Terminator 4 Salvation: Who's gonna watch it?

[WrikaWrek]

Actually, i was pretty scared for the good guys in the final run, when there's the crash in the bridge (?) and then t1000 chases them on a truck.

And i felt more for Arnold possibly dying, than i did for anybody else in the franchise.

[Phoenix Dark]

Still I say T1 > T2 > T4 > T3

Sorry but T1 hasn't aged well at all. It's almost unwatchable for me today

T2>>>T1>>>T3

[cool breeze]

The only thing Terminator 1 has over Terminator 2 is Kyle Reese and it can actually be a bit scary at times.  The scene at the end when the exoskeleton is following them and Kyle can't do anything to budge it, let alone stop it, used to scare me when I was a kid.  The T-1000 was constantly getting blown apart and messed up before getting put back together.  It was more indestructible, but it didn't seem as much like the unstoppable force the terminator from the first movie was.

Terminator 2 is way better at everything else.  Terminator 3 sucks.  The only scene I still remember from that movie is when John Conner is riding the motorcycle and then falls off.

[brawndolicious]

The Terminator series is sort of like Rambo.  The first movie had legitimately good storytelling and a pretty original idea (with some plot holes), and everything after that just became an action movie.

[Cheebs]

The Terminator series is sort of like Rambo.  The first movie had legitimately good storytelling and a pretty original idea (with some plot holes), and everything after that just became an action movie.

That's how I see it as well. I loved the smaller darker thriller type of film that was T1 more than the big huge fun blockbuster that was T2.

T2 was amazing as a big huge summer blockbuster, one of the best but I preferred a smaller thriller type of flick which is why T1 appeals to me more.

[brawndolicious]

Also in the first one, you also didn't know how lethal the Terminator's were so when you see a police station get shot up, it's shocking.  They really didn't need to make the second and third movies though.  Ideally, it would be T1, then the future around judgement day in T2, and then the destruction of skynet.

Now it'll be 5 or 6 movies with the last three being horrible.  If it gets finished at all.

[Bloodwake]

The new Terminator was decent and better than T3. It's basic popcorn action fare.

[AdmiralViscen]

T1 >> T2 >>>>>>>>>> T3

I might see T4 on Monday.

[BlueTsunami]

Shitty movie is shitty. There were a couple of action sequences that were great to watch (mainly in the first half) but I was yawning for most of the second.

As far as the angle it tried to play (Humanity surviving) I don't think I've ever watched an action movie that tried so hard to hammer a point home.

[Bloodwake]

Can't say I'm too disappointed with summer so far. Star Trek was a home run as far as I am concerned, while Terminator didn't make me want to destroy a major movie studio. I mean, I'm not going as far to say that Terminator was fucking great, but it's typical popcorn fare. If anything the film tried too hard while not fleshing out any of the characters or adding any of the suspense that was part of the first two films.

Terminator 1 was a horror movie fueled with suspense in a dark "tech noir" world. Terminator 2 was an action film with more than amazing buildup for almost every part of the film in and out. T3 was shit, and Terminator: Salvation was what happens when you take everything that made the first two films a success, forget about them, and try to make the movie a Terminator film anyways.

[twerd]

As a slave to Metacritic when it comes to films, I refuse to see this movie. I'll pretend because I was offended by Christian Bale.

[The Sceneman]

T1 >> T2 >>>>>>>>>> T3

I might see T4 on Monday.

iawtp

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I thought T1 was a much better movie than T2.  In fact, I didn't really care much for T2.  T1 was grittier, had better suspense, and Arnold as the bad guy.  The special effects seem assy but I'm not expecting fantastic things with early mid 80s technology.  On the other hand, I felt like T2 was barely necessary.  Linda Hamilton's character sucked, Arnold as the good guy is WTF worthy, and began the Terminator tradition of goatse style plot holes that have become worse and worse with every installment.  T3 was a joke that should not have been made; in fact, I think its sole purpose was for Arnold to show that even in his 60s, he still has a better body than most people in their 20s.  Kind of the sole reason why I think Rambo, Live Free and Die Hard, and Rocky Balboa were made: the novelty of 80s action stars to return to form.

I won't bother with T4.

[Cheebs]

I love this thread. Lot's of people agreeing T1>T2.

[Great Rumbler]

If you're the studio that owns the rights to the Terminator franchise, why don't you invest in some better writers to pen the script? Why on earth do you go with uber-hacks Ferris and Brancato (the brilliant minds behind Catwoman) to write the script to one of your tent-pole films? There are plenty of great sci-fi and horror writers out there. Signing Ferris and Brancato to write a hugely important film for you is like hiring Homer Simpson to design a car.

They're credited with the writing the screenplay, but it goes a lot deeper than that.

