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Arnold Schwarzenegger Unimpressed With Terminator Salvation So Far

by Alex Billington
August 4, 2008
Source: LA Times

An interesting development today in relation to Terminator Salvation, a film that I came out of Comic-Con incredibly excited to see. The LA Times caught up with Arnold Schwarzenegger recently and talked (at length) with the California Governor about all things movies, a career which he's generally retired from. While he praises Wanted, calling it "an excellent movie," he isn't so keen on the new Terminator movie just yet. Schwarzenegger says that the producers held a private screening of early footage and in turn he was rather unimpressed. He explains that "They showed me some footage, but I don't have a feel for the movie. I didn't see enough. I wasn't sure who the Terminator was. I don't know if there is one or if he's the star or the hero. These are the things that determine the success and how the strong the movie will be."

That's definitely not a good response so far, but he says "I still don't know how it will play out with this one." I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing that Schwarzenegger wasn't a fan of the footage, largely because this still has the potential to be great, even if he is not a fan in the end. I won't want to discredit the Governator, but I thoroughly enjoyed what I was shown at Comic-Con and have quite a bit of faith in McG at the moment. However, this may put a hamper on their attempts to include Arnold or even use his CGI likeness for a character (or half of a character). If you're not excited for Terminator Salvation yet, this is more for you to latch on to, however if you're excited (like me), this may hinder our attempts to convert non-believers. And if you haven't already seen it yet, we've attached the latest photo featuring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington that Warner Brothers has officially released.

Terminator Salvation

Terminator Salvation is directed by McG of Charlie's Angels and We Are Marshall with a script written by writing duo John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris (Into the Sun, The Net, The Game, Terminator 3). This film marks the return of the Terminator series after Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines arrived back in 2003. Terminator Salvation arrives in theaters next summer on May 22nd, 2009. Stay tuned for more!

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CSpuppydog

Well you also have to think this movie isn't going to be like the other ones.. like this one is going to be more of a post-apocalyptic war movie instead of an action movie. I anything I bet he was just not excepting the movie to be like that. Of course I haven't seen any footage so I can't be sure. But yeah I still think the movie looks awesome.
cufford

I value Arnold's movie reviews as much as I value "professional movie reviews" or "movie fan blog" reviews. In short, I don't even read them because they are irrelevant. I'll make up my own mind if I like a move or not. Someone else's opinion is meaningless to me.
CSpuppydog

At #2 For one what Arnold said wasn't a review... he was merely saying what he thought about the movie. And not listening to movie reviews maybe be ok for you but there is a reason they exist... is to let people who like money not waste it on watching shitty movies.. If I really wanna watch a movie I am not going to change my mind becuase of a movie review. But sometimes I should have, like the last time A reviewer told me not to see a movie and I did.. I saw the abomination that was Hancock... so that comment of yours... not needed... If you don't care about what other people have to say why the fuck should people care what you have to say? hmmm
Nthngmn

Yes....great.....Arnold Schwarzenegger, renowned movie critic and box office tactician. What Arnold says holds absolutely no weight on my personal judgement of this film. Only when I see the film itself.
Dave V.

You know this is like asking Drew Bledsoe what he thought about Tom Brady when they stopped playing him and replaced him with Tom. I sense a little bit of over critisism from Arnold due to the fact that he is not primarily involved. Not to mention that this movies REAL MAIN character isn't his, but John Connor played by the hottest actor in the buissness Christian Bale. The former king of action is weighing in on the latest installment of the film that made him a household name. Of course he's not impressed! I think the Governator misses the hollywood lime-light. But, you never know,he may BE BACK.
Joshua

Don't forget to include Jonathan Nolan. He's the lead writer after all.
Curtis

I agree with #2 i dont really care to much what other people think of a movie as long as i enjoy it, if Arnold doesn't like it so far thats good for him, i hope he will change his mind when the full film is released. Im really looking forward to Terminator Salivation next year and i hope its worth the wait.
thugnasty25

who cares? hes a washed up actor who used to be awesome but at the end of his career was ruining movies like Batman and Robin and Jingle All the Way. Then he decided to become governor of Cali and is currently helping to make the lives of immigrants in the United States miserable. Ironic as he is an immigrant himself. Ima see this movie just to spite him.
The Delightful Deviant

he STARRED in Terminator 3, so his choices of scripts and films leaves ME unimpressed.
Dustyman1505

