Terminator series Mini-Reviews

So Terminator Salvation arrives in theaters tomorrow. The early reviews and word of mouth have not been good. What can you expect with a director like McG? Aside from his great track record of Charlies Angles films, superficial music videos, and a juvenile name (McG really? Somehow he got rapper confused with film director), I'm sure he was the best choice to helm the 4th installment in the Terminator franchise..cough, cough. However, until I check out the film, I will reserve judgment on it. Instead, I'm going to do a mini-review of all 3 of the Terminator films, that's right even the sub-par Rise of the Machines. James Cameron's Terminator has become embedded in pop-culture. So much so, that it has it's own ride in Universal Studios; that's how you know it's reached a plateau of popularity beyond a simple 80's film about an assassin cyborg from the future. What all started with a fever dream or inspiration from an Outer Limits episode, depending on which story you subscribe to, has produced 2 classic films, one mediocre and another one on the way. So where to start, as the saying goes, At the beginning:

THE TERMINATOR (1984): Well, if you haven't checked out the one that started it all, I suggest you go to your nearest video store, run don't walk. This is the film that made Arnold, oh wait, I'm sorry, the current Governor of California's career. Who knows where he would be if it wasn't for his turn as a killer cyborg from the future. This is the one with that really cool quote that has become part of the social conscious, "I'll be back." The Terminator was James Cameron's breakout film, before he did this, he was doing low-budget Roger Corman movies. Ah, and of course, the beautiful and talented Linda Hamilton also got her break in this film. Unfortunately, Micheal Biehn was not as lucky as his colleagues, but Cameron still threw him many roles in his future films, so maybe he didn't have it that bad after all. Either way, I've gotten off subject, the point is that this film was made for a very independent low-budget, yet it achieves so much. That is because it is built on ideas and Cameron understands how to shape a smart entertaining story. Sure, there is the whole time-travel conundrum, so Kyle Reese is John Connor's father, wait...what? Nevertheless, it doesn't become that much of a problem until the third film, which screws everything up, but let's move on to the superior sequel to this film.

TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991): I like to compare this and The Terminator, the same way I like to compare Alien and Aliens (which James Cameron directed). T2 (as it is called in many circles) is a superior sequel that expands on the original. The stakes are amped up and the characters are fleshed out a bit more. The infamous and menacing T-1000 is a formidable opponent in this film. The terminator from the last film (T-800) has been sent back in time, re-programed to protect John Connor. The decision to make the villain from the original an underdog cyborg protecting the protagonists in this film is an inspired choice. One of the most impressive things about T2 is how much humanity they add to the mechanical Terminator character, making him almost a father figure to John Connor. Also, surprising enough, this film has a very subtle non-violence message hidden beneath it's action orientated machinery. The ending climax of the film is amazing and it even pulls at the heart strings a bit. As Tim from Spaced would say, "you think I'm unemotional, don't you? I can be emotional, Jesus, I cried like a child at the end of Terminator 2, you know with the thumb and the molten...you know." Terminator 2 is the standard, I think, all sequels should strive for. Alas, though, once James Cameron left, we got....

TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (2003): Oh, where to start with this one? After 2 great films, we get this mediocre pass for an entry. Everything that is established in the previous film is unraveled in this one. In the previous film, Judgement Day is prevented; therefore, we get the whole idea that we make our own fate. Then in Terminator 3 we find out, oh no, yeah, you know that whole fate can be changed thing, not really true, you can only delay fate for while. This means that everything the characters attempted to do in the past adds up to nothing in the end. No matter what they did they couldn't change the outcome of things. Hence, what was the point of going through the motions? I mean, I understand that Judgment Day needs to happen in order to justify Connor's conception and everything else in the Terminator universe, but it could have been executed in a much more meaningful way. Also, the time-travel conundrum becomes increasingly obvious in this film. So, John Connor's existence is based off a string of paradoxes, it's never been so utterly noticeable before...thank you, Terminator 3 for ruining my memories of the last 2 films. All in all, I could go on and on about how much I don't like this film. I mean it is entertaining at times and it does provide some (albiet rushed) logical answers, but it is the weakest entry in the Terminator franchise so far.