Before I start my review, let me first say I got flack from everyone when I would pop in and voice concern about the project. That I don't think we had a great director, script writers, like T3 this wasn't overtly necessary, and I can see it only disappointing in showing us this great struggle we pictured from T1 and T2. But, I told you all I'd give it a fair chance and be objective. After all, T1 and T2 are in my top 10 (maybe even top 5) Sci-Fi films ever. I have to fight back tears whenever I see the Terminator unit sacrifice himself in T2, and declare he knows why humans cry...yet he can't express that emotion. The first two films of this series are phenominal, and I was sad T3 kept my anticipation low. I love what this series could be, and wanted to see the best film possible, even if I didn't think we needed it. Now, spoiler time!!! Beware from here on!!!
Before I highlight the problem areas of this film, let me first give props:
-Sam Worrthington - His Marcus character was interesting and had some good moments. He played the part well.
-The action scenes look impressive and were kind of cool. I'll get more into this later, though.
-The film had good actors for the roles they played.
-The special effects are great, and 95% of the Terminator's they put in the film look cool. Also liked the scenery and sets.
Now, let me get into the problems, of which there are many:
-The film moves too fast and is choppy. I can tell where the topless scene was supposed to go, I can tell some violence was toned down in cutaways and when, and only the Marcus character is developed well. Connor's struggle I think needed more focus and the film needed to flesh the story out more in ways. They throw in too much action and too close together in most cases. Less is more sometimes.
-The Kyle Reese subplot...this needs particular focus away from even mentioning the rest of the plot. Theu have Skynet know that Reese is John's father. The machines can't kill John all these years. Here's an idea for you guys...DON'T SEND THE TERMINATOR AFTER SARAH IN THE FUTURE!!! It's because of that irony John is conceived, and I don't see how it makes any logical sense to have Skynet aware Reese is his father and their interference created John, and still send Terminators to the past. MAKES NO SENSE!!! You ruin the irony and John's ace in the hole by doing this. Bravo writers
-The plot moves too fast and glosses over important details. I wanted to hear more of why Marcus was on death row. Yet, they completely ignore this once he is reawaken. Him confessing it would have made for a powerful scene. Would like to have seen John fleshed out more, and just more character and less explosions. Cameron's films are not Sci-Fi classics for the explosions. They're sci-fi classics for their examination into what makes us human...the violence served the story. In this film, the story serves the violence. Not a quality filmmaking principle.
-The film was too tame for this film (meaning the Future Wars needed to be more violent). I think this is inherently one area the film was dead wrong. The Future Wars is a WAR! The violence should be war level violence. When you make a war film overtly flashy, you take away the edge a bit. We have armies being battered by Terminators, human genocide going on, etc. and you don't show us any of the atrocities the machines are doing? You only hint at them. I am not a gore person normally, but in this case, it adds to the atmosphere. This is a war. Instead of one man walking around injured and such...give us some casualties and mangled bodies...show the heartless machines ripping humanity apart. You can say the film felt dark, but it easily could have been darker. Cameron made money with R-rated violence and sold toys at the same time...no reason to tone the film down.
I personally hope this is the last Terminator film. This film is not a good start to the future wars, and it won't magically be great again. This series has lost the ideals of the first 2 that made the series what it was...genius. Call me a hater all you want, but this film could easily have been better, but WB has shown with this and T3 they don't care about making quality Terminator films. They care about making a movie they can release in May for the summer. The series will never be great again with that mentality. I gave this film a chance, and was very open to liking it if it was good. That didn't happen. Unless Cameron gets hands on with the series again, I won't have any hype for future Terminator films.
Please let this be terminated at the Box Office
4/10
Bloody good that!