I like (love) Christian Bale, but the writers of Terminator 3 back for another? I thought was going to be a reboot for the series not a direct sequel. That's the only thing in that article that concerns me.
TCox

Does anyone really care what Arnold thinks? If he saw early footage, then that mean it wasn't complete. There was no effects added. There probably wasn't any plotline for him to follow. He's gonna downplay this as much as he would if they made Last Action Hero 2, and he wasn't involved.
Buttons

patience is a virtue Arnold.
carlos

hmm.. and this is coming from the same man who said "Lets kick some ice!"?.... ;P
http://www.c-r-u-x.de c-r-u-x

#9 - That's exactly what I was thinking. I think maybe I'm actually happy about Arnold not liking it... since, to be honest, in my opinion he didn't star in many good movies and even the ones I liked were more like nice little popcorn-movies but without real depth. Terminator and T2:Judgement Day are the only Schwarzenegger movies I really refer to as movies, so the fact that he didn't like what he saw may actually imply that Terminator Salvation is more than the dull Rambo-style single action hero movies Schwarzenegger seemed/seems to prefer.
Shige

Did any if you actually read what he said ? He did not see enough of the footage. His own words. He did not say the movie is going to be bad, just that he could not see what it was all about thus leaving him unipressed. Read before bashing
dom

Well arnie made T3 which was a pile of shit! I'm so excited about this and hope that it does go beyond having one terminator as the star/hero - lets get others involved this time and mix the franchise up a bit. I think also that Arnie is negative given his lack of involvement - that can't be easy on the guy. Loving that photo! That terminator looks kick ass and frickkin hard core solid. Lovely makeup, lighting and cinematography too!
Realistic

To #15 You don't seem to understand that he was trying to say he didn't like it in the most non-offensive way. Arnold is just butt sore that the story isn't based on one main terminator character; it revolves around John Conner (the way it should be). Its probably the best way to keep the story fresh; if the movie was soley based around another Arnold look-a-like then I know I wouldn't see it. The trailer looks good. Who cares what Arnold has to say about it... he's been involved in nothing but crap after the release of Terminator 2 back in what? 1992?
ArnieForGovernor

LOL!! I cannot understand where this love for T4 is coming from. T3 sucked, Sarah Connor Chronicles sucks and T4 has got McG. How can it survive? Aaa... ok.. there's Christian Bale. As if any great actor can save a McG movie. Aaa... ok... McG said that we must forget his past movies. So he will venture in a new "style". Great. So T4 will be his turning point. Great. So T4 will be the new canvas for trying the new stuff he has learned. Great. To everyone who posted above: Every review (Arnie's, Alex's, ..) is subjective but McG movies are not. FACT.
cufford

Re: #3 If you're letting someone else decide for you which movies you see or not, then not only are you going to miss some really good movies because "x" reviewer didn't like them, but you're going to waste that "money" you care so much about on movies YOU don't like because "X" reviewer did like them. That's the point(lessness) of movie reviews. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Everything is subjective.
Viper

Who cares what Arnold thinks? "People need somebody to watch over them... Ninety-five percent of the people in the world need to be told what to do and how to behave." -- Arnold Schwarzenegger at 44 to US News and World Report in 1990. "My friends don't want me to mention Kurt's name, because of all the recent Nazi stuff and the U.N. controversy, but I love him and Maria does too, and so thank you, Kurt." Arnold Schwarzenegger on his friend and fellow Austrian Kurt Waldheim, a Nazi war criminal "I saw this toilet bowl. How many times do you get away with this, to take a woman, grab her upside down, and bury her face in a toilet bowl? I wanted to have something floating there ... The thing is, you can do it, because in the end, I didn't do it to a woman, she's a machine! We could get away with it without being crucified by who-knows-what group." Arnold Schwarzenegger describing a scene in Terminator 3 I value Arnold's opinions as much as I value the contents of my cat's litter box. Moving on.
big r

^ hahahahaha
Ripper

Could Arnold not be throwing out BS saying " I am not Imppressed" So that when we see him Killing the shit out of people and droping a few one liners in the Flick everyones says "Those slick bastrds." With the way todays Hollywood marketing goes who Knows?? I believe some directors are throwing out lies about plot and cast and fake viral all in favor of making Moives suprising. Just a thought...not very well articulated though sorry about that.
jason_md2020

