This is a place to rank the Terminator films in terms of quality. In particular saying whether you like T1 or T2 more. For me it goes:
I’d say that T1 edges out T2, just because the characters are far superior. Other than that, they are equals.
Not enough people read the EU.
Bosk said:
T2 is a shit film
I don’t understand the hate for Salvation. Actually I do, but it also had a lot going for it.
Both Machines and Salvation are nicely improved by fanedits. Machines especially.
I love the first one more because it’s simpler and less weighed down with exposition and heavy-handed messages. And my hate for Salvation is because, 1) It’s boring as hell, 2) Anton Yelchin is terrible as Reese, 3) Poor writing (why the hell did Skynet capture Reese and the others? They should have killed them, that’s what Skynet does, they’re not in the taking prisoners business), 4) It was the first PG-13 movie in the franchise, following a shitty Hollywood trend of downgrading R-rated franchises in the hopes of reaching a wider audience when they should have been spending more time and effort on telling a great story.
Don’t do drugs, unless you’re with me.
Sorry can’t resist posting here.
Not seen the most recent film, I really can’t be bothered anymore.
Rather liked the Sarah Connor Chronicles and would place it somewhere in the 3.5 balls mark.
The Terminator – A+
Terminator 2: Judgement Day – B/B+ (John Connor’s an unlikeable dipshit; he brings the movie down for me)
Terminator 2 3-D: Battle Across Time – B+
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – C
Terminator: Salvation – C (possibly lower; I’d have to rewatch it to be certain)
Haven’t seen Terminator Syphilis and never will.
T2 - A
T1 - A
T3 - C
TS - C
Haven’t seen Genisys. Looked like a piece of shit. Will probably catch it on TV.
Don’t have time to go into the reasons for my ratings right now but I will latter, here is how I rank the Terminator films.
The Terminator 9.0/10
Terminator:Genisys 7.0/10
Terminator 3 5.5/10
Terminator 2(This movie was really let down by the fact that it had kid who was the Jar Jar Binks of this franchise, it was way too preachy, way way way too long for such a simple story, and then it ripped off all the worst Data scenes from Star Trek TNG. It was a mess and I think this was Cammeron’s first bad film and sadly I don’t think he has made a good one since.)4.0/10
Terminator: Salvation 2.5/10.
My ratings for the Star Wars movies. EP1 4.5/10. Ep2 4.0/10. EP3 2.0/10. EP4 9.5/10. EP5 10/10 EP6 8.5/10 EP7 8.3/10.
Anton Yelchin is terrible as Reese
I always though that Yelchin was the best part of that film. He nails the quiet, profesional, but yet troubled personality that Biehn made so iconic. And he’s a hell of a lot better than Jai Courtney was in the role. shudder
Not enough people read the EU.
Agree that Jai Courtney was the worst as Reese. Maybe I’d need to see “Salvation” again for a fresh perspective but I don’t see that happening.
Don’t do drugs, unless you’re with me.
T1: A+
T2: A-
T3: C+ Should have had 2 bad bots and one good.
TS: meh, Not necessary. Cast was fine.
TG: Interesting basic concept with places to go. The failure to cast actors who look and come across as the originals always throws me. Look at Ridley/Rey. Always go with unknowns, before someone who is supposed to draw an audience, for those who are supposed to be the same as or closely related to another actor. No cronyism nepotism favoritism… I thought the Gen cast were basically good actors who just couldn’t come across as the characters they were supposed to be, regardless. Why didn’t they cast that Fin Odare guy from Hunger Games?! They might have dropped some expo about the timeline altered before birth.
Honorable Mention to The Sarah Conner Chronicles (It was a TV series, so it was easier to think of it as an entirely separated timeline.)
Yeah, it’s a shame they went with Emilia Clarke. Not only does she look very little like Linda Hamilton, she’s also just not a very good actress in my opinion. They really should have went with Brie Larson, who was the other one in the running. She looks more like Hamilton and is an amazing talent. Well, I guess it’s better for her she wasn’t in it.
