Terminator: Salvation Needs Some Saving

Christian Bale seems to be everywhere these days. It is a prime example of quantity over quality. I used to adore Christian Bale in the Empire of the Sun days, but once he got older and became a primadonna I kind of lost interest. While watching Terminator Salvation, I kept trying to decide which scene was the one that he freaked out on that poor crew member. He probably should have saved that freak out on a more worthy performance, because this one was seriously lacking.
Terminator Salvation gives us an in depth look at the other world of Terminator. We see glimpses of it in the other films, but this is the first one that focuses primarily on the story of the resistance after Judgment Day. We see John Connor (a lack luster Bale) inspiring the humans and giving them hope and guidance. You would think that the plot line would revolve around him, but it actually focuses on Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a death row convict who donates his body to Dr. Serena Kogan (Helena Bonham Carter) to become a human machine hybrid. He is Skynet’s secret weapon against the resistance, but what they didn’t predict was that his human side would turn him to the powers of good. He is the only reason John Connor is successful in his mission and survives. Worthington gives an outstanding performance and far outshines Bale.

Another actor who stands out is Anton Yelchin as a teenaged Kyle Reese, John Conor’s father. After watching him as Chekov in Star Trek and now in Salvation, I am convinced that this kid is definitely someone to be watched. He very strongly channeled the adult Kyle Reese, played by Michael Biehn, in the first Terminator. I remember seeing him in Alpha Dog and crying my eyes out after he gets shot. Fantastic!
While the over all plot line of the film is great, there are a few things that don’t really fit. One is the strange love connection between Marcus and Blair Williams (Moon Bloodgood), a resistance fighter. I’m sure it’s meant to display the fact that Marcus is still part man, but it’s awkward. I also don’t understand why John Connor is under anyone. Why isn’t he the top dog? And why does General Ashdown (Michael Ironside) kick him out of the resistance at the end? It’s unnecessary drama. And why is his wife pregnant? Is it just because Bryce Dallas Howard was pregnant so they worked it in? Must be, because it really has no other purpose. In fact, there is no purpose for her character in this film at all. I’m a bit confused that Howard would take it, because she is far above playing Mrs. Connor. Maybe her character will be more important later on in other films.
When comparing Salvation to the first two films (T3 doesn’t exist in my mind), it falls a bit flat if only because of the lack of Shwarzenegger. The first two also have that fresh new feeling, and a cult standing. Not much beats Linda Hamilton kicking ass.
A failed attempt at reconnecting Salvation with the other Terminator films was a moment when, after being kicked out of the resistance club, John Connor leaves to take on his destined mission. Kate Connor (Howard) asks what she should tell his men, and he says…”I’ll be back”. Should’ve been great. We all should have been cheering in our seats. It’s too bad that Bale delivered it so blandly. I hardly caught it, and then it took me another minute to make the connection.
McG did a great job directing, however. The action scenes were very exciting and fulfilling. And bringing back a CGI of the Governor as the Terminator was hilarious. Everyone loved that. Looks like a T5 is in the works, so lets get ready for more awesome action, human/machine hand to hand combat (which is totally unrealistic because the machines would crush our little bones instantly), and Christian Bale…again.