Get on TV: Webcam Reviews for 'Terminator Salvation,' 'Night at the Museum 2' and 'Dance Flick'

m sam eck,

I think you hit it on the "chrome" head, they lost the basic premise of the earlier films which was flight from a relentless Terminator. Bottom line that was it.

Plus, John Conner as played by Bale was so flat it was like a giant Terminator stepped on him. Who wants to follow this dour, humorless man through more stories? That's why a wiseacre like Bruce Willis is fun to follow because he has a sense of humor during the most trying of circumstances. Just like we'd imagine our better selves to be.

Good review,
tvjournalist

letsnotlisten,

I really want to like this movie, but it has really been pummeled in the reviews.

Didn't see the first one because my then 12-year-old didn't even like it.

Go figure,
tvjournalist

which also sucked (Story wise) but you have to admit, it looked damn bitchen

letsnotlisten,

Interesting you bring up Transformers. I wanted to like that movie but the robots moved too fast or something so that I couldn't really appreciated how cool they were. They plot was completely flat for me, but at least the Transformers should have been cool.

On the flip side, I did think the robots were nifty in T4. The action sequences were great, especially the scene inside the helicopter when it crashes.

I thought the Marcus Wright character had tons of potential with his literal "internal conflict". In fact, I was waaay more interested in his character than John Conner's.

The big emotional moment of this movie should have been the meeting of John Conner with his father Kyle Reese, but pfttt! nothing.

Still the action sequences made this worth seeing in my view, but if this were the first Terminator movie I don't think there would be sequels.

tvjournalist

it's hot that a hot girl wants to talk about other hot girls ... but who the hell cares about "Minorities" he was a crappy actor who sucked ... so i guess in the future the less guys to go "yeahh, yeah" the better ... and the little black mute (how all women should be) girl (Who i THOUGHT was a boy at first) was 100% not unneeded, it was pointless to have her. and what you said about women ... i dont get it. whats the problem? ... i dont see a problem. :D

Love Stuart

PS your camera makes some kind of annoying noise hun

marisela,

Think of this movie as a new genre, military industrial complex porn!

It is an action movie so I didn't get too freaked about that aspect. Besides, the big weapons have basically destroyed the world.

Moon Bloodgood as Blair was a strong female character. Jet Pilot, no-nonsense, fights off rapists. But then has to be rescued by a man and then cuddles up with him. Yeah, they blew a good opportunity. At least she wasn't pregnant (albeit white woman) who says nothing but can perform open heart surgery.

Good review,
tvjournalist

EmpathySaves,

I disagree with the Marcus vs. John Conner premise. To me Marcus had the more interesting and literal "internal conflict" whereas Conner was a one-note, shrill yeller.

You're right. This franchise may be dying like the red eyes in a terminated Terminator robot.

However, I did think the action sequences were spectacular. I especially loved the scene in the helicopter when it crashes.

This movie did lack the tension of the earlier Terminators because Skynet the entity was the villain and there is not master robot or whatever that represents the entity.

This movie felt like the second installment of Lord of the Rings where you realize it is just a bridge to further the franchise.

Good review,
tvjournalist

alisonblock,

Nice job.

I didn't see the first Museum because sometimes Ben Stiller is great and sometimes he's awful. The special effects make me want to see it.

Thanks,
tvjournalist

ADuralde,

This movie made me think of the Cannonball Run movies which had this amazing collection of talent that amounted to nothing (Kinda like Oceans 12 and 13).

Comedies that aren't funny are in trouble. Understatement, perhaps?

Good job,
tvjournalist

Da7e,

Hah! Thanks for reminding me about the inconsistent eye makeup on Moon Bloodgood. I thought I was just seeing things. Or, not seeing things. Her real name is cooler than the character's name.

John Conner's character, especially as portrayed by Christian Bale does NOT make me want to follow him in another movie. Marcus Wright's character and literal "inner struggle" are more compelling. I was secretly hoping John Conner would die (after being shiskabobbed by a steel pole) and Marcus Wright would live.

Move along. Everyone back to their Twinkies now.
tvjournalist

tvjournalist

I'm convinced that, as you put it: "John Conner would die (after being shiskabobbed by a steel pole) and Marcus Wright would live." Was the original ending that kicked up so much internet dust that the filmmakers had to change the ending mid-filming. I think the movie was COMPLETELY INVALIDATED by the new ending.

Old ending should have stuck, it at least could have changed something.

The ending I'm referring to was reported here:
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36947

...and I would have been more okay with that ending than the one I got.

Thanks for commenting!

elkabong,

Yeah, the robots were worth the price of admission. I think the useless characters were simply there for the sequel since this movie didn't connect to the first Terminator timeline. I really don't get what Skynet is all about. Do these machines just build themselves? is there a master machine? Since there was no major villain there was no major drama. Major flaw, but ooh, look at all the pretty explosions.

tvjournalist

hansvlitz,

Great job in the review!
I wonder if the writers created this romantic relationship between Stiller and Adams but couldn't figure out how to write themselves out of a corner. Y'know, that forbidden wax love? Maybe it would have been more poignant to have it always be forbidden like Vampires and Humans?