Here's the progression of the screenplay:

-Ferris and Brancato write the screenplay
-Paul Haggis rewrote Ferris and Brancato's script
-Shawn Ryan revised Paul Haggis' script three weeks before filming
-Jonathan Nolan made rewrites of Shawn Ryan's script on-set

[BlueTsunami]

I wonder who wrote in that shitty ending

[AdmiralViscen]

DIe Hard 4 and especially Rambo 4 are better than T3.

[FlameOfCallandor]

T1 and T2 are both great films.  But T2 doe everything T1 does and more. At any given time I would probably rather watch T2.

[Dickie Dee]

If you're the studio that owns the rights to the Terminator franchise, why don't you invest in some better writers to pen the script? Why on earth do you go with uber-hacks Ferris and Brancato (the brilliant minds behind Catwoman) to write the script to one of your tent-pole films? There are plenty of great sci-fi and horror writers out there. Signing Ferris and Brancato to write a hugely important film for you is like hiring Homer Simpson to design a car.

They're credited with the writing the screenplay, but it goes a lot deeper than that.

Here's the progression of the screenplay:

-Ferris and Brancato write the screenplay
-Paul Haggis rewrote Ferris and Brancato's script
-Shawn Ryan revised Paul Haggis' script three weeks before filming
-Jonathan Nolan made rewrites of Shawn Ryan's script on-set

I thought having Nolan re-write teh script was Bale's precondition for signing on?

[brawndolicious]

If you're the studio that owns the rights to the Terminator franchise, why don't you invest in some better writers to pen the script? Why on earth do you go with uber-hacks Ferris and Brancato (the brilliant minds behind Catwoman) to write the script to one of your tent-pole films? There are plenty of great sci-fi and horror writers out there. Signing Ferris and Brancato to write a hugely important film for you is like hiring Homer Simpson to design a car.

They're credited with the writing the screenplay, but it goes a lot deeper than that.
Here's the progression of the screenplay:
-Ferris and Brancato write the screenplay
-Paul Haggis rewrote Ferris and Brancato's script
-Shawn Ryan revised Paul Haggis' script three weeks before filming
-Jonathan Nolan made rewrites of Shawn Ryan's script on-set

I thought having Nolan re-write teh script was Bale's precondition for signing on?

TBF, even Shawn Ryan couldn't salvage the script.  Probably the studios didn't give enough time or control to the writers that came after Haggis (as in anybody who might have talent).

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

It's hard to write a good script on such a fundamentally flawed and distinguished mentally-challenged idea.  Having to continually manipulate and massage the story laid out in the first installment or even the first two to justify why another movie needs to be made can't be easy.

[Great Rumbler]

I wonder who wrote in that shitty ending

It was better than the original ending.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Connor dies and has his skin grafted to Marcus' body. 

[close]

I thought having Nolan re-write teh script was Bale's precondition for signing on?

Everything I've read says that Nolan did rewrites during filming and that Bale signed on back in November 2007.

[SantaC]

will not see this since bale is a shitty actor.

[Bebpo]

I wonder who wrote in that shitty ending

It was better than the original ending.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Connor dies and has his skin grafted to Marcus' body. 

[close]

 

[Solo]

T4 bomba. Kill this franchise off once and for all!

[ManaByte]

DIe Hard 4 and especially Rambo 4 are better than T3.

Die Hard 4 is shit.

Rambo 4 is the best action movie in the last twenty years. They shouldn't be allowed to be mentioned in the same sentence.

[ManaByte]

I wonder who wrote in that shitty ending

It was better than the original ending.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Connor dies and has his skin grafted to Marcus' body. 

[close]

I thought having Nolan re-write teh script was Bale's precondition for signing on?

Everything I've read says that Nolan did rewrites during filming and that Bale signed on back in November 2007.

But that original ending was distinguished mentally-challenged seeing as how

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Conner kills Kyle Reese. HOW THE FUCK COULD THAT HAPPEN?

[close]

[ManaByte]

Well since I am lepered I can't fix those spoiler tags. But the original ending was so distinguished mentally-challenged, people should be spoiled.

[Flannel Boy]

Must you spoil everything!

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

If I gave a shit about T4, I'd almost be pissed.

[Cheebs]

T1 and T2 are both great films.  But T2 doe everything T1 does and more. At any given time I would probably rather watch T2.

What? T1 was a creepy horror type sci-fi. T2 was a big huge fun summer blockbuster. T2 did not do what T1 did, at all.

[fistfulofmetal]

who cares.
T2 made more money

right?

[Tauntaun]

Yeah T4 sucks. 

