Terminator:Salvation (Rhoades)

“Terminator” May Not Be the End

Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades

No, Ar-nold is not here in “Terminator Salvation,” the fourth movie in the series about machines from the future attacking earth. Arnold Schwarzenegger is busy trying to save California – rather than the planet earth.

“Terminator Salvation” is currently playing at the Tropic Cinema.

In this one, Sarah Connor’s son John is all grown up – apparently morphing from geeky Edward Furlong of “Terminator 2” to handsome Christian Bale of “The Dark Knight” fame.

Following humankind’s near extermination by a nuclear holocaust, John Connors leads a band of survivors who are determined to fight off Skynet’s machines. But the appearance of a stranger named Marcus Wright (played by Sam Worthington) changes the rules of engagement.

Is Marcus a human? Or a cybernetic organism?

While I was technically correct about Arnold not reprising his Terminator role, you in fact will see him. His face was digitally superimposed onto Roland Kickinger’s T-800 Terminator body. Kickinger has the creds for this stand-in assignment, having portrayed Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2005 TV biopic “See Arnold Run.”

Other familiar faces in “Terminator Salvation” include Helen Bonham Carter, Jane Alexander, and Michael Ironside. Plus Bryce Dallas Howard (director Ron Howard’s daughter) takes over Clair Danes’ original role.

McG (“Charlie’s Angels”) is not quite the director that King of the World James Cameron is. Cameron’s first two films in the series are sci-fi classics. Nonetheless, with McG’s version you’ll get plenty of action and S/FX, for moviemaking techniques keep advancing at lightning speed.

Still, flash doesn’t trump substance.

The tagline for “Terminator Salvation” is “The end begins.” Wish I could believe this about a movie franchise that has run its course. But I predict this is more likely a new beginning.

srhoades@aol.com
[from Solares Hill]