Review of Terminator Salvation (2009) by Cooper H — 28 Feb 2016

Sitting pretty in the centre of the smash-up style triangle somewhere between Mad Max, the Matrix and Transformers, Terminator salvation suffers from an obvious identity crisis. Unsubtly introducing McG's (Joseph McGinty Nichol) new gritty sepia visual direction for the franchise differs as much from James Cameron's original benchmark style as the pre to post apocalyptic settings.

The main mystery however is not the convoluted backwards-and-forwards narrative superstructure or the long-winded lecture on the twisted timeline which we all know is frankly the main basis for the franchise, but why does Christian Bale insist on taking roles in which he will be outshone?

Increasingly sidelined by his merely passable acting ability, Bale simply doesn't stack up against recent opposing leads. Heath Ledger (Dark Knight), Johnny Depp (Public Enemies) and now Sam Worthington with their effortlessly intense screen presence leaves Bale's performance look like a over-amplified parody of gruff masculinity.

The mythology of the terminator series has always been simple, the protectorate relationship from Sarah to John Connor, Man's misguided trust in technology and a direct threat from a single insubordinate cyborg (aka terminator).

However, in this new modern incantation the story has evolved and shifted focus. Jumping off from glimpses in earlier episodes, Salvation immerses itself in 2018's post-Judgment Day world and humanities fight to survive.

A condemned death row prisoner Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) willingly signs his body over to scientific research in 2003. However, when he suddenly awakens and emerges from an underground Syknet facility in 2018 only to find a barren post-apocalyptic wasteland he is driven for answers.

Marcus in his amnesiac vagabond state saunters into the middle of downtown LA coincidentally meeting up with a teenage (later-to-be sent back in time father of John Connor) resistance fighter Kyle Reece (Anton Yelchin). The accidental meeting becomes destined as Marcus just happens to fix an old fashioned radio the same evening the first broadcast is made to unite rogue resistance cells.

Although in previous episodes John Connor is preordained to become the "great military leader" of the resistance, in this time frame he is only the leader of his own resistance cell in the desert, following orders from a submarine command post.

Connor's obsessive devotion lies in protecting his heavily pregnant doctor wife Kate (Bryce Dallas Howard), finding the means for a final assault against to put and end to all terminators and locating his future father Kyle for safe transport back into the past (confused left).

This highly fan-based sequel sends numerous approving nods to its predecessors, blasting the Gunners 'You Could Be Mine' (entirely appropriate and smile inducing given where it appears) utilizing signature lines ("I'll be back" and "Come with me if you want to live"), the momentary appearance of a 1970's latex looking Schwarzenegger and tape recordings by Linda Hamilton.

The New generation of marauding demonic machines although tougher, smarter and more dangerous, their hugely overemphasised fire-power psychotic hatred of organic matter doesn't really sit with the previous layout. The skyscraper sized Harvesters, snazzy motobots, snake-like Hydrobots and soaring Hunter-Killers are wonderfully designed and executed though.

The Verdict: With the ushering in of McG, the age of primitive terminators is over. Although this is a good offering, a clearly defined and cohesive storyline is lacking, true actor chemistry, emotional empathy with the characters and the strength of a lead female. We can only hope like Cameron, McG exceeds current expectations with a killer sequel...

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 12/06/2009.