Terminator In the Head

I took in Terminator 2 on Friday and went to see Terminator Salvatione (saying it like Doug Heffernan) last night. I was expecting so much from T2 that I felt a bit disappointed, but all in all it was a great film. Salvation, on the other hand, I wasn't expecting much because I heard it wasn't any good. I enjoyed it a bit more than my expectations, but it still wasn't that great overall.

As Lar pointed out, and I completely agreed with, the worst part about it was their was not enough dialog or down time. It was all action, all the time. Don't get me wrong, it definitely wasn't on the level of Blade Runner bad.

As a movie on its own it wasn't that great, but as a continuation of the Terminator series I think it fulfilled a need. If you are a fan of the series you will have more of an opportunity to really enjoy Salvation, especially because of the classic lines that pop up. Such as when teenage Kyle Reese (left) says to Marcus Wright, "Come with me if you want to live." Or when old John Connor heads out to SkyNet to save Kyle and is asked what they should tell the people. He says to tell them, "I'll be back."

I definitely can see why James Cameron stopped after two, because the first two Terminators had such clever ideas to them. He could just build great stories around the simple yet complex themes of T1 and T2. If you're going to make a movie post judgement day it's gonna have to be a war movie, and that's just not as interesting as the stories of the first two films.

Major issue. How come in Salvation you can kill a terminator by simply shooting them in the head, as John did a few times? Wasn't it really hard to kill one and the other movies (I never saw T3) and in tv series? You had to melt them, crush the whole skeleton, or actually remove the chip. But no, now it's bang, shot to the head, dead.

This last problem I have is mostly for T2 but also works for a problem with Salvation. SkyNet sent back two Terminators to kill Sarah Connor in T1 and John Connor in T2. Why on earth would they send back a T101 (Arnold) to one place and use the much better, T1000 (right), at the other place? They are sending them back at the same time (2029 I believe), why wouldn't they send back their most advanced Terminator to both places? Ooohhh, because we didn't have the technology as film makers to do the liquid metal thing in 1984? Now I see. Not good enough. Should have though of that ahead of time.

FOX Upfronts- Gut Reactions

What's Gone
Do Not Disturb, King of the Hill, Prison Break, Sit Down Shut Up, Terminator

--Worst move of this season's upfronts was canceling Terminator: TSCC. Not only was it a great show, but it kept getting better and better as it went on. I'm glad to see Sit Down Shut Up and Do Not Disturb gone.

What's Back
24, American Dad, American Idol, Bones, Dollhouse, Family Guy, Fringe, House, Kitchen Nightmares, Lie To Me, Simpsons, Til Death, So You Think You Can Dance

--Really? Dollhouse and Lie to Me were better than Terminator? Interesting. 24 is back so I'm assuming Jacky B makes it through that experimental stem cell surgery. Either that or Renee Walker takes over as the woman that saves the world...no thank you.

What's New
Brothers, Cleveland Show, Glee, Human Target, Past Life, Sons of Tucson, Wanda Sykes Show

--Not much promise for the future of FOX. I'll check out Brothers and Cleveland Show, and maybe give Glee another try, but nothing excites me here.

--Brothers is a sitcom starring Michael Strahan (New York Football Giants) as Mike Trainor, an ex-NFL star that has spent all his money and moves back home. Daryl Mitchell (House Party, 10 Things I Hate About You) plays Mike's brother, a handicapped restaurateur, and Carl Weathers (Rocky, Happy Gilmore) is the father.

--The Cleveland Show is the Family Guy spin-off starring the Griffin's neighbor, Cleveland. That's pretty much it. I'll watch because all Seth MacFarlane's stuff is good.

--I turned the Glee pilot off halfway through because it was pretty awful. I am only hearing good things about it so I might give it one more try this fall.

Sarah Connor Chronicled?

It's really a shame that people haven't been watching Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, because this past Friday's Season Two Finale might have been the final episode of the series. With ratings lower than Howie Do It and Wife Swap, as well as anything they put on CBS, most are certain that Terminator has run its course on television. Others have a slight bit of hope that the opening of the Christian Bale starring Terminator Salvation (watch trailer) will give enough reason to keep the show on the air.

8PM	CBS	Ghost Whisperer	10.23	2.5/9
	ABC	Wife Swap	4.64	1.4/5
	NBC	Howie Do It	3.86	1.1/4
	FOX	Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles	3.56	1.3/5
	CW	Everybody Hates Chris (R)	1.47	0.6/2

Source: TVAddict

I didn't come into watching this show as a fan of the Arnold movies. I had a clean slate and got hooked right away. Now sure, it has had some dull episodes, but so has what I consider the best show on television, Lost. The way Terminator has picked up over the second half of this season has been terrific.

The final episode, maybe ever, was fantastic and everyone seems to thinks so. After Cameron (right) demolished everyone in her path to get Sarah out of jail, the good metal chick went to super computer John Henry and voluntarily gave him her chip. Meanwhile crazy liquid metal Weaver meets with Sarah and John Connor to let them know SkyNet is her enemy also. Here's where a fantastic interaction occurs.

Sarah: "We need to get out, they're trying to kill my son."
Weaver: "No they're trying to kill my son, just like you are." (speaking of John Henry)
Sarah: "I'm sure she's done it." (thinking Cameron was going to destroy John Henry)
Weaver: "You better hope not. You're John may save the world, but he can't do it without mine."
--Boom! Roasted.

After they all find a chip-less Cameron and a missing John Henry, Weaver travels through time to go get John Henry back. And sure enough Johnny Connor (left) goes with her to find Cameron's chip. When they get there, they are smack dab in the resistance with a healthy and alive brother combo of Derek and Kyle Reese, as well as a human looking Cameron (probably the mold they use for her). When John talks to a Derek that doesn't recognize him, he let's him know that his name is John Connor. "Anybody heard the name John Connor?" Derek asks. Boy did they screw up the space-time continuum somehow.

The only reason I won't be extremely upset with leaving this story completely up in the air is because there are going to be three more Terminator movies over the next decade. That being said, I would love to see a season three of the Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Fox Returners

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles returns for its second season on Fox. I really enjoyed the first season and this show is probably in my top five awaited returns. The addition of Brian Austin Green mid-season was a great decision. Seeing young David Silver as an action star is like a dream come true. Also, Clare's friend from the first season of Heroes is John Connor so that's an extra tv plus. If you are excited for the new Christian Bale infested Terminator 4, you really should catch up on Sarah Connor Chronicles to fill the time.

Best Character:
Derek Reese (below left)

Worst Character: (only thinking of the five main characters)
John Connor (above right), which is sad because I like him.

House starts their fifth season this fall and it's starting to drag a little for me. Sure I love House's quirks and Wilson's everything, but the episodes are getting too repetitive for me. Give me some more relationship stuff, like with the House, Wilson, Cut-throat B*tch love triangle. It's like they only have one or two of these situations a season. Also if House could watch more soaps and play more gameboy I would get a bunch more laughs out of it.

Best Character:
Greg House (below left)

Worst Character:
Eric Foreman (above right)

Family Guy is now in its seventh season although there was that break in between because it got cancelled. what?!? This is by far the best animated show of all time, and they come up with the most subtle but ridiculous ways to make you laugh. One of the great things about this show is that there are three tremendous characters that I can absolutely see being someone's favorite character. Although I am a Peter man, Stewie or Brian would be absolutely the best character on any other animated show on television.

Best Character:
Peter Griffon (below)

Worst Character:
Herbert (creepy old guy)