[bachikarn]

lol original script

http://chud.com/articles/articles/19577/1/EXCLUSIVE-WHAT-WENT-WRONG-WITH-TERMINATOR-SALVATION/Page1.html

One of the many interesting points from the original script:

Marcus comes to Skynet City and finds... a seaside resort populated with humans. He sees Terminator landscapers! It turns out that Skynet hasn't been trying to wipe out humanity. It's been trying to save us.

This is perhaps the most bizarre idea in the whole script, and the one that most obviously doesn't work. It seems as though Brancato and Ferris thought people liked the Matrix sequels, as this all feels like it could be in those films. See, Serena heads Project ANGEL, which is making Hybrids (ie, Cyborgs). The reason? Skynet did a calculation and realized that humanity was going to be extinct in 200 years; the machines decided to save a few by turning them into Hybrids and wipe the rest out. It makes no sense, and is the kind of thing that makes you wonder if these guys ever even watched the previous Terminator films.

[bork]

I saw Star Trek tonight and it helped to wash the bad tastes of Wolverine and Terminator out of my mouth.

[bork]

I'm amazed that the script started out in the hands of the same guys who wrote T3, and even more amazed that they also did Catwoman!     I thought T3 was okay.

[Phoenix Dark]

Rambo 4 is the best action movie in the last twenty years.

 

[Bebpo]

Must you spoil everything!

Yeah, I say double leper manabyte for spoiling a movie that doesn't exist!

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Just saw it. Action-wise, it was like Transformers sans shaky cam. Story wise, it was as dumb as bricks.

[chronovore]

T1 and T2 are both great films.  But T2 doe everything T1 does and more. At any given time I would probably rather watch T2.

What? T1 was a creepy horror type sci-fi. T2 was a big huge fun summer blockbuster. T2 did not do what T1 did, at all.

Yes, exactly. Comparing T1 to T2 is like comparing Ridley Scott's Alien to Cameron's Aliens. They're different movies with different goals.

[ManaByte]

Rambo 4 is the best action movie in the last twenty years.

 

There's Die Hard, and then there's Rambo 4. Everything in the middle can't compare.

[Solo]

Yeah, this was.... not very good. As a standalone movie, its mediocre, but as a Terminator movie, its awful.

[Phoenix Dark]

Rambo 4 is the best action movie in the last twenty years.

 

There's Die Hard, and then there's Rambo 4. Everything in the middle can't compare.

So you're saying Rambo 4, which features some of the weakest action scenes I've ever seen, is better than or on par with

Die Hard 1
Die Hard 3
The Bourne Trilogy
Heat
The Killer
The Professional
The Matrix
T2
Gladiator

...among others. 300 is better than Rambo 4

[bork]

Just saw it. Action-wise, it was like Transformers sans shaky cam. Story wise, it was as dumb as bricks.

Transformers was a better movie.   

[Great Rumbler]

Just saw it. Action-wise, it was like Transformers sans shaky cam. Story wise, it was as dumb as bricks.

Transformers was a better movie.   

Nah. Too much forced comedy moments, not enough robot fights.

[Cheebs]

Rambo 4 wasn't even a good movie. Everything PD listed were WAAAAAAY better.

[fistfulofmetal]

still waiting for a fucking ts or r5 to be released. i wanna watch this.

[ToxicAdam]

Weren't there a few people on evilbore (Willco being one) that said T4 would be better than Star Trek. lololol

McG FTW!


edit for lulz:

[EmCeeGrammar]

I'm not disgusted with this movie.
... Motorcycle assassin bots are WICKED.

But the story was kinda dumb.  It had potential but so much was left undeveloped.

[brawndolicious]

It's show business, not show art.

[brawndolicious]

A. That's just not true.  Movies require writers, actors, directors, and then there's the people who do actual physical things like props and costumes.  There's way too many skills required to actually put ONE person in charge of everything creative.

B. Billion dollar studios want to appeal to the lowest common denominator.  They do need somebody who's is good at making an entertaining movie, but they definitely do not want anybody who wants to make a film that requires the viewers to think.

The idea of making a Terminator sequel is inherently stupid though.  The first one wrapped the ending up pretty well and so it's not surprising that the plots of the sequels eventually got shittier and shittier and the timeline even more fucked up.

[Phoenix Dark]

It's show business, not show art.

And offering a better product makes better business sense. And the best way to create a better product is to put people capable of creating one in charge.

Not in every case. Most studios aren't going to let people do whatever the fuck they want, like Nolan did with TDK. And while that movie was great and extremely successful it's the exception to the rule

[drew]

im watching a cam of this right now (couldnt find a friend who wanted to see it in theaters) and it is better than i thought itd be, its everything i wanted and could ever ask for in a terminator after 2, which is a fleshed out world post judgement day, i used to dream about a movie like this when i was a kid