Terminator Salvation: Review Central

[Carnotaur3]

I'll be seeing an advance screening Monday. Will post review then.

Better be prepared to answer a lot of questions: Sarah's photo, Terminator theme, etc.

 

[Maboroshi]

Hey. Posted this mini-review thursday night over at some terminator forums. Decided to copy/paste it over here if anyone was interested.

Just got back from the premier...

I am quite saddened. I was optimistic about this movie but after seeing it, it just seems lacking. It feels chopped up and rough.
Very little characterization, a plot that seems unfocused and just kind of wanders around, and what felt to me like an anticlimactic ending.

Now that I think of it, theres a thread somewhere around here that claimed there were 30 minutes cut out...havent read it read but that would explain my feelings. I should read that thread and see what theyre talking about. Is that official?
It feels like the movie really was lacking half an hour. Not because I simply wanted it to be longer, but it really felt chopped too small.


The casting is great, the designs are great (love the 600), the environments are great, but the story just simply seemed jumpy and lacking. Definitely needs that extra half hour.
If something like that were made into an extended cut, I think I would like the movie a lot more.

It's a mindless action movie at this point, and i'm left wanting more. Sad to say.

Now, I've had a couple days to let the movie stir around in my head now. I do appreciate the movie more now than I did when I first saw it.
I think my own expectations made it seem worse than it was.

Yes, its still a mostly mindless action movie.
But I think it is an enjoyable action movie.
I do still think it is much better than T3.
And I still think an extended cut might actually be a much better movie. McG has confirmed in interviews that 30-40 minutes REALLY ARE missing from the movie. A lot of that stuff you can even see in the TV spots and trailers.

I'd still put it behind T1 and T2, but its miles beyond T3.
If T1 is a 9 and T2 is a 9.5, then I'd give this movie an 8.
T3 gets a 6.5

If I'm around I'll answer questions for you.

Carnotaur,

Sarah's Photo:

Spoiler

It makes a brief appearance. It's the one from T1. Connor takes a quick look at it while listening to tapes from Sarah.

Terminator Theme:

Spoiler

I thought Elfman's entier score was pretty lacking. I actually love Elfman but this was dissapointing. There were only the tiniest little hints two or three times. The only blatant theme was a quick "dun dun dun, DUN DUN" when a certain terminator model reveals itself. For the most part, no terminator theme in this movie. Didnt even hear it in the credits.

 

[Kane52630]

well Maboroshi, you certainly made my expectations low
is Sam great in this movie?

 

[rashad]

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/entertainment/hollywood_mine/?p=392&srvc=home&position=recent

“Terminator” time again
I was completely puzzled for the first half-hour of the new “Terminator Salvation” which opens Friday but by the time it’s over, all is quite clear. I’ll be writing about its supposed ratings issue later this week but the big news is that Sam Worthington who stars in December’s “Avatar” really does have star presence as Christian Bale’s antagonist. Moon Bloodgood is also memorable as a warrior who takes a special protective interest in Worthington’s Marcus. There’s a lovely surprise here amid all the noisy carnage, a grace note really when the film begins with Helena Bonham Carter as a doctor questioning Marcus who is in prison and about to be executed. Nicely done Helena! And a salute to director McG for making it possible.

 

[X-Ray]

Just got off the phone with my brother, who is currently doing combat training at Camp Pendleton. They're getting a special treat today at 1 PM. A free early screening of Terminator Salvation. :gray:

They get Sundays off and so this was the only time he had to make a call. I just wished he made the call an hour earlier. It's a 2 hour drive & another 10-15 minutes at the check point to get on the damn base.

Oh well, I'll wait til Thursday.

 

[Maboroshi]

well Maboroshi, you certainly made my expectations low
is Sam great in this movie?

Sorry about that. But I think youll enjoy it a lot more with low expectations. I was expecting something as good as T1 or T2, but instead that just left me severely dissapointed.
Sam did a good job but I felt he was underused. I did like him in the part.

I felt a lot of characters in the movie were underused. Kind of just there to play their part but add nothing to their characterization.

Although I suspect a lot of this is in that deleted 30-40 minutes.

Kate was most underused I would say. Barnes is in like 2 short scenes and thats it. Doesnt even say much. The only reason why he didnt take the title of "Most Underused" was because he is less important than Kate.
On Kate:

Spoiler

She is seen very little in the movie. Doesnt say too much. Her pregnancy is obvious if you look at her belly, but it is never even mentioned in the movie. A shot you see in a trailer of John touching her belly is not even in the movie, so I suspect there is a whole scene around her pregnancy that got cut out.

