C3PX

Well, I went to see it. I hated T3 and really, really, really wanted to like this one. During the first twenty minutes of non-stop action and extremely annoying shakey cam BS, I was pretty sure I'd be making a post talking about how disappointing it was. But actually, I really liked it. It had its flaws. The camera movements really made it hard to enjoy. Sure, they want you to be disoriented and to feel like you are part of the action. But I don't want to be part of the action, I want to sit down and enjoy the story. This film was obsessed with P.O.V. shots, all of which had to bob about wildly. That was really annoying. Usually while watching films on my small TV, I think how awesome it would be to be watching it on a big cinema screen, but while watching this thing on the big screen, I kept wishing I was watching it on my tiny TV. The "documentary" style camera movement really hurt this film to a far greater degree than it should have. Crazy to go through all the work to make a film like this, then to try your damnedest to ruin it with creative decisions like this.

The story worked well enough for me. I keep hearing critics talk about the story not making sense, I wish they would be more specific, because I felt it was pretty strait forward. SPOILER ALERT: I assume they are talking about the leaders of the resistence being so determined to destroy the machine factory, even though they know there are hoards of human prisoners being held there. I thought that was kind of weak, especially considering the fact that the human race is suppose to be heading towards extinction. You'd want to save as many as possible, not simply blow them all up as unavoidable casualties of war. Beyond this dumb bit of the story, it all made perfect sense to me. And unlike Star Trek's plot, this one, linear as it was, at least had decent motivation behind it (again, except for the leaders determination to blow the factory to hell without even giving a second thought to saving the prisoners). 

I really liked the character of Marcus, and his plot twist was really cool. But unfortunately they felt the need to spoil the plot twist in the trailer, so it wont be a surprise to anyone.

I liked the kid who played Kyle. Perfect casting IMHO. I thought Bale did a great job as Connor. Bryce Howard, an actress I usually really don't care much for, also felt perfectly cast as Kate Brewster.

The vast amount of fan service in this film got old fast. I smiled when young Kyle delivered the famous "come with me if you want to live" line to Marcus. It worked for me, after all, it is the same character. But then the references just kept coming. I felt like groaning when John said, "I'll be back!". I was half expecting him to say, "You're Terminated, Fucker!" during his fight with the T-800 at the end, and was relieved when he didn't. Also glad the line "Hasta la vista, baby!" didn't make its way into the film, but just about every other famous Terminator line seemed to.

Beside the annoying camera movements, the biggest complaint about the film I had was its severe lack of dialogue. A little bit more character development could have been used and would have improved the film immensly. I am hoping there was a lot of this sort of thing filmed that ended up on the cutting room floor that is just sitting around waiting to be included on the DVD. I also have high hopes that we might get an "unrated" special edition DVD, or something along those lines. I can't help but feel some things were cut down to get a PG-13 rating. 

Also the ending felt like a "Dark Knight" sort of ending. Very unsatifying. I was fine with the idea of Marcus sacrificing himself to save John, but doing this by having him offer his heart to John was a bit weak. Think it would have worked better if he had died saving John or Kyle in the heat of battle.

A final thing I'd like to mention is Arnold's "cameo". I have to say, it was pretty cool to see him in the film looking pretty much exactly like he did in the first film. But as good as it looked, it looked obviously CG. It looked bad enough now, I'd hate to see how awful it will look five years from now. Ultimately, this little surprise was just another piece of fan service that really wasn't needed. The scene could have worked just as well had a non-skinned T-800 stepped out of that chamber. Nothing wrong with it being Arnold, if fact, it was a cool concept. I just don't think the CG worked that well.

I am sorry to see critics ragging on this film so harshly, especially when they give such high praise to films like "Transformers" and "Star Trek". I think the existence of the Sarah Connor Chronicles may have a lot to do with this film being received so poorly. A new sequel is one thing, but a new sequel and a mediocre television series all in the same year is something else entirely. Too much of something good is never a good thing; too much of something that is just okay is even worse.

Final verdict, I liked it infinitely more than T3. I really hope this is the last film. I don't want to see any sequels. It could have been better, but I still liked it. Certainly not on par with T1 or T2, but it is a nice little spin-off for guys like me who just can't get enough Terminator (except when it is T3, even one second of that film is too long for me). I enjoy this the same way I used to enjoy SW novels. Can't consider it truly part of the overall story, but it is a nice little expansion on the story.

It actually wasn't about what you'd keep in canon if you had the power to decide, it was about what concepts and ideas from the series would you keep if you were part of a team remaking the six film SW saga.

But we aren't even discussing the original topic anymore. We've gone WAY off topic. But even the OP popped in last night to give his stamp of approval on the direction his derailed thread has veered off in.

It was sarcasm. I just thought you over reacted quite a bit in making fun of him, complaining about him writing a short post, and accusing him of being a troll. I can agree with you that it was a pointless post (I think we all make them sometimes), and in all honestly, I have no idea what exactly he was calling "dumb" due to the vagueness of his post. A quotation of exactly what he felt was dumb could have made it a far more substantial post. I wasn't really trying to make anything of it, I shouldn't have even mentioned it in my own reply. 

