The Terminator Anthology Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Terminator Anthology Blu-ray Movie Review

A solid franchise set best reserved for those who don't already own all four films on Blu-ray...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown August 27, 2012

Quite a bit of confusion has surrounded the Terminator Anthology from the moment it was announced (or rather the moment it appeared on a Warner Bros. release schedule with little to no accompanying fanfare). The reason for the under-the-radar release, though, is that it isn't all that remarkable, aside from the fact that it collects four franchise entries owned by three different studios. The rest is packaging and presentation; and not even of the AV presentation variety. Both the films' video transfers and audio tracks are the same transfers and tracks fans have been enjoying and complaining about for years. The Terminator could use a new master and ground-up overhaul. Terminator 2 could use a more filmic transfer and some new special features, specifically something we haven't seen a hundred times before. Terminator 3 looks the part but desperately needs lossless audio; it's still stuck with the same lossy mix its devoted fans have been forced to settle on for years. And Terminator Salvation is... well, just as across-the-board satisfying as ever.

The Terminator Anthology Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Terminator Anthology box set features video transfers culled from four previous releases: the 2006 MGM release of The Terminator, the 2009 Lionsgate release of the Terminator 2: Judgment Day Skynet Edition, the 2008 Warner Bros. release of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and the 2009 2-disc Warner Bros. release of Terminator Salvation. Video quality ranges from good to outstanding, with the original Terminator being the one most in need of a newly minted master and presentation. Full reviews of each 1080p presentation can be accessed through the following links:

The Terminator - 1080p/MPEG-2
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day - 1080p/VC-1
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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines - 1080p/VC-1
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Terminator Salvation - 1080p/AVC MPEG-4
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The Terminator Anthology Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Terminator Anthology box set features audio tracks from four previous releases: the 2006 MGM release of The Terminator, the 2009 Lionsgate release of the Terminator 2: Judgment Day Skynet Edition, the 2008 Warner Bros. release of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and the 2009 2-disc Warner Bros. release of Terminator Salvation. Audio quality ranges from underwhelming to sternum-shattering, but the worst of the bunch isn't the original Terminator's PCM mix. No, it's still Terminator 3's lossy Dolby Digital track, which Warner apparently has little desire to upgrade. A lossless DTS-HD Master Audio track would be a boon for the third entry in the franchise; of the four, it's the entry that needs the most help anyway. Ah well. Full reviews of each audio package can be accessed by way of the following links:

The Terminator - Uncompressed PCM 5.1
Click here for full audio review, additional audio options and subtitles

Terminator 2: Judgment Day - DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1
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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines - Dolby Digital 5.1
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Terminator Salvation - DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Click here for full audio review, additional audio options and subtitles

The Terminator Anthology Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Considering how simple and no-frills its design is, the 5-disc Terminator Anthology is one of the more handsome, low-key box sets to come along in a while. Removing the slipcover doesn't reveal anything flashy, just a classy, slighty oversized DigiPak featuring an embossed Terminator torso, art from all four films, and five Blu-ray discs spread across four panels and five hubs. Nothing fancy, no trinkets to toss aside, no snap latches, casing quirks or troubling disc access or removal. If only every box set were so functional, neatly contained and striking.


Disc One: The Terminator

The Terminator offers the same special features as its 2006 MGM counterpart, which frankly doesn't amount to a whole lot. Worse than being the Anthology's smallest collection of extras, it's the Anthology's most inadequate and disappointing package too. The film that started it all desperately deserves a full and complete overhaul, from the ground up, and a better disc than this.

