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.
Tags: anton yelchin, arnold schwarzenegger, christian bale, Film, jadagrace, jane alexander, john connor, linda hamilton, mcg, michael papajohn, moon bloodgood, Movies, robot movies, sam worthington, sarah connor, sci-fi movies, skynet, terminator movies, terminator salvation, terminator salvation review
Terminator Salvation Videos: Moon Bloodgood, Christian Bale, and Animatronics
“Terminator Salvation” hits theaters Thursday, May 21, 2009 (today!). And it’s definitely one of the most anticipated movies of 2009. HitFix.com has a bunch of cool videos of interviews and behind-the-scenes stuff. I’ve included a few below. I always expect Christian Bale to haul off and hit someone. That’s bad typecasting on my part, but you’ve gotta admit, he does seem pretty intense. Are you super-psyched for this movie?
Christian Bale:
Moon Bloodgood and Common:
Sam Worthington:
John Rosengrant – Animatronics:
McG, Director of “Terminator Salvation”:
Tags: terminator movies, terminator salvation, watch terminator salvation
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
Exclusive: Interview with Michael Papajohn of Terminator Salvation and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Michael Papajohn is one of the hardest working guys in Hollywood, but his road to Tinseltown actually started on the college sports fields. When a stunt job landed in his path, it changed his life forever.
Read on to learn more about Papajohn’s pivotal role in helping Peter Parker become Spider-Man, what it’s like to duke it out with Bruce Willis, and his roles in some of the hottest movies this year, including “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Terminator Salvation,” “Land of the Lost,” “G-Force,” and “Old Dogs.” Oh, and why he just might have to kill me!
Jane: You were drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1985, but chose instead to attend Louisiana State University on a baseball scholarship, playing starting center-fielder on the first LSU team to go to the College World Series in 1986 and 1987. What was it like going from the world of sports to the world of film and TV, doing stunts and acting? “Long strange trip” keeps popping into my head, but you’ve really had an awesome, interesting career.
Michael: I remember when I would make a great defensive play or have a great at bat in baseball, I would get a high. Then when I had an opportunity to do stunts, I got that same high on the set. When I had my first acting class, I was in a scene and the situation my character was in felt so real to me, and I got the same high. Right then, I knew I wanted to be an actor.
Jane: Your first movie was as a stunt double for Dennis Quaid in 1988’s “Everybody’s All-American.” Had you thought about working in the film and TV industry prior to that?
Michael: That was my first film experience. It was a life-changing event. Not only did I double Dennis Quaid, I also got to work with some of the top Hollywood stunt men in the business. That film experience, “Everybody’s All American,” led me to my first speaking line with John Goodman, which then lead to my getting a SAG card, which lead to my close connection to the director, Taylor Hackford, who really encouraged me to pursue this as a career.
Jane: You played the pivotal role of “the carjacker” in 2002’s “Spider-Man.” What’s it like being the character who ultimately led Peter Parker to become Spider-Man? (And I think this applies to your character, too: “With great power comes great responsibility.” 
Michael: It was awesome playing that part. The director, Sam Raimi, had me in mind for the part because he knew me from our work on “For Love of The Game.” It was really exciting playing that character. I remember being on the set for the first day. I was so nervous, and I remember doing my first rehearsal in front of the camera and hearing Sam Raimi yelling from across the set from his director’s chair, “Papajohn, I’m so excited you’re playing this role.” It made me feel great, but I was still a bit nervous, so I just used that edge for the character.
Jane: You have some amazing movies coming up this year: “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Terminator Salvation,” “Land of the Lost,” “G-Force,” and “Old Dogs.” Are you like the hardest working guy in show biz or what? Do you ever sleep?
Michael: I really enjoy working hard. The whole business excites me. Being an actor/filmmaker, I love the atmosphere on a set. It feels like family. Hey, I only die in one out of the four films, so that’s pretty exciting. Who needs sleep?
Jane: You’re the Lead Stunt Double in “Old Dogs,” but have acting roles in the rest of those films. Are you moving out of stunt work and doing more acting (because I would imagine stunt guys eventually have to move into something else, right? Before the body completely breaks down?)
