James Cameron on Terminator’s Origins and Terminator Salvation

by Liam Goodwin on March 24, 2009 · 3 comments

james cameronIn a rare move director James Cameron has written an article for Wired.com. In the piece he give us insite on how he first came about writing his Terminator outline in 1982, and his feelings on the current status of the Terminator franchise, with Terminator Salvation being released in May.

I’ve been fascinated ever since by our human propensity for dancing on the edge of the apocalypse. So when I wrote the first Terminator outline around 1982, I was just working out my childhood stuff. It was also born out of the science fiction movies and literature I grew up with. For the most part, they were warnings—about technology, about science, about the military and the government. You couldn’t escape those themes or the fear of nuclear holocaust.

I kind of turned my back on the Terminator world when there was early talk about a third film. I’d evolved beyond it. I don’t regret that, but I have to live with the consequence, which is that I keep seeing it resurrected. I’m not involved in Terminator Salvation. I’ve never read the script. I’m sure I’ll be paying 10 bucks to see it like everybody else.

Meanwhile, the original film was recently selected for preservation by the National Film Registry. So there’s a good possibility that when the machines actually do take over someday, The Terminator will still be in existence. And the machines can have a good electronic laugh about that.

You can read the whole thing by clicking here! (Highly recommended)

  • JediVisconti

    Yeah Jim, I have a theory, since Salvation sucked badly, maybe the producers give back the franchising at your hands, Realising that you are the only one to bring back the respect the franchising once had with the fans, Well I think you already knew that things will come bad, and the proiducers will regreat a lot, because of their stupidity, Only you Jim Cameron knows what the fans really want to the Terminator franchising, you are the crator, Thanks.

  • JediVisconti

    Yeah Jim, I have a theory, since Salvation sucked badly, maybe the producers give back the franchising at your hands, Realising that you are the only one to bring back the respect the franchising once had with the fans, Well I think you already knew that things will come bad, and the proiducers will regreat a lot, because of their stupidity, Only you Jim Cameron knows what the fans really want to the Terminator franchising, you are the crator, Thanks.

  • Keith Bittinger

    James Cameron’s Terminator franchise is undisputedly the most powerful tour de force in cinema history. It’s dazzling storytelling, remarkable visual flair, heart pounding spine tingling sequences has literally everything there is to offer in film; action, suspense, violence, science fiction, drama, comic relief, romance, even some horror (the first film in particular). The idea of time travel is of course fantasy no doubt but the thought of it is very entertaining. Not many films will ever be able to stand up to The Terminator and it’s bravuro sequel Judgment Day. With these two films the legend of Cameron and it’s star Arnold Schwarzenegger solidified themselves as the most innovative film maker and the greatest action hero (or villain) of all time. Cameron is more innovative then let’s say…Kubrick, Spielberg, Lucas…just to name a few. And Schwarzenegger is more compelling to watch than Sylvestor Stallone, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundren…not putting these other directors or action hero’s down. In the Terminator films the groundbreaking special effects, stunning action sequences, brilliant writing, smart dialogue, acting, stunts…everything is top notch and choreographed to perfection. It all just fits far too perfect when you watch these films it’s like you are taken from our world and all its problems and thrusted into this wild world of hi tech action and futuristic possibilities. These films are not the movies that exhaust themselves and are forgotten as many are; The Terminator and it’s successor will be viewed forever and ever, even when our own creations take over the world and mankind is no more.