Should I see the Directors Cut of T2? Does it improve on the film in any way? I’ve heard that Biehn came back for Kyle Reese but was cut, and then added back in the Directors Cut.
Not enough people read the EU.
I say go for it. Even if you end up not caring for the additional/alternate scenes, there’s nothing there which damages the story/characters.
Is there anywhere to get a good looking copy of T2 3D: Battle Across Time without actually going to the ride? It sounds pretty cool.
Not enough people read the EU.
Should I see the Directors Cut of T2? Does it improve on the film in any way? I’ve heard that Biehn came back for Kyle Reese but was cut, and then added back in the Directors Cut.
That must have been the version that was released on VHS at some point, because the only version I have ever seen has Reese in it.
No kidding, until this moment I didn’t know he had been cut from any other cut. Thanks for telling me.
My ratings for the Star Wars movies. EP1 4.5/10. Ep2 4.0/10. EP3 2.0/10. EP4 9.5/10. EP5 10/10 EP6 8.5/10 EP7 8.3/10.
The Terminator (1984)- 10/10- In many ways, a perfect movie. With a wonderfully intriguing premise, it functions as action flick, sci-fi movie, and slasher film, all bound together by a surprisingly convincing love story. Arnold’s T-800 is one of the most menacing, unrelentless villains to grace the screen of cinema.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)- 8/10- An excellent action piece. Despite following the template set for it by the first film, it takes surprising directions and manages to remain an exhilarating movie today.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)- 2/10- Is there anything good about the movie? The action, though practical, is nowhere near as well staged as anything in Cameron’s films. Thematically, the movie shows among other things, a fundamental misunderstanding of the franchise’s adherence to ambiguity when it comes to time travel. But, perhaps where it most fails is its wholly unlikeable characters. Even with the central conceit that John is fleeing his destiny, the movie fails to deliver, instead offering us the whiniest version of the future war’s messiah (even moreso than Furlong).
Terminator Salvation (2008)- 5/10- Fine, though it reeks of studio intervention.
Terminator Genisys (2015)- 7/10- I still maintain that, while this movie is far from perfect, it is the only remotely worthy followup to the first two. Underneath the lackluster direction is a clear understanding, from a writing point of view, of the universe that James Cameron set up.
Judgement Day 9/10
The Terminator 9/10
Genisys 7/10
Rise of the Machines 5/10
Salvation 4/10
3-D Battle Through Time 3/10
Sarah Connor Chronicles 1/10
XXX: A Porn Parody 69/10
The order is the same as release order. The first two are in my top10 of all time. T3 is kind of fun popcorn flick but it’s not something I pop in anymore. T4 is a boring mess but at least it’s different. T5 is one of the worst movies, at least big franchise movies, of all time. It’s worse than Jurassic Park III or even the Matrix sequels. I’d rather watch Batman & Robin. I hated that movie (there’s also the Terminator thread where I talked about it).
And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.
Should I see the Directors Cut of T2? Does it improve on the film in any way? I’ve heard that Biehn came back for Kyle Reese but was cut, and then added back in the Directors Cut.
If T2 is your favorite of the bunch I’m surprised you haven’t seen it already.
Don’t do drugs, unless you’re with me.
I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever even seen the theatrical cut of T2.
There is a version of T2 which is basically the Director’s Cut but without the new ending with old Sarah and John Connor. I recommend watching that because it improves the movie in every way while keeping continuity.
Uh…the Director’s cut doesn’t add that ending back in.
I haven’t seen Genysis. The trailer looked like a very bad parody of the Terminator franchise and not a sequel, that’s why I waited for the reviews and because I haven’t seen/read a single one positive review, I’m skipping this one.
Uh…the Director’s cut doesn’t add that ending back in.
If I remember correctly on one of the Director’s cut DVDs there is a hidden Easter Egg which basically plays the director’s cut + a scene where the liquid Terminator searches the kid’s room after killing his parents + plays the original ending.