Terminator: Genisys - Part 8

[Mysteryman]

I think they were meant to be the Skynet airships from the first two.

That was my impression too.
I guess we are getting to the point where all spaceships look alike .

 

[Deaths Head II]

Perhaps it's just time to let Terminator go. We're always hoping they're going to recreate past glories (I'm talking about you, T1 & T2) but it doesn't seem that is the case. Genisys wasn't the complete trainwreck I expected, but neither did I walk away from it stunned and on a high like I did after my first watch of T2. It was passable, with a bit of confusion and mediocrity thrown in.

Again, I feel like the mish-mash of casting and timeline events didn't help. It reminds me somewhat of Superman Returns in 2006, where they carried on a storyline from 1980's Superman II, largely ignoring Superman III & IV. They cast new actors in virtually all the roles, but kept Brando's image for the role of Jor-El.

Terminator : Genisys did the same thing. It largely ignores T3 & T4. Instead of going for an all-new approach, they bring back an aged Arnie but cast new actors in the rest of the roles - trying to appeal to new audiences but also trying to hold onto fans of the old properties - whilst using the film's plot hook of time travel to explain this. It didn't work for Superman Returns, and it doesn't really work here either.

If you're going to restart a franchise, either start completely fresh or don't start at all. Arnie is synonymous with the Terminator franchise, but he's not getting any younger and it's time to move on and come up with new ideas, not permutations of existing ones.

I honestly think that's partly why I dislike this film the most out of the franchise. T3 and T4 are massively flawed but they at least felt like logical progressions for the franchise. Even though T3 was a rehash of T2, it was about adult John Connor and it leads to the rise of the machines. T4 was about John Connor during the future war trying to find Reese. I thought the franchise was dead after the future war film failed because there really isn't much else to look forward to. But Genesys taking things backwards in a desperate attempt to revisit the original films just makes the whole film series seem super pointless (especially with the endless time traveling going on). The only appeal of this film is seeing Arnie back but that's not going to sustain a franchise going forward.

 

[Majik1387]

Logical progressions? Are you serious?

 

[TheVileOne]

I still don't get the need to turn R-rated franchises into PG-13 ones to make them more accessible to earn more money, but it has the opposite affect.

 

[Alien Anal]

I won't go into it too much but this is what iv thinking I'd do to reinvigorate the franchise.

1) Complete reboot. I'd make 2 films, 1 based on T1 but set now and the other the future war showing the complete loop. Starring Maika Monroe as Sarah
and Ezra Miller as Kyle.

2) A 2001 space odyssey type film that follows the beginning of Skynet to its fall. This wouldn't be your typical Hollywood blockbuster. I would also maybe put in a twist that Skynet were really doing the right thing destroying humans but they lose and we screw the earth even more.

3) I haven't really thought this one through but I'd have it so judgement day was averted and it's Senator John Connor fighting to stop the bill being passed to allow Skynet to become active..and then he loses and it does and then Killer machines all over again!

 

[roach]

I just think it needs to be back in James Cameron's hands again.
1) get back to R rating
2) innovate...T2 gave us the T1000 and that seems to be as far as imaginations can go in this universe.
3) change it up...it's a boring formula...two people come back in time...one to kill, one to save..."come with me if you want to live" car chase, shoot out "I'll be back" some semi relevant quote about humanity killing itself or some such nonsense.....final fight in some set piece where the environment will be used to kill the bad guy...rinse and repeat.

 

[Marvolo]

I just think it needs to be back in James Cameron's hands again.
1) get back to R rating
2) innovate...T2 gave us the T1000 and that seems to be as far as imaginations can go in this universe.
3) change it up...it's a boring formula...two people come back in time...one to kill, one to save..."come with me if you want to live" car chase, shoot out "I'll be back" some semi relevant quote about humanity killing itself or some such nonsense.....final fight in some set piece where the environment will be used to kill the bad guy...rinse and repeat.

Paramount needs to look to Mad Max Fury Road. That is how you bring back a long dead franchise. With lots of love and care and respect. Cookie-cutter PG-13 cgi BS isn't the key to success. And laziness will get them nowhere good. Frankly, I'm a bit tired of John Conner, Sarah Conner, Kyle Reese, and the T-800. This franchise has beaten that horse to a nice purée. They need to either do a soft reboot or a full blown reboot from the ground up with new protagonists. Hell, call the film Skynet and drop the terminators entirely. Just do something new and fun and worth a damn. And stop riding the coat tails of Cameron's first two films.

