In 1984, Kyle Reese was sent from the future to protect the present...not that I remember his visit.
Just mid-way through what was the continuity of retro style 80's in-dependency. For some, their cinematic experience was about to change forever with the release of
The Terminator (1984) starring the already populated Hollywood star,
Arnold Schwarzenegger. Nobody, not even the man himself knew the explosive reception and ambiance that was about to flood the audience with a new dosage of fear.
A smartly created cyborg (Schwarzenegger) sent back through time, is assigned and programmed to assassinate Sarah Connor (
Linda Hamilton), a waitress at a local restaurant. Oblivious to the meaning and impact her death could have, Sarah is bewildered to find other females associated with the same name being murdered in the days before her own encounter with the killing machine.
Kyle Reese (
Michael Biehn) is the other piece to the puzzle who is conveniently sent back from the not too distant future to assist and create the survival of Sarah Connor.
A battle of the greats, man versus machine, The Terminator started it all. This concept was as tense and high-octane as it came in 1984. Sarah Connors "Tecnoir" situation, the first encounter for both Sarah and the Terminator (T-800). In fact, the 80's dance club brought Kyle Reese to his protective objective in what seems unfortunate circumstances. But before they can develop lust for one another, there was only survival for one. As far as Reese was concerned, he was sent to protect Sarah, even if that means dying with the human like cyborg.
"The 600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy, but these are new. They look human... sweat, bad breath, everything. Very hard to spot. I had to wait till he moved on you before I could zero him". - Kyle Reese
"
Il Be back". Them chilling words from the Terminator, moments before he gate-crashes the police station protecting Sarah Connor. Literally one of the most vicious, cold-blooded killing streaks I have ever witnessed in a movie. As a kid, witnessing this for the first time is haunting, but yet pleasuring the more times you see the movie. Watch and embrace as the mindless machine patrols the corridors of the station blasting out at least 50 cops with Double-barrel shotguns, M16s, UZI's, and the famous "
45 Long slide with laser sighting".
"Listen, and understand. That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead".
- Kyle Reese
I still wonder to this day, after numerous viewings, is The Terminator a horror movie, or action genre? In my opinion, I would like to say both. When I first laid eyes on this work of art (1998) it scared the crap out of me, and that's why I am still in love with it to this day. The classic introduction, the "
Terminator" anthem. When them letters come together before the first scene, you know its on, and you know, that even if its your tenth viewing, you are going to experience a movie like no other...again.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day: Like no other? Well let me tell you something, 7 years later, James Cameron returned with a sequel that was about to blow the 90's movie industry wide open.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day was released in 1991. The exciting thing I believe then was the cast involved. Critics and audience global were welcomed to once again join Linda Hamilton as the ever evolving Sarah Connor.
Following the death of brave soldier Kyle Reese and her spell of survival with a killing machine, Sarah is in what seems a highly concentrated mental institution. After an apparent attempt to blow up Skynet (a high-tech production company which in Sarah's eyes believes will be the cause and creation of machines that will attempt to take over the world, hence 84"s terminator from the future).
New to the saga is John Connor, the son of Sarah and deceased father, Kyle Reese. The plot follows as a new creation is sent from the not set future, the
T-1000. Not a machine but a form of shape-shifting abilities that can create and mould itself into different humans, materials, weapons etc. He is sent to once again change the future by assassinating John Connor. Why? because he is the apparent leader of the future resistance (last of the human soldiers) who what Sarah believes will help prevent the machines from wiping out the human race.
Note: Those who have not seen these movies might be confused. Basically if Sarah Connor was killed in the first by the machine, there would have been no John Connor so there would have been no significant individual to prevent the machines taking over in what is called
Judgement day. So, because she and Kyle Reese helped destroy the threat prior, a new threat is created (more advanced) to kill, who is now the primary target, the son (future leader) John Connor. If the T-1000 succeeds in what the previous did not, Judgement Day will not be prevented.