Proving your point from the second paragraph of post 41, I intended to end my post right after the line you quoted, then feeling compelled to continue writing on the subject, went on to write my own dissertation on the issue. 

I really should have deleted my line about being "Not really the least bit interested in debating this..." since I obviously demonstrated the opposite by the section of my post that followed. It could easily be mistaken as a disclaimer saying, "Hey, Johnboy, here is my opinion on the subject, but don't bother responding to it because I don't care to hear what you have to say." which was not what I was trying to communicate.

I am still not impressed by your reply to Xhonzi, but I am equally, if not more, unimpressed by my own reaction to it. My apologies.

Johnboy3434 said:

You are a fan. I am a fan. We have no qualifications.

 I daresay that is the ultimate qualification.

Why should those who merely make money from milking the franchise be better qualified than those who truely love it? Just something to think about. Not really the least bit interested in debating this, expecially in light of the amazing level of maturity demostrated in your reply to Xhonzi.

I also feel you are going in the wrong direction with mentioning "holy canon" as there is no singular "holy canon". Their are different levels of canon, and biblical canon has been and is much disagreement upon by those who are or have been deemed "qualified".

Canon in its simplest definition simply means a standard. When talking about the canon of a series of fictional works, we are talking about the parts that adhere to the quality and the continuity of the overall work, which parts are to be accepted as truly having taken place in this fictional universe. To me, the very idea of a canon in a work of fiction is beyond absurd.

This absurdity is even more vibrant when you consider the fact that GL and his own company completely disagree on the issue of canonicity. Considering this, what really makes one expertly "qualified" to determine exactly what events and stories, written over the course of thirty years by a vast number of different authors, did "in fact" take place in this imaginary universe?

The obvious answer to this question is 'no one other than GL', naturally. The man invented this fictional universe, that never existed. He wrote the original story of the events that take place there that never really happened. Makes sense that if he says Timothy Zahn's fan fiction never really took place in his imaginary universe, that this should be taken as the official standard. Of course smart marketing says otherwise. Why should I pay to read professionally written fan fiction, when it is nothing more than professionally written fan fiction? And GL's canon is greatly crippled by the fact he is constantly changing it with ridiculous retcons. Does a canon even really have any meaning when it is constantly changed? Of course not. There is no purpose of having a standard when it is constantly being broken by those who set it.

At the end of the day, Vaderisnohayden might as well be considered just as qualified as Lucas and his minions to decide what did and didn't not really happen in a galaxy that never existed.

Sure, Vaderisnohayden may come off rather strongly in stating that his view of canon is the "real" canon, period, full stop. But I think it is rather silly to be bothered by this. In fact, I think it is rather silly to be bothering about the reality of a non-existent universe at all.

At the risk of sounding like a really lousy nerd, I just can't imagine enjoying things like this.

Oh I saw it... I saw it... I wish I hadn't... but I saw it... yes, I saw it... nothing... nothing can ever change that... I saw it... I saw it...

Vaderisnothayden said:

Raiders is hardly perfect. It's a rather limited film that leaves me disappointed every time I watch it.

I really have to ask, you say it leaves you disappointed "every time" you watch it, why do you watch it them? You know it is going to disappoint, so why not just give it a pass everytime the opportunity to see it arises? Maybe it is just me, but I really prefer not to rewatch movies I've already seen once and been disappointed by. Just feels like a waste of time to me.

I had no intention of even seeing IJATKOTCS, on these very boards myself and a few others were talking about how much it would suck. Then somebody made an inspiring post about giving it a chance (I think it was The Cassidy, but I don't really remember), and I decided they were right and I was going to give it a chance. Then the title of the film was released... then the reviews came along... and I began to care less and less about seeing it.

Nobody could convince me to see a new Indiana Jones movie, just as nobody could convince me to see a new Star Wars movie (animated or live action). I am completely done with both of them. I will continue to enjoy the originals, but I refuse to watch either of these poor dead horses take any more lashings.

Nah, that doesn't work, sky. I threw mine at the wall, and it just bounced off. Didn't explode. Left a little mark on the wall for me to patch up though...

I agree. So, what did you want to talk about?

Yeah, having been in Arnie's position many times before in my life, I can say humor is one of the harder things to understand in another language.

Exactly.

Anchorhead said:

AxiaEuxine said:

As I am constantly having to defend my position on my Star Wars fandom.....

I don't defend my position on my fandom to anyone - and around here, I'm not asked to. 

Neither is Axia, or any other PT fan around here. He just tends to take any criticism of the PT as some sort of personal attack. 

It would be like Anchorhead freaking out every time someone said that The Empire Strikes Back was better than Star Wars. 

Not writing this post to attack or complain about Axia, I am posting it to try to reassure him he doesn't need to feel like he has to defend himself for liking something just because not all the rest of us like it.

