Favorite Films

[Avaitor]

I still feel like the only one who prefers the first Terminator.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

I still feel like the only one who prefers the first Terminator.

So does Desensitized. And you're both wrong, but different "you know what's" I suppose.

Also, I say this as a fan of the first movie. I just don't like the argument that the first film was better because it was more philosophical whereas the sequel was just a "dumb action movie," which I've heard people say, and which is flat-out untrue. The second film is just as meaningful as the first, except with better cinematography, effects, action, and IMO, pacing as well, hence why I prefer it.

I still love the first movie, though, which is why it's on my list.

[talonmalon333]

The ending of 2 always gets me.

And yeah, both movies are very meaningful, brimming with heart, and overall just fantastic.

[Dr. Insomniac]

Yeah, just because a movie's philosophical doesn't mean it's better. Zardoz was philosophical to the teeth, and no one champions that as intelligent.

[gunswordfist]

and gits is philosophical but is boring as shit.

[Avaitor]

I dunno, it's not even about the first Terminator being philosophical, I just find Arnold to be a more exciting villain than the T-1000, and I prefer the human story in the first to the second's.

But I do really like most of T2.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

I dunno, it's not even about the first Terminator being philosophical, I just find Arnold to be a more exciting villain than the T-1000, and I prefer the human story in the first to the second's.

I don't think can agree with Arnold being a better villain. Well, I mean, he is fun as the villain, if that's what you meant by more "exciting," but it's still just Arnold no matter how I try to look at it, and honestly I think that he was better suited to the hero roll. With the T-1000, I really did get the sense that they were dealing with a cold, unfeeling killing machine.

As for the human story, while I loved Kyle Reese in the original, I found that Sarah Connor was a much more interesting character in the sequel, given how much she had changed since the events of the first film, and was a true bad-ass in her own right, whereas she mostly had to be saved by Kyle in the first movie. I could see it going either way, myself, but I'd argue that the human drama was just as good in the sequel.

[gunswordfist]

i like both villain terminators equally. probably my 2nd favorite robot(s).

[talonmalon333]

I think Arnold was great as the villain. I mean, he's a pretty imposing guy in terms of size. I like him a lot as both the good and bad guy. I agree with E-K on Sarah Connor, though. I loved her in 2. As far as I'm concerned, that movie cemented her as one of the all time great female movie leads. Which is a big deal since she's the main protagonist of the series. Overall, both movies are some of the all time greats as far as science fiction goes. But I do slightly side with 2. But even still, I honestly can't think of any flaws in them, aside from a few natural time travel loopholes. I'd love to marathon both movies back to back one day.

[gunswordfist]

i also think arnold was an intimidating villain. and i agree with you both on sarah connor.

[talonmalon333]

What trilogy do you guys prefer? Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings?

[gunswordfist]

i've only seen stars as a kid and i am not sure which ones i have seen.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

The Lord of the Rings for me. While I do genuinely like all of the original Star Wars films, if I were to be honest, I'd say that only The Empire Strikes Back holds up as great (and one of the best Sci-Fi films of all time, at that). A New Hope was an important film and still a fun watch, but lacks the depth of the sequels, and I actually like Return of the Jedi despite all of the hate that it gets, but even I have to admit that it's far from a perfect conclusion to the trilogy.

With The Lord of the Rings, I can honestly say that I found all 3 films to be great, with each one being better than the last, IMO.

Of course, I don't consider either to be my favorite trilogy of all time.

The Dollars trilogy trumps them both, in my book.

[LumRanmaYasha]

Lord of the Rings. I like all three movies around the same level, if not each better than the last. With the OG Star Wars trilogy, I'm kind of meh on "A New Hope," think "Empire" is strong, and have some reservations about "Return" but overall all do like it quite a bit. I suppose I should mention, though, that I've never been big on any of the three movies, in that I like them fine, but they've never been something I actively cared to come back to and watch over again, even as a kid. And while I actually didn't like the LotR movies as a kid but love them as an adult now, when I revisited the OG SW trilogy my opinion about them didn't change at all. So, yeah, it's LotR for me.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

On that note, I can't stand the people who claim that The Hobbit Trilogy is TLOTR's equivalent to the Star Wars prequels. I mean, no....just no. The prequels are fucking terrible movies in just about every way possible, from acting to writing to directing. Literally the only thing that I genuninely like about them is the musical score.

On the other hand, as a fan of The Hobbit novel since I was a kid, would I say that this trilogy is the adaptation that I was always hoping for. No, not even close. It has tons of flaws and way too much padding for what luck have easily been an entire film shorter, or even just one movie, at that. Even so, do I consider AUJ or TDOS to be bad films. Once again, not even close. For what they are, they are still very entertaining movies supported by good acting, and the elements that do remain faithful to Tolkien's vision are instances legitimately good filmmaking, of which the Star Wars prequels almost entirely had none of except for very few scenes.

Basically, anyone who makes that comparison doesn't know what they're talking about.