Seriously, this movie needs an extended cut! I think it would definitely be a much better movie!

 

[co2]

Hey. Posted this mini-review thursday night over at some terminator forums. Decided to copy/paste it over here if anyone was interested.




Now, I've had a couple days to let the movie stir around in my head now. I do appreciate the movie more now than I did when I first saw it.
I think my own expectations made it seem worse than it was.

Yes, its still a mostly mindless action movie.
But I think it is an enjoyable action movie.
I do still think it is much better than T3.
And I still think an extended cut might actually be a much better movie. McG has confirmed in interviews that 30-40 minutes REALLY ARE missing from the movie. A lot of that stuff you can even see in the TV spots and trailers.

I'd still put it behind T1 and T2, but its miles beyond T3.
If T1 is a 9 and T2 is a 9.5, then I'd give this movie and 8.5
T3 gets a 6.5

That's good enough for me. I in no way expect this to equal the first two flicks. Those are legitimate classics. If it is better than T3, is a good time and at least fits well into the franchise and mythology (which from all looks it will accomplish all of that) then I'll be happy with this installment. I'm not expecting miracles. 3 good movies out of 4 is a pretty good record for a any film franchise.
nuff said

 

[BestGirl]

I'm wary of reading reviews because I want to be able to form my own opinion but I can't resist.

 

[Project862006]

i look at reviews but that's it just look at them they wont effect my opinion watchmen has 64% on RT and i loved that film i don't let critics or ratings change my view on a film

 

[Maboroshi]

To elaborate more on the score:
(Only spoilery in relation to the score. No story details.)

Spoiler

As I had said, I thought it was really lacking.
But that isnt to say that it is bad.

Of course it was lacking the Terminator Theme for the most part. Just a couple hints and a "dun dun dun, DUN DUN" at one point during the movie.
Only small hints of the villian theme from T2.
Little connection to past movies.

It did, however, use a lot of percussion/drums.
Mostly not steel sounding things, though. But still drums.
That's a plus.

And its not that the music plain sucks, its just rather generic.
Take random action movie score #32 and this wont be much different from most of the tracks.

After the movie, I didn't remember any specific music from the movie too well.
It is not very memorable.

I have re-listened to the whole score again coughtorrentscough and there are 2 or 3 tracks that are nice. The rest of the 15 tracks are not worth a repeat listen, though.

So dont think the score flat our failed in every way and just plain sucked. But be aware that it isnt anything special.
Terminator has a lot of different tracks but few of them very memorable. Unlike Star Trek that actually mostly had many variations of the same 2 or 3 tracks, and ended up being very memorable. Quality, not quantity.

 

[Maboroshi]

i look at reviews but that's it just look at them they wont effect my opinion watchmen has 64% on RT and i loved that film i don't let critics or ratings change my view on a film

Yeah everyone needs to judge it for themselves. Other reviews are just things to consider.

I also liked Watchmen.

 

[Nivek]

That's good enough for me. I in no way expect this to equal the first two flicks. Those are legitimate classics. If it is better than T3, is a good time and at least fits well into the franchise and mythology (which from all looks it will accomplish all of that) then I'll be happy with this installment. I'm not expecting miracles. 3 good movies out of 4 is a pretty good record for a any film franchise.
nuff said

This is where my opinion on this has been. I never expected something superior to the first 2 films, I just wanted better than T3. Also, I'm looking at this film being a start of a new series, not a sequel.

 

[Carnotaur3]

Maborashi: What about the opening credits? What was it like? Did the Terminator font make a return or was it their own font?

 

[daywalker2007]

I just saw it,
and while its marginally better than T3,

It just goes to show they didn't work hard enough to bring Brad Fiedel out of retirement to do the music.

People don't realise the score of a movie can play a big part in improving the movie, but it looks like McG was happy to go for more of the same ****** type scores we have been getting for the past few years.

The music was dreadful.

 

[Solidus]

That's good enough for me. I in no way expect this to equal the first two flicks. Those are legitimate classics. If it is better than T3, is a good time and at least fits well into the franchise and mythology (which from all looks it will accomplish all of that) then I'll be happy with this installment. I'm not expecting miracles. 3 good movies out of 4 is a pretty good record for a any film franchise.
nuff said

I agree. That and I see TS as a new kinda of movie. I remember how many people griped and complained about Begins when it came out, because it was not "like" Burton's stuff, or Elfman's score. Some just expect more of the same and get angry when its not. But get angry when it does too

I imagine that TS will be a great movie, and back on the right path to be able to make good Terminator movies again after T3's disappointment. I was not expecting at all the T2 kinda love. I always have been weary on how it will do BO wise, I just kinda figure this installment will garner some more trust to the Terminator name again. But I'm going to be interested to see this extended cut. You hear us McG! We want the extended cut you have been talking about in October

 

[KGBeast]

Does the film feature at least a decent main title sequence?, i hate what they do with t3, only the title, 0 music and then the monologue of JC.