It is a lovely French word. We Americans like to use French words in our English sentences sometimes. We feel it makes us sound sophisticated.

Ironically, we also like to make jokes about the French being pansies.

Honestly, behind it all, Americans really, really love the French. So much, that they are embarrassed to admit it, and so they make fun of them to cover. Kind of like that girl you teased mercilessly in middle school, you really had a huge crush on her, and by teasing her you were able to interact with her and get her to notice you without letting your buddies or her know that you were hopelessly in love with her.

... oh yeah, a minuet, it is a style of ballroom dance, or the music associated with it.

EDIT: Chalts beat me too it. Serves me right for being so long winded all the time.

He doesn't even look in pain. Barely even reacts. Pretty sure gungans don't have balls.

To me this represents much of what was wrong with TPM. Just another stupid infantile joke thrown into the poor PT.

DarkGryphon2048 said:

C3PX said:

dark_jedi said:

Anyone play X-Men Origins: Wolverine The Uncaged Edition yet?

Now this game is damn cool,lots of neat moves and full of non stop action.

 

Whoa! You weren't lying! This game is a pretty fun little button masher. I just played the demo, I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. The M rating is great too. I am so used X-Men being a PG-13 sort of thing, it was kind of cool to see Wolverine with incredible amounts of blood dripping off his claws. Gives it a much darker and more realistic tone.

 

Realistic since it's a ficticious comic book character which is featured in a film? LOL okay.

 

Damn, I keep forgetting to keep things on a fourth grade level...

I never suggested in the least that the fictional character was in any way realistic. What I suggested was realistic is that when this fictitious character jabs his razor sharp metal claws into someone's body, blood comes gushing out. Just like it would in real life!

Unlike the films, where the claws come out nice and clean and the stabbed individual falls to the ground in a nice little heap. Which is not just like real life.

Sooo, what's the minuet saying to us?

dark_jedi said:

Anyone play X-Men Origins: Wolverine The Uncaged Edition yet?

Now this game is damn cool,lots of neat moves and full of non stop action.

Whoa! You weren't lying! This game is a pretty fun little button masher. I just played the demo, I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. The M rating is great too. I am so used X-Men being a PG-13 sort of thing, it was kind of cool to see Wolverine with incredible amounts of blood dripping off his claws. Gives it a much darker and more realistic tone.

I found the ending far less satisfying that previous finales. Usually there is something to give you hints of what you might expect next season. Season one's Walt getting kidnapped and staring down into the open hatch. Season two's revealing the Others and the capturing of the main characters. Season three's "We have to go back, Kate." Season four's Ben and Jack conversation and Locke in the casket reveal. They all gave us a fairly good idea of what might come next season.

This ending wasn't bad, but it is the first time a season of Lost ended and left me clueless of what to anticipate next season.

I thing we are safe to assume that Jack did this exact same thing before, and is in fact the cause of the incident. After the whole 'trying to kill Ben is essentially what turned him into a monster' plot, I think a lot of us assumed Jack trying to stop the incident is what caused it to happen. But then Miles comes along and spells it out to us, setting it nice and cleanly on the table, which now has me thinking things might change, and that Miles line was thrown in there to knock us off stride.

I think the earth is able to take care of itself. Not saying we shouldn't lend a hand, but I think it is far more capable than all these nuts who believe they can actually make a difference in the grand scheme of things. 

Natural disasters, famine, plagues, they exist for a reason. We can try to fight them all we like with our modern technology, our medicens, and our predictions, but we can sway them no more than we can control the tides of the ocean.

Let's not delude ourselves into believing we have the ability to conquer and destroy something like the earth. The earth is sure to take us out long before we take it out. The over population "issue" will take care of itself without us needing to barbarically murder our own children or resorting to totalitarian style regulations.

Awesome!

AxiaEuxine said:

Carrie sings to the theme for f***s sake.

That's the best part!

"It was ok. Very hit-and-miss, which I imagine they all are."

Yeah, pretty much.

Do check out the HS if you ever get the chance, it is one of the better ones I have seen. Plus, the HS is such a bizzare thing, it is always interesting to hear other people's takes on it.

Yeah, I agree, they usually aren't all that great. I guess what beckons me to check out the occasional RiffTax is nostalgia for MST3K, but it is rare a rifftax catches the same charm that show used to have. MST3K worked great because the movies were so awful, half the humor came from the quality of the crappy movie. That mixed with their commentary, you got some really fantastic stuff. Rifftrax on the other hand... well... most modern movies that they riff are pretty crappy, but they just are not on the same "fun to watch" level crappy things like Overdrawn at the Memory Bank are. 

I have tried to sit through the prequel riffs, but the prequels are a very unfunny kind of crappy, so their riffs really don't do on that much. There is the occasional laugh, but most the time it just feels like you are sitting and watching the prequels, which is painful.

That is why the HS makes such a great riff, it is Overdrawn at the Memory Bank level of bad, and the riff just makes it all the more humerous. The riffs of the HS's 70's commercials are priceless too.

I wouldn't even consider messing with it.