Terminator: Salvation (2009)

2.0

SCIENCE FICTION/ACTION
U.S. Release Date: 05/21/2009
Running Length: 115 Minutes
MPAA Classification: PG-13 (Violence, Profanity)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Cast: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Helena Bonham Carter, Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common, Jane Alexander, Michael Ironside
Director: McG
Screenplay: John Brancato & Michael Ferris
Cinematography: Shane Hurlbut
Music: Danny Elfman
U.S. Distributor: Warner Bros.

Review by: Carter Moulton

05/20/09

“Stay the course.” “Take me to command.” “Evacuate aircraft now.” Terminator: Salvation is filled of these clichéd military phrases. Cross off all of the orders and commands from the film’s screenplay and you’ll find the vague remains of an undeveloped idea—not too surprising, seeing as this is the fourth installment of a franchise that began in 1984.

Christian Bale, who flipped out on the director of photography while filming this movie—claiming that the DP was “trashing his lights” and “trashing his scene” (search Youtube)—isn’t given much to work with as John Connor, the supposed savior of humankind who will lead the human resistance to victory over the machines. It’s the classic “technology versus human” battle, but while the previous “Terminator” films all involved machines, called cyborgs and terminators (Arnold Schwarzenegger), traveling through time to kill John Connor and humans traveling through time to protect John Connor, this chapter involves little time travel, making it easy for newcomers to jump onto the human-machine battlefield—but also making Terminator: Salvation feel rather un-Terminator-like; more like generic, already-explored sci-fi territory.

Photo © Warner Bros.

Sam Worthington gets a large chunk of screen time as Marcus Wright. Marcus has a secret of his own, obvious as it may be. He’s a machine with a human heart—don’t worry, if you’ve seen the trailer you already know this. The film’s concept is strikingly similar to Blade in that both stories are based around the a hybrid character of sorts, a half-human-half-enemy. Throughout the film we are left pondering Marcus Wright’s true intentions, and there are numerous plot holes for us to fall into—I’ll let you discover their depth for yourself. Worthington does an acceptable job with the role. Bale’s Connor is put on the backburner when it comes to screen time, and his dialogue is harsh and cold—he seems more like a machine than a man.

And that’s where Terminator: Salvation has the most trouble: it asks us to care about humankind but provides us with characters and dialogue as frosty as ice-draped steel. The only glimmer of emotion comes from the youthful energy of Anton Yelchin—who also does a fantastic job in Star Trek, in theaters now—as Kyle Reese, John Connor’s father. The film takes place in 2018, and Reese is younger than his son at this point in time. Connor’s struggle to save his rebellious teenage father from the machines and Wright’s struggle to choose his destiny are the two main storylines that intersect all-too-perfectly at the end with a conclusion that is rushed and feeble.

The fragments of a solid story are in place, but they seem unripened and unfocused. With intentions of bringing in capital, perhaps the storyline is merely a setup to allow director McG to splurge on special effects and action scenes. And, luckily, McG’s idea of a “Terminator” film supplies no shortage of eye-popping material. In true summer blockbuster form, the film’s action pieces are top-notch, and McG is excellent at capturing the chaos of chase-and-combat situations, using imaginative angles and long takes to his advantage.

One particular chase scene on a bridge is worth applauding for. But even as this scene played out, I found myself laughing out loud at its conclusion—a reaction I assume to be unintended by McG and company. As Marcus Wright jumps out of an exploding vehicle and off-screen into a lake below, he holds an axe over his head in a most barbaric of positions and lets out a pitiful shriek: it’s one of the most unintentionally funny moments I’ve had at the movies in a long time. If you want mindless action and enjoy laughing at the ludicrous moments that only motion pictures can conjure, Terminator: Salvation will provide a passable time at the movies; however, if you’re wondering how good a twenty-five-years-after-the-fact fourth installment can be—one that disposes of its iconic actor (Schwarzenegger)—your gut is telling you the truth.