Introducing the equivalent to Kyle Reese, The Terminator model 101 (Schwarzenegger). An updated and newly programmed cyborg sent to protect John Connor. The Terminator is obviously considered a more reliable protector to Kyle who although accomplished his objective previously, machine over human is an obvious advancement.
"3 billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgement Day. They lived only to face a new nightmare: the war against the machines. The computer which controlled the machines, Skynet, sent two Terminators back through time. Their mission: to destroy the leader of the human resistance, John Connor, my son." - Sarah Connor - T2 Intro
T2 was quite obviously an updated account to what was revealed to fans in 84". Schwarzenegger is now the protector rather than the villain, in what some fans might say was a great choice. (although T2 is as classic as they come, I adored the bloody mess Arnold made in 84"). Robert Patrick was a fantastic addition as the sequels relentless villain. The T-1000 gives as little chance as a terminator as he too takes it to the extreme and stops at nothing to accomplish what seems a "MUST" objective for the machines future. Edward Furlong plays the wonderful character of John Connor and demonstrates his brave ego as he quickly develops into the soldier the future expects of him.
In terms of effects and well to be quite honest, acting, T2 runs a mile as the all round cast and final production is sweet.
The Chase scene: This is the explosive introduction between John and the terminator. The T-1000 quickly tracks the where-abouts of John and his unfortunate foster parents. Aware of the threat to the boy, the terminator finds John before the metamorphosis killer can lay hands on him. This leads to an epic chase in which John is dragged onto the terminators bike as they are both chased through back alleys by the T-1000 who is pursuing in none other than a bad ass truck! A tense and eye-opening scene as the Terminator does his utmost in using a wicked shotgun, blowing holes through the liquidising life-form, leaving what is unfortunate to be bullet wounds that the T-1000 shows its tremendous ability to heal...very quickly!
"On August 29th, 1997, it's gonna feel pretty fucking real to you too. Anybody not wearing 2 million sunblock is gonna have a real bad day. Get it?" - Sarah Connor responds to Dr. Silbeman.
T2 Judgement Day appears to be a huge fan favourite and will continue to be. From start to finish, it moves at a fast pace, with its cold blooded concept and wicked acting from both Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong. Although I would never compare both originals, T2 does have a slight advantage in terms of it being a brilliant drama. It is, and will continue to be listed as one of the greatest movies ever made along with a peak that Arnold Schwarzenegger would never rise above!
Terminator: Rise of the Machines: 12 years on, a director by the name of Jonathan Mostow was to officially stamp a third chapter to what was now, a trilogy. As far as we where concerned, T2 left off in epic fashion and emotional credits. Arnold Schwarzenegger was on the verge of becoming the Governor of California. Why? I fail to understand. Anyway, each to their own as they say. In the year he was to be crowned the governor, he managed to squeeze in, what was the release of T3.
John Connor (Nick Stahl) is now in his late 20's, washed up, hanging around bridges drinking booze as someone who was once a clever, arrogant young kid, is now an alcoholic. Oh it hurts to exclude Edward Furlong. He explains his situation reflecting a brief past and describes his current life as constantly on the move, staying under the radar from any opposing threat to his life. Once again, a threat from the future is sent to wipe out the only hope for the human resistance, Sir John. A new era of course, a new villain.
T-X aka Terminatrix (Kristanna Loken) is the lucky gal. She is a human-like cyborg, just like the previous terminators, except way more advanced in terms of investigation and high-tech weaponry and skills. I must add though, she is less a threat than the T-1000 ever was. I mean, anyone can guess that from her first appearance. Now, that is not being sexist is it? I mean I agree women have a place in the terminator saga (Hamilton), she just has to be at least half relevant and not a villain. In my opinion.
So it seems a weak John Connor expected the return of something at some stage in his life-time. He is now lonesome after the death of his mother Sarah. Yes, they killed her off...what Hope have we now? Well there is still hope for Johns origin to be lived out as another terminator model (Model 101) is sent back to protect the soldier to be. We also get introduced to the future wife of John, Kate (Claire Danes). A slight twist to this puzzle is Kate's father is a U.S force General at Sky-Net and controls the military computer systems that lead to the machines take-over. (a virus from sky-net infects the machines).
