In 1984, James Cameron made his biggest splash to cinema with the unexpected hit The Terminator,a feature that manages to remove any knowledge of first feature Piranha II: The Spawning -a critical disaster - from public awareness. It has since cemented the careers of both Cameron and lead actor Arnold Schwarzenegger,and its later sequels have since helped keep the original in the public eye. And with the latest instalment being set up as both a semi-reboot and as a sequel, it's time to see whether the original is just as iconic and spectacular as it's been proclaimed...
In the far future of 2029, man is at war against machines; caused by when a defence network called Skynet becomes sentiment and brings about a human holocaust. But with a rebellious group of humans lead by John Connor being a big set-back in the machine's war, they decide to send back one of their own to a time before the war to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) - John's mother. The rebellion hears of this and Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) volunteers himself to stop the machine from destroying the future. Thus begins a chase between the soldier and the Terminator (Schwarzenegger) for the life of Sarah Connor.
As a film which revitalised the action genre in the form of a B movie, it’s a story which has stood the test of time and countless parodies. That said, it's also a story which lacks depth - man escorts woman away from impending mechanical killing machine. Certainly, the timey-wimey-ness of it all does occasionally make an appearance - especially when it comes to the Kyle Reese side of things - but outside of that it is exactly what it says on the tin. It's no less enjoyable, and the occasional moment of gore and disgust does elevate things slightly, but because of how often the trope has been repeated even by that point, it does lessen what was probably at the time something which came across as new.
As if you weren't already aware, the big guy is by far the best aspect of the film. Schwarzenegger sells his role in robotic elegance (if that's even possible), with his cold demeanour and large physique making him perfectly suitable for the role. Fellow dystopian civilianBiehnis good as Reese too, thanks largely to his outsider appearance and mad-eyed expressions suiting the later police investigation - but as one of the leads, he tries a little too hard to sell the role, and his odd romance with Sarah makes things a tad creepier in a way. Linda Hamilton is unfortunately restricted by both the times and her role as protectee, but as a damsel in distress she does a fine job. As for the secondary cast, the set of policemen are your typical 1980s police characters; Sarah's roommate is a tad annoying but is possibly the only character who's still up to date; and a quick little cameo from Bill Paxton lends to more laughs than imaginable.
The special effects are something interesting when discussing. On one hand, the sequences involving the full cyborg without the Arnold exoskeleton is something of greatness, despite the clear advancement in special effects since the days of stop motion-esque techniques. On the other hand, scenes like the Terminator dealing with his wounds have been severely affected by the tests of time, and unfortunately make what was at the time a truly tormenting sequence into something that can't be seen in the same light. That doesn't stop said sequence packing a punch though, as James Cameron's direction in this film is great stuff. There's never anything of pure spectacle, but he does grand jobs with the action setpieces and the more human moments of the piece.
The Terminator is a film that has somehow stood the test of time and deservingly made a long-lasting franchise out of itself. With a great villain in the form of Schwarzenegger, and a finely paced story which has survived endless parodies, it's a popcorn movie than can be enjoyed by many - if you can look past the dated feel to it all and the slightly cringey musical score. 7/10.
Now that we're officially at the halfway mark for the year, and with the summer movie season officially in full swing, now seems like a good time to look back at some of the best films seen this year. Unfortunately, I've not seen all that many films compared to the bigger critics out there, and being in the UK means I haven't seen some films like Inside Out which come out later on in the year. But nevertheless, here's my personal top ten...
Only just edging its way into the top ten is the underrated Blomkamp film, which is by no means a flawless film but certainly an enjoyable one. The visuals are strong, the script is well written, and the namesake character is undeniably likable. It does have a number of issues, as I explained in my review, but I still say it's something worth checking out.
Again, just squeezing its way onto the list, Ex Machina is dark, occasionally gripping and with a tiny cast of greatness. It's a slow film, but a valiant first attempt from newcomer director Alex Garland with both a strong screenplay and visuals. Oh, and that dance scene - comes right out of nowhere and you get lost in it.
The most recent film on this list - and currently one of the highest grossing - Jurassic World never recaptures the magic of its predecessor but does a great job at remastering the franchise. With a great look at what the actual park would be like, brand new dinosaurs and a gripping third act, you get what you pay for with the newest Chris Pratt-featured Jurassic adventure.
