Saw it with The Boy tonight. Here's my spoiler-free thoughts.
Good News: Up until the opening credits I completely forgot that "McG" directed it.
Bad News: McG directed it.
Good News: As prequels/reimaginings go, there's nothing in that sticks out it my braint that is on par with "Jar Jar".
Bad News: During the first 10 minutes, due to the camera work I was constantly reminded that ... you guessed it... McG directed it.
Good News: Holy crap, after those first 10 minutes, the story was engaging, the action was virtually non-stop, and I forgot McG directed it.
Bad News: However in hindsight, I gotta be honest, at least 5 action scenes or emotionally-intense shots were almost ruined by McG reminding us that he used to direct music videos.
Good News: I said almost.
Bad News: It seemed kinda short, because when the final moments were clearly tying up some loose ends and setting up the sequel(s) I was kinda bummed it was about to be over.
Good News: It was one of those "started off uncomfortably slow but then kept getting better right to the end when you wish it wasn't over" kinda movies.
Bad News: It'll cost me another 11 bucks or so to sit through this ride of a movie again.
Good News: I'm kinda on the verge of thinking it would be worth it, especially to try picking up on extra details that they took the time to include (baddy tech especially).
Bad News: But I'm also kinda broke, and totally have to see Star Trek next week while it's still on the Big screens, so I probably won't see T:S again in theatres.
Good News: Congratulations! You took a chance by reading this, and I kept my word and just summarized my thoughts about the movie without giving away any spoilers*, including the 2 or 3 significant twists that were actually quite surprising (i.e. not telegraphed a mile away) and also wow I forgot to mention the half-dozen (at least!) clear references (respectful nods, actually!) to the original and T2 -- in the countless obvious-but-somehow-not-forced lines of dialogue, and in the amazing fight scenes.
More Good News: ESPECIALLY in the fight scenes. Amazing stuff, like re-watching a classic, and yet with something fresh added to make it still interesting.
SEE THIS FILM. (and PS: don't see the spoiler-filled trailers first!!! Hope I'm warning you in time...)
...Even "The Critic" would not say it stinks...
*or "cameos".
It's a re-imagining, rather than T4? Crap.
Quote from: Thorin on May 21, 2009, 11:28:39 PM
It's a re-imagining, rather than T4? Crap.
Well, sorta, in a way it's like the "modified" future as a result of the events of T1 and T2 (and prolly/sorta/maybe T3) but it is certainly not in any way canon-connected to the TV series (i.e. yes there is a "Kate", no there is no "Cameron/Allison" :) )
But it's really like a prequel cuz it shows the man-vs-machine war events that set up Kyle being sent back in time to save Sarah.
34 % on the Tomatometer
Ouch
Quote from: Lazybones on May 22, 2009, 04:40:09 PM
34 % on the Tomatometer
Ouch
Since when does Tomato (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terminator_salvation/)/MC (http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/terminatorsalvation) stop any of us fanboys from seeing a new flick (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terminator_salvation/) or the next in a series we look forward (http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/watchmen?q=watchmen) to seeing continue? ;) (and PS: I read Ebert's negative review, he was full of himself while writing it, thinking he can crack jokes instead of actually reviewing the damn thing -- anyone else noticed that seems to be his recurring "bit" lately?)
It is what it is (http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0522/p17s01-almo.html):
Quote
A couple of scenes directly reference the Iraq war and the Holocaust (where the humans are herded into cattle cars), and this is taking things much too seriously. This is a big blow-'em-up franchise movie. It should not under any circumstances be confused with a Statement.
Like "Independence Day" or "Armageddon", it's a summer movie with a lotta action, paper-thin dialogue (mostly), and it doesn't exactly challenge you. But it is a hell of a ride, often with jump-in-your-seat moments, and you will likely want to watch it again (i.e. buy the DVD) unless you don't have a pulse. ;D
robut expert writes riveting read: "How to Survive a Robot Uprising"
(warning: for those who haven't seen Terminator:Salvation yet, the below article/interview is spoiler-filled)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30891866/ (and here (http://www.livescience.com/technology/090316-robot-madness-ep1.html) is another article about how to prevent an "uprising")
also here's a T:S related article discussing "The Uncanny Valley" -- how "human-like" does a cyborg have to be (or a doll, for that matter) for us to get creeped out?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30848009/