Terminator Salvation: Review Central

[Timstuff]

Yeah, but it would have sucked.

 

[LostSon88]

Ugh. Just reading this made me remember how much I still prefer the original ending. Yes, it's controversial and some would say that it goes against everything Cameron intended but he isn't coming back to the franchise and a new direction for the franchise is necessary.

So a "new direction" for the franchise at the expense of basically taking a s**t on every thing Cameron established in his films?

 

[Kent]

Yeah, I'm sorry... but there's a 1000 things horribly terribly wrong with the original ending. John Connor dies and is replaced by a robot (thus making John Connor replaceable)? Skynet is trying to save mankind?

No. Just no.

 

[dude stannis]

Both endings are terrible. I think they should've stuck with the Ferris/Brancato script and changed the ending to Connor dissapearing and being presumed dead in the mayhem of the action, while Marcus takes his identity because no one knows what Connor looks like. That way the story moves forward and there's places to take the sequels.

 

[craigdbfan]

Yeah, but it would have sucked.

And TS didn't accomplish that?

I don't understand how one can say that the original ending sucks when TS current ending contributes nothing new and its executed in an almost unintentional comical manner. Instead we get a safe & stupid ending. I'd rather have a ballsy & stupid ending if given the option.

So a "new direction" for the franchise at the expense of basically taking a s**t on every thing Cameron established in his films?

Don't worry the "new direction" that you seem to dislike won't do that as T3 and TS have already made sure at throwing as much fecal matter at Cameron's past successful efforts in large amounts.

I find it funny that the devout complain and insult the original ending so much when they've received nothing but unoriginal, sloppy written movies like T3 and Salvation.

In some cases its better to not listen to the fan base. Most of the time it restricts filmmakers from taking bold deviations from a franchise that is slowly but surely dwindling in to the realms of mediocrity.

Sometimes a fresh direction is for the best. The numbers at the BO and the lukewarm reception are only one of the indicators showing the amount of interest and relevance the current Terminator films have.

 

[bullets]

Both endings are terrible. I think they should've stuck with the Ferris/Brancato script and changed the ending to Connor dissapearing and being presumed dead in the mayhem of the action, while Marcus takes his identity because no one knows what Connor looks like. That way the story moves forward and there's places to take the sequels.

That would of been a good ending. I just don't like the ending where John Connor would actually die.

 

[craigdbfan]

Both endings are terrible. I think they should've stuck with the Ferris/Brancato script and changed the ending to Connor dissapearing and being presumed dead in the mayhem of the action, while Marcus takes his identity because no one knows what Connor looks like. That way the story moves forward and there's places to take the sequels.

That would have been a nice middle ground I think and spares Connor of dying.

 

[DarKush]

Both endings are terrible. I think they should've stuck with the Ferris/Brancato script and changed the ending to Connor dissapearing and being presumed dead in the mayhem of the action, while Marcus takes his identity because no one knows what Connor looks like. That way the story moves forward and there's places to take the sequels.

I didn't mind them killing off Connor, but this is an interesting compromise.

 

[bestever23]

I still think this was a great summer action film. I don't see any dislike from me, I think it's the best action movie I've seen this year and I don't know why others can't see it for what it is

 

[Milkman95]

Thought it was decent - better than what I was expecting, especially with the reviews and the nitpicking of the fans........

 

[Solidus]

See I just can't get why some don't try and see it either way.

As some one who was excited for the film, and hated it in the end as a Terminator movie I can say I'm not "nit picking" In T3 getting mad about John's age yea that is maybe more of a nit pick. Having huge gaping holes to the mythology and T4's own story....that's not nitpicking. That's great that some find it to be a fun film. But that is not what T1 and T2 were... The reason T1 and T2 are hailed by most as masterpieces because they were deeper then "just action flicks" They had more depth to them about humanity, where we are going, what our weapons can do to us, it went further. And they were always human stories.

T3 and T4 have turned that into bang bang bang movies...that's not what the first two were about. That again I said is great that some liked it, I hold no grudge against those that do. But it does seem the majority finds this to be a decent flick at best, but the fact of the matter is it aint nit picking in my eyes. The holes in the plot just slapped the Terminator mythos hard in the face as I saw it.

But that is cool if those that did enjoy it did, does not mean you have to tell the many that did not, are wrong for thinking what they do and vice versa. I just tried to give some an insight to some one that did not like it, but again I aint saying your point of view is wrong, just this is how many feel.

 

[Rishi]

That killed me. During the Connor/T-800 fight, it just throws Connor around like a ragdoll, yet, the T-800 can go whoop Marcus' ass with a damn cinder block and punch his heart...yeah Marcus...a dude who is randomly there and not #2 on the Skynet kill list.

Answer: It's just a movie.

(alternatively, its just a prototype and is dumb )

 

[That-Guy]

Saw it last night. Good, but not a great movie. Unfortunately, a great movie was what it needed to be. I thought Bale, Worthington and Yelchin were really strong in it, the effects were good... and as far as post-apolocalyptic movies go, it's certainly one of the best looking. The story was okay, but only if you're willing to pretty much throw logic out the window. Some of the dialogue was pretty awful, but I try not to nitpick that kind of thing too often, simply because well, in real life, people rarely have anything profound to say in regular conversation. All in all, it's entertaining, but I couldn't help but want something more than that.

