Movie Marathon: The Terminator

1. The Terminator - I have not seen this in quite sometimes because usually when I'm in the mood for a Terminator movie, I'll watch T2 - for a few reasons: 1. Eddie Furlong 2. It's better (or so I thought) 3. I love when Sarah Connor is more of a badass (she's so innocent in the first one). But, man, this is a fantastic movie. I loved this rewatch, and I actually think that both this and T2 are close to movie masterpieces. I rated them both 4.5 stars and I think it's really hard to rank them. I'm going with this being #1 for the first time ever, simply because it started this whole iconic character and franchise. It's such a brutal sci-fi series that pulls no punches. The effects in this are a little silly, but great for the early 80s (and the tech gets better with each film). I would say the makeup is the only thing that is hard to forgive. But otherwise, I love everything about it - the ending, the intensity, all of the quotable dialogue. Plus, Bill Paxton's little cameo in this gives him the title of being the only actor to be killed by a Xenomorph, a Terminator, and a Predator! How cool! 

2. Terminator 2: Judgement Day - As much as I love the first one, I will say that I'm personally more entertained by this one. I love Edward Furlong so much - he was so good as a child actor (this and American History X are among my favorite films and performances). The audience instantly falls in love with this smart-ass kid, John Connor, and believes that he's the key to saving the world. I also grew up in Southern California and used to ride my bike and play with my friends in those flood tunnels. It was the perfect place for kids to play! So to see it be a part of an intense chase scene was really cool as a kid. Sarah Connor becomes one of the most iconic female characters of all-time in this, and I love that it starts with her in a mental institution because it feels very realistic (that's what happens to women who tell the truth! Nobody believes them! They are crazy!). But the true genius of this is that Arnold's Terminator is no longer the enemy. It was such a good twist when I first watched it - now it seems so normal, but if you really think back to the first time you watched this it was SO COOL the moment you realize he's not there to kill them. WHAT A TWIST!! Plus, the actual "bad guy" the T-1000, played brilliantly by Robert Patrick, is actually terrifying. The technology and special effects are a MILLION times better than the first one (my husband says this is when "CGI peaked"), and it's also funny! Apparently we watched an extended addition but this is the only version I remember. My husband had not seen it though and was freaking out with every additional scene. LOL. 

3. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines - This was extremely shocking to me because I assumed the 3rd movie was bad. Most 3rd movies of franchises are bad. I remember it being bad. BUT IT'S NOT. I don't think it's great, but it's still a super fun watch with a shocking, unexpected, brutal-as-fuck ending. And if Eddie reprised his role???? It would have been another 4 star banger. I also think Claire Danes is a bit of a miscast, but probably made sense in 2003. She was more of a movie star then with Romeo + Juliet being such a big hit (I've never been the biggest Claire Danes fan - she's a good crier and that's about it, but also I would not describe her as a "movie" star now, she is definitely a TV queen, though). I also think the "bad guy" in this is a bit weak - if you get a woman to do it, she needs to be an actual badass - not some petite Baywatch looking young girl. Like, Michelle Rodriguez would have been great. I would have believed it! But overall, I was shockingly entertained. I like the story, some of the chase sequences are outstanding, and like I said, the ending really hits hard. Just superb. 

4. Terminator Salvation - It's tough to continue the story after such a brutal ending from the 3rd one, but I remember being really excited for this when it was released. It was my first Terminator movie that I saw in the theater (I was too young for the first two, and I don't think I even watched the 3rd one until years after release). I remember that I liked it, but I thought Christian Bale was awful, and I was confused by the timeline. It definitely helps watching this right after watching the first 3 as far as the timeline is concerned, but also this one is where the timeline starts to get really muddled. It takes place in the future after the nuclear bomb explodes and the machines have taken over, and we see an adult John Connor (played by Bale - absolutely excruciating in this role) and we see a teenage Kyle Reese (who is Connor's father) played by Anton Yelchin (RIP), which is already confusing. And then they add a new character - the surprising highlight because Sam Worthington is actually good in this! There's also Bryce Dallas Howard - who is supposed to be an older Claire Danes?? Weird. The cast is definitely hit-or-miss. Plus, no Arnold (the digital cameo doesn't count). I think McG does a good job with the post-apocalyptic universe vibe, but also it's very colorless and the shaky cam becomes very grating. It just kind of feels like it's in a different universe from the first 3, there's no humor or campiness. But it certainly isn't a bad movie, just...different. 

