Numerous attempts are made to make sure we know that this is a Terminator movie, by throwing in references and links to the past movies (well, except for the third one, which it almost completely ignores). But rather than smirking because you recognise something - a name, an object, a plot point - it just feels very forced and contrived. It tries too hard in that respect, with, for example, an appearance from a certain actor/politician not unfamiliar with the franchise being laughably ridiculous (they use CGI instead of the real guy... go figure why they did that). Okay, McG, we get it, this is a Terminator movie that's linked to the first two, there's no need to shove it in our faces left, right, and centre.
So although Terminator Salvation isn't a bad movie per se, not when it comes down to what it ultimately is - a summer action blockbuster - it nonetheless is riddled with problems. A lack of heart and soul leaves us with nothing but a movie about blowing stuff up. And some people may say that's okay, and in some ways it can be enjoyed for exactly that. But for it to have any weight to it, as the first and second movies did, it needs more than copious amounts of action and usage of every gun in the armoury. The world where man and machine are at war sure is a depressing place. I miss Arnie.
Article comments
1 - Dustin Lerch
I like the review man...and I agree with some of it but others I don't really agree with. But...that's the beauty of movies...not everyone is going to agree. I agree that Sam Worthington stole the show from everyone. I thought he was fantastic. But...for me...I got exactly what I wanted and expected out of Salvation. That's why I gave it such high regard. I got the storyline and the just of what's going on in the first two films. With this film I wanted to see the war...I wanted to see the battle between man and machine. I didn't need a great big storyline...I needed the action...the fighting...the blowing stuff up. That's what this movie for me was about...it was about the war. I will say something else to though...going back and re-watching the first 2 films after watching this helped me big time. It filled in so many gaps in the storyline. It had been a while since I had seen the first 2 films so a lot of the storyline I had forgotten...that was helped by re-watching the first two films. If it's been a while since you watched the first two films maybe it would help you too. It also put ideas in my head of what we may see in the film/films to come. Great review man...keep them coming