Terminator: Genisys - Part 7

[Wildcard]

Saw the movie last night & thought it was okay, nothing special or a masterpiece but not as bad as I expected and I actually found myself entertained. Of course the writing & direction could've been better & more clearer but for what it is, I think it's good. Arnold was fun as Pops, imo, but the movie definitely lacked a big star to carry it all the way.

At the end of the day I still understand why this movie didn't catch on & why the series needs a lot of tweaking before they go any further. And as I said, one of the major adjustments needs to be the inclusion of a current day box office giant.

Enter: Dwayne Johnson

 

[Keyser Soze]

I really expected to hate TERMINATOR GENISYS. I've been prepared to hate it ever since I first read that rotten title, and nothing about the underwhelming marketing campaign won me over. Don't get me wrong, I love the Terminator, and perhaps that's my downfall. While other people talk about STAR WARS and STAR TREK as the Big Two of sci-fi, for me it's always been ALIEN(S) and TERMINATOR. The first 2 TERMINATOR movies are among my all-time favourites. But it was that rabid love that made approach first TERMINATOR 3 and then TERMINATOR SALVATION with an open mind, even tentative excitement, and both turned out to be crushing disappointments. I wasn't ready to be duped again, and I hadn't planned on seeing this at all, only grudgingly going with others in the end.

And... shockingly, I actually enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't reinvent the wheel. Much of this is blockbuster-by-numbers fare, and in the early stretches there is some seriously ropey storytelling going on that had me worried about the film I was about to watch. But the film as a whole is surprisingly entertaining and briskly paced. More than either of the previous attempts to follow the classic opening two films, GENISYS succeeds in tackling that mythos in a fun way that is both reverential to what came before while also offering an intriguing new dimension to it. I had my doubts about whether the film would offer a credible explanation for why Arnie's old ass is still presenting himself as a Terminator, and whether this time round they could manage to give us a convincingly formidable upgrade to the T-1000, and the answer in both counts is a yes. And though there may be different actors playing them, I got a kick out of seeing the T-800 (both good JUDGEMENT DAY version and the evil original), Sarah Connor, John Connor, Kyle Reese and the T-1000 all in the same film.

 

[Deaths Head II]

The sad thing is I think if Salvation had been a better movie, we could've gotten more sequels exploring the war which could've been a nice fresh direction for the franchise. I wanted to see more of that world, and the franchise really needed to become Arnold-independent to truly have a viable future. They had the right idea, but unfortunately the movie just wasn't up to par..

Don't feel too sad about Salvation's failure. McG said if there was a sequel it would have been about John Connor time travelling to the past anywaay. Unfortunately that series was doomed from the start due to the people that were put in charge of it.

 

[henzINNIT]

There was some wonky time travel fun in seeing Reese, Sarah and an adult John Connor together. I wonder if the film would have been more interesting if it didn't give its big twist away in a trailer.

I was okay with the decision prior to seeing the film, under the assumption that it was going to be one of many big twists, but the film didn't really offer anything else.

 

[OcStat]

For a split second, watching the movie I forgot the trailers had revealed John's twist. That scene where they are all together for the first time before he reveals his true intentions perked my interest, "Whoa all the heroes together for the first time, what's gonna happen here?" And then "Oh, that's right..." he's evil, run.

 

[Man in the Suit]

But I just saw all of these movies on my big screen HDTV over the weekend, and cringed at most of the effects.

 

[Loki882]

There was one scene that seemed like a dig at John Connor fans.

When Kyle or Sarah (I can't remember which) is pleading to try and save cyber John Connor, Arnold tells them it's impossible because he's been changed on a cellular level.

The movie almost breaks the fourth wall to point out that the John Connor character cannot be redeemed in any way.

It's so callous towards fans it reminds me of the midiclorians explanation in episode 1.

It could have been interesting if this film had done something similar to what TSCC did. Namely the idea/implication that not ALL of Skynet is necessarily onboard with the whole "lets kill all of the humans" thing and that some of the machines are starting to question whether the war is ultimately a good idea. Maybe use Cyber John as an example of that. He's a machine, but is still dedicated to helping humanity and that that's starting to effect his programming. It wouldn't be the same as in TSCC, but it'd be better than what we did get at least.

 

[Destructus86]

You all will hate me but I liked Salvation better. Less humor, more drama.
It works as an alternate timeline.

 

[Fallen Angel]

So we're seeing this next week. Should we go into the cinema discretely as to not be seen going into watch this?

 

[MadVillainy]

So we're seeing this next week. Should we go into the cinema discretely as to not be seen going into watch this?

