Terminator Salvation

When it was first announced that a Terminator 4 was in the works I wondered why? Do we really need another one? The previous one felt unnessacary, how long can they possibly milk a cash cow for? I then discovered that it would actually be the first in a planned ‘new trilogy’ of terminator films, oh dear I thought. Then it was announced that Christian Bale would be playing the lead character John Conner, which then led me to wonder why after starring as the best Bruce Wayne/Batman he felt the need to take on another franchise role (I later discovered that he reluctantly accepted). Worse of all was the news that McG (yes that’s his name) the man who directed the god awful Charlie’s Angels movie would be de-facing this franchise. I predicted a disaster, yet I had to see it, after all it is Terminator!

After watching the film last night at my local multiplex, I can sadly inform you that my suspicion have been justified. Set in 2018 the film tell the story of Conner (Bale) leading the human resistance in the war against the machines. Stuff blows up and then the film end. However there is another element that is introduced. The film start out in a death row detention cell in 2003 just prior to judgement day where convicted murderer Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) is about to be executed when he is given a second chance of life if he signs his body away to medical science. He then awakes in 2018 without a clue of where he is or what is going on. Eventually he discovers that he is half human/ half machine (yes I just gave away the plot twist just like the trailer does). This proves to be quite an interesting idea and Worthington plays it fairly well although ultimately it proves to be unnessacary and distracts us from the more pivotal characters John Conner and Kyle Reese.

Acting wise the script offers the cast very little to work with. Dialogue consists of such lines like ‘Fire!’ ‘Run!’ and various tactical jargen. Christian Bale is the biggest victim of this, his John Conner is left with virtually nothing of any importance to do and his performance is just plain flat. I’ve always thought he does a good job in any role he plays (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, American Psycho, The Prestige, Empire of the Sun, etc) but here he is just short changed. One cringe worthy moment has him quote the classic Arnie phrase “I’ll be back!” albeit in a completely different manner. I can sympathise with his much publicised on set outburst.

I think what made this film so weak was the script. It has very little emphasise on character, the plot isn’t going anywhere, it felt pointless and was merely just an excuse to show lots of explosions. In other words you might as well have sat and watch a mate play a computer game. Another problem was McG’s inability as a director to tell a story well.

It wasn’t a complete dead loss however. Some of the battle scenes have a real war like feel to them, one thing McG did do well. Anton Yelchin does a sufficient job as a teenage Kyle Reese and Arnie sort of makes a brief appearance at the end of the film.

Overall this film felt thoroughly pointless and can never be regarded in the same manner as any of the other terminator films, which is a shame really.

2 STARS