Terminator Salvation (Thumb UP)
This week’s movie was McG’s “Terminator Salvation” starring Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Helena Bonham Carter, Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Michael Ironside, and a few surprise guest stars. I enjoyed it a lot. This is one that you have to see in the theater.
This was basically an all-out, ass-kicking action movie. Some great explosions and fights, some really cool giant robots (all the death-dealing hardware was really great), and just the tiniest bit of obligatory kvetching about time travel and possible paradoxes, but not enough to slow down the action. The entire movie was shot in a dark blue-gray palette that really added to the mood.
This is set in the same universe as all the other Terminator movies, but fast-forwards to 2018, when the war between the humans and the machines is in full swing. It includes the details of how John Connor comes to meet Kyle Reese, who ends up being his father in the original movie. There is also a new character, a convicted murderer who had willed his body to science in 2003, and woke up in the middle of the war wondering WTF is going on!
Be warned: this movie does NOT complete the Terminator saga! It sets up an obvious sequel, which in fact is already in production.
Christian Bale was serviceable as John Conner, but nothing special. It’s always nice to see Michael Ironside in an action movie. HBC was wasted, in my opinion, but then I always want to see more of her. And watch for Anton “Mr. Chekov” Yelchin who has mysteriously shed his accent!
