While I’m getting riled up for Mo’s Summer O’ Series™, I thought I’d give you guys some commentary on my Arnie Schwarz double feature I had a couple of months ago. Enjoy.
My first encounter with the mechanical manhunter himself.
Los Angeles, Paramount Pictures Studio Tour, Circa 2018.
The Terminator
I'm grateful for this beginning of yet another 80's franchise that’s milked to this day. You’re sucked in from the first title screens of exposition to its explosive ending. German Shepherd in the passenger seat and everything.
It's written like..horribly, so going into it, expect some great action and suspense and don't rely on the dialogue except for the lore of why Reese and The Terminator are there. THIS is action like nothing else. SUSPENSE like nothing else. It's just the DIALOGUE that you wish there was something else.
This film is also hilarious for no reason. Mostly just the cop dynamics and dramatic campy shootouts, and not to mention the jump-scare of a sex scene really throwing me for a loop, but I guess it’s needed for continuity’s sake, right? Wait.
I didn't go in with crazy expectations, so I left completely satisfied. It's another killer story that Jimmy Cameron has blessed the masses with, and a hell of a watch to any viewer. I’ve heard the sequel is infinitely better. Until then…
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
This film is on the FIRST page of my movie list journal, so I’m staying on brand as another long-time-coming thing I’ve done.
A quadruple Oscar winner because this film is CRAZY to watch. The man IS the hospital floor.
As far as entertainment/pacing/flow, it still slays just as much as its former, holding just a BIT more stakes introducing John. The writing exponentially improves, and there's more fluid editing compared to many choppy moments in the first one. With it being an entire 45-minute act longer than the first, I inherently found myself checking how much time was left. It has some drag factor for a bit, but not enough to issue a substantial complaint.
There are points when it's too much of a family drama to me, but I also grant grace for the fact that the plot wholly leans on a kid. Lightens the tone, for sure, and makes for the most iconic lines thanks to little John's quasi-sage/cool kid advice. Down to the bittersweet goodbye, it’s all for him. You’d never think a thumbs up would make your eyes a bit itchy, right?
Though it's a common approach to skip the first one, I valued that watch just as much as this one. Character development to the MAX, and you just can't get that when you start with a sequel. Sarah Connor is women, she is mother, and to an nth degree she inspires all those girls out there. No control over her destiny, and taking it for the approval of no one but herself. The fate of the world lying in my hands? I won’t even begin to elaborate what tier of Hell that would turn into.
I’m afraid I’ll halt my franchise endearment at this one, as I’ve heard it only spikes *whistle while pointing downward* *explosion* from here and overall gradually becomes a bigger waste of my precious movie-watching time. Now, I implore anyone to waste their precious movie-watching time on some petty robots beefing over who can destroy the fate of humanity. Or bump the sickest wheelie. Sidebar: shoutout to the stunt team.
Cheers,
Mo.
Can't get away from this guy. SO him, right? Seattle MoPOP Circa 2019.
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