Unattainable Legacy: why the Terminator sequels aren’t so bad

Artwork courtesy Odyssey Art.

In a previous feature I published, I looked at why all the Terminator films released after Terminator 2: Judgement Day have failed to capture the essence of the once great franchise. The conclusion I came too was that the sequels lacked the complex character interactions and thought-provoking themes of the James Cameron-directed films. However, that is certainly not the only conclusion that could be made. Here I am going to play devil’s advocate and argue that the Terminator sequels aren’t really all that bad; we simply hold them to an incredibly high, possibly unrealistic, standards.

There is no question about it, the first two Terminator films are timeless classics. They were both hugely successful financially and critically. They often make appearances on lists of top action films of all time. The films are also favorites among movie buffs and have cemented themselves in the annals of pop culture. “Come with me if you want to live,” “I’ll be back,” “Get out,” are seemingly simple lines that these two films immortalized. Finally, let’s not forget that they were directed by James Cameron, a living legend among filmmakers and arguably the most successful director of all time. The top two grossing films ever made were both directed by Cameron.

Needless to say, the bar was set very high for the franchise, perhaps too high. Could the Terminator sequels ever live up?

Fractured Future: where the post-James Cameron Terminator films went wrong

*SPOILER WARNING: This feature contains spoilers for the plots of all the currently released Terminator films and the Sarah Connor Chronicles TV series. This feature is intended for those familiar with the franchise, its characters, settings and stories. If you are unfamiliar with Terminator, read at your own risk.

In my recent review for Terminator Genisys, I made note of how the franchise has struggled in recent years critically, commercially and among fans of the franchise. I also noted that while Genisys has the potential to jump-start the franchise again, it too failed to really capture and live up to what made the first Terminator and its sequel Terminator 2: Judgement Day (both directed by James Cameron) such memorable films.

Why is that?

Why have all the films following Judgement Day failed to positively capture the attention of fans and critics? Why is the franchise struggling so much?

There are many reasons for why these films have failed to find success (including just flat-out being bad films). However, I theorize that there are two essential ingredients the sequels are lacking that made the Cameron films so compelling: strong character interaction and an overarching theme of what it means to be human.

The post-Cameron Terminator films retained many of the elements of past films. They all feature killer cyborgs disguised as humans hunting flesh and blood humans. An element of time travel is always present. The mission is always to destroy Skynet. They all, with the exception of Salvation, feature Arnold Schwarzenegger in a title role, and he mostly does an excellent job. The films even stick fairly close to the established lore.

These elements are indeed important in their own right, but they are not what made the first two films so extraordinary. Killer cyborgs, time travel and a muscular Austrian are just anchors that let the audience know this is a Terminator movie. These are not the elements that make the Terminator series interesting or even entertaining.

Review – Terminator Genisys

*SPOILER WARNING: This review discusses the identity and role of the main villain in Terminator Genisys. The identity of said villain was revealed in trailers and other marketing material for the film. However, if you have not seen the trailers and promotions in question, you might want to continue reading at your own risk. Aside from the antagonist, no other major plot details are spoiled in this review. Enjoy!

“I’m old, not obsolete.”

This line is repeated several times by Arnold Schwarzenegger, reprising one of his most iconic roles as the futuristic T-800 Terminator in the newest entry in the franchise Terminator Genisys.

This line is poetic in that it illustrates so many aspects of the film. It obviously represents the inferior and outdated T-800 battling newer and more sophisticated models. It can be a reference to Schwarzenegger’s career as an action star at the age of 67. It also illustrates the state of the entry Terminator franchise as it has been struggling to remain relevant among new and existing audiences.

Genisys is supposed to, in James Cameron’s words, reinvigorate the series and get people excited and talking about Terminator again. This is a tall order for the once great but now struggling franchise. While it is far from perfect and stumbles in key areas, Genisys is a fun and respectable entry in the Terminator mythology that might indeed accomplish its goal by creating its own new branching story.

Review – Interstellar

Christopher Nolan has now become a legend of sorts to moviegoers thanks to his critically and commercially successful résumé that includes films such as The Dark Knight and Inception. As a result, fans have come to expect a lot from him including his latest film Interstellar, which appears to be his most ambitious one yet.

Interstellar definitely succeeds in providing an immersing and alluring spectacle that in many ways even surpasses his previous films. However, the film struggles more on the storytelling end, especially in last quarter, which is disappointing to say the least.

Review – Birdman

The latest trend in Hollywood seems to be making movies as big and loud as possible with enough CG to fill every 2TB hard drive in the country. Birdman is a film that aims to be as epic and ambitious as any super hero blockbuster you may have watched over the summer, it just accomplishes those feats in a much different way.

While Birdman may not have the CG, the explosions or the budget of a summer blockbuster, it is a larger than life film thanks to its creative cinematography, smart writing and incredible performances. Birdman is film to be remembered and one that will no doubt garner much attention.