• Creating The Terminator: Visual Effects and Music (SD, 13 minutes): A vintage look at the film's visual and practical effects, its music, and the tone and style the combination of the two produced. Also discussed at length is working within the constraints of a low budget which, given how candid those interviewed tend to be, is quite revealing.
• Terminator: A Retrospective (SD, 21 minutes): The center piece of this retrospective is a conversation between director James Cameron and the Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the duo cover enough ground, detail the particulars of enough sequences, and share enough entertaining anecdotes to make the absence of a commentary more forgivable.
• Terminated Scenes (SD, 10 minutes): Seven deleted scenes, among them "Wholesome Sarah," "Wrong Sarah," "Lt. Traxler's Arc," "Sarah Fights Back," "Making Bombs," "Tickling Reese" and "The Factory."

Disc Two: Terminator 2: Judgment Day

In addition to the 137-minute Theatrical Version and the 154-minute Special Edition cut of the film (and an extended Special Edition cut on top of that), the Terminator 2 supplemental package boasts a migraine delivery device that utilizes irritating menus and needless options to induce a piercing headache in the frontal lobe of the human brain. Tricky Skynet. They'll kill us yet. But I digress. For all the fanfare and themed menus, Terminator 2 doesn't roll out a killer collection of special features; just a solid one that was assembled in 2009 for Lionsgate's Skynet Edition Blu-ray release.

• Audio Commentaries: Two commentaries are available, the big draw being the track with Cameron and writer William Wisher, and the other coming in a close second, with creative supervisor Van Ling and a solid lineup of key members of the crew. Of course, Cameron's chat is far and away the one most fans will gravitate to, but tackling both is the only way to fly.
• Interactive Modes (HD): Seven Picture-in-Picture tracks are included as well, although only one -- "Visual Implants" -- is worth getting even mildly excited about, as it's the most interesting of the bunch. The other six? "Trivia Data" is a standard trivia track, "Production Data" delivers shot and scene breakdowns, "Linked Data" serves up various slideshows, "Source Code" focuses on storyboards, "Query Mode" quizes viewers during the film, and "Processor Tests" trots out a series of dull minigames.
• Terminated Data (HD, 3 minutes): Two deleted scenes, the first with optional commentary with Cameron and actor Robert Patrick, the second with optional commentary with Cameron, actress Linda Hamilton and SFX guru Stan Winston.
• Trailers (HD, 8 minutes): One teaser, two theatrical trailers, an SE trailer and a THX trailer.
• Skynet Access: Download and view additional content through this BD-Live portal.

Disc Three: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Rise of the Machines marches into the future with a less cumbersome PiP experience, three audio commentaries and more than an hour of additional bonus features (all from the 2008 Warner Bros. Blu-ray release), but never quite manages to overcome the feeling that the movie didn't deserve so much supplemental love. I'm all for special features, but three fairly redundant commentaries? On the heels of a PiP track? This isn't Lord of the Rings, or even a classic sequel. It's a divisive third entry in the Terminator franchise, and the cast and crew seem as cheerily apathetic about it as its fans.

• In-Movie Picture-in-Picture Experience: Director Jonathan Mostow, arriving to battle with plenty of cast and crew interviews and ample behind-the-scenes footage, leads the charge in this decent but predictable PiP track. Topics exhausted include developing a Terminator story in a post-T2 world, taking the reigns from Cameron, staying true to the first two films and going in a new direction, establishing a more far-reaching franchise, launching off the beaten path for a downbeat ending, working with Schwarzenegger, assembling a fitting supporting cast for the big lug, updating the Terminator and his allies/foes, and much more.
• Audio Commentaries: Three commentaries are available. In the first, Mostow doubles back, hitting on too much that was already covered in the disc's PiP experience. The presence of Schwarzenegger, Claire Daines, Nick Stahl and Kristanna Loken don't help much either, mainly because they were recorded in separate sessions but also because Ahnuld is the only one who brings anything to the table. In the second commentary, Mostow takes a stab at the sequel on his own and gets mired in technical breakdowns, soundstage rundowns, and shot-by-shot minutea. The director returns a third and final time for a third and final commentary, this time with writers John Brancato and Michael Ferris, production designer Jeff Mann, and director of photography Don Burges in tow. Even with the writers in the room, the discussion still veers into dry, barren wastelands of material. None of the tracks are particularly engaging; much like the movie itself.
• Behind the Story (SD, 20 minutes): Less a four-part featurette and more a featurette with three other extras tacked on, this section collects a brief introduction to the film, an HBO First Look special, a series of storyboards, and a quick glance at the film's costumes.
• Additional Footage (SD, 5 minutes): A single deleted scene (in which the Terminator's Austrian accent is addressed) and a mercifully short gag reel makes for two, count 'em two chances to shrug your shoulders.
• Fun & Games (SD, 16 minutes): "Toys in Action" deals with Todd Mcarlane's Terminator toy line and "Making of the Videogame" hits on the Rise of the Machines liscensed game.
• Trailers (SD, 4 minutes)

