Could A New Terminator Restart the Franchise?
I recently caught the last 20 minutes of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines on TV and I was surprised by how watchable it was. The film was widely panned when it was released a few years back and I remember why, mostly because they were the same complaints I had with the film: too over the top, the effects weren’t as cutting edge as those of the previous two films but for me, the biggest drawback was that I simply didn’t buy into the characters. A surprising turn considering I like both Nick Stahl and Claire Danes and watching only the ending of the film, I was surprised by their good performances unfortunately, combined with the rest of the package, it made for a forgettable film.
I’m not much of a fan of director McG so when news arose that the series was in line for a reboot titled Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, I simply didn’t care but over the last few months the production has added a number of pretty big players, most of them good actors, which leads me to think that perhaps this reboot idea isn’t quite so bad.
Confirmed cast include Christian Bale, Anton Yelchin, Sam Worthington (who I really liked in Somersault (our review)), Moon Bloodgood (one of the few good things of Pathfinder), Bryce Dallas Howard and Josh Brolin is rumored to be in talks to star as the terminator. If that’s not impressive enough, news now is that Helena Bonham Carter is also in talks to star.
Could it possibly be that writer John D. Brancato has finally written a good script? Looking at his credit list, nothing, and I mean nothing, stands out as being even entertaining, never mind actually good. But with such big names signing on, I’m willing to assume that they’ve peeked the script and are happy with what they see.
I don’t think the franchise really needs a reboot, mostly it just needs to be left alone, but it’s an interesting universe for telling stories and it looks like this one will be looking at the origins of the battle between humans and Skynet with John Connor leading the rebellion against the world’s mechanized occupants.
I’m still not completely sold but do admit that I’m curious to see the final line-up and if they manage to improve on number three. At this point, I think it’s useless to even hope for meeting the greatness of the first two films in the franchise though I’m always open to surprise.
I didn’t think this would be so much a reboot, but that the time-travel nature of the Terminator narrative would cause the plot line to loop around on itself, thus making it sort of a reboot. But yeah, the casting on this is ambitious. I didn’t think 3 was that bad though. That one chase scene with the truck and the telephone poles was pretty off the hook.
Comment by stump — July 4, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
The only action scene I remember is the one with the casket and I can’t even remember how it played out.
Looking for it on YouTube, I stumbled on this video which claims to include all the action scenes of the movie. Not sure if that’s accurate since I didn’t watch the whole thing and even if I had, I don’t remember much of the action in the movie:
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 4, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
New set pics:
Comment by Andrew James — July 4, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
I really like the story behind the T series. The T3 movie itself is kind of meh. However, despite the fact that it’s so obviously a huge backlot, that chase scene in the video above is pretty awesome. The effects (as in T2) are great.
Comment by Andrew James — July 4, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
The action in T3 was quite good, but it was the story that put me off. They just rewrote and destroyed the meaning of the first two so they could make more sequels.
As for the new one being made, that cast has me curious and I’d even be hopeful if it wasn’t for the director. I can’t be too hopeful for a McG Terminator.
Comment by Eaglewing — July 4, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
I liked the direction the story goes. How the machines begin to rule, what skynet is, etc. But that’s just me. I like to think about that kind of stuff as I am positive that if humans live long enough to create A.I. that sophisticated, they will eventually take over the planet anyway - or at least inherit it once we die off or leave.
Comment by Andrew James — July 4, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
I take your two pictures and raise you 45 more!
http://videoeta.com/news.html?id=2549
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 4, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
Fold.
Anyone catch the image in which diesel fuel costs $123/gallon? Whoa.
Comment by Andrew James — July 4, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
looks like a spammer???
Comment by stump — July 11, 2008 @ 11:16 am
Might be…but his comment certainly isn’t!
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 11, 2008 @ 11:30 am
it’s a spambot - it copied my first comment word for word.
Comment by stump — July 11, 2008 @ 11:35 am
I just wiped out the spammer.
Comment by John Allison — July 11, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Ooops. Totally missed that.
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 11, 2008 @ 11:47 am