| | Every time a big sequel movie comes out, I always make it a point to revisit the earlier movie. So with the release of Terminator Salvation, I had to go back and watch Terminator 2 Judgement Day and Terminator 3 Rise of The Machines. You will notice there is no The Terminator, mainly because I did not have great impression of it when I was a kid. Not much on special effects and it was considered a low budget sci-fi movie. But since I had my T2 Judgement Day Ultimate Edition DVD and Terminator 3 Rise of The Machines Special Edition DVD, both acquired during my stint in the US of A, those were easily accessible.
I look back at T2 and realised this is how a sequel should be made! Not only was it bigger and more explosive, the story had even more depth and character. James Cameron is a perfectionist director, and he made history making it the then most expensive movie ever made (at the time). It was worth every penny. Sitting down to watch it today, the action sequence still hold up. The story expanded the characters and concept of the first one. It must have been ingenious on the writers part to have Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-100 turn from the villain from the first movie, into the hero of the second. Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor turns from whiny wimpy girl into a one-woman army. T2 pulls all the stops. It certainly deserves its place in the best sequel movie hall of fame, joining the ranks of The Dark Knight, Aliens (James Cameron again!), Spider-Man 2 and X-Men 2.
T3 was a little more cheesy. I admit it was a great (and fun) idea to have the next version of the Terminator to be a femme fatale, known as the TX or Terminatrix (Terminator female dominatrix, get it?). Clair Danes does not have much to do in this one though, while Nick Stahl seems to have taken the character of John Connor from a street-wise kid in T2 to whiny wimpy adult. I did not like this turn very much. And then have the story say Sarah Connor died of cancer. Wonder how this fits in with the recent Sarah Connor Chronicles?
Anyway, seven years later, the Terminator franchise returns with director McG at the helm of Terminator Salvation. I know, this was the guy who did the Charlie's Angel series. Could he pull off a famous action movie franchise? The trailers looked pretty bad-ass, introducing what every sci-fi should have, a giant walking robot. Because everybody loves giant walking robots. Ask Optimus Prime and friends. Throw in everybody's favourite intense actor Christian Bale and a rather compelling-looking newcomer Sam Worthington, it looked like Terminator Salvation had some good things going for McG and team.
Stepping out from the cinema, I have to say I enjoyed Terminator Salvation a lot. Character development was a little lacking even for John Connor. But even with the little that Christian Bale was given to work with, he still managed to make John Connor compelling. Bryce Dallas-Howard makes a much better Kate Connor compared to Claire Danes despite the very small role. It was a nice touch to include a young Kyle Reese into the story played by Anton Yelchin, last seen in Star Trek. But the real surprise has to be Sam Worthington's Marcus Wright. I somehow wish the trailer had not spoiled the surprise twist of his character, but even that was rather obvious from the start of the movie. I think Worthington nearly upstaged Bale in this one. And Bale is one hard actor to upstage.
Action is darn right edge of the seat. There is 10 feet tall Harvester going around capturing people, as well has able to combine with a Hunter Killer. The T-10s from Terminator 3 make appearence as well. But the most fanboy moment had to be the appreance of the Governator Schwarzenegger's image on the T-100. I know it was not him in it, but fanboy enthusiasm takes anything you give them.
I do not understand why critics were tearing this movie apart. It is by no means perfect, unable to achieve what T2 achieved, but certainly much better than T3. Some greate characters from our favourite charismatic actors, lots of explosion and action, what's not to like? I should probably revisit The Terminator and The Sarah Connor Chronicles just to get back in the whole Terminator lore once again. Terminator, it will be back.
|
| | Posted 5/30/2009 10:52 PM - 9 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
