different pieces of a larger, over-arching story is amazingly innovative storytelling.
Here’s hoping we can say the same after May 21.
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40 Comments
The fact that James Cameron is not directing this worries me. I'm sorry, but Terminator 3 was a huge disappointment. I only enjoy watching it with the rifftrax guys making fun of it.
I think this is why Ive become a fan of the Terminator series in spite of my best efforts not to. I did not see the first when it came out, thinking it dreck. Saw T2 by happenstance and thought it compelling. T3 was slightly disappointing and maybe a bit too stretched out in parts, but I was ultimately satisfied (and impressed with the surprise ending) because of what you lined out: continuity and faithfulness to the story. And I didnt have a problem with the actor they cast as John Conner on T3 – although I had to remind myself several times it was NOT Dominic Monaghan, one of the hobbits in LOTR. (Actually, I think the T3 Connor was a MUCH better actor!) And it was good to see Clare Danes again. Out of all the other actresses in Hollywood who could have been cast, Danes was clearly strong enough for the role – any other would have weakened even the Governator.
Per GLucas – sad that a man with so much potential has become the poster boy for the Ultimate Jumping of the Shark
I think this is why Ive become a fan of the Terminator series in spite of my best efforts not to. I did not see the first when it came out, thinking it dreck. Saw T2 by happenstance and thought it compelling. T3 was slightly disappointing and maybe a bit too stretched out in parts, but I was ultimately satisfied (and impressed with the surprise ending) because of what you lined out: continuity and faithfulness to the story. And I didnt have a problem with the actor they cast as John Conner on T3 – although I had to remind myself several times it was NOT Dominic Monaghan, one of the hobbits in LOTR. (Actually, I think the T3 Connor was a MUCH better actor!) And it was good to see Clare Danes again. Out of all the other actresses in Hollywood who could have been cast, Danes was clearly strong enough for the role – any other would have weakened even the Governator.
sorry for the double post! thought my comment wasnt going to show up…
I am hoping along with you. I know you made the disclaimer, so criticism should be off limits…. but T3?
Watching the nukes go off should have evoked something, but I was just sitting there thinking "so what"?
I remain "cautiously optimistic" but have to agree with Another Carolyn no this one.
I'm excited by this, the trailers get me all riled up, and then BAM!, "if we stay the course we're dead" smacks me upside the head. It's poor writing with either malicious intent or not. I'm hoping for the latter. It's especially galling with how good the writing is on Sarah Connor Chronicles.
That transformer-terminator in the trailer makes me think #4 could end the franchise. On the other hand, Batman has John Connor is a pretty cool bit of casting.
McG or no, the fact James Cameron is NOT directing this installment means I'm much more inclined to enjoy it. That's right, I said it. While I definitely appreciate the guy as a director, still think he has a huge problem with over-extending his movies, as John mentions above. Terminator 2 and True Lies, both really good movies that I'd put in the great category if Cameron would have had the ability to "one-little-nip, one-little-cut" their lengths by about 15-20 minutes. First Terminator was a streamlined whip and it's a shame Cameron's forgotten that with age and hype.
Oh oh and one more thing about T3 – Terminators are not supposed to have sagging pecs! Watch all three movies and witness the incredible shrinking killing machine.
My biggest concern about Terminator Salvation is apparently it will be PG-13. Whats next a PG-13 Saw movie or a PG-13 Black Hawk Down remake. Hollywoods greed on this matter is really getting tiresome.
You can't be talking about when Sarah's roommate was killed — that really wasn't a sex scene, but rather just some nudity.
I think the important lesson there was "listening to your walkman all the time can be bad for your health"
"You can't be talking about when Sarah's roommate was killed — that really wasn't a sex scene, but rather just some nudity. "
I think the important lesson there was "listening to your walkman all the time can be bad for your health"
Ba da dum de dum. Ba da dum de dum. I'm with Nolte in anticipation… T3 wasn't that good but at least they tried… And I like Claire Danes. Hopefully Christian Bale can bring the cajones back to John Conner that the TV show took away.
I thought T3 was very entertaining. I had a couple minor issues with it, but I didn't think it was as bad as some others do. Let's hope t4 delivers the goods.
I was very excited when I heard that Bale took the part of John Connor. On-set tantrums notwithstanding, he's a good actor who will bring some weight to the role. I look forward to it.
You can have spectacular action, war, mobster, etc. movies without the gore of an R movie (or were there no good flicks in the '30s through '60s). I lose NOTHING watching the Sopranos on A&E with the edits vs. HBO. So, they say freakin' instead of the f-word, they cut the parts showing the strippers' bare breasts. Big deal. It's about storytelling. Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Dark Knight, Lord of the Rings, the Star Wars movies, etc.
R movies are fine, but Terminator can kick-butt with a PG-13 if it's done well.