 

[Maboroshi]

Maborashi: What about the opening credits? What was it like? Did the Terminator font make a return or was it their own font?

Opening credits:

Spoiler

Looks very similar to the T1 opening with the letters going across the screen eventually forming a title.
Dont remember if it was the old font or the new Salvation font.

Does the film feature at least a decent main title sequence?, i hate what they do with t3, only the title, 0 music and then the monologue of JC.

I liked the title sequence.

 

[Rishi]

I'm actually kinda glad reviews aren't being amazing so far.. helps keep my expectations in check

 

[BestGirl]

Sorry about that. But I think youll enjoy it a lot more with low expectations. I was expecting something as good as T1 or T2, but instead that just left me severely dissapointed.
Sam did a good job but I felt he was underused. I did like him in the part.

I felt a lot of characters in the movie were underused. Kind of just there to play their part but add nothing to their characterization.

Although I suspect a lot of this is in that deleted 30-40 minutes.

Kate was most underused I would say. Barnes is in like 2 short scenes and thats it. Doesnt even say much. The only reason why he didnt take the title of "Most Underused" was because he is less important than Kate.
On Kate:

Spoiler

She is seen very little in the movie. Doesnt say too much. Her pregnancy is obvious if you look at her belly, but it is never even mentioned in the movie. A shot you see in a trailer of John touching her belly is not even in the movie, so I suspect there is a whole scene around her pregnancy that got cut out.

Seriously, this movie needs an extended cut! I think it would definitely be a much better movie!

That article about the cut footage indicated that the 30-40 minutes excised from the film included some alternate endings, Moon's topless scene, and I think some scenes involving Kate's pregnancy. It sounds like the Kate scenes should've been kept in since I keep hearing about how her character was underdeveloped.

I look at it this way: we're being introduced to the characters in this movie. We probably have two more to get to really know them.

i look at reviews but that's it just look at them they wont effect my opinion watchmen has 64% on RT and i loved that film i don't let critics or ratings change my view on a film

Ditto. I loved Watchmen but wasn't surprised to see it fail to click with critics and the GA.

I just saw it,
and while its marginally better than T3,

It just goes to show they didn't work hard enough to bring Brad Fiedel out of retirement to do the music.

People don't realise the score of a movie can play a big part in improving the movie, but it looks like McG was happy to go for more of the same ****** type scores we have been getting for the past few years.

The music was dreadful.

Good think I don't care at all about the soundtrack. At least that won't bother me. t:

 

[Nivek]

The soundtrack complaints are very distracting to me. Part of me wants to care because soundtracks do matter (to an extent), but the other part of me is "shut up about it not sounding like T1 and T2. All that matters is that the music fits THIS movie.".

 

[mad-sci]

FINALLY!


We have a GENUINE review, and it's a HIT!!!

From Variety:-

Darker, grimmer and more stylistically single-minded than its two relatively giddy predecessors, “Terminator Salvation” boasts the kind of singular vision that distinguished the James Cameron original, the full-throttle kinetics of “Speed” and an old-fashioned regard for human (and humanoid) heroics. Only pic’s relentlessly doomsday tone -- accessorized by helmer McG’s grimy, gun-metal palette -- might keep auds from flocking like lemmings to the apocalypse. The fourth in the celebrated sci-fi series, “Salvation” opens and closes with humanity at war with the machines. In other words, this thing isn’t going to end soon. Nor should it, if it keeps on like this.

 

[Nivek]

^^nice!

 

[Kane52630]

FINALLY!


We have a GENUINE review, and it's a HIT!!!

From Variety:-

t:

 

[mad-sci]

AND here come another.

Sadly, it's a so-so affair from The Hollywood Reporter.

Bottom Line: The machines rise to the occasion. Too bad the dramatic element's just as robotic.

BTW, NOBODY expects TS to do TDK numbers - do they?

 

[BestGirl]

FINALLY!


We have a GENUINE review, and it's a HIT!!!

From Variety:-

AND here come another.

Sadly, it's a so-so affair from The Hollywood Reporter.

Most reviews will probably lie between these two.

BTW, NOBODY expects TS to do TDK numbers - do they?

No. Who said it would?