TERMINATOR SALVATION

Terminator Salvation is almost here!

2009-05-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

Considering that a year ago I was less than thrilled about the prospects for a new Terminator movie for 2009, the fact that the upcoming release, Terminator Salvation has me stoked is quite a compliment...

Well, the official release of the new Terminator Salvation movie starring Christian Bale is now less than a week away and I have to say that I am personally really starting to feel a real positive buzz about this movie. That is a pretty impressive notion considering the recent negative publicity the movie received with the highly publicized on-set meltdown of the film's star (Bale), the audio of which was recorded in its entirety and released onto the internet. As well I have to admit that when I first heard that a fourth Terminator movie was in the works I was not that enthused, but once I heard that Christian Bale's name was attached to the project the new Terminator movie 2009 gained a lot more credibility in my mind.

Until now, the Terminator franchise was really looking kind of like it had almost reached the end of the road; In its current form the story lines of the franchise looked like they had been mined about as much as they could in any interesting way. There had been three Terminator movies and an ongoing television series and the storyline of impending doom seemed like it was truly done. (the fact that the third Terminator film was lackluster reinforced this point) However the makers of this movie went with an idea that should have been more obvious to me: a chronicle of life after the computer Armageddon and take over. This was an idea that always only been scantly touched on in the previous movies and had only been more fully developed in the various licensed Terminator comic book series over the past twenty years. Now, preceded by a kick ass grim and gritty trailer, the new Terminator Salvation movie is finally here, and I for one could not be happier.

A meatier Terminator Salvation trailer is now out.

2009-03-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

I went out with some friends last night to attend the midnight screening of the new Watchmen movie (well, technically it was the 12:01 screening, just so the theater was not screening the film before the allowed date) and of course there were anumber of trailers before it. The one that I thought was the most enjoyable of all of the trailers shown was the new Terminator Salvation trailer. I felt that it really helped to sell the movie in a couple of ways: first it showed the film to have an interesting plot with some twists to it, and second, it showed off some of the films special effects to very good effect. The earlier teaser trailer was just that and did not have as many effects available at its disposal to show audiences; this time around, there is definitely much more available to choose from for the filmmakers in their promotion efforts.

Seeing the intensity that Christian Bale has brought to roles such as Batman and apparently this upcoming Terminator film, I just can't help but imagine how he might portray another somewhat iconic hero figure, that being Captain America. I mention this only because there is currently much discussion and speculation by comicbook fans about who they think should portray the iconic hero in the future Captain America movie. There is already a Director attached to the project (Joe Johnston) so the naming of a lead can't be too far away and I think that Bale would do a good job of it thoughg he would probably want to avoid the typecasting by that point since he will be donning the cape and cowl for a third Batman film at some point from what I have heard. Oh well I can always imagine...

Terminator Salvation Director, McG talks about his upcoming movie

2008-08-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

The Terminator Salvation fimmakers have been quite forthcoming on their current project; here is just a sampling of the latest observations they have made about their project from their Warner Bros. website:

Prometheus

We are half way through filming. Our teaser is in theaters and playing
before The Dark Knight.

You will see that this is a movie inspired by the first films, but is a true new beginning in that it takes place in the future.

All three Terminator films took place present day, with Terminators
traveling back in time to attack. This picture takes place after Judgment
Day. It happened. Everything is gone. The story of the movie is the "brink
moment" Reese always talked about.

From a technical perspective, we have set out to achieve a completely new
visual style that hasn't been seen before. We're shooting the film on color
stock but are using a method inspired by the Oz process which was developed
at Technicolor by Mike Zacharia and Bob Olson. Basically we are adding three
times as much silver. It creates a surreal texture that is in keeping with
the notion of the entire picture - feeling detached from the world we know
today.

Every morning and every night Christian and I work on the story. Sam's
contribution has been excellent. We are committed to putting the story and
character first and then supplementing that with action and visual effects.
It is our intention to make a film on a large scale with the nuance and
subtext of a high quality independent picture.

The richness of the story is really coming out now. It's a Prometheus tale
really, how creating life creates real responsibility - and if left
unchecked, can be our undoing.

