Terminator Salvation

[M'Kyuun]

Several trailers are available on the net. While I didn't care for the third movie, aside from Kristanna Loken, the trailers have my attention for this installment.

Christian Bale is a capable action star, and I think he'll do a fine job as John Connor. What draws me to this is that we'll see the evolution of the terminator as only previously described.

Schwarzenegger will make a cameo appearance thanks to technology; his face will be digitally grafted onto the body of a bodybuilder, or so I've read.

James Cameron, Terminator creator and director for the first two movies, has a writing credit, however, McG is directing.

[DarthSion]

Exactly McG = low rent bay, enough said/

[5150 Lego]

I think were going to get back into the same feel that the first two movies were. This movie seems to take place maybe a year or less after judgment day and shows it in more of a "realistic" day time setting s as to just middle of the night battles as we've seen in all the flashbacks of the first 3 movies.

Christan bale as John Connor... I'm not sure about that. I'm not saying that he's a bad actor, cause he isn't, but just not sure if he was the right choice for John Connor. This isn't the first time we've seen him play a lead role in a post apocaliptic setting. He did a good job in "Reign of Fire". Played a good leader role, but wasn't very "tough".

That said, i guess i can't think of a better actor to play John Connor at the moment, so i guess we'll just have to see how he does.

Not having "The Governator" in this one might just be the end of this movie before it started. I'm never one to pass judgment over a movie before i've seen it, so i'll defenatly be giving this a fair chance. The perviews do look good. But Arnold was one of the key factors that made this movie what it is. It will be interesting to see how it is without him being in it.

[Oky]

First of all, I must say that I am pretty excited for this movie! I was always intrigued by the post-apoc future of the Terminator universe and have been craving to see more than just a few battle scenes. I guess, this is what I've been waiting for - a whole movie about this post-apoc time!

Sure, without Arnold, this film will have a hard time living up to the enjoyment level of the first three, but that doesn't mean that it wont be an enjoyable movie. Like Darth Sion suggested, this might turn out to be very similar to Transformers and consist mostly of pretty visual effects, but admittedly, that's good enough for me. The motorcylce-Terminators and that huge Terminator with a freaking cannon for a head look pretty damn sweet! I am not a big fan of Bale, but I guess that he could play the role well. It's going to be quite interesting to see how the cyborg Terminators came to be.

That said, I am looking forward to this!

[Tyrant]

I am fairly interested in this movie. I saw a newer preview in front of Watchmen. My theater is terrible when it comes to previews, so it's probably been out for a while. I'm interested to see where they take the cyborg idea. And I have wanted a total future war movie since I saw the first movie back in the 80s (and Terminator 2's opening scene only made me want to see it that much more). Having said that, McG gives me reason to not get my hopes up. At all. I've got every confidence in Bale. So, here's hoping a compotent lead and what I assume will be top notch special effects can overcome questionable directing. Or at the very least hope it makes enough to make a 5th movie viable and we can all hope Cameron decides to take a more active role, unless he's busy trying to rebuild the Alien franchise. I saw the first movie by the time I was 7, I watched the second movie in theaters along with the third. I like the movie franchise, so I will watch this one. Having said that, I've never watched a single episode of the show. My friend broke down the first few episodes and that was enough to convince me I would probably not like it. I'm convinced that they can make an entire movie about the battle for the time machine with alternating possesion so both sides can send back their apparent legions of time tavelers (who ultimately manage to change nothing, apparently). As much as I love Terminator 2, it really did put the franchise in the Highlander conundrum. How do you make a sequel to a movie when everything is fixed? In the case of Highlander, all the other immortals were supposedly dead. That's why I liked the approach in Terminator 1, there is never any mention of the humans trying to change the future. They are only trying to stop Skynet from changing it and end up creating a reasonably stable time loop. Terminator 2 throws it all out the window. Terminator 3, despite it's faults, at least got the plot back on track. I guess we'll see how McG manages to muck things up.

[simonjedi]

The only major problem I have (apart from it being crap!) is the same problem with the Star wars prequels. The tech (terminators aside) in the early part of the war (when salvation is set) looks more advance than the skynet tech we've seen in T1/T2/T3 and even SCC.

In Salvation they have terminator bike and giant mecha terminators compared to the T800's and hunter killers of the films

[Tyrant]

The only major problem I have (apart from it being crap!) is the same problem with the Star wars prequels. The tech (terminators aside) in the early part of the war (when salvation is set) looks more advance than the skynet tech we've seen in T1/T2/T3 and even SCC.