I know youre joking...but I mean why see it if that's the case

 

[Fallen Angel]

I know youre joking...but I mean why see it if that's the case

I was planning to see it on opening night but one of my friend's was ill so we delayed it.

But what I've heard about it since makes me think this might not be to my liking.

 

[Loki882]

Salvation gets a few points from me for at least TRYING to be different an exploring the only real avenue that this franchise has left for growth (focusing on the future war). It just bungled the execution, badly.

 

[Golgo-13]

Agreed. Sequels to films from long ago aren't surefire hits at all. Dumb and Dumber To, etc.

Sin City 2….

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Saw it tonight, people who know me on here know I am a huge Terminator fan, I have been watching T1 since I was 5 and must have easily seen it over 100 times, I still love it. I love T2 as well a lot but T1 is the best of the franchise for me. Despite that, I enjoyed T3 and Salvation, though the latter has got worse for me over the years because of the glaring mistakes in mythology with it. I was even on board with this movie until the trailers made me skeptical. Then I saw the reviews, more often than not I agree with critics so I wasnt expecting much.

And maybe that was a factor as I actually enjoyed this, the first hour or so especially was REALLY enjoyable seeing the young Arnold and certain scenes recreated, the battle with the T-1000 and even the initial scenes with JC in 2017. It was so good seeing Sarah, John and Kyle in the same room and interacting, of course I knew the twist was coming and then the movie took a bit of a nose dive, and yet by then I was running with it, so even managed to enjoy the last 45 mins or so in the end.

Courtney is no Michael Beihn, but he didnt do too badly here, he certainly did the best with what he was given and wasnt the disaster some make him out to be. I really liked Emilia as Sarah as well, I have liked her casting throughout and while she is no Linda Hamilton in T2 not many actresses are and in Genisys she played the part well. Arnold was Arnold of course but he was great, loved seeing him in his signature role once again and its the role that has suited perfectly his whole career. The only who disappointed me a little was Jason Clarke, who is probably the best actor out of the lot funnily enough. He convinced me totally as good John at the start and his first 2017 scene, it was only when he turned bad that he didnt convince me. Maybe he just isnt cut out for a bad guy role?

The action was really good, loved the opening and everything in 1984 was great stuff. The helicopter chase was OTT but the fight between the T-800 and JC made up for it. The movie actually had some heart as well. From 'Pops' loving Sarah and missing her through the time jump to Sarah not wanting to fall in love with Kyle as everyone who loves her dies. It had some touching moments as well which I wasnt expecting.

I wouldnt actually mind a sequel to this, but a better director needs to be chosen. I actually think a better director would have made Genisys a really good movie, despite the fact that I enjoyed what we got. 7/10 for me, I will be going to see it again as my family want to see it so I will see if it stands up to repeat viewings.

 

[Terminator]

Here's my video review/rundown.

[YT]ycgKCr1i2iE[/YT]

 

[B]

Went to see this yesterday & to be honest I went into the movie not really expecting much, not because some of the reviews I'd glanced at weren't raving about it, but largely because T3 & Salvation were both kinda let downs.

Anyway I went to see it & I'd say, it was alright. Better than Salvation & definitely better than T3, but not as good as T1 & Judgement Day. The movie to an extent serves a good purpose, it both acts as a sequel & because of the events of the movie, a reboot & a conclusion of the franchise as well if that's even possible.

Elements of the movies plot didn't make any sense, however the only reason I let this pass is that in the majority of movies involving time travel & in the previous Terminator movies themselves, there is normally something within the movie that just doesn't make sense. This movie takes that to a whole new level because not only do they have time travel, they introduce parallel dimensions into the frame which only makes the story further convoluted I feel. There's so many bits of the movies time travel aspect that you could poke holes straight through.. moreso than any other Terminator movie, but ironically it doesn't make this one bad or as bad as Salvation or T3.

For example the main one is John Connor, yes fair enough big twist, he's now not a machine, not a man, but more (something as well that didn't need to be revealed in the trailers.. at all), but why all of a sudden once this change has happened to him is he all Pro-Skynet? I mean he doesn't behave like a Terminator in the movie, so why once he becomes this does he seemingly go against his own character? Matt Smith's "Skynet" character is another questionable plot hole. He stands in the room with Connor as he sends Reese back through time.. yet he waits till Reese is all but gone before attacking Connor to then make Connor this Terminator to then send him back in time to safeguard Skynet? Why not just kill Reese before he's sent back & the jobs sorted?

