Terminator Salvation remains one of the most poorly reviewed films in the Terminator series, yet James Cameron, who directed the highly acclaimed Terminator 2: Judgment Day, offers a more tempered view. In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Cameron reflected on the film’s reception and his own experience watching it.
It probably didn’t get a fair day in court because I had to watch it at night when I got home from work, over a period of two or three nights.
?James Cameron, Director
Praise for Performances and Direction
Cameron singled out Sam Worthington’s performance as a highlight, emphasizing his admiration for the actor’s consistent talent. Cameron also acknowledged the efforts of McG, the director of Terminator Salvation, while noting some creative choices.
I think Sam [Worthington] is remarkable in the film because, well, I think Sam is remarkable in anything he does.
?James Cameron, Director
Interestingly, I think McG did a good job in the sense…I think he was almost too referential to the mythos of the first and second film. He over-quoted them in a way?
?James Cameron, Director
Concerns Over Lack of Freshness and Authenticity
Unlike Terminator 2, which Cameron credits for reinventing the franchise and introducing new concepts, he felt Terminator Salvation failed to bring fresh ideas to the series. He also pointed out that the absence of Arnold Schwarzenegger in a leading role diminished the film’s authenticity.
I mean the thing we did with the second film is that we reinvented the first film completely; spun it on its ass and made the Terminator the good guy, and came up with a whole new concept for a villain, it felt fresh.
?James Cameron, Director
I didn’t feel the fourth picture was fresh enough. It also lacked a certain stamp of authenticity because Arnold wasn’t in it. I mean, he was in it briefly, digitally, but that’s not the same thing.
?James Cameron, Director
Cameron’s Mixed Feelings About the Film’s Legacy
While Cameron did not consider Terminator Salvation to be a failure or an embarrassment to the franchise, he expressed an uneasy feeling that it did not push the story forward or expand the series in a meaningful way.
I didn’t think it was bad. I didn’t think it was embarrassing. I don’t think he let the franchise down in some huge way, but I did feel some sort of unease that it didn’t go beyond.
?James Cameron, Director
Current Availability
Fans interested in revisiting Terminator Salvation can stream the film now on Netflix, providing an opportunity to judge for themselves the merits of this divisive installment in the Terminator saga.