Michael: When I was working on “The Waterboy,” stunt doubling Adam Sandler, I knew on that set that I really wanted to start focusing more on my acting. I just knew in my heart that I wanted to go more into the acting direction. I still enjoy stunt work, and I just worked on “Old Dogs” with John Travolta as his stunt double for select scenes, and that was great. So, I enjoy stunt work when it involves playing a role. 
Jane: Tell us about your role in “Terminator Salvation.” Do you have scenes with Christian Bale? I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask: Is he as intense in person as he always seems on-screen?
Michael: I can’t tell you if I have scenes with him, because I’d have to kill you… As far as him being intense, when he first walked in the make-up trailer, that was the first time I actually saw him on set. He was in full wardrobe, and I said to myself… Man, he’s ready to go to war!
Jane: Talk a little about “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” How does your character of Cal play into the storyline?
Michael: I was excited to play that role because there was such a great back-story coming in. Megan Fox talks a lot about my character in the previous film, so in this film … well … all I can say is … we have a very, very close relationship.
Jane: “G-Force” looks like the cutest movie ever made, and you play an FBI Techie in that movie. Seems like quite the genre switch for you after doing mainly action flicks. How did your role in G-Force come about? Is it considered an action film?
Michael: It’s a Bruckheimer film, so trust me, there will be action. As far as a genre switch, it was refreshing. I got to play a good guy. I didn’t kill anyone or get killed.
Jane: You did stunts in “Live Free or Die Hard.” Please tell me you were involved in the stunt where Bruce Willis jumped out of the semi and ended up on the top of the fighter jet. That was an awesome stunt! Was it mainly computer-generated, and if not, how the heck was it filmed?
Michael: I actually had an acting part in the film. I wasn’t in that particular scene, but I went toe to toe with Bruce Willis. So it was just me and Bruce Willis in an intense fight scene, and I had the best of him until he shot me in the foot and then four times in the chest, so I guess he got the best of me.
Jane: I see where Bruce Willis has three action films coming up. Did he have his bones injected with adamantium like Wolverine, and if not, how does he keep doing these intense action flicks?
Michael: I loved working with Bruce Willis. He’s intense and professional and always had the crew laughing.
Jane: What’s it like for you as a stunt guy, going to work every day knowing you could end up with broken bones or a head injury or something? I mean, it must take a certain kind of person to do that work year in and year out.
Michael: Having an athletic background … you prepare … you show up … and do your job the best you can. When I’m working I always remember what Bear Bryant used to say, “Expect the unexpected.”
Jane: What’s the most dangerous stunt you’ve ever done?
Michael: The most dangerous stunt I ever did was on “The Waterboy” doubling Adam Sandler. I was sitting on top of an air-boat, going 30 – 40 mph on a lake, I hit land and the boat went air born with me holding onto the arm of the chair and no seat belt. I almost lost my grip, flying off it. Thankfully, I was able to hold on. But that was a close one.
Jane: What’s the most difficult stunt you’ve ever done?
Michael: In “Spider-Man,” when I trip out the window backwards to my death, I couldn’t look where I was falling. I just had to trust that I would fall on the pad correctly. That was a tough but great scene.
Jane: What’s the stunt you WISH you’d never done?
Michael: My first commercial in Los Angeles. It was hot in the valley that day, and I was doubling an actor wearing a fat suit. I ran into a goal post head first, 29 times. After 13 times I couldn’t count anymore, but I told the wardrobe guy to count for me, because every time I’d hit the goal post, they would pay me $100. And the director was yelling at me from his tall tower through a megaphone, “Use your head more!!!” It got so bad — I was overheating, two black eyes, head swollen — that the head guy from the wardrobe department stopped everything, checked my blood pressure, and then yelled out to the set, “It’s a wrap!!!” That’s the first set I’ve been on where wardrobe called “wrap.”
Jane: And I must ask about ending up in the emergency room after being kicked by Cameron Diaz in stiletto boots while filming “Charlie’s Angels.” How did you explain that to the docs and domestic violence people there, and does Cameron still send you flowers on the anniversary of the event? (If not, she should!)
Michael: Cameron Diaz is off the hook. This was actually a fake leg and fake foot with a stiletto shoe on it for close ups that caused the trip to the ER. Once the ER staff got the true story about the shoot schedule (1 AM) they realized I wasn’t drunk, just tired from a night shoot.
