And so the world’s most eagerly awaited sequel has finally hit the screens. But was it really worth the wait? One thing that has to be remembered about the Terminator franchise is that it is endlessly complicated. People go forward and back in time as though they have their own personal DeLorians. Terminators start off as human murdering, bike and jacket stealing uber robots and come back as protectors. The fourth instalment of the tale of the ghost in the machine (Skynet) and those trying to bring it down (the resistance/ John Conner) is no less complicated. However, it does hold well with the original time line, so hard core fans will not be left agitated and screaming death to McG. (Though it has been remarked that the T 800 is seen being built 9 years too early. But I wouldn’t know anything about that and I’ve seen all of the Terminator films.)
Visually he’s done an amazing job. It cannot be stressed enough how amazing the robots, or machines, are. When chasing pesky humans or just generally milling around, they whirl and move as though they were props in the latest urban ballet. This fluidity of movement does not mean that they are pansies though. They make a lot of noise. The landscape ripples with the force of their existence and ears need to be covered when they’re on the warpath.
So what of the story? It’s pretty good. Skynet develops its very own fly in the ointment in the form of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) a death row inmate who donates his body to medical science before being executed. Without giving too much away, what Marcus goes through when trying to come to grips with why he is alive years after he’s been executed and what his new purpose is; can be read as a treatise on the nature of humanity. On the other hand, as with all films there has to be a downside and what Terminator: Salvation lacks is a clear engagement with a lead character. Much of the story splits its time between John Connor’s (Christian Bale) eternal quest to take out Skynet and Marcus’ quest to find himself. As a result it is unsure who is the main focus of the story. Christian Bale as John Conner also seems to be a bit miscast, more Batman takes on the robots than anything else.
Even with the negatives Terminator Salvation is a good film. Enough action film to keep fans of blow ‘em ups happy and just enough science fiction to keep the computer nerds discussing the possibility of machines taking over the world for years to come. Even better this isn’t just one for the boys, the presence of Christian Bale and new hot boy Sam Worthington are enough to keep any girl more than occupied for two hours. Man versus machine has never been as fun, or as goddamned handsome.
Visually he’s done an amazing job. It cannot be stressed enough how amazing the robots, or machines, are. When chasing pesky humans or just generally milling around, they whirl and move as though they were props in the latest urban ballet. This fluidity of movement does not mean that they are pansies though. They make a lot of noise. The landscape ripples with the force of their existence and ears need to be covered when they’re on the warpath.
So what of the story? It’s pretty good. Skynet develops its very own fly in the ointment in the form of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) a death row inmate who donates his body to medical science before being executed. Without giving too much away, what Marcus goes through when trying to come to grips with why he is alive years after he’s been executed and what his new purpose is; can be read as a treatise on the nature of humanity. On the other hand, as with all films there has to be a downside and what Terminator: Salvation lacks is a clear engagement with a lead character. Much of the story splits its time between John Connor’s (Christian Bale) eternal quest to take out Skynet and Marcus’ quest to find himself. As a result it is unsure who is the main focus of the story. Christian Bale as John Conner also seems to be a bit miscast, more Batman takes on the robots than anything else.
Even with the negatives Terminator Salvation is a good film. Enough action film to keep fans of blow ‘em ups happy and just enough science fiction to keep the computer nerds discussing the possibility of machines taking over the world for years to come. Even better this isn’t just one for the boys, the presence of Christian Bale and new hot boy Sam Worthington are enough to keep any girl more than occupied for two hours. Man versus machine has never been as fun, or as goddamned handsome.
By R.M
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