Over the last thirteen years the Terminator franchise has been slowly dying a very public death at the hands of an industry which refuses to listen to the fans, rather choosing to place the tastes of their investors above those of the audience,- the customers who pay to see their movies. The people who invest over and over again with good faith, hope, and yes, with nostalgia- because they love the product and they want more.
Money has the ability to change everything and the Terminator is a victim of its own success,- it rose from obscurity to the dizzying heights of the Library of Congress and with the success of Judgment Day which followed; it had established itself as one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises.
The budget increased, the numbers of writers increased, actors increased, locations increased, explosions increased and CGI increased. As if more equals better. As if fast equals good. As if young equals fresh. A good movie takes time, because it needs time. The most important part of any movie is the story,- if the story is weak, then the movie is weak and if the characters are weak, then that weak story gets weaker and if the director is weak… you get what I’m saying?
We have conversations all the time at TheTerminatorFans.com about how to save the franchise – which direction to take, who should be involved, who is the strongest character to lead with, which era should it be set in… etc. The problems always remain the same; the negatives start to mount up until the positives don’t balance them out any more, then, when we’ve argued a million different points and weighed out all the reasons… we arrive at the bare bones of the franchise; style, story and source – because without those key aspects the Terminator franchise wouldn’t exist in the first place. It is that balance which made it great,- made us keep going back for more, because once wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.
With every new writer, director and studio, we get more loose threads and inconsistencies, more inflicted “vision” and more distortion of what once was a solid foundation but now kinda resembles a coffee table with wonky legs.
The basic foundations of the franchise are what keep it alive; you can’t inflict your vision onto something (which already had a life before your involvement) and try and shape it to you- the brand has its own motif, its own morality and heart, its own style; the directors and writers should adapt to the brand and not the other way around. The same goes for producers and executive producers.
There is nothing wrong with the first two Terminator movies, so I didn’t need a half-arsed re-education of something I’ve known nearly all my life,- when, what I asked for, what we all asked for, was a third good Terminator movie.
Genisys was exhausting, lifeless and dull. The story had all the emotional depth of a puddle and should not be continued on any means. You can disagree – that’s up to you (taste is subjective) but as far as I’m concerned – Terminator Genisys is the salad they gave you instead of the steak and chips you actually ordered.
Terminator Genisys is a prime example of source material being mishandled and mismanaged; its target audience was tots and tweens sitting open-mouthed at the very sight of (Mother of Dragons!) Emilia Clarke’s CGI-cinched-in, silhouetted waist disrobing on a bunker wall.
Not to mention that orgasm scene– “orgasm scene- what orgasm scene?!” I hear you ask, well; panting, sweaty, naked, low-moaning road intimacy… or should I say – for those unaware of the blatantly obvious attempt at veiled titillation; Sarah and Kyle’s arrival in blah blah who ha, you know the one I mean, it was followed shortly after by… *horrific flashback* “Bad boys, bad boys…“. Yeah, that orgasm scene.
Location- An office somewhere in Paramount HQ:
The stocky Hollywood exec reclined in his Italian leather chair. His eyes pondering the man sat on the other side of his huge antique walnut desk.
The exec addressed the younger man, his voice remaining even despite its meaning.
“The critics didn’t like it.”
The younger man didn’t blink. Face bland as he spoke.
“They didn’t like it. Okay.” He said.
The exec felt a frown start to tug at his forehead lovingly.
“It hasn’t gone down that well with the serious fans either.” He said slowly.
“Okay, the fans didn’t like it either.” The younger man responded.
The exec began to lose patience, the investors needed some assurance- the responsibility was exhausting.
When he spoke again his voice was deadly serious.
“Exactly. From what we’re being told David, it looks like the audience in general didn’t like it- I’ll have my P.A email you some screen grabs from reviews but it doesn’t look good.”
“It doesn’t look good… okay.” Said David, eyes still unblinking; large shiny globes reflecting nothing but the room and its contents.
(Meanwhile, inside David Ellison’s head at that very moment… )
The warm tropical breeze swept gently across his glossy forehead; whispering its way softly west as the sun gently lowered its glorious golden rays back into the azure elegance spread out before him. The blonde with the big boobs was also awesome.
The Hollywood exec stood from his desk and began moving for the door.
“It’s serious David, you need to get this under control or it will have financial repercussions.”
The exec looked at David Ellison; taking in his glazed expression and lack of response.
“David? Did you hear me? Did you hear what I said?” He asked the younger man, irritation beginning to peek out.
“Yeah, they loved it. Okay.” David said, opening the door and moving through, he shouted:
“We’ll get moving on Terminator 6. I’m excited!” *Fist Pump*.
Is this what being a Terminator fan has become – a willingness to lay down and get kicked? I’ve watched this franchise dwindle in the hands of careless suits, hungry for another “bait” franchise to wedge beneath their overstuffed shirts – something to expand the repertoire, to pad their resume. To pump their slate. It really doesn’t matter to the studios if the fans fill the seats,- as long as the seats are filled.
I want no more from this collaboration. Nothing.
Do you agree, disagree? Comment below…