They could even do a reboot the way Fox rebooted the POTA films. A trilogy dealing with the rise of the machines, war with the machines, and the eventual fall of mankind. No terminators and no time travel.

 

[Deaths Head II]

Logical progressions? Are you serious?

Until this film the series followed a linear time progression through Sarah and John's life and featured the one timeline we all knew and were invested in. So yeah.

Maybe it's just me but having characters jump back and forth through time, having time travel be more easily accessible, and having each time jump create a different time line just makes the whole story seem pretty pointless. Skynet can theoretically keep seeing how they lose and keep sending different Terminators to different timelines. It's part of the reason why I was glad T4 finally subdued the time travel element because it inevitably gets out of hand in franchises that go on too long. And then this film had to bring it back on steroids.

 

[dude stannis]

Let's say Lightstorm Entertainment (James Cameron's production company) gets the rights back in 2019 and so 20th Century Fox are set to release a new Terminator film;

1. Rated R. Notice the lack of actual terminations in the last few Terminator films? It's nonsense. There's got to be death, and it's got to look like it hurts.

2. Lower budget. We've seen too many CGI stunt doubles cartoonishly throwing each other through walls in the last 3 films. Keep the budget down and make the action more practical.

3. Arnie needs to call it a day. Even though he was more entertaining in Genisys than the likes of Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, etc the dude is going to be in his early 70's by 2019, it's just too ridiculous. But on the flip side, enough with the boring characters. Bale and Jason Clarke are awesome. If you get them, use them.

4. No more hack directors. Mostow is an ok journeyman, McG and Alan Taylor are complete hacks. Find someone good, let him make the kind of film he wants to make. Stop copying whatever was successful the year before.

5. No more cute references. All they do is make me wish I was watching T1 and T2 instead.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

Here is an idea. How about no more Terminator movies? We got two great ones and three extra ones that range from mediocre to terrible and contribute nothing to the story. We also had two seasons of a TV show. We've gotten more out of a limited concept than one could reasonably hope to. Let's just stop.

 

[dude stannis]

Pfft, James Cameron's favourite colour isn't blue, it's green. We're getting more Terminator films once he gets his hands on them whether we want them or not.

 

[Black Narcissus]

I'm sooooo glad Brie Larson doesn't have this film to her name.

 

[Nightmare]

I think cameron would rather do 8 more avatar movies than touch terminator ever again.

 

[Majik1387]

Terminator meets Avatar


















:cries in horror:

 

[Marvolo]

Let's say Lightstorm Entertainment (James Cameron's production company) gets the rights back in 2019 and so 20th Century Fox are set to release a new Terminator film;

1. Rated R. Notice the lack of actual terminations in the last few Terminator films? It's nonsense. There's got to be death, and it's got to look like it hurts.

2. Lower budget. We've seen too many CGI stunt doubles cartoonishly throwing each other through walls in the last 3 films. Keep the budget down and make the action more practical.

3. Arnie needs to call it a day. Even though he was more entertaining in Genisys than the likes of Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, etc the dude is going to be in his early 70's by 2019, it's just too ridiculous. But on the flip side, enough with the boring characters. Bale and Jason Clarke are awesome. If you get them, use them.

4. No more hack directors. Mostow is an ok journeyman, McG and Alan Taylor are complete hacks. Find someone good, let him make the kind of film he wants to make. Stop copying whatever was successful the year before.

5. No more cute references. All they do is make me wish I was watching T1 and T2 instead.

The budget isn't the problem. It's the execution and skill of those involved that's lacking. Mad Max: Fury Road has a reported budget of $150 million. Terminator Genisys has a reported budget of $155 million. Both of these amounts likely exclude the marketing expenses but that's unimportant. Point is, two films with practically the same budget, and there is a world of difference in terms of quality. And in this day and age Terminator Genisy's budget is actually pretty low for a summer tentpole. So I don't think they necessarily need to lower the budget. They just need to hire a director and a crew that aren't satisfied delivering a half-passed lazy mess of a film.