But the biggest one for me that unless I missed it during the movie is who sent Arnold's Terminator back & the T-1000 back in time to when Sarah was a child originally?

It might seem like I disliked the movie because I'm poking at it's plot so violently with a stick, but I honestly thought it was alright despite all of those.

I had my doubts about the castings for both Sarah Connor & Kyle Reese but I thought Emilia Clarke & Jai Courtney did fine. Jason Clarke was also solid enough as John Connor although he was less appealing when he arrived in 2017. Arnold himself was fine, I didn't care too much for the fact that his Terminator was seemingly an inventor whom could create the sort of technology he did in the movie, I largely didn't like that because I kinda feel it goes against what we've seen before from the Terminator character. Also didn't care for how well versed he was on parallel dimension theories & hypothesis. Aside from that Arnold was fine in his signature role.

Overall it was an alright film, redeemed the series itself for me after previous 2 but hasn't propelled the series back to the point were I think they should go out and make another 2 movies.

If they choose to do another one, I feel they should make Arnold the last of that timelines Terminators & then introduce a new actor as a new series of Terminator from the new timeline.. preferably an actor whom is as big a draw in 2015 as Arnold was say 10-15 years ago.. *cough* The Rock *cough*, not that Arnold isn't still enough of a draw as his name next to the word Terminator is still pretty much a guarantee to hit at least $200m but paired with one of 2015's biggest movie stars would make the film even bigger.

 

[Golgo-13]

Why are some of you still wasting your money on this film?

It's like a bad car accident; you know it's horrible but you want to see for yourself…

 

[OcStat]

Pretty much.

 

[Wildcard]

^ I wouldn't say that. Yes, it's tremendously flawed but I found it to be better than both T3 & Salvation, which says something I think. Salvation was good but just lacked a few components to make it the perfect storm, although the concept was great.

Here I think the same thing happened but not to quite as big an extent. A good concept was introduced but wasn't executed 100% properly.

 

[Matt Mortem]

It was certainly better than T3 and Salvation. I actually ended up liking it quite a bit. It's got some problems in the writing and some of the CG was less than convincing, but it could have been way, way worse. Honestly the most aggravating thing about it was that they spoiled the John Connor thing in the trailer. That would have been a big, exciting twist that absolutely didn't need spoiled in an advertisement.

 

[Serpico Jones]

GQ and the NY Times both took turns ripping TG producer David Ellison this week, they basically called him an in over his head trust fund brat. This was the first movie that he actually produced, usually he just writes the checks and attends the premiere.

 

[Alien Anal]

One thing I miss in the non Cameron Terminator films is that feeling of "the machine". Skynet and the Terminators are just machines, very smart machines but really no different to a truck or gun. In the original films we would often see shots of machinery and vehicles going through their motions which I think helped sell Arnie as a cold emotionless machine. Even the music played such an important part selling this idea of the machine.

Skynet never came across as evil man with a plan but just a machine that gained AI and acted fast on its cold but superior knowledge.

 

[Mysteryman]

To his credit, Ellison is a huge Terminator fan.
He was the one who had the initial meetings with Arnold.
And he has been out there going to prrss junkets with Dana Goldberg and Taylor selling this film.

 

[SpitCurl]

One thing I miss in the non Cameron Terminator films is that feeling of "the machine". Skynet and the Terminators are just machines, very smart machines but really no different to a truck or gun. In the original films we would often see shots of machinery and vehicles going through their motions which I think helped sell Arnie as a cold emotionless machine. Even the music played such an important part selling this idea of the machine.

Skynet never came across as evil man with a plan but just a machine that gained AI and acted fast on its cold but superior knowledge.

I think that's due to Cameron's inherent nerdiness and fascination with technology and the minutiae of it. It's funny, but how many directors have gone deep-sea diving in submersibles of their own design? Or, have given away solar-panel tech (and are looking to do so again) simply because they had an idea for something? I imagine the guy is difficult to get along with in the same that Edison or Tesla were, not because he's (merely) an egotist but because his brain works on a different level than say, McG's, or Taylor's. You can't deny that the man has a genuine love bordering-on-fetishism for all things science.

So, yes, while many of the people involved in the films after T2 might profess a love those first 2, it doesn't mean they have the same insight or curiosity toward the themes and subject matter as Cameron did.

It's like they've done their best to ape the action and aesthetics without understanding what any of it actually means.

 

[Alien Anal]

Yeh thats it really. There is so much more that went into the first Terminator movies that makes them great films, they can add blue lighting and recreate scenes but it still doesnt get us any closer to what made the originals so great.