 

[The Chris]

Saw it last night. Good, but not a great movie. Unfortunately, a great movie was what it needed to be. I thought Bale, Worthington and Yelchin were really strong in it, the effects were good... and as far as post-apolocalyptic movies go, it's certainly one of the best looking. The story was okay, but only if you're willing to pretty much throw logic out the window. Some of the dialogue was pretty awful, but I try not to nitpick that kind of thing too often, simply because well, in real life, people rarely have anything profound to say in regular conversation. All in all, it's entertaining, but I couldn't help but want something more than that.

Yes I think you're on the money there. It's funny that Both Star Trek and Terminator Salvation both leave you wanting more but in different ways. I felt fulfilled yet wanted more and more films with Star Trek, where as Terminator, even though I liked it, left me wanting more from itself.

 

[Matt]

Ugh. Just reading this made me remember how much I still prefer the original ending. Yes, it's controversial and some would say that it goes against everything Cameron intended but he isn't coming back to the franchise and a new direction for the franchise is necessary.

Otherwise we'll keep getting movies like Rise of the Machines and Salvation (although the original way it was supposed to turn out sounds far better and would have made for a better film imo).

I was opposed to the original ending as it destroys the original mythoes. Clearly Connor is not that important if a robot can replace him. Still, I left the theater wanting that ending. Simply because, thematically, it was more fitting. The Chud review hit the nail on the head. Its like they built up to the original ending, and then didn't carry through. The script wasn't changed enough for the new ending to be effective.

 

[Spade]

I don't care for the original ending, but at least I would've been talking about it after I left the theater. That's what The Dark Knight's ending did, and that's what I was promised this one would do.

Well, I'm talking. But it's nothing positive.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

Yeah, I'm sorry... but there's a 1000 things horribly terribly wrong with the original ending. John Connor dies and is replaced by a robot (thus making John Connor replaceable)? Skynet is trying to save mankind?

No. Just no.

Agreed.

Both endings are terrible. I think they should've stuck with the Ferris/Brancato script and changed the ending to Connor dissapearing and being presumed dead in the mayhem of the action, while Marcus takes his identity because no one knows what Connor looks like. That way the story moves forward and there's places to take the sequels.

Agreed, both of those ending are bad.

Connor leaving was a better idea.

 

[Spade]

There are good ways you can explore Skynet wanting to save humanity in its own way. It's just that the way they originally wanted to do that sounds incredibly stupid.

 

[craigdbfan]

There are good ways you can explore Skynet wanting to save humanity in its own way. It's just that the way they originally wanted to do that sounds incredibly stupid.

Its a bit to reminiscent of the themes and various climaxes in the Matrix trilogy.

But Brancato and Ferris weren't going to come up with anything more original and the ending we got is just a anticlimactic and boring ending that does nothing to move the overall story since T2. Thats 2 movies now (Rise of the Machines, Salvation) where we've had little to no progression of exploring deeper themes that resonate with the viewer long after watching the movie or taking the mythology away from this standstill.

All we've gotten are an improvement in pyrotechnics and a nice demo reel of ILM's amazing CGI work. As much as I appreciate those aspects when it comes to blockbuster summer movies, I'd like to see a worthwhile story and characters that I had such a great time watching in T1 and T2 because they drew an emotional and psychological awareness during viewing and even after.

I was opposed to the original ending as it destroys the original mythoes. Clearly Connor is not that important if a robot can replace him. Still, I left the theater wanting that ending. Simply because, thematically, it was more fitting. The Chud review hit the nail on the head. Its like they built up to the original ending, and then didn't carry through. The script wasn't changed enough for the new ending to be effective.

Agreed.

 

[DarKush]

I was opposed to the original ending as it destroys the original mythoes. Clearly Connor is not that important if a robot can replace him. Still, I left the theater wanting that ending. Simply because, thematically, it was more fitting. The Chud review hit the nail on the head. Its like they built up to the original ending, and then didn't carry through. The script wasn't changed enough for the new ending to be effective.

I don't think a robot taking Connor's place would diminish Connor. It really depends on how the transfer took place, would it just be Connor's face or would his personality and memories also be downloaded into Marcus?

It becomes an issue of the symbol overtaking the actual person which has happened a lot in history. The idea of Connor might be more important than the actual man himself to the movement.

 

[Etienne]

I don't think a robot taking Connor's place would diminish Connor. It really depends on how the transfer took place, would it just be Connor's face or would his personality and memories also be downloaded into Marcus?

It becomes an issue of the symbol overtaking the actual person which has happened a lot in history. The idea of Connor might be more important than the actual man himself to the movement.

You bring up a good point here. My guess is it would just be Connor's face which just makes me hate that ending even more.

 

[The Guard]

Seems to me the way to go would have been to have Connor become a Terminator but not just be replaced by one. He could have been badly hurt, and somehow saved by becoming one of what they're fighting against. That's powerful stuff. Yes, it sort of makes him a pseudo Robocop, but it also gives him an interesting angle that future films could play well. He'd still be himself, not just a random robot.

 

[AnorexicBatman]

Yes, because who doesn't want to see Bale rip **** up.
I would have actually liked that. Great for action scenes and you could play up the whole, losing your humanity angle for a little depth

 

[The Guard]

I mean, Christian Bale as a nigh unstoppable Terminator? Trying to come to terms with what he is after his disgust at Marcus' nature, hiding it, etc? That's box office gold.

 

[AnorexicBatman]

Bale-Minator for T5!!

Also, gratuitous Terminator Vs. Terminator fight scene between him and another T-RIP
I would love a scene where he breaks down in front of Kate and rips his face skin off and cries, "Look at what I have become! The very thing my mother died trying to destroy"