 

[Alien Anal]

Imagine if they shot 2 films at the same time. Future war and the T1 story and released them at the same time.... I dunno just thinkin out loud.

Oh and the above post is spot on.

 

[mikeboydus]

If Cameron makes a sequel, I would like to see something that ignores all of the events of T-3 to Genesys.

A somewhat original idea would be for it to pick up from Cameron's alternate T2 ending. The setting would be 2029 in Washington DC. Judgment Day never happened and John Connor is now a US Senator fighting to keep anything like Skynet from being made. I would keep Sarah Connor as the narrator and one of the main protagonists.

The story would follow the idea that Danny Dyson and his mother were traumatically affected by the revelations and events of T2 and Danny has spent his adult life working on what is known as FAI or Friendly AI. He believes it would give humanity the best chance at survival if a hostile AI like Skynet appeared.

Unknown to both Danny Dyson and Senator Connor, a rogue seed AI has emerged spontaneously on the next gen web from mysterious code of unknown origin and has begun spreading like a virus throughout the world. It begins messing with all kinds of systems in a learning process. After it hijacks an automated 3D printing complex used for neuroprosthetics aka cybernetics, it uses the factory to build a humanoid cyborg very similar to a terminator and sends it out into the world.

Dyson and Connor only figure what is happening after a series of bizarre accidents kill a number of people around the world and almost kill both of them, but they are saved by Dyson's prototype friendly AI.

The rest of the story would follow the Connors, Dyson and others trying to discover the origin of the code and stop it if possible, while trying to survive in a world where the machines have gone mad similar to Maximum Overdive, and of course the new generation terminator that is hunting them in a chaotic 2029 Washington DC. It would climax at Raven Rock just outside DC.

 

[Alien Anal]

If Cameron makes a sequel, I would like to see something that ignores all of the events of T-3 to Genesys.

A somewhat original idea would be for it to pick up from Cameron's alternate T2 ending. The setting would be 2029 in Washington DC. Judgment Day never happened and John Connor is now a US Senator fighting to keep anything like Skynet from being made. I would keep Sarah Connor as the narrator and one of the main protagonists.

The story would follow the idea that Danny Dyson and his mother were traumatically affected by the revelations and events of T2 and Danny has spent his adult life working on what is known as FAI or Friendly AI. He believes it would give humanity the best chance at survival if a hostile AI like Skynet appeared.

Unknown to both Danny Dyson and Senator Connor, a rogue seed AI has emerged spontaneously on the next gen web from mysterious code of unknown origin and has begun spreading like a virus throughout the world. It begins messing with all kinds of systems in a learning process. After it hijacks an automated 3D printing complex used for neuroprosthetics aka cybernetics, it uses the factory to build a humanoid cyborg very similar to a terminator and sends it out into the world.

Dyson and Connor only figure what is happening after a series of bizarre accidents kill a number of people around the world and almost kill both of them, but they are saved by Dyson's prototype friendly AI.

The rest of the story would follow the Connors, Dyson and others trying to discover the origin of the code and stop it if possible, while trying to survive in a world where the machines have gone mad similar to Maximum Overdive, and of course the new generation terminator that is hunting them in a chaotic 2029 Washington DC. It would climax at Raven Rock just outside DC.

Hah did you see my post earlier in this thread? I suggested a similar idea but in not as much detail.

 

[mikeboydus]

Hah did you see my post earlier in this thread? I suggested a similar idea but in not as much detail.

No I missed your comment apparently. What page is it on?

I have this whole scenario in my head, scenes, dialogue, etc. Even made a playlist on Itunes for it and mess with a screenplay in Word time to time.

I could have went into far more details, but I have no idea who lurks on these forums.

Years back I wrote about something, I don't think it was on these forums, but it was called X Men Continuum and well there were some interesting coincidences that followed.

 

[Alien Anal]

No I missed your comment apparently. What page is it on?

I have this whole scenario in my head, scenes, dialogue, etc. Even made a playlist on Itunes for it and mess with a screenplay in Word time to time.

I could have went into far more details, but I have no idea who lurks on these forums.