Haven't seen it, but the premise sounds strong enough. Ben Stiller can sometimes be great and sometimes really annoying. I wonder if his character's new business success makes him less likely to root for? He's not an underdog anymore.

And hey, why blame the person who made the trailer? What else did he/she have to work with?

Thanks for warning me off?

tvjournalist

jvally,

Maybe they didn't include Dirty Dancing because it has been parodied to death. I don't know, I'm not a teenager, but I always feel a little burned by how inconsistently funny these parody movies are and sometimes feel violated by the gross out humor. They're like comedy porn.

tvjournalist

hannahmcnoface,

Nice review. I wonder if making Stiller's character successful makes him less of a character to root for? Sounds like the plot is solid, but there's no heart to take it to the next level.

tvjournalist

dylanthemoviekid,

You're right, nobody will LOVE this movie but it is still worth seeing in my opinion just for the cool robots.

good job, keep reviewing!

tvjournalist

WeJustGotBetter,

Where would late night cable be without movies like Dance Flick? Wait, static might be better. Haven't seen it, but I can guess how unsatisfying it is.

tvjournalist

JamesAJanisse,

Why is it so hard to make these movies good and funny? Each installment of these parodies leaves people feeling burned and/or violated. No one will be able to produce a good one now like "Airplane."

RIP parody...

tvjournalist

titan50,

Dude, how could you have never seen the first 3 Terminator movies? Agree they didn't use Common very well.

tvjournalist

lol I don't know really. i just like to see movies in theaters than in my house.

BennyLance,

Agree, Amy Adams is cute.

tvjournalist

I loved this review! When I left the theater I was speechless and couldn't put into words just how disappointed I was. But you did it. Thanks. I'm just gonna go rent Don't Be A Menace.

jodilmil,

So "Dance Flick" begs the question how many Wayans does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Sorry to be picky, but it's Wayans, not Waynes.

You've got a great camera presence. Keep going!

tvjournalist

ryan_mckee,

Could you define the difference between hammered and drunk? Stoned I get.

Thanks for warning me away from Dance Flick. America thanks you too.

tvjournalist

maninthemask,

I expected some great scene between John Conner and Kyle Reese, but never got it. Perhaps the focus was too much on Marcus Wright in this case.

BTW, aren't you the guy who stole my wallet?

tvjournalist

tvjournalist,

I totally agree with you about the relationship between John and younger daddy...maybe in the next one, I guess! and about your wallet...hey, look over there!! *runs away*

-maninthemask

Sylvie1986,

Sounds like the plot wasn't great, but the comedic actors were.

Good job gals,
tvjournalist

crappymusicman,

There's something about Museum 1 and Museum 2 that seems to be trying too hard. Haven't seen either, but your review makes me think it is soooo bad, a la, Plan 9 from Outer Space that it has to be seen to be believed.

The romance between Stiller and Amelia Earhardt sounds like it has potential in that it is a love story that cannot ever be fulfilled if done right. If done wrong, it's just sex with a mannequin.

tvjournalist

BeanieRobert2001,

While I didn't think T4 was better than Star Trek, nobody seemed to care that Star Trek played fast and loose with the Star Trek history.

T4 and Star Trek are both worth seeing, don't you think?

tvjournalist

tvjournalist, I do agree that both T4 and Star Trek are worth seeing, I just had more fun watching T4 then I did with Star Trek.

IzbahSarraf,

Short and simple, but dead on.
Who needs an acting coach when there is mentholated Halls cough drops!

Nice job,
TVjournalist

Joey_Vee,

Your review reminded me of what I was thinking while watching the movie...why were they harvesting humans? Couldn't the giant holding pen onboard the ship serve as a trash compactor and just mush them all. Then I thought they were collecting humans to find Kyle Reese. But, then why collect all the women or transport people back to San Francisco? Very cost prohibitive. Also, the echos of the Holocaust were a little unsettling for an action movie.

tvjournalist

During the movie I was wondering how the giant Harvester Terminator knows when to be very careful when cherry picking humans with it's giant pnuematic claws and when to just destroy the shit out of everything.

thebigchuckbowski,

You're right on that there was no villain or a vague one perhaps in "Skynet" as an entity, but entities don't make very compelling bad guys. The Mrs. Conner role seemed like just a set up for a sequel. If this was the first Terminator movie it would not inspire sequels. And yet, the action and pace were fun. The lack of character development keeps it from being top-tier but still, ultimately it was worth seeing to me.

tvjournalist

Jblanchard87,

Why was John Conner's wife in this movie? Why was she pregnant? Must all be a set up for the next sequel, but didn't make this movie any better. What attracted Christian Bale to this role? He just played Batman without the Joker to make it more interesting.

Good job,
tvjournalist

Kirkpear,

I didn't see the first 'Museum' but I wanted to. Probably won't see the second, either. I want to like these movies, but something always makes me think I'm going to be ripped off. Thanks for the warning.

tvjournalist

StuArt_Gould,

T4, is a lot like Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull in terms of meeting expectations, but not as hack and tired. To me the biggest missing emotional scene is between John Conner and Kyle Reese. Conner knows Kyle is his father. Ultimately, I just loved the robots!

TVJournalist