As one of three animated films I've seen this year, it was of course Aardman who could take the top spot from Disney and Illuminaton Entertainment, as they bring their utterly charming characters to the big screen for a fun-filled 80 minute adventure. Strong animation, great gags, and it never feels like it's wasting its time.
One of the more underrated films of the year, this biopic was something which both surprised and disappointed me. Disappointed by how much I expected from it post-Oscar nomination, but surprised by how much it affected me. Add a standout performance by David Oyelowo and you have yourself one great movie.
As the first new film I saw this year, this was a good way to kick the year off. It was a strong idea done right with a premise which shouldn't work but did. Good screenplay; superb direction and a greta performance by Keaton. Why so low though? Well, after a bit of an awards upset on my part and all the complants in Hollywood about superheroes, it has made it feel a little sour since.
I gave this film a 10/10 rating when I first saw it. Why is it now lower down on the list? Well, while I don't think any less of the film on its overall quality (otherwise it would be at #2), it is a lot harder to rewatch compared to all three of the films above it. It is an incredibly strong film, thanks to the performances by Jones and Redmayne, and a great story to boot - but sadly it's overshadowed by three others when given the chance to revisit.
Well this is odd - halfway through the year and a Marvel Studios film isn't my number one film of the year. And yet, I've seen it three times and enjoyed it every time. Why? Because it's a film which can balance out both the fun and the heart, and has so many scenes which just make you freeze in glee. That s a good blockbuster, and the critics who say otherwise are inclined to explain themselves further.
When I first saw Whiplash, I couldn't believe just how much I loved it. When I bought the DVD recently, I was scared that the novelty would wear off. I was wrong. This is a near-perfect character piece where there is no good guy. There is no bad guy. It messes with your head as you feel bad for yourself when you laugh at J.K. Simmons' retorts. You hate these characters but you can't tear away from them for more than a second - this is the best movie of the year so far. And by the end of it, I feel like it could remain that way.
Minions is an odd film to review for the sole purpose that I'm not a big fan of the characters or the original franchise they were a part of. Sure, their roles in theDespicable Mefilms have had their moments in the same way that Scrat's did in the Ice Age films or the Penguins in Madagascar, but not to the extent that they've deserved their own solo movie too - especially so early in their franchise. Having already being an integral part of the plot for 2013's Despicable Me 2, and will of course feature in 2017's second sequel, a semi-origin story into the yellow pill-shaped Smurfs of the Illumination Entertainment studio could either be a big success or a safe decision gone wrong. But suffice to say, it still hasn't won over this particular animation fan. After centuries of following the biggest and more ruthless baddies in history for numerous centuries, the Minion species has been in something of a limbo without a boss, leading to a species-wide case of depression. So three Minions (all voiced by director Pierre Coffin) decide to go out and find themselves a new villain to find. From there, all sorts happens, ranging from a standard exploration of 1960s America, to the ingenious Villain Con and then to London to inadvertently become part of royalty following an incursion set up by #1 bad guy Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock) and husband Herb (Jon Hamm). It's a somewhat messy story with plot threads being stretched to intertwine with one another, all while having the odd Minion-ised musical number and a whole lot of slapstick comedy. As a concept it's a fine plot, with some ideas being surprisingly well thought of, but unfortunately those moments get bombarded by a quick change of story prospect and newer ways to interpret the typical comedy. The comedy is something which is dependant on tastes. Going by the screening I was in, it's something which the majority enjoys - meaning I'm in the minority by barely laughing. The jokes are pushed front and centre in many cases - with a few of them being eyebrow-raising because of the line they're close to crossing - as they delay the already overlong plot for a small handful of sight gags and a whole lot of Minion mayhem. If that's your thing, then you'll enjoy it. If not, then you may only have a few moments of enjoyment.
