"Somebody find me a brain."

[usuallyhats]

1.) I watched Terminator: Salvation last night; I was half expecting to hate it (as previously established, I am judgy at bits of the Terminatorverse that don't contain Sarah), but I didn't, so... yay? I thought Christian Bale was pretty meh as John Connor, and I couldn't work out how he fitted in at this point in the timeline: is he the Future Current Leader of Humanity or Just Some Guy? I think this is where the film fell down, really: I just didn't buy him as this charismatic leader guy who everyone would follow and trust wholeheartedly. And as a consequence the bit right at the end where Marcus gave John his heaaaaaart made me facepalm IRL. A few other thoughts, bulletpointedly:

• Actually, I was confused about all the timeline stuff: how much the resistance knew (vs. how much the audience knew), how long it had been since Judgement Day (though it is possible they explained this and I missed it.


• Did we have to have a Wise Child? I really hate that trope. Also I am not sure that the decision to have the little black girl never speak was entirely sound.


• I wish the women had had more to do! Kate was pretty much relegated to the background and Blair seemed more like a collection of scenes than a coherent character. I was also a little eye-rolly at the fact that the first woman we saw was dying and evil, and the first black person we saw was dead. Well done, film!


• Overall, I did enjoy it a bit: stuff blew up, there were fights and killer robots, and Anton Yelchin was great as Kyle Reese. Thumbs up to him!

2.) Also I watched Image of the Fendahl, which was pretty great, though I was v. pleased when Leela changed back into her old outfit and hair at the end. I thought the Fendaleen were great monsters and the whole thing was nice and scary; I loved that the Daft Old Lady was actually pretty spot on! I was a bit D: at the Doctor giving Stael a gun so he could shoot himself, that was rather grim. But I did enjoy all the inter-scientist flirting at the beginning.

3.) FINALLY the weather has got a bit warmer. Any day now I will be able to stop swapping my coat for a massive cardigan when I get home every day.

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Image is an interesting story. Could live without the comedy yokel accents, though. But that's normal for Who.

[nentari.livejournal.com]

I giggled at the fact that the Daft Old Lady was called Martha Tyler, and that her son was named Jack. I keep wondering how much inspiration RTD got from those names, or if it's all a coincidence...

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

I wish the women had had more to do!

As do I. I am also kind of judgey at Terminator films without Sarah Connor, and I was not best pleased with Terminator 3 for writing her out - even if Linda Hamilton hadn't wanted to do it again, they could've just recast.

I suspect it's a case of the tyranny of the focus-group: perhaps the women had more to do in a first draft, but the mob said "bored now".

[queenthesixth.livejournal.com]

I was dead impressed that Kate and Blair still had access to hair conditioner and styling products despite being in a post apocalyptic world. It's good know that my old GHD will survive should the worst happen. I would hate to face a robotic future without it.

[usuallyhats]

Yeah, I don't really notice the yokel accents any more, unless they're particulary eyeroll-worthy!

[usuallyhats]

I wouldn't be surprised to find that the names had worked their way into his brain from repeated viewings!

[usuallyhats]

I suspect it's a case of the tyranny of the focus-group: perhaps the women had more to do in a first draft, but the mob said "bored now".
I'm not sure whether to hope that's right or not - either way, it's pretty depressing. :/

[usuallyhats]

It would've stood out less if they hadn't made an effort towards making everything else look grubby! I hope my hair is that shiny and bouncy come the robot apocalypse.

[livii.livejournal.com]

Yelchin was quite wonderful as Kyle - I was so pleased. I was pretty scared they were going to mess up Kyle, but he was believable as a younger version of the man from T1. But the Wise Child was sooooo groan-worthy. Terminator films are supposed to be violent, foul-mouthed, and R-rated, not PG-13 with a Wee Special Moppet. >:(

I was quite confused on the timeline as well. I also could not stop exclaiming over how much technology the Resistance still seemed to have!

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I think the ones in Spearhead from Space are the most grating...

[usuallyhats]

Yes! All the bits with the Resistance were a bit of a mess, I thought, which was a shame, because it could have been really interesting if they'd been thought through more - they seemed to skate right over the revelation that Terminators could look like people. :/