Lets touch on Arnold's 12 year return to the genre that boosted his career. He once again plays a cyborg. A newly programmed model (as usual). Prior to the movies eager release, I remember reading that Jonathan Mostow was set to make it a rated 12 audience. Why? not an exact quote, but something along the lines of, "
I want a young generation as well as mature to witness my account of the terminator". In other terms, he wanted to be greedy and widen his audience, fearing that those who grew up around the originals will laugh and spit in his face for mocking such a saga. apologies.
Back to the new model. Arnold returns in particular, obvious fashion. As we seen previously, he rocks the dark shades every time. He attempts to do so in the introduction only to find he is wearing star shaped costume glasses. An attempt at humour from Mostow that I have no doubt was funny at the time, but now I ask, why? well, it is rated 12's.
Another ridiculous scene where Arnie is stuffing a basket full of food with an ageing John in a local supermarket. As the terminator proceeds to leave without paying, the shopkeeper shouts "Hey, and a newly constructed Arnie sticks his hand in the guys face and responds with "
Talk to the hand" and walks out. Again, we get the attempted humour, why? well, after all it is rated 12's.
A bad move in my opinion. He clearly went in with his own concept, which is fine, and actually didn't do too bad trying to relate it to the previous movies, but for me, it completely lost that seriousness that made the originals so successful and left a staunchly result of an unnecessary parody.
In fairness to Mostow, the action scenes, quite obviously they were eye-catching as it was now 2003 and CGI (Computer generated Imagery) was at its best then. One of very few memorable scenes was a highway chase which was quite nostalgic in relation to T2. It did, in fairness look excellent as there were all sorts of chaos going on, as we witness once again the desperate attempt from the T-X to get to Connor as she looks to crush John and his protector with a crane on wheels!...seriously.
As for connecting dots relating to the previous successors, Rise of the Machines sticks to the terminator survival concept but lacks any ability to make the story sound as serious and relevant as it should be. There are no particular rise of the machines. We just assume when John and Kate make it to the bomb shelter in the end, the machines are rising. Something myself and I am sure most wanted to see more of. Instead we witnessed the constant worthless attempt of the T-X trying ever so hard to bitch slap Arnie and kill John. I think this is the only terminator movie I actually wanted to see a so-called hero die. I mean John Connor just wants to be put out of his misery in this return. The future of Sky-net should have sent another T-1000 for gods sake!
Rise of the Machines was mediocre in terms of entertainment. Other than that, on the basis of bad actor replacements and slapstick humour, T3 is highly forgettable.
Terminator Salvation: A whole new gathering of actors, writers, directors led to what was revealed to be a positive return to the franchise. Although one change of vision was the exclusion of Arnie as he was, by now well settled into his crocodile skinned governors chair. Was this a good thing? yes it was. It was time to move on, a change of pace if you like. Also taking into account the only positive thing that came from his last appearance was a fatter wallet and the usual "Hasta La Vista". But something tells us we had not seen the last of the sleazy Austrian. (Sleazy, as in he takes a liken to his own maid it seems).
John Connor (Bale) is now in control of what was surely the foreseeable future. It is the year 2018 and Connor is the only survivor of the unsuccessful attack on a Sky-net facility (Where T3 left off).
After a decade of fight and survival to prevent the machines from taking over, there is nothing but rubble, abandoned buildings an human-made shelters and facilities for those remaining. John Leads a team of soldiers (resistance) in its war against Sky-net. We see a young Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) who is a clever individual who like the remaining humans, is trying to stay alive. He remains unfazed and anonymous as he is yet to meet the leader (His son) John Connor. The plot focuses around the companionship between Kyle and Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington). Marcus is the new Terminator, although he himself is unaware of his powerful abilities, as he is manufactured the same, but he has feelings and human like organs which is a first. He too is constructed to end the war against the humans. although Marcus is oblivious to his placement in the war, his once human walk of life affects his position and begins to question what he is, and why was he brought back this way?