5. Terminator Genisys - Personally, I think this is the only bad one of the bunch, which is quite a feat with a total of 6 movies (so far!). And by bad, I mean average - I rated 2.5 stars. There's a lot of things that I don't like about it. First of all, the CGI is described as "ground breaking" - I'm guessing it's described that way because of all the de-aging tech used (and this was early days de-aging tech), but NO THANK YOU! I hate it now and I hated it then. I would prefer them to cast younger actors than to de-age someone. It always looks bad. Second, the timeline for this is really confusing because it's an "alternate" timeline - so not only do we need to follow a linear past/present/future timeline, but now we have this side timeline too??? WHY??? There's still a lot of story you can tell with the REGULAR timeline! Third, Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor is probably one of my least favorite casting decisions of all time. I mean, I'm glad they didn't just use a de-aged Linda Hamilton, but at least find someone with Hamilton's essence?? Clarke is so dull! Fourth, the John Connor "twist" is utterly ridiculous - they are trying to pull off the Arnold twist in T2, and it just doesn't work at all. The film really takes a steep decline with this reveal. FIFTH (!!), I hate Jai Courtney AND Matt Smith, sooooo UGH to both of them in this. Okay, I think I'm done with all the reasons I hated it. The positives are - Lee Byung-hun as a T-1000 (LOVE HIM!!), Arnold is BACK, and J.K. Simmons says one of my favorite lines of the whole franchise ("Goddamn time traveling robots!" - it's the way he says it.). I also think some of the effects are strong, and the chase sequences are always on point. I think I actually liked it better with this rewatch (again, this is definitely a franchise that benefits from watching them close together otherwise I think it's just too confusing). 

6. Terminator: Dark Fate - When I first decided to rewatch all of the Terminator films, I thought this one would rank 3rd. I really liked it when I first watched it. Solid 3 star movie (meaning higher end 3 star - almost 3.5). I still think that, but I do think T3 is more in the spirit of the films (they seem to get too serious after T3. Camp is good when it's done well! I wish they kept more of the campiness.). And honestly, I went into this franchise rewatch thinking that I would only enjoy the first 2 and this one, and that's completely wrong - I actually had a lot of fun watching all of them. But the real highlight with this one is that I love seeing Arnold and Linda Hamilton together again - and Hamilton is SO GOOD in this. It almost makes you forget about the Emilia Clarke fiasco. I'm also a big fan of Mackenzie Davis - and I think this is a good example of a woman who doesn't necessarily look tough, but she IS. She has that essence about her that you don't want to fuck with. I'm not a fan of the woman who seems to be taking over the franchise, though. She's very weak in this - and not believable in the role of the next "savior" character. That whole plot is dumb, and again, it's creating a completely different timeline?? I think?? I'm so confused. Anyway, I think Arnold does a great job in this as an older Terminator - he's taking care of a mother and her son, after realizing that killing people is wrong. His line reading of "And I'm extremely funny" is still hilarious. I'm really hoping that the next one brings back Edward Furlong! I think he's doing good now! Give him another chance! The fans would LOVE it. 

Ranking: 

The Terminator

T2

T3 

Dark Fate 

Salvation 

Genisys 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey - While I liked a lot about this movie, ultimately I am disappointed by the execution. After Yang was my favorite film of 2022, so I'm really looking forward to more from Kogonada (he also directed some of Pachinko), but this was just too boring to be interesting. But first, things I loved! I adore Colin Farrell (one of my favorite actors, for real) and Margot Robbie - both of them have terrific screen presence and handle the emotional beats of this story really well. Farrell gets to keep his accent too!! LOVE! I also love what it's trying to say about dating and communication - basically how each new person you date causes you to relive moments of your life in order for you to get to know one another. And if you've lived through trauma (who hasn't?), then this becomes a tough obstacle and it almost causes an imbalance if one person is more willing to communicate and relive their past. I feel this whole concept deeply. I hate talking about my childhood and rarely do, I know it bothers my husband, because he feels like I'm not communicating or trusting him to handle it well. But it's far more simple than that - I JUST DON'T WANT TO! I also love the scene in which they are looking down on Earth - such a beautiful scene. And they use one of my favorite songs of all time - "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes. But as far as what I don't like - as much as I do adore Farrell and Robbie, they have shockingly little chemistry. The dialogue between them feels extremely forced and inauthentic (and why God why is Margot Robbie wearing silk pajamas to a wedding?? I'm so confused! And then in another scene she has a God awful Breton hat. Ew. The costume designer failed big time with this project.). And while I liked the more magical feel to this love story, the whole magic rental car bit is so stupid. Like, the dumbest plot point of a movie I've seen in a while. I'm also going to say something pretty bold - I don't like Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I know she was great in that ONE show (Fleabag, in which she also created), but she's been horrendous in everything else, this included. Also, I had NO IDEA that she's with one of my all time favorite directors, Martin McDonagh!! That's crazy! Anyway, I wish this was more exciting, more charming, just more of anything, really. 