In Salvation they have terminator bike and giant mecha terminators compared to the T800's and hunter killers of the films

There is a halfbaked explanation for this. At least as it relates to what we see in the present. Remember the whole reason they had to use the T800 was because of it's living exterior. That was the reason why they couldn't send back weapons. Apparently the later liquid metal models were able to bypass this flaw. As for why we didn't see those things in the future war scenes, you've got me. I do see your point though. Things that happen earlier look more advanced than the parts that happen later.

[simonjedi]

I guess you can argue that the only future war scenes we have actually seen is city fighting, compared to the mainly desert in salvation, where it is less hazardous terrain to break something.

[Oky]

Well, as you said, this is comparable with SW. As the "movie magic" gets fancier, prequels start to look better than the originals. But just like in SW, there is an explanation for that: With the group of human resistance fighters growing, Skynet has to go from quality (like the motorbikes & mechs) to quantity (the normal terminators & hunter killers), just like the empire had to cut down on costs to be able to take over the whole galaxy. The only exception are the cyborg terminators, which are kind of the elite force of the machines.

That's my theory anyway.

[Oky]

Sorry for double posting, but I thought you might be interested in this.

There are some clips from the movie available on Yahoo:

Clips

There is also some exclusive footage on the Pizza Hut website:

Exclusive Footage

So far, I like what I'm seeing. I like the fact that

Kyle Reese is Skynet's No.1 target.

I'm a little disappointed with the scene with that giant prisoner collector terminator, though. First of all, it could have been longer, and secondly, it doesn't make much sense that they can

take it out with a simple explosion

when a standard-sized T-800 can't even be harmed this way (as seen in The Terminator). Oh well, I'm still looking forward to this movie.

[SWMAN]

I am really excited about this movie. I love Christian Bale and love the Terminator movies.

[Darth Legolas]

Looks explodey-must see for me.

[Luke McAwesome]

Hehe, it comes out on my birthday.

May 21st.

[Captain REX]

Man this sucks. They give us months of trailers advertising the movie for May the 21st, Yet i just saw on TV that its coming out June the 3rd. Why can't they make up their minds on the release date?

[Oky]

Man this sucks. They give us months of trailers advertising the movie for May the 21st, Yet i just saw on TV that its coming out June the 3rd. Why can't they make up their minds on the release date?

Hm... That does suck. For you, that is. The US release date is still May 21.

Doesn't anyone have comments on this except for the film's release date and its "explodiness"?

[Tyrant]

Doesn't anyone have comments on this except for the film's release date and its "explodiness"?

Well, my opinion hasn't changed much since I posted last. I am hopeful, yet I am prepared for a disaster. I have done most of my discussing on the IMDB message boards. If you want to see a real hate fest for something that isn't even out yet, that's the place. Nothing like thread after thread complaining about it being PG 13 (which of course automatically means it will be horrible ) and of course anyone who says anything positive about it there is either a studio plant or McG himself. It's an interesting experience for those who have never experienced it.

[Captain REX]

Hm... That does suck. For you, that is. The US release date is still May 21.

Lucky you. Ive been trying to book it at cineworld for a week, without realising that it wasnt coming out until June 3rd.

As for Tyrants comment, i fail to see how PG-13 is a bad thing.

[Tyrant]

As for Tyrants comment, i fail to see how PG-13 is a bad thing.

It's not something I believe. I was hping the face would convey my opinion of that idea. I was saying that was the dominant complaint on IMDB. My concern is McG, not the rating. McG is nowhere near Cameron in directing ability. I would almost say he's worse than Paul Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil) who at least made an accurate, if bloodless, adaptation of Mortal Kombat. McG, on the other hand, gave us Catwoman.

[5150 Lego]

Well, my opinion hasn't changed much since I posted last. I am hopeful, yet I am prepared for a disaster. I have done most of my discussing on the IMDB message boards. If you want to see a real hate fest for something that isn't even out yet, that's the place. Nothing like thread after thread complaining about it being PG 13 (which of course automatically means it will be horrible ) and of course anyone who says anything positive about it there is either a studio plant or McG himself. It's an interesting experience for those who have never experienced it.

Sounds a lot like the Transformers forum before the first movie came out, the G.I. Joe forums currently, and probably how most forums based on a certain series/toy/comic book hero reacts when a movie based on one of these genera's reacts before actually seeing the movie their criticizing. Even Trek fans highly criticized the new Star Trek film for well over a year.

