Terminator 1 or 2, which one did you like the best?
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Terminator 1 or 2, which one did you like the best?
58.57%
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41.43%
29 votes
70 votes. You may not vote on this poll
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I'm gonna go second, even though it contains one of the dumbest and most condescending scenes I've ever seen in such an otherwise great movie.
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I'm gonna go second, even though it contains one of the dumbest and most condescending scenes I've ever seen in such an otherwise great movie.
As for the main topic I’ve watched the first film only once while I’ve watched the second film about a hundred times so not really a fair comparison. Maybe it’s sort of a generational thing.
I whine about it incessantly in an essay:
James Cameron Probably Hates You:
James Cameron Probably Hates You:
The most overt example comes when John Connor (Edward Furlong) stops to observe two children play fighting with toy guns. The camera lingers and the motion slows as we watch them try to "kill" each other. A less monomaniacal director would've probably left it at that. But the scene keeps going.
"We're not going to make it, are we?," Connor asks. And again, Cameron has a chance to stop here, leaving us with a statement that could be read as a commentary on the protagonists' chances of success and the future of mankind. But again, the scene keeps going.
"People, I mean," Connor adds. At this point there is no more subtext and the dual-meaning has collapsed into a single entendre. And yet, somehow, the scene continues.
"It is in your nature to destroy yourselves," the Terminator replies. And now we've fallen from "show don't tell" to "show, then tell, then tell again." Just in case you didn't glean the message from the story itself, or hearing it explicitly stated, Cameron makes sure to scrawl it on a 2x4, hit you over the head with it, then drag your body next to a billboard he's purchased with the same message on it so that it's the first thing you see when you wake up.
"We're not going to make it, are we?," Connor asks. And again, Cameron has a chance to stop here, leaving us with a statement that could be read as a commentary on the protagonists' chances of success and the future of mankind. But again, the scene keeps going.
"People, I mean," Connor adds. At this point there is no more subtext and the dual-meaning has collapsed into a single entendre. And yet, somehow, the scene continues.
"It is in your nature to destroy yourselves," the Terminator replies. And now we've fallen from "show don't tell" to "show, then tell, then tell again." Just in case you didn't glean the message from the story itself, or hearing it explicitly stated, Cameron makes sure to scrawl it on a 2x4, hit you over the head with it, then drag your body next to a billboard he's purchased with the same message on it so that it's the first thing you see when you wake up.
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I much prefer the first one.
As I've said before, despite being R-rated, I do consider Terminator 2 as the herald for family-friendly, PG-13 action movies that have ruled the box office for far too long. It's not a bad film, but I've never understood the worship and "the best action movie ever" hype. Oh, and I also agree with @Yoda 's rant above.
As I've said before, despite being R-rated, I do consider Terminator 2 as the herald for family-friendly, PG-13 action movies that have ruled the box office for far too long. It's not a bad film, but I've never understood the worship and "the best action movie ever" hype. Oh, and I also agree with @Yoda 's rant above.
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I love Terminator 2, but the original Terminator is a classic.
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Joe Dante
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I like Terminator 2 quite a bit, but I prefer the darker tone of Terminator over it, so I'll say Terminator.
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It's not a bad film, but I've never understood the worship and "the best action movie ever" hype.
I think the action set pieces are just incredibly well-constructed and genuinely thrilling, even after a couple dozen viewings, which is a remarkable thing to say. Really strong horror elements, too, even if they're mostly left behind relative to the first.
That said, I wonder if this is a "when you see it" kinda thing? I was eight when it came out, I probably saw it as a young teenager or just before, and back then there was nothing like it. If someone saw some of the effects-laden action films that came over the next few years before, I can see why it might not have that wow factor.
Last edited by Yoda; 08-08-22 at 12:17 PM.
Reason: Fixed a typo.
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I feel Terminator 1 to be standard horror flick, whereas there is nothing like Terminator 2.
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The Terminator, without hesitation.
I do love Terminator 2, though.
I do love Terminator 2, though.
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Top 5 movie related questions I can't answer;
1. T1 or T2
2. GF1 or GF2
3. Die Hard or With a Vengeance
4. Alien or Aliens
5. Raging Bull or Rocky
T2 is sci-fi-action so not on my all time action/action list.
1. T1 or T2
2. GF1 or GF2
3. Die Hard or With a Vengeance
4. Alien or Aliens
5. Raging Bull or Rocky
T2 is sci-fi-action so not on my all time action/action list.
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That said, I wonder if this is a "when you see it" kinda thing? I was eight when it came out, I probably saw it as a young teenager or just before, and back then there was nothing like it. If someone saw some of the effects-laden action films that came over the next few years before, I can see why it might not have that wow factor.
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T1, but this is an Alien/Aliens situation where I feel the urge to revisit the second one more often.
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