As John is unaware of Reese's existence, he continues to make routine radio transmissions through-out the city's remains, calling on all survivors to stay strong, survive, as he believes patience is the key to beating the machines. As Connor and crew focus on a possible loophole in Sky-net, it is when he stumbles across an apparent survivor brought into base by Williams (Moon Bloodgood), yes that is her real surname.
The survivor is Marcus. It isn't long before John arouses a suspicion concerning the origin of Marcus and the reason he is alive. Things get under way when Connor discovers Marcus to be a cyborg and demands for its termination as he has deep concerns for his crew and himself who is the key to seeing out this war.
"
I knew it. I knew it was coming. But this is not the future my mother warned me about. And in this future, I don't know if we can win this war. This is John Connor." - John Connor
What does Salvation offer? well, a whole new concept in what feels so far from where the Terminator originated. Although one can not fault a brave attempt at something the fans waited ever so long for, its concept of John eventually teaming up with Marcus to find Kyle Reese is extremely unbelievable. Yes John has his doubts at first, after all, he did witness the development and decease of both his mother and a Terminator he had once looked up to. He does not take any chances at first, but when you are watching the movie, it seems an obvious choice for him to join forces with Marcus as the terminator is the key to offering the resistance a one chance opportunity to infiltrate, and destroy Sky-net once and for all.
The fourth instalment is however unique in terms of the design, action and its overall appearance regarding the lack of CGI that still led to an extraordinary result. (T3 used CGI for the Skeleton models etc. Salvation went old school and created Worthington's Skeleton).
Christian Bale as Connor can hardly go wrong as his career speaks for itself, but did he have to inherit his Batman voice for John Connor? Maybe it is just his persona in general I wonder? well, after the rant leaked online I was left highly excited as we as the fans felt the performance coming prior to the movies release. So on that note, Bale done tremendous as the boss man slash future soldier. In fact it is unfortunate to say in fact he carried the movies will and desire. Sam Worthington at the time was an amateur and got his first big blockbuster. I liked his debut, but now he remains an amateur as unfortunately for the guys acting credentials, I can not stand the sight of him.
"You and me, we've been at war since before either of us even existed. You tried killing my mother, Sarah Connor. You killed my father, Kyle Reese. You will not kill me." - One of very few memorable scenes as John comes face to face with Worthington's terminator.
Anton Yelchin was decent as Kyle Reese. You can see the charismatic similarities to the original actor, Michael Biehn.
Although the movies plot is also based on a weakness discovered by the resistance that could be a possible dismantle of the machines, it never really developed a significant affect. I mean we are talking a possible end to a war that was for seed for nearly a century. It does outclass the previous movie in terms of seriousness, which is quite significant in relation to its grandparents.
It was original as we got to see the war (I don't even know if it is Judgement Day at this stage) The out-come for certain personalities such as John and Kyle Reese also gave the movie a hint of nostalgia but it is so hard to offer the same love to the characters as you do in the originals.
The Terminator, Marcus Wright is nothing less than anonymous, as you do root for the resistance but you wonder why they even bothered writing in Washington's character. The movie could have stuck to the war concept we see so rarely in Salvation, rather than writing in an unnecessary distraction that was Marcus Wright.
The result in terms of entertainment and blockbuster action will please any movie buff looking for a good time and maybe some clarity, taking into account the disappointment of T3. Unfortunately like most movies today, comparing them to
70s, 80s, 90's classics is pointless and will always be a waste of time. It is true, the industry have provided us with some unforgettable work. It is great to see Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and James Cameron provide us with their beautiful vision and mesmerising concepts to this day. But their movie credentials origin from the past, not the future.
When Christian Bale said "
Il be back" towards Terminator Salvations climax, I'd decided I have had enough.
The Terminator will always be credited for its epic past, and forgetful future... "
Hasta La Vista baby!
For more classic Terminator quotes, click IMDB's link below.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/quotes