Funny thing is once they actually see the movie, most do a 180 and like it. I think this is the result of being a hard core fan or "Fan Boy". When you grow up with something and follow every different carnation of its evolving since you were 6yrs old, you have a certain mind set of what you expect from a movie. Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Knowing that people have certain expectation are good. This helps prevent movie makers making complete crap just for the sake of doing it. (although this doesn't always work ...ahem... Doom! ) But for many, there expectations are either to high, or they basically want to see a carbon copy of what they grew up with 20yrs ago. Your just never going to please these types. There always going to kind something wrong.

[Tyrant]

Sounds a lot like the Transformers forum before the first movie came out, the G.I. Joe forums currently, and probably how most forums based on a certain series/toy/comic book hero reacts when a movie based on one of these genera's reacts before actually seeing the movie their criticizing. Even Trek fans highly criticized the new Star Trek film for well over a year.

Funny thing is once they actually see the movie, most do a 180 and like it. I think this is the result of being a hard core fan or "Fan Boy". When you grow up with something and follow every different carnation of its evolving since you were 6yrs old, you have a certain mind set of what you expect from a movie. Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Knowing that people have certain expectation are good. This helps prevent movie makers making complete crap just for the sake of doing it. (although this doesn't always work ...ahem... Doom! ) But for many, there expectations are either to high, or they basically want to see a carbon copy of what they grew up with 20yrs ago. Your just never going to please these types. There always going to kind something wrong.

I plan on remaining open minded about T4. On the one hand, I have been waiting 20 years to see an entire future war movie. On the other hand, I know it can't ever live up to what I have envisioned. I don't have this problem with GIJoe (despite having liked it for slightly longer) because I never thought they would make a live action movie and never saw the need to so I never got my hopes up. That and GIJoe the Movie (starring the Cobra La rejects) showed how bad things could go with the Joe franchise. With T4, I have every reason to believe it will not live up to T1 or T2. I hope it does and I am not going into it already deciding it won't. If at least is as good or better than T3, I'll be happy. As far as I am concerned this is the filler until we get either T5 or T6 set in 2029 and we finally get to see just how everything went down with the time machine and hopefully see Skynet*. If I get decent action and the plot doesn't fly in the face of everything in the other 3, it will meet my expectations. If not, I know who's to blame.

*It occured to me the other day that very much like Sauron in LotR, Skynet's effects are constantly felt as it pursues it's single minded goal but we never really see the singular machine intelligence that drives the Skynet war machine.

[5150 Lego]

I plan on remaining open minded about T4. On the one hand, I have been waiting 20 years to see an entire future war movie. On the other hand, I know it can't ever live up to what I have envisioned. I don't have this problem with GIJoe (despite having liked it for slightly longer) because I never thought they would make a live action movie and never saw the need to so I never got my hopes up. That and GIJoe the Movie (starring the Cobra La rejects) showed how bad things could go with the Joe franchise. With T4, I have every reason to believe it will not live up to T1 or T2. I hope it does and I am not going into it already deciding it won't. If at least is as good or better than T3, I'll be happy. As far as I am concerned this is the filler until we get either T5 or T6 set in 2029 and we finally get to see just how everything went down with the time machine and hopefully see Skynet*. If I get decent action and the plot doesn't fly in the face of everything in the other 3, it will meet my expectations. If not, I know who's to blame.

*It occured to me the other day that very much like Sauron in LotR, Skynet's effects are constantly felt as it pursues it's single minded goal but we never really see the singular machine intelligence that drives the Skynet war machine.

When I first saw previews for Star Trek, i was skeptical considering the absence of the original cast. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that a new cast can carry on an epic story without hurting it. I have hopes that this can be the case with Terminator Salvation. Not having Arnold might have killed it before it even was started. I'm going to go into this with an open mind, as well as no expectations. One thing i truly hope is that it doesn't get all sappy and philosophical like the series ended up. I hope the focus will truly be the war and machines. There really going to have to come through with a good story and action.

[Oky]

I just saw it, and it was really good! Great action, good story, not too much sappy philosophy at all, and even

a cameo appearance of a (digital) Arnold

! The whole atmosphere of the movie was great! It really felt like a post-apoc/sci-fi war movie. In that sense, it also felt more "reallistic" than T3. But most importantly, it felt like a Terminator movie, a feeling that The Sarah Connor Chronicles failed to deliver. Overal, I'm very pleased and am looking forward to the next installation.

The best part of the movie was the final fight. It was great that Arnold was the final antagonist. Throughout the Terminator franchise we have seen that the T-800 is the toughest terminator ever produced, and it was great to see it pitted against the good guys again. The whole climax reminded a lot of T1 in that it took place in a factory and had a T-800 fighting the two main characters.

It was also good to see that the giant prisoner collector terminator was NOT destroyed by the explosion of the gas station.

