McW VS McG! Drew McWeeny talks to the director of 'Terminator: Salvation'
McG discusses the original ending, the lack of humor, and more
McG discusses his take on the classic 'Terminator' franchise
I met McG for the first time on the phone.
He called me to talk to me after I ran a story with... how can I put it... an intentionally provocative headline. And we ended up talking for well over half an hour. Not as an interview. Not as something for the site the next day. Nothing like that. Just him talking about his side of something.
It wasn't McG yelling at me. It wasn't McG even necessarily trying to convince me of something. I think it was just McG looking to make sure that his version of things was on the record. And I get the feeling that's who he is in general. More than anything, he wants to be sure that he gets a chance to have his say.
Which explains why the "three-minute-interview" you're about to watch is ten minutes long.
Because of some of the more pointed things I've had to say about "Terminator: Salvation" as it's moved from script to screen, and because I'm the guy who ruined the ending of the movie, McG practically circled me a few times before we finally sat down to talk during the press day. And when they gave us the signal to wrap up, he waved the publicists in the room off several times.
[more after the jump]
So here it is, the full file. We d
So here it is, the full file. We debated running a piece of it, edited down, but you should get the full McG, just as I did.
Thanks, Warner Bros., and thanks McG, for taking the time. "Terminator: Salvation" opens Thursday nationwide.
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupFawst
May 19, 2009 at 9:24AM EST Reply to CommentMcG wins. I started out not caring about this in the least. Then the design work leaked and I became interested. Then the teaser got me kind of excited. The full trailer pulled me in completely, and having listened to his sensibilities in this interview, I can't wait to take the ride. The only negative I can think of is that that ending you both discussed (the one that wasn't used) was BAD-FUCKING-ASS. Seriously. That would have been such an insane fuck to the face (no pun intended). I would have stood up and applauded over that. I just hope the final ending isn't completely watered down. When can we expect a review, Drew?
The InSneider
May 19, 2009 at 9:27AM EST Reply to CommentHell of an interview. You really got him to open up and be honest about his work and I know how tough that can be in the brief time they allot during junkets. That was just a really interesting conversation. I'm glad he gave you more time. Can't wait to see the movie.
Fawst
May 19, 2009 at 9:35AM EST Reply to CommentI now need to follow up on my last post, because I re-read the spoiler for the ending you ran on AICN. Coming at it from a perspective of actually looking forward to this movie, and knowing the history of the franchise, this actually makes a bit of sense. If the ending is exactly as you wrote, I can see it working. I'm actually MORE excited now that I've read it again. It could all blow up when I see it, but this has got me stoked. It's not one of those concepts that JUST. CAN'T. WORK. It CAN work, and it can work very well. In fact, as cool as that original ending idea was, I don't think THAT would work as well as this concept. Sure, it involves a suspension of disbelief, but that can be worked around. After all, why wouldn't Kyle tell Sarah that's what happened? But then again, as they've shown, the future can be changed, and in all likelihood, HAS been changed. Going in this direction isn't a bad thing. I just hope I'm not wrong about this...
JoeK
May 19, 2009 at 9:54AM EST Reply to CommentThat was pretty extraordinary for a junket setting. I know why McG would want to "make" extra time for you Drew but I give him credit here regardless. Maybe the movie won't meet expectations but it has to be a pain in the ass trying to deliver the best thing you can and being told you have no chance to do so from day one. My only disappointment is that I know far far too much about what's in this movie at this point. It seems the 'sweet spot' for seeing it was calibrated for industry types or the masses not paying attention. I feel spoiled. There is no way a movie like this won't be polarizing in the fan community (can it do anything else anymore?) but I do want to see it. And yeah - that ending that McG described was something else and demonstrates to me where they were willing to go conceptually when pulling this together which is kind of cool.
PeterSHall
May 19, 2009 at 12:56PM EST Reply to CommentGreat, great interview, Drew. I probably won't actually catch TS until Blu due to my schedule, but this interview made me want to see it more than the trailers did.
Plus I just notched up much more respect for McG. Was indifferent before, but I'm glad to see he strikes out on his own.
rondertaker
May 19, 2009 at 3:16PM EST Reply to Commentcan we please get a spoiler tag on this post or something? if i want to watch a 10 minute interview about the end of a movie i'd prefer to wait until after i've seen it.
matt.collider@gmail.com
May 19, 2009 at 9:25PM EST Reply to CommentMcG's comments about changing the ending is ludicrous. You could have John Conner become Marcus (which I think is awesome because it ties into T2 about a machine ultimately being the protector of humanity) without him wasting everyone in the room (which makes no sense especially when you see everything Marcus goes through).
headgeek
May 20, 2009 at 6:52AM EST Reply to CommentThe only thing McG should have taken from ROPE was some actual ROPE to strangle those fucking writers!