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Emyr Thy King -> RE: Four stars? For this? (7/6/2009 8:14:44 PM)
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ORIGINAL: dh_19
I think the T-1000's need for basic human responses covers most of these.
We know this to be the case. The question is why does it choose to exhibit such emotion when it performs no function and yields no use to the T-1000's mission?
The T-1000 kills the dog Max after it realised that it had been fooled by the T-800 impersonating John Connor.
The T-1000 kills the lorry driver of the liquid nitrogen container after the helicopter he was flying was smashed to pieces.
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As for the expressions it gives when it's being destroyed, well, it was being destroyed and was broken.
Whereupon this occurence it visibly reacted to what was happening to it. It's patently obvious to see.
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When it's dying at the end of T2 and begins morphing into previous forms, i don't think it's doing it intentionally to provide them with one last head fuck, it simply isn't functioning correctly.
I never suggested that the T-1000's random morphing and contortions were there to mess with the minds of the Connors. It was doing so because it was in a desperate and dire state, it knew it was about to be terminated and reacted accordingly. One could argue that when the T-1000 was frozen and reformed it introduced glitches. Such as a ripple running through its body (on two occasions). Or when its body started to fuse with random objects, such as the handrail or studded metal floor. Alternatively, this glitch may have made the T-1000 become more unstable and experiencing an emotional state that it previously did not experience in full.
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Plus, even if you're correct, these would be very subtle developments and are nothing like the sheer arrogance that renders Skynet utterly incompetent in Salvation, 11 years earlier (technology wise). This makes me wonder whether you always thought the Terminators are emotive or whether the poor ending of Salvation (which you agree is a flawed film) has made you reassess T1 & T2 to give the concluding act more significance?
Yet Skynet managed to wipe out the hierarchy of the Resistance with one depth charge. It also led its nemesis to a carefully orchestrated trap. My reasons for thinking Terminator Salvation to be a flawed in parts, primarily revolves around characterisation and dialogue (which I noted to be a weakness of the writers). I wouldn't make connections from Terminator Salvation to the first two films for the sake of making the final scenes portentous. By virtue of the film's release it has renewed my interest in the franchise and made me look further into it. By doing so I have developed new insights and a new perspective on the series. By probing and 'researching' I have discovered material that has made me reevaluate the other films but also made me seriously question the things that before then, I had merely thought of as peculiar but never scrutinised.
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I personally don't believe that the machines are emotive as this would mean they could potentially express compassion, which i don't think is in keeping with James Cameron's vision.
Yet you've missed the most significant development in Terminator 2. How the T-800 became self-aware and showed an empathy and compassion previously unheard nor considered. Remember what Sarah Connor said at the film's conclusion :-
An untold future lies ahead, and for the first time I face it with a sense of hope. For if a machine, a Terminator, can learn the value of human life; maybe we can too.
Furthermore, this indicates that this development is indeed part of James Cameron's vision for the Terminator. Here's an interesting extract from the Terminator Wiki site :-
James Cameron once said that Terminators are "already half-human" and likened the T-800 from T2 as the "Tin-man who got his heart". This theme of the "Tin-man" suggests that Terminators are already capable of developing their own sense of self, but they are required to discover this for themselves first. This is seen with the T-800.
I would have to verify if James Cameron did say those words (DVD commentary?). Although, I am convinced that what he depicted was intentional and no mere slip up. In the final scenes of Terminator 2. The T-800 comforts John Connor by gently touching his cheek and embracing him (where he even closes his eye in a very human manner). Now one could say, this is part of the T-800's advanced learning which has become incorporated into its programming. I.e. John Connor is upset ---> comfort ---> Typical human response :1. @#~[(
2. &*()+*
3. $£^/-+
However, for me there's far too much emotion displayed for it to be mere advanced 'infiltration' programming. Which would lead one to conclude these things are not merely shallow inclusions but a major revelation. Finally, let us not forget why Skynet introduced the read-only switch to the T-800s. They had the ability to become self-aware and become like Skynet. If they were to become self-aware it would impede the lethality of the T-800s if they were to wander off alone and start to "think" too much.
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