Terminator Salvation Review – Explosive Mix of Old and New
| Movie: Terminator Salvation * Trailer * | In Theaters: May 21, 2009 |
| Runtime: 130 minutes | Directed by: McG |
| MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and language. |  Gecko Rating: |
I love sequels that bring in lots of references from the preceding movies. “Terminator Salvation” does that, especially from the very first movie, “The Terminator.”
You remember the story: Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor meets Kyle Reese, who was sent back from the future to keep her safe from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s big, bad Terminator. In the process, Sarah and Kyle grow close, and she gets pregnant with John Connor, who later becomes the leader of the resistance movement against the machines and Skynet. John is also the one who sent Kyle back to protect Sarah – so that he could be born.
I don’t know that I’ve fully grasped the concept of the first three Terminator movies until now. And it’s because “Terminator Salvation” is told from the future point of view, whereas “The Terminator” was told from the current point of view (or at least, current when it was released in 1984).
In “Terminator” we see things from Sarah’s point of view. In “Terminator Salvation,” we see things from adult John’s point of view in 2018. By this time, Skynet has destroyed most of humanity in a nuclear holocaust, and John Connor (Christian Bale) is leading a group of survivors known as “The Resistance” to keep the machines from killing them, too, and completely taking over. John is married now, to Kate (Bryce Dallas Howard).
There’s yet another twist to the story, though, in the form of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a guy whose last memory was of being on death row years earlier. When he wakes up, it’s to a post-apocalyptic world where giant robots are killing people and the Earth is a wasteland. Think “Road Warrior,” only with robots.
Marcus meets up with Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) and a young mute girl named Star (Jadagrace). Reese jokingly tells Marcus that they’re the “L.A. Division” of the Resistance. On their way to find John Connor, Marcus connects with another Resistance fighter, Blair (Moon Bloodgood).
About the references, I won’t give too much away, but let’s just say that “Terminator Salvation” pays homage not only to Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, but also to the catch-phrase “I’ll be back,” among other things. Being a “Terminator” fan since the first movie, I was definitely geeked by all this.
As for the Terminators themselves, there are some really nasty new models we haven’t seen before. And like the T-800 and other models that came earlier, these new versions “will not stop” until their goal is accomplished (i.e. whomever they’re chasing is either dead or captured). To that end, we get plenty of chase scenes, explosions, and hand-to-hand combat.
If you’re a Terminator fan, or a science fiction/robot movie fan, you should definitely check out “Terminator Salvation.” It’s intense, action-packed, and a nice segue into a reboot for the franchise. I predict more movies will follow.
The only reason I gave it four out of five geckos is because some of the lines were a little cheesy, and the ending was a little cliche.
Note to Parents: As you might imagine, this movie is chock full of action and violence, including explosions, gunfire, chase scenes, shootings, and stabbings. Wounded and mutilated humans are shown, though there’s not a ton of blood. Language includes “hell” and “damn,” as well as one “f**k” and a few “sh*ts.” The overall good-vs-evil message is positive, and I’d say it’s fine for kids 14 and older who aren’t bothered by all of that.
Video Interviews with Moon Bloodgood and Christian Bale, 53 Images, Interview with Michael Papajohn, 4-Minute Trailer, 3rd Official Trailer
Photo Credits: TM and (c) 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
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Christian Bale, Sam Worthington at the L.A. Premiere of Terminator Salvation
“Terminator Salvation” hits theaters next Friday, May 21, 2009, but the stars came out in full force at the red carpet premiere in Los Angeles
Christian Bale forced rewrite of Terminator Salvation
Well, geez, talk about being too big for your britches. Apparently, when director McG (a.k.a. Joseph McGinty Nichol) went to England to convince Christian Bale to play Marcus Wright in “Terminator Salvation,” the actor said he wanted to play John Connor instead.
While Connor was the main character in the first three “Terminator” movies, he was only supposed to have a small part in the fourth “Terminator” film, due in theaters May 21, 2009 (watch the trailer here). Instead, Connor became a central character. McG says the script became a “moving target,” and he worked extensively with Bale to work the character into the movie.
“A lot of the work was integrating (Connor) into scenes … and having that feel integral and sensible, as opposed to grafted on just because there was a star in the part,” says screenwriter John Brancato.
Originally, the main character was going to be Marcus Wright (played by Aussie actor Sam Worthington), an executed death row inmate who donates his body to science and is resurrected after machines take over the world by unleashing a nuclear holocaust on mankind. Now both Connor and Wright are equally important in the movie.
Bale had input in the casting of Worthington, as well. “There’s a benefit of currently a lot of people in the States not being familiar with him, and so you can really enjoy that performance that much more,” notes Bale. “He’s got so many movies that are going to be coming out, because many other people have realized that he’s bloody good.”
Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, TM and (c) 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Tags: christian bale, christian bale gossip, Film, john connor, joseph mcginty nichol, marcus wright, mcg, Movies, sam worthington, sci-fi movies, terminator movies, terminator salvation
Terminator Salvation – 3rd Official Trailer
“If you are listening to this, you are the resistance.” – John Connor
Mark it on your calendar: May 21, 2009 is the release date for “Terminator Salvation.” Aside from “Star Trek,” which opens next week, this is the movie I’ve really been looking forward to since last year. It stars Christian Bale as the legendary John Connor, leader of the resistance when Terminators take over the earth. Also stars Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Moon Bloodgood and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Photo Credit: TM and (c) 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc
Tags: anton yelchin, bryce dallas howard, christian bale, Film, john connor, moon bloodgood, Movies, sam worthington, sci-fi movies, terminator, terminator salvation, terminator salvation trailer
