CHICAGO – McG [1]’s loud-and-annoying “Terminator: Salvation [2]” with Christian Bale [3] and Sam Worthington [4] continues the summer of non-Trek disappointments, delivering nothing but a bloated exercise in CGI overload. With awful dialogue, a ridiculous plot, and mostly uninspired performances, the interesting human element has been drained from the franchise. The machines have won.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

Like “Aliens” without Sigourney Weaver or the first two “Terminator” movies without Linda Hamilton, “Terminator: Salvation” forgets a cardinal rule of action cinema - writing human characters that the audience is going to care about. The entire movie plays like a video game tie-in to the original franchise. Sure, it may be fun at times and it looks good, but it doesn’t have nearly the impact as its source.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Terminator: Salvation” in our reviews section. [5]

The script from the writers of “Catwoman” and “Primeval” (the lame crocodile movie, not the cool BBC show), which really should have been a sign that the entire project was on thin ice to start, opens with the execution of a murderer named Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington). Before he gets his final injection, Wright signs over his body to the research of a dying scientist (Helena Bonham Carter [6]).

Many years later, the future has played out as expected and the war against the machines continues. If you’re not familiar with the mythology of the franchise, “Salvation” will not stand on its own in any way. You need to know the names Sarah Connor, John Connor, and Kyle Reese and the roles they play in this universe before you go in. Even “T3: Rise of the Machines” stays in the canonical fold with Bryce Dallas Howard [7] taking the role once played by Claire Danes, Kate Connor.

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Terminator: Salvation” review. [8]

(L-R) Christian Bale stars as John Connor and Sam Worthington stars as Marcus Wright.
Photo credit: WB/Richard Foreman