Discs Four & Five: Terminator Salvation

Salvation comes in two flavors: theatrical and extended. Its supplemental package comes in just one, though: terrific. It may look like a limited batch of special features, but never underestimate the value of one good Maximum Movie Mode track. It only helps that McG's passion is so contagious, even when the movie it accompanies isn't, and that his cast and crew are just as passionate as their commander in chief. The result is a string of extras that ooze personal involvement and childlike wonder from all involved, neither of which wear out their welcome. Granted, if you hate the film, no amount of rah-rah-rahing or maximum-movie-moding will change your mind, especially when driven by the likes of McG. But if you're a fan, you'll be more than happy to dive in and soak up every cut of the film and every minute of content Salvation's two Blu-ray discs have on tap.

• Maximum Movie Mode (HD): Forgoing a traditional commentary, Salvation does one better with a McG-hosted Maximum Movie Mode track. Blending the best aspects of a video commentary and Picture-in-Picture track, Warner's MMM is a fan's dream come true, complete with director segements (in which the grinning filmmaker is able to pause the action and take as much time as he needs), cast and crew interviews, behind the scenes footage, accessible "Focus Point" featurettes, and a thorough account of the development and production of the fourth film in the Terminator saga.
• Focus Points (HD, 30 minutes): The Maximum Movie Mode's Focus Point featurettes are also available from the main menu. Segments include "Digital Destruction," "Enlisting the Air Force," "Molten Metal and the Science of Simulation," "Building the Gas Station," "Creating the VLA Attack," "Exploding Serena's Lab in Miniature," "Hydrobots," "An Icon Returns," "Terminator Factory," "Stan Winston Workshop" and "Napalm Blast."
• Reforging the Future (HD, 19 minutes): McG and company outline their approach to tinking in the Terminator factory, honoring the old and pushing ahead into a brave new retro-future world.
• The Moto-Terminator (HD, 9 minutes): The director returns one last time to look at one of the film's biggest action pieces.

The Terminator Anthology Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Call me a sucker. Having one well-designed box set sitting on my shelf is something I have trouble resisting, so long as the price is right. Yes, the Terminator Anthology amounts to a Best Buy-exclusive double-dip more than anything else, but it isn't meant to lure those who own the current standalone releases to the franchise. We diligent (and, not so long ago, early) adopters tend to forget there are new consumers buying new Blu-ray players for the first time, and those consumers are eager to get their hands on as many of their favorite films as their wallets can handle. Who couldn't resist picking up a $30 Terminator box set if they didn't already own most or all of the films included? Just be warned: if you already own most or all of the Terminators, you're essentially purchasing packaging here. It's easy for me to say the Anthology edition's low price point makes it worth double-dipping -- I received a free screener, effectively eliminating my ability to make an objective cost-benefit analysis -- so consider yourself duly informed. The 5-disc Terminator Anthology doesn't correct any of the problems associated with the films' previous releases, it just looks nice sitting on a shelf. Take that for what it's worth. Just remember it isn't a box set intended for you. It's a box set intended for those entering the wonderful world of high definition. And yes, there's still a lot of them out there.