Terminator Reboot Underway with Screen Tests

Why Reboot The Terminator?

 Left to Right: Brie Larson, Emilia Clarke, Margot Robbie

I now understand the frustration hardcore fanatics of a film feel when a reboot of their beloved movie is announced. The Terminator reboot is definitely underway as screen tests are apparently

being undertaken for the role of Sarah Connor. Well, the screen tests are supposed to be happening in the coming weeks. There are 3 front runners, who happen to be Margot Robbie, Brie Larson and Game of Throne’s Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen on the HBO show.

The first Terminator movie was released in 1984. Since Hollywood has now earned a reputation for unearthing treasures from those ancient years, I’m not entirely surprised by the move to start a reboot. 1984 was a very long time ago. But still, I watched all the Terminator movies only a few years ago, and the image of the original films is still fresh in my mind. 

Commercially, I’m not sure how the reboot will go down. Statistically speaking, reboots do well since they mine an existing fan base on top of the new audience. The recent Carrie remake did reasonably well, opening to $16.1 million in the first weekend at home. But I’m sure some fans must be worried about the remake simply spoiling the goodwill of the originals, and hence they may simply refrain from visiting the theaters, but that hardly happens as fans would prefer to go watch a horrible reboot and then criticize it online.

 But my larger concern is revisiting the same plot points once again, which doesn’t exactly help a reboot stand out by itself. This definitely was what happened with The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Uncle Ben’s death and the Spider bite were 2 events that were once again explored since they are integral events in creating the superhero. The same thing can happen with The Terminator. We may in fact run into the same storyline that made the original series exemplary.

A bit more thought, though, and it may seem like the reboot can avoid the pitfalls that most remakes have. Terminator is a movie about time travel, where past, present and future become melded and warped to twist the audience’s minds. This feature of time travel can help the film adjust the storyline in ways that other remakes can’t. Time travel allows additional alternatives to be considered by the decision makers, or the actors in the movie. This may allow the reboot to avoid a lack of creative ingenuity.

To further boost the movie’s hype, director Alan Taylor is keen on bringing Tom Hardy aboard for the role of John Connor. This man embodies masculinity so I wouldn’t even dare argue with that choice if it turns out to be true. Garrett Hedlund of Tron: Legacy is also at the top of the list to play Kyle Reese. Going for recognizable faces should aid Paramount in enhancing its earnings, especially since having well-known celebrities gives movie goers the impression that a film is taking itself seriously if the actors are confident enough to come on board. 

Personally, I deem the reboot unnecessary because I know the original series can still stand tall in today’s movie industry. The special effects, while dated, are realistic and not comical in any way. This together with a remarkable story, makes Terminator a timeless movie. This can’t be said about the original Superman movies because while the story was outstanding, the special effects of the time hindered the overall impression the movie gave. Getting a child today to watch the movie will be a difficult task. One look at the effects in use and they might start laughing. Terminator doesn’t have that problem. It was more than good back then and still is now.  


Sources:
http://www.totalfilm.com/news/rumour-emilia-clarke-testing-for-sarah-connor-in-terminator-reboot