As side characters, the Minions are somewhat enjoyable. As leads? No different. Whilst their language - which at times consists of French and Spanish - can be a little overbearing during moments between others of their race, the contrast with the humans makes it a tad more bearable, and the three leads (Kevin, Bob and Stuart) are distinguishable by both their designs and characteristics. However, those characteristics do occasionally become sidelined for comedy. Stuart is introduced as a musical type, but only has a couple of moments revolving around that. Bob is the child-like innocent one, and is by far the most consistent, while Kevin as a character gets pushed aside altogether midway through to make way for a Muppet Movie-esque finale. The first main humans, the Nelson family, are also sufferers of this in both their big main scenes from the second trailer and their occasional glimpses during the rest. Michael Keaton's breadwinner is fine but in his later appearances is a tad overdone; Allison Janney's mother looks like she's been taken out of The Lorax and plays a typical mother; while the son is practically non-existent and the girl can't make up her mind. As for the big bad herself, Bullock's voice doesn't really carry out as well as expected. She fits the character design, but the zaniness of the role is, at times, too far from her reach. Hamm is a typical lackey by comparison, while other appearances by the likes of Jennifer Saunders and the narration by Geoffrey Rush can be rather distracting. As for character designs, there's nothing particularly new compared to the Me series. Some characters seem to be standard retreads of pre-existing characters from other films like The Lorax, and in some cases crowd scenes consist entirely of pre-made characters, even if they aren't even involved in the scene itself. The 2D animation at the start is quite nice, and the film is filled with such bright colours that the designated audience will be captivated by it, but those craving more will be dissatisfied. Minions is like a bouncy ball. Throw the bouncy Minion characters into a scenario, and children will enjoy watching it bounce around its surroundings until it begins to slow down - before throwing that same ball into a new scenario. It's a film good for primarily its target audience, but for those above the age of 8 may be disappointed against the family friendly fare of its counterparts. 5/10.
Short, but by no means sweet, Ted 2 looks exactly like it wants to look - a sequel to Ted. I don't expect much from it, and this trailer solidifies that notion.
At long last, this much-delayed Pixar feature releases footage ahead of the US release ofInside Out (which I am very excited for), and it opens with something of pure magnificence. And following its misdirect and introduction to the basic plotline thus begins a series of cutaways which surprisingly lessens the excitement for this film. As great as the scenery looks, some of the character designs don't resonate in quite the way expected...and that saddens me. But hey, it's only a teaser.
99 Homes
Hmm. This has the capacity to be good, but something tells me that it's all in the trailer's editing. Andrew Garfield is certainly doing well in a much darker role than his usual fare (i.e not Amazing Spider-Man), and Michael Shannon is always good at this kind of villainous roles, but aside from that? The story is a little bog-standard for my tastes and seemingly predictable.
And another Oscar nomination for Meryl Streep! All kidding aside, this does look like a solid period piece, with Carey Mulligan being particularly strong against the multiple alumni surrounding her. It looks great, the colour palette is pleasant and suitable, and the story at hand is one that deserves the movie treatment. Fingers crossed for this one...
I'm still not entirely on the John Green steam train, as the latest train for Paper Towns continues to fail at grasping my attention with the unusually written characters and, in the case of this film, a rather odd story about a mysterious girl. I'm sure the book has its fans, and fairly certain that most of the Green fanbase will inevitably see it, but me? Possible pass, I wasn't a fan of Fault in Our Stars, and this doesn't look like it'll be any different.
Vacation
Nope, not buying into it. This National Lampoon reboot is certainly lacking in the comedy sector and has some VERY annoying characters attached. Even if it has cameos by Chris Hemsworth and original Lampoon star Chevy Chase, it doesn't look like something I'd enjoy whatsoever.
Everest
Whenever people discuss climbing mountains, they always talk about the climb up, and never the climb down. For obvious reasons - would you brag about climbing down the world's tallest mountain instead of climbing up? - but Everest is interested in showing the opposite way around than the typical movie treatment, and I like what I see. Certainly, it's like a base under siege story but set on a mountain instead, but seeing all these dangers and possibly in 3D means there could be more to what's shown...
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Blimey, Tom Cruise really loves his stunts! With the release of the fifth(!) instalment in the franchise drawing ever closer, this trailer takes a look more at the action set pieces that Cruise puts himself through as opposed to sharing more about the plot - which makes sense, seeing as it can practically be summed up in the little shed about it - and it certainly looks riveting.
