Terminator: Salvation

By its very definition, salvation implies saving from harm, but there is little salvation for movie-goers this weekend. In its fourth time around, the franchise made credible by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Cameron is resurrected with a pair of fresh faces, and a director who is holding his breath for an A-list action nod after the joke that is his resume, and his name.

McG introduces us to the adult John Connor, the enigmatic leader of the resistance against the machines in the near future in the form of Christian Bale. A remarkable upgrade over Edward Furlong and Nick Stahl, but not quite fitting of the moniker and here's why: John Connor has always been a savvy and strong character, yet physically weak and vulnerable. He never was supposed to be the macho, physically dominant brute that Bale brings to the film. Frankly, Bale lacks personality as he did in the Batman movies, and drops a few notches in my book as an actor.

I am reminded of the Matrix in many ways, only without the intrigue aspect of the film and the innovative story that captivated sci-fi audiences; There is the post-apocalyptic gloom, where machines are the dominant "species" and the humans are fighting for territory and authority. The first couple of Terminator movies were so much more original, and set in a modern day world, there was more at risk, and therefore more emotional investment.

This film tries to jump start a visual-effects heavy trilogy but fails to get off the ground as there is no compelling storyline to drive the drama. The world is a forsaken landscape of desolation, yet somehow these disconnected pockets of resistance are all synced in strategy and abundant resources and military training? I don't buy it for a minute.

The second character is the "mysterious" Marcus Wright. I use the quotations because the mystery is shattered via the previews as well as the first 10 minutes of the film. Had this line of intrigue been preserved, the climax may have been a little more fulfilling.

McG is really hoping to capitalize on this film, and he very well may, but it is not deserved. He has some large project lined up in the next few years, but I would be surprised if this franchise makes it to the third in the trilogy. He is simply not very good, and therefore neither is this movie.

Anton Yelchin, a young promising actor is both miscast and awful as Connor's father, Kyle Reese. The rest of the cast is simply average. Sam Worthington's Marcus Wright is the brightest spot among the group, and he will jump to stardom in this December's Avatar. He has the rough look of the next Russell Crowe, and plays off of Christian Bale brilliantly.

The film has many tragic flaws. First is the dialogue - simply shallow and cheesy. The second is the lack of logic. If all of human civilization depends on the survival of two individuals, why don't the machines just kill them when given the chance? It is beyond absurd. Finally, and this is the most tragic thing of all - the previews make the movie look good. Great music, edits and just the right amount of action. Unfortunately, the film is relegated to the depths of disappointing blockbusters.

The various homages to the originals are out of place and misguided. This film has the same type of renewal energy that the new Star Trek does, but this new Terminator franchise has been kicked off with simply bad film making. 5/10.