I AM KING OF THE WORLD! Ranking James Cameron's Films

[nerfherder]

3. The hardest ranking was True Lies. It's so hard to accurately rank that movie because it really is an incredible (and enjoyable) action/comedy, and showcases Cameron at his best in a lot of ways. On the other hand, the parts that are bad (and you know those parts) are such a searing commentary of that time that they are absolutely painful to watch today.

They were absolutely painful to watch when True Lies was released at the cinema in 1994. I remember well watching it with my girlfriend at the time - we were regular cinema-goers and big fans of Cameron's work. I've rewatched The Terminator, Aliens, T2, and The Abyss multiple times over the years since they were released, but never felt like I wanted to revisit True Lies.

 

[Bedrockgames]

See, I kind of enjoy Genisys for this reason. After T2, there was always the question of "if the machines can send something back more than once, why don't they just keep doing it?" And you would expect that kind of repeated screwing with the timeline would inevitably result in a convoluted mess.

Which is exactly what Genisys showed us. It's like the "Funny Games" of time travel movies.

I enjoyed it a bit the first time, probably for the chaos, but like all the other later teminator, I found it wasn't something I wanted to rewatch (whereas part 1 and 2 are thoroughly rewatchable for me, and three I can stomach watching again every 7 years or so)

 

[payn]

I can only enjoy 1-3 these days. Part three is tolerable at least. But all the ones that came after just felt like a convoluted mess. Even Arnold couldn't save them

My issue with T3 was that it felt very derivative of T2s action sequences, and as I mentioned, the bigger badder Terminator problem. Though, if you can get past that, I actually think the writing is much better in T3 than it predecessor. I love its fated ending as a crown jewel on a trilogy. T2 is an awesome movie for a lot of reasons already stated, but much of the dialogue is just woof!

 

[Bedrockgames]

My issue with T3 was that it felt very derivative of T2s action sequences, and as I mentioned, the bigger badder Terminator problem. Though, if you can get past that, I actually think the writing is much better in T3 than it predecessor. I love its fated ending as a crown jewel on a trilogy. T2 is an awesome movie for a lot of reasons already stated, but much of the dialogue is just woof!

One of my issues with T2 is how annoying John Connor is and a big part of that is the dialogue.

The third one suffers a little for killing off Sarah Connor, but Claire Danes is in it at least. Oddly the Dr. Silberman becomes the through line for the first three movies as he is present in all of them (and obviously Arnold is in this one too but he isn't playing the same Terminator every time). I tend to agree that the writing isn't bad (it is more in the execution I think).

I will say I don't fault T2 for the writing or dialogue as that isn't really the point: it is an an action movie blockbuster. So even the corny dialogue feels appropriate to the style of movie it is aiming for. As an Arnold movie it is great. Arnold movies have corny dialogue and over the top action. I like that stuff a lot. But that isn't what the first movie was about at all (this is why I can enjoy True Lies more on its own, because Cameron is doing an Arnold movie there and it isn't connected to a more serious film that came before it). I think I have just always felt Terminator is like Matrix for me, where if they had left it as one movie, it would be perfect. But they kept making new ones and it diminishes the impact of the first.

Also don't take my criticisms too heavy here. I think Cameron is an incredible director with unusual versatility. So if I am being hard on T2 it is only because T1 is such an incredible film.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Also that people are debating whether Aliens, Terminator or T2 are not just his best movie but the best movie or best X movie of all time really shows what a good director he is

 

[ART!]

I’m not saying this is anywhere close to a significant reason for Avatar to be popular in general, but…I needed to use a wheelchair a while in high school, and again for the last three years. For me, Jake Sully’s journey is gripping and absorbing. Likewise Sigourney Weaver’s character’s. Throws fantasies of escape beyond the limits some of us face is powerful and comforting in bad times.

Thanks for saying this; it's why I don't poo-poo Avatar.

 

[trappedslider]

The Terminator at 40: did James Cameron see into the future?

The 1984 sci-fi thriller offers a grim view of the dangers that ‘the machines’ might pose for humanity as well as one of the most thrilling experiences of the decade

www.yahoo.com

 

[MarkB]

The Terminator at 40: did James Cameron see into the future?

The 1984 sci-fi thriller offers a grim view of the dangers that ‘the machines’ might pose for humanity as well as one of the most thrilling experiences of the decade

www.yahoo.com

I can't take any article seriously that dismisses WarGames as "dismal".

 

[Zardnaar]

I can't take any article seriously that dismisses WarGames as "dismal".

May not be everyone's cup of tea but dismal is a bit rough.

 

[TiQuinn]

I can't take any article seriously that dismisses WarGames as "dismal".

I’ve always thought an article taking a side jab at another movie, show or book, does nothing to strengthen its credibility or argument. The subject and points being made are about The Terminator - taking those potshots always risk taking me out of the writing. War Games was an excellent movie…and now I have to wonder where the writer’s head is coming from.