The entire crew takes the making of this film very seriously. I made a point
of hiring key personnel that are passionate about getting this right.
Everyone is well versed in the mythology.

Comicon is this weekend. I look forward to sharing the film with the
passionate.

McG

(courtesy of rss.warnerbros.com)

Visual Effects Supervisor Charles Gibson talks Terminator Salvation

2008-08-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

The Visual Effects Supervisor for Terminator Salvation, Charles Gibson, recently discussed his role in the making of the upcoming feature:

"Prior to Terminator Salvation, I worked on all three Pirates movies. Those worlds and characters were from a different time and place and had to be completely fabricated. This film plays in an altered but plausible version of our world. We're primarily concerned with bringing the Terminator elements home, to make you believe this reality could be just around the corner. It's a very different sort of challenge.

McG's take is to weave science fiction and horror elements into a state-of-the-art action film: The camera always moves, the imagery is raw and kinetic, the pace is insane. The creative challenge for me will be to bury the effects into the photography but to still protect our big visual moments.

Before Terminator 2: Judgment Day, visual effects films were frequently driven by technology -- you worked with what you had. With The Abyss and especially with Terminator 2: Judgment Day, James Cameron showed us that concept rules: When the director has a compelling new vision, the technology will follow. Cameron opened that gate for other filmmakers who in turn have pushed the visual effects industry in new directions.

We've been waiting to see this world for years -- it's only been glimpsed and hinted at in the previous Terminator movies. We're able to revisit the elements that have been established, but we're going to be adding a whole lot more."

(courtesy of rss.warnerbros.com)

New Terminator Salvation Teaser Poster and Teaser Trailer

2008-08-08T20:49:00.001-07:00

Here they are; Warner Bros. recently released a new teaser poster as well as a new teaser trailer for the 2009 release. It's no surprise that the studio is anticipating a giant 'pop' of positive reactions for the trailer by having it out in time for screening before the new Batman: The Dark Knight movie:

... and the trailer:

Director McG revaels more about the Man versus Machine future of Terminator Salvation

2008-06-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

Director McG offered up this insight into the grim and grimy future world setting of his upcoming Terminator Salvation:

One Possible Future

We're in the middle of week five. The New Mexico wind is kicking the shit out of the crew but providing a perfect backdrop for our post-apocalyptic world.

Sam tore a muscle on the left side of his ribs in a fight sequence. Neither of us wants to use a stunt double.

This movie takes place several years after Judgment Day, but prior to 2029. Just like it took a long time to get an HD plasma screen in our world, it took Skynet a lot of research and development to get to the T-800, and this movie explores that "space between." We have all been fascinated with the world after Judgment Day. Here it is.

In this film, there are Hydrobots that patrol the water, Transports that move human prisoners around, Harvesters that collect human beings as lab rats for Skynet and Aerostats that survey all that is going on with the resistance the world over.

We've started shooting the T-600 - the bigger, grimier, nastier version that preceded the T-800.

Like Reese says, they're easier to spot but they pack a mini gun and carry kick ass fire power. They're eight-foot tall killers that prowl the badlands looking for anything with a heartbeat to terminate.

Stan Winston, Production Designer Martin Laing and ILM came up with the designs and that thing is on Kyle Reese's ass throughout the entire picture. Wanted to achieve that bummer, rubbery skin, prosthetic look that cloaks an unrelenting machine with a singular focus of killing.

More to come...

Also, I realize my name is ridiculous. I was born Joseph McGinty Nichol. McG is short for McGinty. I have been called this since the day I was born to create separation from my Uncle Joe and Grandpa Joe. I realize it sounds like some Hollywood nickname, hip-hop choice. But the truth is, this is simply my name - for every day of elementary school, every zit-filled day of high school. I have been taking shit for it ever since. I get it, I would think it's lame too. But it's just a name, and to change it now would seem fraudulent.

Oh yeah, don't get too uptight about the prospect of the film being PG-13. We have entertained the idea of a PG-13 rating largely because Batman Begins, in my opinion, was made compromise-free. So we'll see. The movie comes first and it will be protected at all times…

By the way, there are only three people who know the ending.

The unknown future rolls toward us.

McG

(courtesy rss.warnerbros.com)