Reviews for May 21st, 2009
Terminator Salvation
Directed by McG.
During the post-apocalyptic world of 2018, John Connor (Christian Bale) leads the Resistance of humans against SKYNET, a network of thinking computers that has deemed humans as a threat to their existence, so they try to wipeout all of mankind. Connor happens to have psychic abilities, so he knows that he’ll be the one to save the human race in the future. He also knows that he has to find and save Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin), the younger version of his father, because of Kyle dies then, in turn, Connor wouldn’t exist. The plot also involves the plight of Marcus (Sam Worthington), a hybrid of human and machine, to figure out who’s responsible for turning him into a cyborg. Soon enough, Kyle along with his mute sidekick, Star (Jadagrace), and a few other survivors, such as Virginia, played by the miscast Jane Alexander, and, eventually, Blair (Moon Bloodgood), join Connor in the Resistance against the powerful forces of SKYNET. Director McG does a decent job of including some excitement and thrills thanks to the action-packed sequences filled with impressive CGI and loud sound effects. There are plenty of explosions and chases to be found here which endlessly entertain action fans who are very easy to please and willing to check their brain at the door. Everyone one else, though, especially those who expect some surprises and fresh material, will feel like they’re watching a run-of-mill action film interspersed by pseudo-intelligent babble and corny, lazy dialogue, written by co-writers John Brancato, Michael Ferris, that fails to enliven any of the characters, whether they’re human, machine or cyborg. At a running time of 116 minutes, Terminator Salvation suffers from style over substance. Its impressive CGI effects and editing make it look and sound great while providing some fleeting, visceral thrills and adrenaline-pumping excitement, but in terms of imagination and surprises, it falls flat and leaves you feeling underwhelmed, unless you’re a too easy-to-please action fan. Number of times I checked my watch: 3. Released by Warner Bros. Pictures. Opens nationwide. 
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