Terminator Salvation

A new trend seems to be developing in Hollywood, well, not really all that new but it has become noteworthy; resurrecting action franchises. Indiana Jones came out of retirement to pick up his whip and hat for another adventure while John McClane charged back into the fray for another fight against terrorist. These characters were only flesh and blood; subject to the ravages of time. It is only natural that a killer cybog from the future should want to get in on the new box office by waging another battle against humanity. The result is the latest franchise that can’t die’ ‘Terminator Salvation’. Many fan counted this franchise down and out after the lackluster reception for the third movie and the ill fated attempt to migrate the story line over to a weekly television series. Like the unstoppable killing machines at the center of the story this franchise just keeps getting knocked down but keeps getting back up. At this point the timeline has been rebooted more frequently that a Wintel desktop and fans remain loyal to the cause. Concurrent to the release of the film is yet another fast paced violence oriented video game. This installment of the saga makes every effort to return to a story line instead of just mindless action. This film also endeavors to rekindle fan interest by concentrating on a part of the time line was many of the elements vital to the core story are originated. Unfortunately, the magic ingredient required by this franchise resides in the talents of Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger. No incarnation of the tale that does not combine their talents seems doomed and this film just provides further proof of that proposition. This may be the final rise of the machines and diehard fans will want it if only for completeness.

Directing this flick is McG who made his film directorial mark with the ‘Charlie's Angels’ flicks. Aside from that he has returned to his music video roots adding several pop culture oriented prime time teen soap operas. This may help explain one of the major faults in the movie. While McG is extremely accomplished and respected in his type of material, pure action movies and music videos are not exactly known for stressing content and when you think about it in those particular venues stories are not the most important element of the production. With that in mind the movie can be said to succeed as a big budget pop corn flick well suited for an afternoon with the guys or movie night at home, just keep in mind the flick was rated ‘R’ for violence and the Director’s cut included in the Blu-ray version goes beyond that so wait for the younger family members to visit Grandma. Also keep in mind the film is extremely laud and will give your home theater audio system a true work out. In fact this is a movie that will become your go to source to show off your high def system to your friends.

One of the details that fans have been clamoring to have revealed is just how the Terminators came into existence. This movie does afford a scaffold to relate the desired information. Back in 2003 research scientist Doctor Serena Kogan (Helena Bonham Carter) is working for Cyberdyne Systems trying to create a working cybernetic organism; part human, part machine. She recruits an inmate on death row, Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) who signs away his body for use in her experiments. A year passes after his execution by the State and Skynet activates initiating Judgment Day wiping out most of humanity. John Connor (Christian Bale) rises as a leader of the meager resistance movement. John comes out of hiding and returns to the center of the resistance by means of a captured nuclear submarine which does tie in to the television series. Meanwhile, Skynet needs a more efficient way of uncovering and exterminating the last remnant of mankind. They use the bodies of human prisoners to create the line of Terminators. Wright eventually survives an explosion eventually help John fight the machines. Don’t expect a lot of exposition other than the superficial amount offered. As far as acting goes Bale is stuck in one emotional state; unbridled rage requiring little more than him shouting at the top of his lungs for the majority of his screen time.

Posted 12/03/09