This bloody film is keeping me up,
I really didn’t like the new John Conner at all - I didn’t like the actor, their acting nor I didn’t think they were believable as the world saviour; their flash forward scenes were terrible and cringe. I didn’t like the new Kyle Reece though - SHE should have been the new John and then bring in another badass as the Kyle.
I don’t think the franchise has anywhere interesting to go if the only formula they have left is an endless chase movie; especially now it always has to end at some large empty facility for the final fight.
I liked the new Terminator actor but I didn’t like the new Terminator concept. He’s a blob man but he’s also got an indestructible skeleton. I mean, it kinda makes sense but the skeleton gets fucking utterly mangled a whole bunch of times and just comes back like it ain’t no thang. I’d have preferred jus sticking to the two classic Terminators, there’s really no need to invent a new Terminator for every new film; it’s always been daft as shit. And apparently this one can blob up working firearms.
Some of the CGI is really impressive (the fake past stuff at the beginning is really impressive. That John Conner fake was amazing, at first glance) but some of it isn’t. I put the problem down to the Marvel effect: everyone has to move, act and fight like they’re a superhero now. I didn’t like it for this film and I just wanted something more grounded.
It’s a cinema movie: it’s a good time but the cinema is the best forum for this; lots of loud noises and explosions. I don’t think it’ll be half as much fun on repeated viewings and on a tv screen.
ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
What the fuck was that story. I’m alright with the new futures and all but:
a) why and how they get a plane was just ridiculous - I’ve never seen a more convoluted excuse for a setpiece in my life; and,
b) Arnie being there was also daft as fuck. The reasons he’d been sending Sarah text messages was stupid. But then again his whole premise was more interesting than this film! Think about it, Arnie does his mission and then rather than just turn off decides to keep living his life somehow. Maybe he thinks he’ll wait for Skynet and do some groundwork on humans and their military capabilities but starts to develop a personality and a conscience and his own moral code. Maybe we follow his progress over a few years until he joins the family he does in the film. Then Sarah finds him. Maybe Sarah is then the unceasing force who wants to kill him and the family he protects. Do a switcharoo. The Terminator is being chased by Sarah and her wrath. I dunno, I just thought that might have been more interesting than what we ended up with (but not as spectacular as two planes fighting each other...).
And there’s clearly so much room for new Terminator films set in the future. Did Salvation fuck it up that bad? well probably yes, but surely someone could do a Logan with that setting. Hnngh. Oh and here’s an even better idea. Show what happens on Judgment day and beyond!? There’s so much possibility there too. It’s hinted at in this and you can feel that it would work as a film. Almost like a disaster film a War of the Worlds type of scenario. Fuck it, make it a trilogy or whatever to get that sweet money, but make it horrible and nasty, isolating and atmospheric. There’s a ton of films doing the start of a zombie outbreak to look to for inspiration. Do that with Terminators rather than retreading old ground again and again but this time with a slightly newer Terminator! This one has braces! This one has a pet sidekick! Etc
So T:DF was a fun movie but ultimately it’s just another big budget disposable cash grab of the Genysis variety.