I fear an over-emphasis on "Transformers-like" CGI special effects, and a toning down of the violence and emotional story will be the downfall of this film. The amount of angst and dystopia in parts 1 and 2 is what marked those films as mature and prescient stories that keeps them famous and praised to this day, the more easy-going T3 is already semi-forgotten in the Bourne-era mess of action fare. If T4 takes a shallow Transformers-like PG-13 teenage blockbuster approach with too much emphasis on a narcissistic Bale, the franchise WILL BE AS DEAD DISCO.
I can't believe they're cranking out a fourth mechanical saga of this completely oil drained, failed-TV-series-bid storyline! At this point anyone would suppose only third-tier hack producers would go mental enough to try cashing in again on "Terminator." After three masstirpeeezes vith Arnie, who you might alzo reememba as the truly sub-zero inert anti-hero MR. FREEEZE, the fourth time out for this robotic junk pile can only promise clanking tedium on ball-borings.
Odd that both the "terminator" and "Planet of the Apes" series have produced historic and inspirational lines/characters for us, but were produced from a totally lefty appeasement/surrender agenda, the public reaction totally opposite to the intended "line". By the way, the T2 second Sarah was actually Hamiltons twin sister, who is married to a NJ state trooper. Linda Hamilton had some serious depression problems, broke up with James Cameron and apparently decided to stop working. I thought the T3 John was miscast, the role needed a true rebel leader, not a preppy.
That first sentence should end: "….became self-aware and started a war to destroy its enemies- US."
I am psyched for T-4….looks like it’s really going to get into the duality of humankind and moral issues surrounding robotics/genetics. I’ve watched the Trailer for T-4 lots of times on YouTube….almost as good as a movie to be honest. Christian Bale looks like a natural for the part of John Connor…..If you’re listening to this…you are the resistance. I think it’s a resistance against becoming what you fight. Completely relevant to today's current events…assuming I understood correctly. This looks like a much larger cast of characters in this film as compared to others…..and there are some other really good stars like Helena Bonham Carter from Fight Club. Not many movies drag me to the theaters these days but I’m going to have to go pony up for the ticket and get some popcorn this time.
No dissrespect to Summer Glau (enjoyed Firefly and Serenety) but the Chronicles just didn't do it for me. Seemed like a whole different theme. I never got passed the pilot though so who knows?….maybe it got better.
I'm very excited about seeing the movie where Christian Bale wanted to "trash your f*****g lights!!" Maybe we'll see the lighting guy in the background somewhere.
I am probably (well, ok… obviously) in the minority here – but I thought the kid that played John Connor in T3 is a very decent actor. While the effects were weak in some areas in that movie, I did enjoy the storyline. At the end, when you see him face the reality of what he was, literally, conceived to do – be in charge? The ending made that movie for me. (However, all hail T2 – probably the best action movie every – imo).
I have to agree. What was supposed to happen to her? She found out the world was going to end and she stayed "sweet?"
T3 was an interesting take on how John ended up being the leader. Clever, I thought. But the television series actually makes more sense. Just like how Sarah Conner can't stay "sweet" or "sane" knowing what she knows, John can't stay innocent or clueless and it doesn't really make sense that he becomes the leader of the resistance because he happens to be in a fortified bomb shelter with an old fashioned radio.
Change the past and change the future.
The part where John had to tell his mother not to murder his girlfriend was interesting.
They've got the series on Hulu.com but not the whole thing, and not season one. They're following a number of plot threads so it suffers from the "you need to know what happened before" weakness. Also, two seasons in, it's not at all certain that Cameron (Summer Glau) is trustworthy.
Uh, since that eventuality was closed down by T2, I'm not sure I see your point.
It makes a great deal more sense how they handled it in T3, especially as how it relates to the immutability of time/parallel worlds in that even if you do manage to stop one thread racing into the future, it merely branches off and takes on another form you didn't anticipate.
Big fan of T's and the TV SCC. The last two episodes have made the entire two seasons come together and a great lead into the up coming T4. Some of the sappy John Conner episodes in season 1 ans beginning of season two have come full circle in the last two weeks. Brilliant writing and puts many story lines into one thread. Can't wait for the rest of this season and T4.
Nick Stahl was young John in T3. (Edward Furlong was 'discovered' for T2.) Stahl was fine, if a little weak but remember–he wasn't really a badass yet. I hated Claire Danes as the shrieking useless girlfriend though. Stahl was also quite good in HBO's Carnivale, a series I really hated to see end.
In T3, John Conner mentions that she died of cancer, which is why the TV series made that same reference. ..bruce..
"'Terminator' (1984) is a brilliant piece of storytelling, but also a gloriously 80’s action film from soundtrack to clothes to hairstyles to mandatory gratuitous sex scene"
First of all, since when were gratuitous sex scenes a thing of the 80s? They've been pretty much everywhere since the 70s, and show no signs of declining to this day.