Arnold said: "They showed me some footage, but I don't have a feel for the movie. I didn't see enough. I wasn't sure who the Terminator was. I don't know if there is one or if he's the star or the hero. These are the things that determine the success and how the strong the movie will be." Not sure who the Terminator was? Umm...if it's a a self aware machine trying to kill humans, it's probably a Terminator. But then again Arnie might be right in a way. The first three films were about the time tripping robots trying to erase the cause of their defeat. This one's about the human race trying to survive. Maybe they should rename it. John Connor:Salvation
Shige

#17 So the story should evolve around Connor ? No offence it might do decently at box office but people liked T1 and T2 mainly because of the robots them selves and a good story(not only about connor). Well, the story has been milked dry and if the robots are gone I fail to see how this can be good.
Tim

Arnold may have a point about the plot line being confusing. The budget is $200 million, which leans toward the movie being heavily CGI and action based, maybe at the expense of the storyline. Arnold was the biggest movie star during his run of the late 80s and early 90s, with the hits including Terminator 2, Total Recall, and True Lies, so he does have experience on what is going to work on the big screen based on early screenings.
Darrin

hey this movie should be made. You can't top the James cameron Terminator. So i agree with arnold.
Sam

Well, he said it is too early and is unimpressed for now, he has the right of an opinion. I won't judge him so harsh, he did some of the most awesome action movies ever. He actually was the only mildly decent thing in that Batman movie. And since when people should believe that McG will deliver something more than average? What I saw until now doesn't tell me the movie will be something astonishing, and Bale doesn't guarantee that neither!
shadow on the wall

u guys forget who you are, look in the mirror. you are not even half of what arnie is, and what he already achived as a person, so stop trash-talking him anyway, if the terminators are just a small detail on the script mcg has, we are in for a very unpleasant surprize.... but then again it has the same screenwriter t3 had, so how hard can it be for bale and mcg to screw up? just one small step....
Steve

"They showed me some footage, but I don't have a feel for the movie. I didn't see enough. I wasn't sure who the Terminator was. I don't know if there is one or if he's the star or the hero. These are the things that determine the success and how the strong the movie will be." I can't believe that Arnie is comparing this movie to the old Terminators. The hero of this new movie is going to be John Connor and his resistance fighters, including Klye Reece, while the baddie is Skynet itself and an army of Terminaors, in all their disguises. Now I've heard to rumour, see below, and if it is true then I can understand how Arnie is confused. It might well pull together the story from T£, with Arnie saying he killed him in the future, but to get to that stage with this other character (Marcus) is going to be more than a little confusing for most filmgoers. I can still recall trying to explain the Matrix Trilogy! "Alright so the main character is a cyborg named Marcus. For some background, Marcus was a criminal who was executed in 2003. He donated his body to Project Angel which was involved with SkyNet. They take his body and make a terminator out of him so he's a terminator skeleton but has living muscle/skin and a beating heart too. At the end of the movie John Connor is fighting a T800 model 101 and loses. He dies and the top resistance people come up with a plan to help the resistance keep fighting on. The resistance feels that it's important to keep the image or idea that John Connor is still alive so the resistance keeps going. So they rip off Marcus' skin and put John Connor's on the skeleton so now Marcus is John Connor."
Suresh steven

I think if Arnold is not impressed with terminator salvation, then he is certainly right about the kmovie.. is there any person better than Arnold Schwarzenegger to comment best about this movie.. I don't soo... I think the movie is juz goin to suck juz like wat Arnie Said soo Far... What a disapointment!!!!!!!! ..... :-<
Suresh steven

I think if Arnold is not impressed with terminator salvation, then he is certainly right about the movie.. is there any person better than Arnold Schwarzenegger to comment best about this movie.. I don't soo... I think the movie is juz goin to suck juz like wat Arnie Said soo Far... What a disapointment!!!!!!!! ..... :-<
Joshua

Well #31, if he was cast in the movie he would naturally be supporting it; I doubt he was, so he's naturally against it. I think it's personal. I doubt he'll be back.
Chris

Epic lawlz reading back on these comments. The movie is just weeks away now and looks to be incredible. Fucking owned. Every single one of you.
meh!

i still think schwarzenegger is the best option in this movie he has being in all of the other movies too altrough i didnt seen much likely in terminator 3
hopeisdope

Just saw the movie... 1 and 2 were better, but this certainly beats 3. Dunno for 5, but we'll see...... The arnold thing caught me by srprise, wasnt expecting him, didnt know if it was real or not (hence why im on this site, and i couldnt tell cause i saw it b.leg.d.) Anyways I gave it a genourous 7/10.