However, the motorcycle terminators (which looked pretty badass in the previews) were a little disappointing. None of them was able to kill any resistance fighters, and they were taken down too easily. All you have to do is trip them, and once they lie on their side, they are pretty much useless. Oh well, they were still pretty cool.

It occured to me the other day that very much like Sauron in LotR, Skynet's effects are constantly felt as it pursues it's single minded goal but we never really see the singular machine intelligence that drives the Skynet war machine.

Funny thing about that: In T4, you get to see Skynet's HQ, and it has a striking resemblance to Mordor in LotR!

[Tyrant]

Well, I finally saw the movie a short while ago. It wasn't great, but it was better than T3 so I was satisfied. T1 and T2 are a tough act to follow so it would have taken a lot for me to call this great. It is worth watching again. I believe better writing and a better director can create a very good T5 after what we see in this film. The action was very good. I would go so far as to say it is probably the most action packed of the series.

I have only a few real complaints:

1) The heart transplant. I just don't see a former vetrinarian suddenly being able to preform a heart transplant and I don't see John surviving (infection, rejection, etc). It doesn't ruin the movie for me, but it was questionable and it got rid of Marcus who was an interesting character that opened up possibilities. 2) We finally get to see Skynet, more dialogue would have been nice. I hope it's a sign of things to come.

If they're smart about it, they have the opening for an explanation to how Skynet conceived of using time travel

When Skynet gained Marcus's memories, they included John talking about his mother and how the machines had targetted her before he was even born. Skynet could conclude that somehow it will send machines back in time and start working towards that goal thus creating the time machine and closing the loop. The lop being-Skynet sends back the T800 and Kyle follows. Kyle fathers John and the T800 is used to create Skynet. John tells Marcus about his mom so Skynet gets the idea to build a time machine which it uses to send back a T800 who is followed Kyle. The loop is never ending.

[Oky]

If they're smart about it, they have the opening for an explanation to how Skynet conceived of using time travel

When Skynet gained Marcus's memories, they included John talking about his mother and how the machines had targetted her before he was even born. Skynet could conclude that somehow it will send machines back in time and start working towards that goal thus creating the time machine and closing the loop. The lop being-Skynet sends back the T800 and Kyle follows. Kyle fathers John and the T800 is used to create Skynet. John tells Marcus about his mom so Skynet gets the idea to build a time machine which it uses to send back a T800 who is followed Kyle. The loop is never ending.

I don't think that that would be so smart since that would create a paradox. The origin of time travel can't be caused by time travel itself, you know? What I mean is that it would still not explain how Skynet got the idea for time travel in the first place (before the loop began).

Interesting idea though. And I too am looking forward to a sequel.

[Tyrant]

I don't think that that would be so smart since that would create a paradox. The origin of time travel can't be caused by time travel itself, you know? What I mean is that it would still not explain how Skynet got the idea for time travel in the first place (before the loop began).

Interesting idea though. And I too am looking forward to a sequel.

We're already well into paradox territory. Skynet, as it stands now, exists because it sent one of it's own units back in time. Connor exists because he sent Reese back in time. I figure we may as well complete the paradox and make everything that has happened be the result of an idea that came about because someone time travelled.

Honestly my take on their time travel is that it absolutely can't work the way it does in something like Back to the Future. I believe the best way for it to be considered is to assume that once something gets sent back in time, it becomes a part of the moment it was sent to and is no longer tied to the future. If it's past (which would be the future from the perspective of everyone else in that time) is altered due to it mucking up the time line, it won't disappear because it is already tied to the past. That way, we can assume that Reese wasn't always John's father (no matter what Cameron says, because T2 throws us into a paradox in that case) and Skynet wasn't always created from the remains of a T800. However, since they went back, now that is the way time has advanced. That is why Skynet later sends a T1000, because it's base origin is more advanced so it has a more advanced unit to send back. T2 changed time again and postponed Judgement Day by 7 years. This means that the technology that gave rise to Skynet was 7 years more advanced (and computer technology advanced a noticeable amount from 1997 to 2004) so now when it sent something back it sent back the TX because it had an even more advanced killing machine and due to changes the war didn't end in 2029 like Reese thought it was about to when he was sent back. Now is Salvation Skynet is even more addvanced from the various changes that have been happening. Each change has only made Skynet more advanced when it launched it's initial attack so it's base technology is even farther alonng. That's why they created the T800 so early (2018) when Reese says they had recently invented them in his time (2029). Under this theory (which I am sure has it's own holes) Kyle has no need to go back because another Kyle Reese already did. This also means that there is no guarantee that the Resistance will beat Skynet.