More to the point, why is it such a bad thing for the original to have had timely constumes, hair, and music? Aren't movies ever supposed to reflect the times in which they're made? It's not such a bad thing, and especially not for this movie, which was all about two men from the future trying to get by in the unfamiliar surroundings of 1984.
Furthermore, are you trying to tell me that "T2" wasn't dated by Guns N Roses music and a Public Enemy t-shirt? The sequel was less campy, but that's almost certainly because they had tons of money to throw around.
"Odd that both the 'terminator' and 'Planet of the Apes' series have produced historic and inspirational lines/characters for us, but were produced from a totally lefty appeasement/surrender agenda, the public reaction totally opposite to the intended 'line'"
I'm not sure I agree. The Terminator series is without a doubt anti-nuke. But unlike in "Apes," we're not led to believe it's a failure of Cold War diplomacy. The Terminator series taps into the age-old theme that science will come back to haunt us, which is something you can find in any Hawthorne story. Hardly anti-conservative. I haven't listened to Sarah Connor's rants in "T2" in a while, but I don't remember her jumping on board the appeasment bandwagon.
Gee, I don't think that Clare Danes screamed enough in T3
I hope she is in the sequel and carries on screaming………
They were looking at the freeze at the time, I thought. I think your right that most people saw out-of-control monster machines, "HAL" on nanosteroids, and not evil Reagan, and also it is possible the producers did not want to go too far out. Her rants, I thought, were actually anti-industrial, although she did it as the epitome of warrior/mom, which defeated any appeasement thinking. I always saw the anti-nuke thing, since it always saw soviet nukes as good nukes, as lefty.
The Terminator franchise is one of my favorites. I'll never forget the first time I saw the original. A friend of mine called me – we were both recording studio types at the time – and said I HAD to see this movie Terminator because it had such wild action sequences, visual tech, and a soundtrack to die for. I completely missed the theatrical release, so he rented the VHS (Remember those?) and we watched it… twice in one sitting.
The soundtrack during the car chase with the sampled rough-running engine put into a driving rhythm was particularly brilliant, but what do you expect, I'm a recording studio wonk. I love s#!* like that. ;^)
T2 was technically better because they had a lot more money to throw at it – remember, Terminator was Cameron's warm-up for Aliens, and so was not intended to be an iconic "classic" – but the slightly natty feel of the original was better, IMO.
T3 was brilliant and frustrating at the same time for me. Claire Danes does it for me in a big, big way, but Nick Stahl doesn't. LOL! Fortunately, Kristana Loken's presence and the really, truly, epic and unbelievable chase scene with the industrial crane were both sheer, unadulterated genius! I too liked the 50's sci-fi hat tip ending, and thought it excellent, but there were a few scenes that just weren't convincing for me. T1 and T2 didn't have those issues.
As for the new one, Bale is one of my favorite actors of the latest generation, and has been since American Psycho. His American accent is so good, I didn't even know he was a Brit until I saw a rerun of Little Women on sat years later! The trailer looks pretty good, but I've seen great trailers for sucky movies a LOT in recent years. Oh, and count me among those concerned by the PG-13 rating: If losing the grit between T1 & T2 was problematic for me, I think turning the Terminator franchise into a slightly cooler Transformer series will really tic me off.
In my opinion, three things made the Terminator franchise:
1. The Score (it was the only thing that got me excited in the new trailer)
2. Arnold (perfect casting)
3. Cameron (the best pop-director outside of Spielberg)
One out of three ain't bad for the current installment.
Amen! I wouldn't want to watch an entire movie about Ewoks, but they weren't so bad. They were basically R2-D2 with fur.
could not agree with you more. Linda Hamilton's Sarah was just flat out unattractive, and it just wasn't necessary. The hyper realistic character portrayal doesn't jibe with the sillier aspects of the film; it wasmeant to be a post feminist statement (Cameron, like Ridley Scott is an uberfeminist)and it just doesn't work well…
The new terminator will be much better than T3, which relied on a very weak version of John Conner. They tried to make him a normal likeable guy and it didn't work, he came off as weak and unsure. Christian Bale brings back the hard egge that Michael Bein gave to the role of Freedom Fighter in a world he didn't understand. From all the clips I have seen and espcially the twist it is going to have will reboot the series. If you didn't like the first couple of movies then nothing I say here is going to change your mind. But, if you are one of those fans that always wanted to see the great struggle that was the future war with the machines that we only glimpsed in the past movies, this one should fit the bill.
[...] 21st: Terminator Salvation – I wrote about this the other day but let me just add that the real attraction is Christian Bale. When you’re dealing with a [...]
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