Why do people like The Terminator so much?

[Eug]

OK, of course I've watched both multiple times:

T1: 4x
T2: 3x
Didn't bother with T3.

Rotten Tomato rankings last time I checked:

T1: 8.6/10 ... 30 fresh / 0 rotten
T2: 8.4/10 ... 25 fresh / 1 rotten

Those are high rankings.

It's been observed that the theatrical cuts are definitely superior to the director's cuts for these films.

IIRC, T1 put Arnold on the map, set up his huge career in the movies. The history of how it came to be made is an interesting read.

What's interesting to note is that on Metacritic, the rating for T1 is much higher than for T2. ie. Both get positive reviews, but T1's positive scores are significantly higher.

I've seen T1 a gazillion times. I've seen T2 a bazillion times. I think I've seen T3 twice. I've seen T4 once.

T1 is the best constructed film overall, although the acting for Sarah Connor's roommate was annoying at times, and the 80s outfits date it now. Luckily, Sarah Connor's roommate had a minor part.

T2 is a solid film, and has much better production values than T1, but it is far, far too dependent on liquid metal to drive the movie. And I found John Connor really, really annoying. I don't know if it's the character, or it's Edward Furlong's portrayal. Actually, I think it's probably more the latter, but also a bit of both.

 

[Muse]

What's interesting to note is that on Metacritic, the rating for T1 is much higher than for T2. ie. Both get positive reviews, but T1's positive scores are significantly higher.

I've seen T1 a gazillion times. I've seen T2 a bazillion times. I think I've seen T3 twice. I've seen T4 once.

T1 is the best constructed film overall, although the acting for Sarah Connor's roommate was annoying at times, and the 80s outfits date it now. Luckily, Sarah Connor's roommate had a minor part.

T2 is a solid film, and has much better production values than T1, but it is far, far too dependent on liquid metal to drive the movie. And I found John Connor really, really annoying. I don't know if it's the character, or it's Edward Furlong's portrayal. Actually, I think it's probably more the latter, but also a bit of both.

I agree with your assessments, although I don't remember consciously resenting Sarah Connor's roommate's role. That doesn't mean I didn't, I just don't recall now. Last time I saw it was almost 2 years ago.

T2's production values are way better, they spent way way more money making it, but that doesn't make it the equal of T1. I do remember thinking that in T2 they milked the liquid metal thing far too much and that whole chase thing went on way too long, it got really monotonous, a sin in any movie. And, yeah, I know what you mean about Edward Furlong's portrayal, I can picture him, a one dimensional character. Haven't seen it for over 7 years. I've been thinking about watching T1 again for a few days now, think I will one day soon.

 

[Eug]

I didn't resent that roommate's role. I just thought it was poorly acted (although I wonder why Cameron let that through), like a character in a teen slasher movie.

 

[John Connor]

OP is a troll and 1/2.

 

[John Connor]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mTCgIHpQXE

BAHAHAHAHA!

That was some mighty fine acting right there. LOL ^_^

 

[inachu]

It was a crappy movie. Same plot 4x in a row.

It deals with the near future and as of today we can easily see how this can happen and there was a meeting at the UN about AI.

AI is serious business today. If your company has only employees that sit in front of computers then they can be replaced by AI one day.

AI will grow. I can see AI killing humans but they will grow out of that.

 

[lxskllr]

AI will grow. I can see AI killing humans but they will grow out of that.

 

[Ichinisan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mTCgIHpQXE

I LOL'd.

 

[MetalMat]

Terminator 2 was a pretty big deal back in the early 90s. What it did was set the bar for graphics & production to a much higher standard. Go compare that movie to some CGI crap fest like Aliens 3, T2 is on another level. It had really awesome action scenes, I still think the truck chase is insane.

I did not see the original quite some time after I saw T2 (I'm sure this is the case for a bunch of people my age) and I think it is ok but I like T2 way better.

Lots of people hate on T3 but I actually like the movie and really liked the ending

 

[KeithTalent]

First one was great, the rest stink though the second one does have a few cool scenes.

KT

 

[purbeast0]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mTCgIHpQXE

haha that is hilarious.

 

[purbeast0]

Terminator 2 was a pretty big deal back in the early 90s. What it did was set the bar for graphics & production to a much higher standard. Go compare that movie to some CGI crap fest like Aliens 3, T2 is on another level. It had really awesome action scenes, I still think the truck chase is insane.

I did not see the original quite some time after I saw T2 (I'm sure this is the case for a bunch of people my age) and I think it is ok but I like T2 way better.

Lots of people hate on T3 but I actually like the movie and really liked the ending

yeah t2 is definitely better than part 1 to me as well. i can watch both of them though repeatedly they both own. the acting in part 1 is just painful though, but it still has the awesome 80's vibe to it.

and i agree about part 3. the ending of it is what i really liked too.

 

[zinfamous]

T1 was the best by a long shot. T2 was all about the liquid metal special effect and Arnie turning friendly, but was not bad overall.

T3 was a watchable but uninspiring popcorn flick, and T4 was utter drivel.

all of this is true.

 

[KeithTalent]

all of this is true.

Oh yeah, missed that post. Well said.

KT

 

[MongGrel]

Because they ripped off a lot of things from Harlan Ellison tech wise to make the first one to begin with.

 

[zinfamous]

yeah t2 is definitely better than part 1 to me as well. i can watch both of them though repeatedly they both own. the acting in part 1 is just painful though, but it still has the awesome 80's vibe to it.

compared to what? There is no worse acting in all of the Terminator series than Furlong in T2.

 

[PottedMeat]

Because they ripped off a lot of things from Harlan Ellison tech wise to make the first one to begin with.

If you put your hand in my pocket, you’ll drag back six inches of bloody stump

:awe:

 

[SP33Demon]

Someone create the Indiana Jones sucked thread while we're at it. -1/10

 

[TwiceOver]

T2 was way ahead of its time

Basically paved the way for CG. I remember my parents had my grandparents watch it just to show the technology and they liked it.

 

[phucheneh]

Just stepped in to say John Connor sucks.

 

[SSSnail]

Someone create the Indiana Jones sucked thread while we're at it. -1/10

You do it, I've expended my troll points for the week.

 

[John Connor]

Just stepped in to say John Connor sucks.

Your wife!

 

[Bateluer]

ATOT pessimists. T2 is considered one of the best films ever made.

 

[Ichinisan]

ATOT pessimists. T2 is considered one of the best films ever made.

One of the greatest action films, yeah.

 

[ControlD]

T1 was the best by a long shot. T2 was all about the liquid metal special effect and Arnie turning friendly, but was not bad overall.

T3 was a watchable but uninspiring popcorn flick, and T4 was utter drivel.

I agree with this.

Also, I think T1 only really resonates with people that got to see it in the theater when it came out. It was a pretty amazing movie at the time but obviously special effects have come a long way since 1984. Still, I just watched T1 again a couple of weeks ago and I think it holds up amazingly well for a 30+ year old movie.

T2 is awesome too though.

(Plus, T1 has boobies in it. The rest don't so they are automatically inferior.)