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Terminator: Salvation - A REVIEW!

James King | 16:58 UK time, Thursday, 4 June 2009


The fourth Terminator movie is not a disaster - a couple of chase scenes involving robot motorbikes admittedly verge on the breathtaking. But for a franchise that was once so groundbreaking, thought-provoking and just plain entertaining, this has now descended into a complicated mush of self-important misery.

Setting the pic in the future (2018) immediately makes the story less threatening than its largely contemporary counterparts and is the first mistake. Losing Arnie and his gigantic presence - which I know can't be helped thanks to his political career - is even bigger.

Christian Bale may be playing iconic rebel leader John Connor but he's hardly known for his dry wit like Big Arnie. You miss that kinda presence. Bale just scowls at the beginning and he scowls at the end. It's intense - but it's intense on autopilot.

The bitty storyline continues with Sam Worthington as Marcus, a tough guy awakening from secret surgery, struggling to find out exactly who he is. It's as much his movie as Bale's - a relief since Worthington is the only actor to have any real presence.

As the film lumbers towards the resistance attacking Cyberdene's machine HQ, things come together more, mainly thanks to explosions and fight scenes. But this is not a Terminator that makes you think. Or makes you smile. It's more The Matrix: Regurgitated, a bleak and confusing slice of mega-bucks budget theatrics with only its pyrotechnics to recommend it. 2 1/2 stars.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Hi i'am a fan of the Terminator films 1 and 2 anyway.I watched Salvation last night and thought that that it was very good and a step in the right direction for the films. There was a couple of parts that didn't need to happen but but alot more parts that were inkeeping with the original storyline all in all pretty good. lets face it what does James King know He likes high school musical and moma mia. From Sean Fitz

  • Comment number 2.

    I watched Terminator Salvation on Wednesday and even though it was miles apart from the third installment, it was not a patch on 1 or 2. CGI and visual effects were good but storyline let the film down for me. I liked the idea that it was set in the future and wanted it to be a dark film like when you see Kyle Reece's flashbacks of the war in Terminator 1. My biggest question without runing the film why would Termintors hold someone in a room and not just kill them, it didn't make sense?!?

  • Comment number 3.

    I have to completely disagree with James's review, I think this is very harsh, i watched this the other night and thought it was awesome, the effects were amazing, it was a great paced film that keeps you on your toes, yes it is dark at times but they are fighting a war, of course it will be! the acting is good especially Sam Worthington who is HOT! I really enjoyed it as did my boyfriend, definitely appears to both sexes!

    Unmissable!

  • Comment number 4.

    I haven't decided if I liked Terminator Salvation yet. I enjoyed it but there were one or two things that anoyed me whilst watching the film. 1. Its a war torn world where there is no food, no running water, no hygiene; so why then does every one have beautiful perfect white teeth??? (I know the answer is because that's Hollywood) 2. Where does all the ammunition come from? surely if the Robots and their creators are that clever they would stop the resistance getting their hands on bullets and bombs!
    I think as the first installment of an epic story, it is a great opener but as a one off there are too many characters to focus on. Who really is the film about? Instead of being called Salvation would In the Beginning have been more apt?
    There was no ambience in the theatre whilst the film was playing, the few of us who made the effort to see it were just watching a film, compared to Transformers, say, where the sounds, plot and cinematography grip and pull the audience into the action.

  • Comment number 5.

    terminator salvation thoughrally enjoyed the film. covered all the basis that every terminator fan was expecting,when the story got to this stage.
    there are a few bits i would have left out if i was directing, not gonna go into details cos i dont wanna spoil it for anyone.
    was disappointed in what james king said about this film, not rating this guy as a critic its getting to a point for me if he says its a bad film i'm gonna enjoy it, an vice versa. bit of advice james when your a critic you have to know and love everything about what your critisising. in this case film and story telling, an not money spinning.I agree with electricseanfitz momma mia and high school musical sucked ass an was just a cheap way of makin money.

  • Comment number 6.

    I watched Terminator Salvation last night and thought it was absolutely brilliant. I am a huge Terminator fan, for me Terminator 2 is the best of the series. Although Salvation isn't in the same league for me as the second one, i felt that they wrote this very well and still managed to stay true to the first two movies,there are quite a few nods to the first 2 which i was happy with which i won't spoil. The action scenes and special effects are breathtaking and i was glued to the screen throughout.I also think many critics were a bit harsh on Christian Bale as i think he does a great job as John Connor, even though in some scenes he still sounds like Batman. I give this film 4 stars.

  • Comment number 7.

    I have to say if you disagree with James' review then you are easy to please. You cannot have a movie with just action and absolutely no plot or character development whatsoever. Come the end of the movie I couldn't care less if anyone died. James was being generous. 1 or 2 stars at best. An insult to James Cameron. Awful movie.

  • Comment number 8.

    How can people rate this film as anything other than 1 star? i think james is being very generous. Its just so far from how a terminator film should be, 1 & 2 are the best sci-fi adction films of all time and this is film is an insult to the franchise. There are so may holes, there were parts that made me laugh at how ridiculous they were, i mean the ending? come on! was it intended to be a joke? i have no other explanation for it. Horrible screen play and script. C bale had this stupid tone of voice which made me crinch. If your havnt seen it yet, please save your money becuase i felt like i lost 2 hours of my life.

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