Terminator Salvation

There’s going to be a new Terminator movie? (Crowd applauds). It’s going to star Christian Bale? (Crowd applauds and cheers). It’s going to be directed by McG? (Crowd boos and throws rotten fruit). Well, the good news is, while this doesn’t hit the heights of the first two instalments (not that many thought it would) it certainly won’t have you feeling for that over-ripe banana either. Though this is a continuation of the on-going humans v robots storyline, you could pretty much enjoy this film as a one off without having a deep knowledge of the back story. There are plenty of references though for Terminator connoisseurs to enjoy and the numerous screenwriters (six is the rumour) try their best to steer clear of plot holes. McG himself handles the action sequences with a solid hand, with an absorbing truck chase being the major standout moment of the film. Sadly, the epithet of absorbing can’t be labelled to Bale as John Connor. No doubt the character of Connor has some serious weight on his shoulders, but Bale comes across as bored and fed up rather than conflicted and a genuine leader of the people. He also bookends the film, going missing for large sections in the middle. The acting honours though go to excellent performances from Sam Worthington, and continuing his recent good work (that accent in Star Trek aside), Anton Yelchin (as Kyle Reese). Worthington, as Marcus Wright (a hybrid human/robot) carries the film on his shoulders for a good portion of time, coming out with flying colours. Clearly a star in the making on this form. The one big let down with the film though is the 12A (PG-13) certificate. This is meant to be a Terminator movie, with the robots as lean mean killing machines, but without one on-screen human death (that I can recall), the film completely lacks menace (one robot is even taken down by a well aimed wheel wrench!) and suffers badly as a result. Though you can’t call this a re-boot as such, it does feel like a fresh beginning and with Bale apparently signed up for two more films, it’ll be interesting to see where the franchise goes next.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Some great effects and action sequences, along with Sam Worthington’s film stealing turn, mean you’ll be entertained in parts, but, despite the gloomy cinematography the film suffers from a lack of grit and a somewhat abrupt ending. Rating: 6/10.