2. Tron: Ares - To be honest with you, I should have watched the original Tron and Legacy before watching this. I know I've seen them, but I don't remember a lot. I actually remember Tron more than Legacy probably because I watched it a handful of times as a kid. But I do remember being pleasantly surprised by Legacy. But I think I would have enjoyed this more if I remembered the first two more vividly. However, I still enjoyed it. It's a solid 3 star movie. Nothing more, nothing less. Some of it is excellent - the visuals are OUTSTANDING, but the music is probably the best part. Nine Inch Nails really knocked it out of the park with this - and should be Oscar nominated for Original Score. Honestly, it should have been nominated for some of the effects too. But the problem is obviously the acting. I actually like Jared Leto as an actor (he's a fucking lunatic cult leader but both things can be true at the same time. And we give Tom Cruise and others a pass for that, so I'm not sure why Leto receives such hatred. He has some outstanding performances under this belt - My So-Called Life, Requiem For a Dream, Dallas Buyers Club, etc.), but it's a little ridiculous that they make a super-soldier a 54 year old man??? LOL. It's like casting Brad Pitt as an F1 driver! Give me a fucking break. Greta Lee is gorgeous, but I hate her so much on The Morning Show. Sometimes it literally looks like she's reading off of cue cards on that show. She was good in Past Lives (not as good as her costar, but whatever), so I was willing to give her another chance, but sorry, I don't see her as a lead in a film like this. She doesn't have the...oomph, I guess. And what the Hell is Evan Peters doing with this role? I LOVE Evan Peters! I feel like he took the campiness of his Ryan Murphy characters though, so instead of being a realistic tech villain, he's a ridiculous tech villain. The saving grace is Gillian Anderson (obvi) and of course a nice scene with Jeff Bridges. I had fun with this, though. It moves really quickly and has an interesting plot. And it's cool to look at, which is really all I want when watching a film like this. 

3. HIM - I didn't know much about this, but I read a headline about the critical battering it received, in which Marlon Wayans responded to by claiming critics just "didn't get it" and that it's "ahead of it's time" or something like that. Which honestly, made me want to watch the film for myself (so kudos to him for sticking up for it), but the critics are right - it's bad. And not because it's too complex, or too ahead of the times, but because it's exactly the opposite of those two things. The symbolism and heavy-handed message is so in your face it's like you're being tackled with it (see my cheesy football reference?? That's how the whole movie feels). I do think it should get some credit for trying to tackle big ideas, and also that it feels different than a lot of films that do the same. There's a chaotic energy to it that I actually dig. And I think Wayans does a fantastic job, as does the star Tyric Withers (he's also extremely hot, so that always helps). The concept is also strong - a horror movie that is centered on American Football and how it treats young black men. The commentary is obviously that black men are being sacrificed for entertainment - it basically equates football to the Roman gladiator games. And it's all true! Not, like, a true story, but it reveals a lot about the industry as a whole. The cult-like relationships between the higher-ups, and also how quick they are to find the next "new thing". The final bloodbath is excellent. It's just needs a little bit more of a cohesive thread; it's definitely a case of style over substance. Like, it's so close to being a good movie, but they just throw so much at it to see what sticks it becomes a bit of a chore to watch. Also, I like Julia Fox as an actress, but I can't even look at her with those bleached eyebrows. 

