Terminator's salvation is not its lead star

By Mike Fuksman (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-15 13:20

The Terminator movies have always been about humanity - or at least, the battle to preserve it. In the latest installation of the franchise, however, Christian Bale seems nearly as robotic as the monstrosities he is fighting.

Bale stars as John Connor, the future leader of a rebellion force that fights Skynet, a computer network bent on the destruction of the human race. Connor's survival was a key element in the three previous Terminator films but in Terminator Salvation, Bale's Connor takes unnecessary risks, all the while delivering his lines in a deadpan, lifeless manner. His brooding attitude just doesn't fit with the John Connor we know from the previous movies.

Despite this letdown, Salvation has a lot of high points. Anton Yelchin's turn as Kyle Reese is impressive, especially for such a young actor. His performance recalls the energy and determination of the Kyle Reese seen in the first Terminator movie, yet brings a new perspective to the role.

However, it's a character completely new to the series that really makes this movie. Marcus Wright, played by Sam Worthington, is neither man nor machine, but a strange composite of both. The subject of an experiment by the Cyberdyne Systems (the company responsible for the creation of Skynet), he is caught in the middle of the war between Skynet and the resistance.

Worthington provides muscular bravado, comedic relief and a human touch, often all in the same scene. If Bale had taken a note or two from Worthington, he might've created a character worth remembering.

The special effects (especially the sound) are really outstanding - this is a movie that was made to be seen in theaters, the sound effects jarring and intense. Everything from the whooping sound of the helicopter blades to the disorienting whiz of bullets flying past the characters' heads is presented in brilliant detail.

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