2009 has brought yet another sequel/reboot of a classic movie series. Two weeks after the return of Star Trek, McG brings the fourth installment of Terminator to the big screen. This one takes place in the year 2018 with John Connor (Christian Bale) in full Viva la Resistance mode. Connor is on two missions this time around, to destroy SkyNet and to find the whereabouts of Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin), who he must save so he can travel back to become his father circa the original Terminator movie. Causing a problem in all this is the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), whose last memory is of being on death row in 2003.

The Good:

Marcus and Kyle were the real stars of the movie. Whether it was from the acting or just the fact that they seemed to have most of the good lines and plot, these main players stole the movie for me. Oh ya, and there were the massive action scenes that blew me away as well. McG sure knows how to set up sets and then blow them up.

The Bad:

While I believe Christian Bale is a great actor and has put in some amazing performances, I did not find him a good fit for John Connor and he drew me away from the plot and action of the movie. Maybe it is from all the fatigue of him in big movies and controversy lately, but his performance was not believable.

Closing:

After Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, I thought the franchise had run it’s course and was not too excited to see a 4th installment. In contrast to that thud, Terminator Salvation is lively with huge explosions and action-packed scenes all over to keep the audience entertained. The story is believable and there are characters that give real emotions. This was one of the best movie-going experiences I’ve had of the year.

Runtime: 1 hr 55 min without trailers
Cast: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Common, and Moon Bloodgood
Genre: Action
Rated: PG-13
Final Verdict: See it with a big ol’ bag of popcorn

If you agree or disagree with my review, please feel free to leave comments.