Rating of
1/4
Terminate Salvation
GeminiSixty6 - wrote on 05/21/09
Christian Bale: “Look, all of the stuff with my behavior and what people f—ing think of McG, none of that should matter a damn to anyone. They just want a damn good movie.” Christian you were absolutely correct when you said all of that, but unfortunately you, McG, and the whole damn film just fail to deliver.
I’m not sure if any other film out this Summer was more highly anticipated than Terminator Salvation. Just looking at the trailers the film looked like it was going to kick some major ass. Now I have learned the hard way that trailers aren’t always good indicators for awesome movies. Salvation is set in the year 2018, so it is post Judgment Day. The film follows John Connor (Christian Bale), the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row in the year 2003. So, this shouldn’t be much of a surprise since I’m sure most of you out there have seen the trailers for the film, but just in case one of you hasn’t this would be a good time to mention that this review will contain spoilers! Alright, so from the trailers one can gather that Marcus is a terminator (who didn’t see that coming right?). As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.
I’m going to be so blunt, forthright, and honest right here that it’s going to be scary. The film was pointless to me, doesn’t reveal anything new that’s worth wild, and what it does show us doesn’t pertain to the overall Terminator mythology. So Skynet builds Marcus to be this ultimate infiltrator terminator with one purpose, and one purpose only: To bring Connor right to them. Skynet accomplishes this by mixing Marcus’s brain and human heart into the body of the machine. Marcus wakes thinking he is still completely human, and believes this thru most of the film. Ok, so I get the fact that Marcus is suppose to be the ultimate infiltrator terminator, but wasn’t the point of Skynet building the terminators to eradicate the human race? So, why build one with a human heart and a human brain; One that is capable of thinking and feeling just like a human? Kinda defeats the purpose don’t ya think? Sure it infiltrates and accomplishes the mission, but then when it goes back to Skynet it is repaired, and given the outline for killing all of humanity. Clearly, any machine could see that Marcus was emotional and clearly conflicted with who or what he is; Skynet just pushes it over the edge, and lets it save the day basically. If I was Skynet I think I would have a fail safe switch.
Bale sucks as Connor, Worthington is a crappy terminator, Anton Yelchin is shit in every role I have seen him in, and Bryce Dallas Howard could have had more of a vital role. Moon Bloodgood was the only solid one I thought. When she is on screen she just demands the attention, and portrays survival very well. Too bad the Terminator franchise doesn’t look like it will survive the Summer. McG has managed to shoot himself in the foot with this one. Hell, Bale’s rant on the Internet is ten times more entertaining than this film was. I still can’t believe Jonathan Nolan and Paul Haggis had input on the script! What a waste….
Well, as you can probably already tell I hated the film, and when I do I usually go off on a rant about it. Sorry, but I am severely disappointed with Terminator Salvation. Part of me wished Skynet would have succeeded and that way no one could ruin this beloved franchise anymore. I don’t recommend this film, but if you are a Terminator fan as I am you will more than likely see it on the big screen. But, I give you fair warning....