Jane: Anything else you’d like to add?
Michael: When I first worked with the director, McG on “Charlie’s Angels,” right before the first take he came up to me and said, “Hey Papajohn, have fun, film lasts forever.” I’ve never forgotten that, and when I saw him again in New Mexico on the set of “Terminator Salvation,” I told him how much that thought stays with me.
Michael Papajohn and Chris Rock in “The Longest Yard”
Michael Papajohn in “The Longest Yard”
Michael Papajohn and Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Eraser”
Photos: Michael Papajohn; Buena Vista Pictures; Paramount Pictures; Columbia Pictures
Tags: actor interviews, actors, Film, g-force, g-force movie, michael papajohn interview, Movies, spider-man, terminator salvation,the waterboy, transformers revenge of the fallen
53 Images from Terminator Salvation
“Terminator Salvation” hits theaters Thursday, May 21, 2009, and Warner Bros. has released a bunch of cool images from the movie, which continues the saga of John Connor’s (Christian Bale) war against the robots. Go here for a 4-minute extended trailer and synopsis. Looking forward to this one!
Photo Credits: TM and (c) 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Tags: christian bale, Film, mcg, moon bloodgood, Movies, robot movies, sam worthington, sci-fi movies, terminator movies, terminator salvation, terminator salvation photos
New 4-minute trailer for Terminator Salvation
“Terminator Salvation” opens May 21, 2009, and Warner Bros. is ramping up the promotional stuff big-time. They’ve just released this 4-minute trailer, and it looks pretty awesome. Maybe having Christian Bale force a rewrite of the script wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
Directed by McG, “Terminator Salvation” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and language. I bet this is one of those films that could easily have been rated R, but the filmmakers probably cut back so parents wouldn’t be so edgy about their young teens seeing it.
Here’s the official synopsis of “Terminator Salvation” from Warner Bros.:
The year is 2018.
Judgment Day has come and gone, leveling modern civilization. An army of Terminators roams the post-apocalyptic landscape, killing or collecting humans where they hide in the desolate cities and deserts. But small groups of survivors have organized into a Resistance, hiding in underground bunkers and striking when they can against an enemy force that vastly outnumbers them.
Controlling the Terminators is the artificial intelligence network Skynet, which became self-aware 14 years earlier and, in the blink of an eye, turned on its creators, unleashing nuclear annihilation on an unsuspecting world.
Only one man saw Judgment Day coming. One man, whose destiny has always been intertwined with the fate of human existence: John Connor (Christian Bale).
Now the world is on the brink of the future that Connor has been warned about all his life. But something totally new has shaken his belief that humanity stands a chance of winning this war: the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger from the past whose last memory is of being on death row before awakening in this strange, new world.
Connor must decide whether Marcus can be trusted. But as Skynet adapts new strategies to end the Resistance forever, Connor and Marcus must find common ground to take a stand against the onslaught–to infiltrate Skynet and meet the enemy head-on.
Tags: christian bale, Film, mcg, moon bloodgood, Movies, robot movies, sam worthington, sci-fi movies, terminator movies, terminator salvation, terminator salvation photos
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
Dwayne Johnson cast in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Tough guy with a heart-of-gold Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is continuing his association with Disney by being the first actor cast in the reboot of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” Directed by McG and produced by Sam Raimi, it’s set for a 2010 release.
Hmmm, interesting because I read earlier this year that Will Smith was in contention for the movie. Seeing as there are two main leads – Captain Nemo and Ned Land – there’s still room for Smith in there. We don’t know which role Johnson has, but it seems like maybe he’d be Land and, if cast, Smith would be Nemo…? Any predictions there?
The plot, as unveiled by Disney: “A fugitive whaler teams up with a naturalist, a mysterious woman, and a captain of a futuristic submarine, to search for a lost underwater civilization that holds libraries of vast knowledge and a weapon with the power to destroy mankind.”
And way to go, McG! From “Terminator Salvation” to “20,000 Leagues” … I’m sure he can use a little lighter fare after the intensity of “Terminator.”
Image: PR Photos
Tags: 20000 Leagues under the sea, captain nemo, disney, disney movies, dwayne johnson, Film, jules verne, mcg, Movies, sam raimi, terminator salvation, the rock, will smith
