Terminator: Salvation

This latest installment of the Terminator series is as bleak and joyless as the futuristic vision depicted in the film itself. In short, no heart, no soul, and most of all.....no fun. John Connor, in spite of all the efforts of the Terminator machines has managed to make it to adulthood, and to become a leader of the human resistance against the machines. Connor, as played by Christian BaleChristian Bale with his Batman growl is actually more machine-like than human, and a little humor and/or personality development would have helped. OK, he's had a pretty hard life up to this point what with being hunted by killing machines, his parents dying, never getting a chance to wash, but even Arnold, when playing a machine acted more human. Actually the problem with the film is that there are no real characters in the film, just people shooting, blowing stuff up, or barking orders. For a series with this pedigree, it's just not enough. Sam Worthington plays Marcus Wright, a part human, part machine Terminator prototype, and he's the best thing in a mediocre film, and pretty much the closest thing to a developed character. Arnold does show up late in the film, albeit in a computer generated form, and it was kind of a low level highlight. If you're smart you "won't be back" for this installment.

Rating - 2 Stars