4. The Rip - Oh man, what a disappointment!! Matt and Ben together again - and as cops (!) should be a slam dunk. But this is a distinctly average Netflix movie. And the reason for it is exactly what Matt Damon has said in the press about Netflix movies - it's made for an audience looking at their phones instead of the film. They have to overexplain every plot detail multiple times in case you weren't paying attention! "your brother, the fed" was stated multiple times and the whole giving different dollar amounts to expose the rat was beaten to death by Damon. I think he explained it at least 10 times. I couldn't get past the whole repetitive, circular nature of the storytelling. It's sad that movies are being made for an audience with a diminished attention span. There has to be a better solution?? I'm surprised they got so much talent to agree to this horrific script (written by Joe Carnahan himself! He should be embarrassed by this). Not only Matt and Ben, but Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Moreno, and Kyle Chandler?? HOW? WHY? The shining star is Sasha Calle (who was royally screwed by The Flash fiasco and she was INNOCENT. We need to make her a star!). The whole plot is just about this "rip" - a bunch of cash that they find that is assumed to be linked to drugs/weapons etc, and who is going to take "the rip". It's obvious within...maybe 30 minutes? I wasn't paying attention to the time, but there is a phone call that reveals who it is very quickly and then we are forced to still watch it all play out for what seems like FOREVER. And the one cop gets shot and then KEEPS COUNTING money...LOL. That's how dumb this movie is. I can't lie, I was still entertained, but I rolled my eyes A LOT. On a side note, I would LOVE a film in which Matt & Ben are on actual opposite sides - they try to trick you into thinking that's what's happening here, but I'd be shocked if anyone fell for it (maybe the ones looking at their phones?). 

5. The Running Man - I rated this 2.5 stars (which means average in my book), but honestly, I fucking hated it. I can't, in good consciousness rate it lower than 2.5 though because it's made well. Edgar Wright can make a film with his eyes closed and it would still be better than most other films. But my problem is this: It's so rare to find an old movie (almost 40 years old!) that can be remade today and be even more relevant to our modern world, but The Running Man (1987) is that movie. There's SO MUCH that could have been done with this remake but instead we get an angry Glen Powell angrily stomping about, angrily. He's VERY ANGRY in case you didn't catch that. I'm someone who very early on noted Glen Powell as being the HIGHLIGHT of Scream Queens (he was funny!), but I do not understand how he has attained superstar status so quickly. It reminds me of Chris Evans - he has nice abs, and a nice face, and he's also got non-threatening teddy bear vibe. But can he act? Can he carry a film? NO! But he's being thrust into leading man status, getting roles he's not right for, and it will soon fall apart (look at Evans post Marvel career. He's horrendous in everything). Powell is particularly awful in this movie - he has one emotion. Can you guess what it is? ANGRY! There's really nothing else to say about the movie - it has the same premise as the original, pretty much, and they really go nowhere with it. And I feel like with the social commentary that this film should invoke, my brain should have been swirling with thoughts and ideas, but here are the notes that I took while watching this: 

- I have those red Puma sneakers!

- What did Josh Brolin do to his teeth? I hope that's just for this character and not what he looks like in real life?? 

- I like the nod to Derry, Maine (Stephen King shoutout!)

- That was Lee Pace the WHOLE TIME?!! Wow. That actually caught me off guard. 

That's it. I wrote down 4 things. I don't take a ton of notes while watching movies, and a lot of times most of the notes are so random that I don't even add them to my blog. But this is pathetic. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Flight Risk - I'm always up for a Marky Mark movie, but this isn't that. He's not the star of the movie - Michelle Dockery is. And Topher Grace. And then Marky Mark. It would have been a decent twist if it wasn't already spoiled before the films release. I'm not sure how much was spilled because I didn't watch the trailer. But I saw images of Mark with the receding hairline so I *knew* instantly he wasn't who he said he was when he first appears in the movie. And obviously he wasn't going to keep up that ridiculous accent for the entire film. But I think it's a little misleading to advertise him as the star of the film. He's even the ONLY actor on the posters. As for the rest of the film - it's pretty terrible. There's no real character development. The dialogue is really in-your-face. We get it...he's a "flight risk" and he's on a plane that's also a "flight risk". It's just a really thin plot to base an entire film on. And Dockery is not a good lead actress for a film (I liked her in Downton Abbey just fine, but she's not a movie star!). But the shocker is that this is directed by Mel Gibson!! What the fuck??? I had no idea until the end. I'm no Mel Gibson fan by any means, but he has some good films under his belt (most recently with Hacksaw Ridge). This doesn't feel like it's directed by a seasoned director so I was shocked to see his name up there. I do think one location film shoots are very difficult to do, so kudos for that, but this is a very forgettable nothing of a movie. 

2. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale - I watched this the next day, so not technically a Michelle Dockery double-bill, but almost! My first question is: Is this really the end of it??? I enjoyed the series to a degree, and I actually liked the previous film (the New Era one), but I don't want to watch any more! Please make it stop! Anyway, Michelle is great in this role and the way she says "mamaaa" kills me every time. I think this was fairly boring, though. It's hard to make an interesting film when the best character of the series has died. And Dominic West is so gross to me now. I used to be a fan, but the whole Lily James thing really creeped me out. It's also ridiculous that Noel Coward visits Downton (that's the plot). Like he would be inspired by the most boring people alive?? LOL. There's not much else to say. I kind of zoned out for a lot of it. 

3. Regretting You - The last Colleen Hoover adaptation made me extremely angry (the now infamous Blake Lively one), but I'll watch anything with Dave Franco. Plus Allison Williams, McKenna Grace, and Willa Fitzgerald??? Love this cast! (ew for Scott Eastwood, though). I'm interested in Mason Thames though because I thought he was amazing in The Black Phone, but I hated him in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. I didn't hate this movie as much as the Blake Lively one, but I found it really stupid. Basically these two sisters both ended up with their high school boyfriends but are in love with each other's partner. Instead of a love triangle, it's a love square. The sister and the husband are having an affair and then they both die in a car crash together so the affair is discovered after they die. And then the sister and husband that are still alive fall in love (even though they've been in love since they were kids). It's fine as a love story, but then there's this whole kid part with her teenage daughter and her boyfriend that feels so disconnected to the story and I kept expecting a twist or something with it (like he's still with his girlfriend or something), but nope. And unfortunately McKenna Grace is awful in this, but I don't really blame her. I actually think she's just not used to the cheesiness of this dialogue (and that's saying a lot considering she was in the new Ghostbuster films). Mason doesn't have much to do. It mostly sits on Allison Williams shoulders and she's fine, but not as angry or emotional as she should be. I like the idea of imperfect people and imperfect relationships, but this is just executed very poorly. 

4. Together - Dave Franco double-bill! I didn't do this on purpose, but I'm not mad about it! I love Allison Brie so much, too! I think they are my favorite modern Hollywood couple. They have such great screen presence and obviously chemistry - and they made this a very watchable movie. I didn't know much about this going in, other than it being a horror movie about a couple (and the super gross poster of them kissing with their lips stuck together - EW. There's one with their eyes too! Super gross. I chose the less offensive arm one). And it's only 100 minutes long! That's already a plus. I liked it. It's not great, but I like that it's different and bold. The body horror stuff is extreme and intense. I do just wish they explained the story a bit more. And it doesn't make sense that they don't instantly (and instinctively) call 9-1-1 and seek medical attention (like before cutting off your own arm???). I like the idea of a literal take on couples turning into each other. And that ending with the Spice Girls song "2 Become 1" is probably my favorite film ending of 2025. It's so incredibly funny, I can't stop thinking about it. And then the last shot of them is SO unexpected and SO jarring, I don't know how I feel about it, but it's certainly interesting. 

5. Adulthood - So, my husband picked this movie because he searched for a streaming comedy new releases and this came up. I had never heard of it - but I'll never turn down watching a film starring Kaya Scodelario!! I LOVE HER! Plus, Anthony Carrigan and Billie Lourd! It's an interesting mix of actors. I'm not the biggest Josh Gad fan, but I don't hate him or anything - just never found him funny. But I went into this expecting it to be funny! And let me tell you, it is the least funny movie I've watched in years. After a little bit of watching it, I googled it myself because I thought my husband was mistaken. It's listed as "comedy/crime", so that usually means "dark comedy", but again, there is no comedy in this. The story is interesting, though, and not a plot that I think I've seen before, which is increasingly harder to accomplish. Basically these two siblings of opposite nature come home because their mother is in the hospital, as they are staying in their childhood home they discover the body of a woman who had gone missing when they were kids. The assumption becomes that their parents killed her and hid her body in the wall, and the plot kicks off from there with them trying to get rid of the body without getting caught and come to terms with their parents being murderers. It's GOOD! A terrific idea that can go in many directions. But the direction this goes is weird and uninteresting. And it's most definitely a drama with a few slightly comedic moments. And some of the acting is really awful, specifically Billie Lourd. I still sort of recommend it for the plot - I actually think this would have made a great series - like a dark, edgy Breaking Bad type show. It's a shame that it's made into this mediocre film. I was shocked to see that Alex Winter (yes, that Alex Winter) directed it (and has a few small scenes in it). I didn't know he directs? Apparently he has 42 directorial efforts listed on IMDB, but I've never heard of any of them (mostly shorts and tv episodes). Good for him!