Some Good News and Some Bad News for "Terminator: Salvation"

When I heard they were making another "Terminator" film, I was a bit skeptical. Then, I heard McG (Director of "Charlie's Angels" who thinks he can take a one word name like he's Sting or Prince when his movies are garbage) was directing it, and I became very skeptical, and nearly outraged completely. Then, along came the news that Christian Bale would be playing the adult John Connor in the new film, so out with some of my skepticism, even more of which disappeared when I saw the first preview for the film. More recently, I heard writer Jonathan Nolan (Co-writer of "The Dark Knight" and "The Prestige," and brother of director Christopher Nolan) was brought on to do some tweaking of the script; remaining skepticism- gone. Now for the bad news: Arnold Schwarzenegger won't be appearing in the film as a Terminator; but the good news is that it doesn't mean he will be completely absent from the film altogether.
With Terminator: Salvation (AKA T:4) done filming officially today and heading into post-production, people are still clinging to the hope of seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger make a cameo. With his current political duties in California ongoing, hope was slim for him reprising the role that made him famous and contributed to his entire "Governator" campaign.

Well, a glimmer of hope remains as the film's producer, Moritz Borman (who also produced the first 3 films) hinted at the possibility recently. "He will not be, as a person, in the film," Borman told multimedia website Wired.com. When asked if that meant he may appear in the form of a voice over, Borman continued, "It's really up to what fits in the film or not. Maybe his voice, or maybe not. It's really not settled."

That's much more optimistic than what I expected. I held hope out they would get Arnold in there somewhere, but realizing all the stuff a governor has on their plate, I thought chances were slim. The fact that Borman let that much information out, really surprises me and it would be great to have one of the most recognizable voices in the history of cinema grace us with his presence again. I'm tired of him calling political opponents "girlie men," he needs to go back to blowing stuff up and hitting us with those funny one liners from classic 80's/90's films like: "Predator" ('Get to Da Choppa!'), "Commando" ('I eat Green Berets for breakfast and right now I am very hungry!'), "Twins" ('You forgot dee first rule in dee crisis sitooation.'), "Kindergarten Cop" ('Who is your daddy and what does he dooo?'), and "Total Recall" ("Get your ass to Mars/Consider dat a divorce") to name a few.

Hearing his voice invokes memories of my childhood and years past just like pogs, Lazer Tag, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and that Saturday morning cartoon, "Pro Stars," with Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Bo Jackson. Hopefully, the Governator can come through for all the little girls and boys out there who enjoyed watching him punch a camel in the face after it spat on him in "Conan."

Either way, I think this new "Terminator" is really going to be something, and I'm confident it will make up for "Terminator 3," which wasn't up to par with the first two films. I liked the slight twist in the end of the film, but other than that, it was OK. With Christian Bale playing John Connor in this one, and the already circulating rumors that Linda Hamilton is going to return as Sarah Connor in flashbacks, I'm sure it won't disappoint. After "The Dark Knight," I'll watch Christian Bale in anything for the rest of his career. Even before the movie was finished filming, they managed to get a trailer out for it, which you can check out here to verify its goodness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRw3AkbtJhQ

To read the story from Wired.com click on this link: http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/08/arnolds-voice-i.html

Hopefully, McG's film delivers on the shoulders of Bale, Nolan, and a Governator cameo of some sort. If not, then he should go back to directing Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray music videos and leave the directing to the people who still have enough of a soul to not beat another franchise of my childhood to death.