Terminator 2 turns 25 this year, cementing the legacies of three things: James Cameron is the king of uber sequels, nothing has topped the second coming of Arnold’s cyborg and I’m getting freakin’ old.
But one benefit of being older is you have more nostalgia going. Some of that annoys me: it would be hard to make me think less of you than manically clutching to your childhood like it is a religious ornament or a winning lotto ticket. Anyone who hated on Ghostbusters purely because it might violate some sacrosanct relationship between their miserable life and world as a little kid is sad and pathetic.
Yet there is nothing wrong with wanting to relive some of that former glory. A few years ago I got to watch Trainspotting again in a cinema – and it was fantastic. Despite being the furthest thing from a Star Wars fan, I have seen all seven films on the big screen, kickstarted by the re-releases of the original trilogy in the Nineties. Whenever I can, I’ll try to catch a classic such as Die Hard at The Bioscope in Johannesburg’s Maboneng district.
I don’t hate cinemas. Cinemas are awesome for films. It’s just a pity they tend to show bloated, forgettable crap at bloated, unforgettable ticket prices. Many of you loved Civil War. I still don’t know why. I already forgot the plot. It’s a meaningless experience.
But Terminator 2? I never saw that on cinema and I would gladly pay IMAX prices to see it in bog-standard 2D at the local mall. That Cameron and co are planning a 3D revival for 2017 is just icing on top. Bring it on.
Interestingly Cameron is doing this because China never had a cinematic release of the original. So this is happening for me and the Middle Kingdom:
If there was someone who was interested in doing that, and we could make a good case for the business model like, perhaps let’s say, it’s never been on screens in China which in the next few years is about to become the biggest market for films worldwide. That alone might justify the cost of a conversion which might be 6 or 7 million dollars. And then a 3D re-release might attract some eyeballs in North American and Europe and then the Chinese release, which would be the first release on the big screen, might pay for it. I’m just using that as an example. I’m just saying we’re not ruling it out. We’re looking at it.
In fact, why are we waiting for fancy new re-releases? Why not show the classics more on cinema? It will lure people like me back out. I won’t pay to go see the new Marvel or DC monstrosity, but if you had screenings of Alien or Se7en, I’m there. I’ll even buy your overpriced popcorn and sweets, or settle in one of those fancy seats with their finger foods.
Last Updated: August 30, 2016
