termiNation

I never expected i'd review the Terminator franchise, as the sequels seemed resolutely determined to break no new ground. And each iteration goes one step further in exposing the flaw at the heart of the franchise - the concept that humanity is "like, totally special and soooooo worth saving", a conceit that's embarrassing coming out of the mouth of anyone over fourteen. But having finally seen the TV series, a change of mind is merited.
THE TERMINATOR (1984)
A frankensteinian vision that taps into our paranoia over the potential for our genius creations to outsmart and destroy us, the film is a stunning synthesis of acting, dialogue, and visuals that grasp you from the first second and never let go. As close to cinematic perfection as one can expect.
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)
Writer/director james cameron, schwarzenegger, and linda hamilton (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, HILL STREET BLUES) return. This one vies for a top-five spot on the list of greatest sequels ever...which is all the more amazing, as the plot is largely a recycle of the original. This should have been the franchise's "Return of the Jedi"...but the brilliance is again unrelenting, and it touches the heartstrings better than the original.
TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (2003)
Great acting (yay, claire danes!), competent writing, and dandy visuals, but...for what?
TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (2008-2009)
This one had failure written all over it. How do you move a franchise this profoundly visual to the small screen? Why even try?? Yet, with episodes on PTSD and a terminator's befriending a wheelchair-bound library aide, this one goes where no other sequel has gone - new ground. One or two clunkers aside, it is stupefying that it got cancelled. Well done, lena headey (GAME OF THRONES), summer glau (FIREFLY), and thomas dekker (HEROES).
TERMINATOR SALVATION (2009)
So meandering, i look at the trailer and swear i've never seen the film, even though i KNOW i have. Yes mr. bale, you should have played the terminator.
TERMINATOR GENESYS (2015)
Truly not bad. It might have even been good, had they not cast a piece of wood as kyle reese. I cried for emilia clarke (GAME OF THRONES, ME BEFORE YOU), having to act off this meathead-lite.
TERMINATOR 6 (2019)
Original star hamilton (the series "...was perfect with two films...but there will always be those who will try to milk the cow") is slated to return! Moo tu, linda?