Trailer:

Since 1984, mother and machine have battled over the survival of future resistance leader John Connor in The Terminator, a modest-budget sci-fi flick which went on to gross US$38 million, almost 6 times production costs just in America alone. More than 2 decades since, and with 3 sequels, TV series and games inspired by the original, and finally with Terminator Salvation, this same John Connor owes followers of the franchise a huge debt of action and drama for making them wait till May 28, 2009 to catch a glimpse of the android uproar over the prophetic savior of mankind from total machine domination.

Sounds good? Well, unfortunately, this debt must be put off for yet a later sequel. A word of advice, potential viewers of this movie should read up on previous installments for faster orientation, as much knowledge is assumed, and come leaving any expectations of breath-taking action sequences at home. 

Christian Bale as John Connor, the passionate and unyielding leader of the human resistance forces plays his part professionally as a war-hardened and charismatic protagonist. But again, just as it was in The Dark Knight, a co-actor steals the limelight – this time, by Aussie Sam Worthington.

Sam Worthington plays Marcus Wright, a convict who is revived as a human-cyborg hybrid stricken by his conscience and filled with anguish at losing his physical humanity. This drama of emotions is stirring at points throughout the movie like when Marcus and John are staring at each other face to face, and Connor asks, “What are you?” The contrast between a machine with emotions and an impassive, battle-hardened protagonist is satisfying.

While the terminator franchise has so far been built around the survival of John Connor, this film goes the other way, centering around Marcus’ life instead. Action scenes are mediocre and don’t meet standards expected of a sci-fi film of this pedigree. However, due praise should be given for a scene where Blair Williams (Moon Bloodgood) and Marcus flee from the resistance base and have to evade heavy gunfire and shelling. That particular scene draws dramatic attention to the fragility and vulnerability of human life – illustrated by the many times cyborg and human have to run through the open, side by side and we cringe as they (well, mainly for Blair Williams) come under a hail of gunfire or as a rocket shrieks toward them.

Technical aspects – Sound is acceptable, saying so because after being desensitized by Iron Man and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, there’s nothing in this movie that is distinctive or worth special mentioning.

 We can appreciate the presence of child-actress Jadagrace Berry‘s Star – a mute and demure girl who has her moments in the film that usually center on simple acts of, say, passing a gun, or offering a plaster. These light touches to the film really induce an “awww” and lightens the mood for this ‘end-of-the-world’ themed film.

 Director McG, who headed films Charlie’s Angels and its Full Throttle sequel, will be returning to direct the next sequel in the Terminator franchise and promises the involvement of time-travel and the shape-melding T-1000 terminator.

For a film seeking to revive the franchise, Terminator Salvation desperately needs more visuals that stun and action that grip one to their seats. Compared to the likes of Transformers, this movie is sub-par and is disappointing for a franchise that previously made it big for its intense action and futuristic vision.

  

Rating: 3/5, if only for Sam Worthington

Release Date: 28 May
Rating: PG
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi
Running Time: 130 minutes
Starring: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Bryce Dallas Howard
Director: McG