Blu-ray Review: Awesome 5-Disc Set For ‘Terminator Anthology’

CHICAGO – It’s incredibly easy to make jokes about the 3rd and 4th subpar films in the “Terminator Anthology” but that’s missing the point. Yes, the series goes downhill a bit after the amazing “T2” and slides even further in the pretty awful McG finale but collectors don’t care. This is a set, exclusive to Best Buy and the WB Online Shop, for true collectors, those of you who get excited for nifty packaging and the ability to hold a whole series in your hands. It’s a great box set even if not all four movies could correctly be called “great.”

Rating: 4.5/5.0

The first two undeniably could. James Cameron’s “The Terminator” and “T2: Judgment Day” are two of the most influential and entertaining sci-fi films of all time. They are timeless. “Rise of the Machines” has moments that work but it’s creatively a step down, as is “Salvation.” All four films look stunning in HD and have matching rocking audio transfers. I was surprised at the quality of the transfer for the original. Often in these collector’s editions, packaging and bonus material leave video quality as an afterthought. Not so here. And each film comes with special features like deleted scenes, commentaries, and, most notably, EIGHT hours of interactive features on “Judgment Day.” This is the kind of set that takes a time commitment. Cancel your plans.

Terminator Anthology was released on Blu-ray on August 28, 2012
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Synopsis:
See the complete world as created by Academy Award-winning director James Cameron with the complete and definitive collection of all four films on Blu-ray. Never before has there been a collection of all 4 ground-breaking films plus the bonus content.

Special Features:
o The Terminator: A Retrospective
o “Other Voices” Documentary with James Cameron interviews
o Deleted Scenes with James Cameron
o All 3 versions of T2 in 1080p THX - Theatrical, Extended and Special Editions
o T2 Audio commentary with James Cameron and writer William Wisher
o T2 Cast & Crew audio commentary
o Deleted Scenes/Outtakes
o Over 8 hours of interactive special features: behind-the-scenes video and multimedia galleries, storyboard-script mode, quizzes and games
o Terminator: Rise of the Machines 3 Audio Commentaries
o Terminator Salvation mythology timelines
o Terminator Salvation “Re-Forging the Future” documentary

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com