The Walk
In the teaser, I was a tad freaked out by Joseph Gordon-Levitt's look as the infamous tightrope walker Philippe Petit. Now that I'm more accustomed to it, I can enjoy this trailer and be just as awe-struck as I might be if I saw it in 3D. It looks like a spectacle solely for the walk itself, but the journey shown beforehand could be just as grand.
Z for Zacheriah
When I first heard of this film, I was intrigued. Now that I've seen the trailer for this film, and the slightly mysterious prospects about Chris Pine's character, that interest has begun to waver. What could have been a solid piece is starting to look typical and bog-standard. Disappointing.
Well hello, Tom Hanks & Steven Spielberg! Thank you for bringing to the plate a war film focusing on a different side of things which could match the brilliance of last year's The Imitation Gameor surpass it. I look forward to seeing this one.
Southpaw
Wait, 50 Cent? What? What's he doing here? Why's he there? What?!
That's all I can say that wasn't said before. Just...what?!
*insert obligatory Interstellarpun here* Yes, you've all heard the jokes about the similarities between the next Ridley Scott film and last year's Christopher Nolan feature, but all kidding aside this does look like a solid film. Perhaps harder to sell the people like the Academy because of all the similarities to Interstellar, but I doubt that'll stop it from trying.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part Two
Oh, thank god, we're nearing the end! But now with extra make-up, scary goo and a wedding to apparently round off this franchise, we should question something - WHY DID YOU SPLIT UP THIS MOVIE ASIDE FROM MONETARY REASONS?! That is all.
Regression
Somebody wants to sacrifice Emma Watson and Ethan Hawke must find out who in what could be an exciting thriller set in a small town where anyone can be a suspect...I think. That's what I can gather from this trailer, but it does look good. Maybe not overly good, but good.
Terrible tagline aside, this teaser is particularly good as Disney continues to prove itself as the King of Animation following the successes of Frozen and Big Hero 6, with some nifty character designs (although some do remind of Chicken Little, which no one wants) and some good laughs to be had. Jason Bateman seems suitable for the role of the fox Nick, while the rapport between him and the rabbit has the capacity to be strong. But hey, it's only a teaser.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E
Strong editing is evident here, but this adaptation of the classic series does show potential of being hugely enjoyable. I'm liking the relationship between Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer, and the inclusion of Alicia Vikkander in what looks like a great year for here is only helping sell it. Plus, Hugh Grant is pulling a Colin Firth - at least, I hope he does.
At long last, actual footage from the film! And while the pop music is still present (like I said before, it's needed to keep new audiences' attention), the content itself looks to be a stunning tour de force from Blue Sky Studios. Plenty of laughs, some great character design and mostly strong casting for the characters. Still a tad cautious, but that's expected when a studio tries to be all nostalgic and brings something from your childhood to the big screen.
Illumination Entertainment has so far been unable to get away from the Despicable Meand Dr. Seuss business, with those films being their only hits (Hop, the sole other property aside from this, was a commercial failure) thus far. So this teaser for their post-Minionsfilm - set for 2016 - has the natural purpose of teasing what the characters are like. And what we see is somewhat impressive. Certainly, things like the greedy cat and the barking pug don't appeal, but other sequences like the heavy metal poodle does sell well. But hey, it's only a teaser.
Hotel Transylvania 2
Oh good, I spelt it right first time! Anywho, we now have another animated sequel, only this time for the surprise 2012 hit. And unlike many of the other animated trailers we 've been treated to this month ahead of the US release of Inside Out this weekend (so jealous!), this one isn't particularly interesting. Likely because I'm not attached to these pre-established characters like with Peanuts or that they aren't particularly fresh like with Zootropolis and The Good Dinosaur, but what I see here is Adam Sandler as a vampire chilling out with his friends and a one-year-old who looks and acts like someone who's three. It's like a typical Sandler holiday flick, except they don't get to go on holiday. Kung Fu Panda 3
So...Bryan Cranston as a panda. That's the biggest sell for this tease for the next instalment in the surprise hit franchise, and with the little shown here, it doesn't entice all that much. Sure, the panda 'rekindling' scene was somewhat humourous but it did overrun its course, while the teacup thing was predictable. But hey, it's just a teaser.