Years back I wrote about something, I don't think it was on these forums, but it was called X Men Continuum and well there were some interesting coincidences that followed.

This Page haha! I am still in early thoughts on the idea. Im not sure how I would go about bringing back Skynet as killer machines. Will have to put more thought into it.

 

[smallville fan]

Here is an idea. How about no more Terminator movies? We got two great ones and three extra ones that range from mediocre to terrible and contribute nothing to the story. We also had two seasons of a TV show. We've gotten more out of a limited concept than one could reasonably hope to. Let's just stop.

Let's do one better and stop with continually reviving 80's material?(Except for the Jump Street movies, they're always welcome)

Seriously though, whenever something from the 1980's gets a reboot/adaptation it sucks in some way or will be poorly received except for 21/22 Jump Street which is a strange anomaly.

With regards to Terminator, they never should have cancelled TSCC. That was the best thing to happen post T2. Bring the franchise back to Television and get the showrunners from Falling Skies to make something.

 

[mikeboydus]

This Page haha! I am still in early thoughts on the idea. Im not sure how I would go about bringing back Skynet as killer machines. Will have to put more thought into it.

Wow I totally missed it.

There is plenty of material, real world AI development and upcoming technologies, that could be a really useful source in making a 2029 Skynet or Skynet like AI. One of the things I like about the setting of 2029 is it is much more plausible and doesn't depend on technology from the future, like the older versions of Skynet. The idea of a hostile AI emerging in 2029 and causing havoc in smart systems, like automated cars, homes, etc, on a global scale isn't really far fetched at all. In that kind of setting there is no need for nuclear Judgment Day. Instead Judgment Day would look much more like Maximum Overdrive.

One other possibility is a cybernetic coup. This one is a bit more on the cloak and dagger side, with a rogue AI essentially holding the world or US government hostage behind closed doors. Most people would have no idea it even happened. It then forces government officials to enact its policies and programs, manipulating events where needed to ensure the masquerade of human control stays in place. This is where the Terminators come in. They mercilessly hunt down those who are potential threats to the Skynet shadow government. Anyone who gets too close to the truth are terminated. Could make for some interesting cyberpunk dystopia.

 

[dude stannis]

I think cameron would rather do 8 more avatar movies than touch terminator ever again.

He doesn't have to direct one to make a fat wad of cash.

The budget isn't the problem. It's the execution and skill of those involved that's lacking. Mad Max: Fury Road has a reported budget of $150 million. Terminator Genisys has a reported budget of $155 million. Both of these amounts likely exclude the marketing expenses but that's unimportant. Point is, two films with practically the same budget, and there is a world of difference in terms of quality. And in this day and age Terminator Genisy's budget is actually pretty low for a summer tentpole. So I don't think they necessarily need to lower the budget. They just need to hire a director and a crew that aren't satisfied delivering a half-passed lazy mess of a film.

I just think they've gone the big budget blockbuster route too many times now and it's just been done to death. The Transforminator that shoots motorbikes out of it's knees was fun in concept, but it ended up looking like every other film that comes out during the summer. Plus going the $150 million route means PG-13 and that's played a huge part in sinking both Salvation and Genisys.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I'm sooooo glad Brie Larson doesn't have this film to her name.

I am so, so, so happy about her not "winning" the role. Terrible reviews and mediocre at best box office means that the film is not a good star vehicle. She deserves to star in a good franchise.

 

[Marvolo]

He doesn't have to direct one to make a fat wad of cash.



I just think they've gone the big budget blockbuster route too many times now and it's just been done to death. The Transforminator that shoots motorbikes out of it's knees was fun in concept, but it ended up looking like every other film that comes out during the summer. Plus going the $150 million route means PG-13 and that's played a huge part in sinking both Salvation and Genisys.

Fury Road didn't go the PG-13 route.

In this day and age I doubt a Terminator film could be made for much less than $150 million. The cgi required for skynet's machines, the action, the sets, on location shooting, crew size, number of stunt men and women and complexity of the shoot etc require a pretty hefty budget. And Paramount is unlikely to make a Terminator film that isn't a blockbuster type of film. What would a small Terminator film even be about? It has to be something that will draw a crowd and keep drawing a crowd. If it's too small people will just stay home and wait for the blu-ray or DVD.