RELEASE DATE: 01/12/09 | WHERE TO BUY | WEBSITE | DVD One Disc Edition

MCG had a hard time in front of him creating a sequel to one of Sci-Fi's greatest film franchise (Terminator 3 not withstanding). James Cameron's first two films are a blueprint for Action Scifi movies and although not perfect each has it's classic moments.

Going San's Arnie was a also a big decision to make but perhaps the best one - considering old Schwarzennegar age etc.. you know apart from the new wibbly wobbly CGI arnie we get, which doesn't look too bad and bodes well for future CGI actors.

Despite the headlining of Christian Bale as John Connor - it's actually Sam Worthington's Marcus Wright who's the main protagonist here and you know what, he's not too shabby. Christian Bale's Connor is far too isolated and more machine than the machines he hates to actually stand behind as the protagonist and it's a good move to use the much more likeable Marcus as our focal point, obviously like the viewer this is all new to him as well and serves the story well.

Making his second Summer debut at the movies Anton Yelchin, beaming over from the Enterprise playing Chekov to taking on another iconic role like Kyle Reese must be daunting for anyone, however he pulls of the whole Michael Beihn swagger and makes you believe that he could be a younger version, even pulling off similiar facial expressions. I do admit however waiting for him to drop into a russian accent and start shouting "Nuclear Wessels!" (sorry just me then!?).

The rest of the cast do a fine job, Moon Bloodgood who plays Blair Williams - really? is that a real name, Jeez it's people like you and Rip Torn who just can't get decent names like Dennis or Derek etc.. anywho.. She's the only other Character who gets any screen time, however with focus on Bale, Worthing and Yelchin they really don't get much to play with. Although suprisingly Michael Ironside make a good badd ass general type - who would have known? I kid of course, I love the guy and he can chew these types of characters in his sleep - which he appears to here, anyway..

MCG's Terminator future setting is different to the one's in Cameron's film's which were admittedly only glimpsed at, the desert like setting were a little to bright and reminded me more of Mad Max than anything else, perhaps less is more and being able to see all the details of the Terminator's ruined their mystery a bit. The inclusion of Giant robots and Motorcycle ones seems a little too Transformers for my liking, but once you got used this they didn't really affect the film and effects are for the most part, top notch.

Unfortunately there are some terrible dialogue moments like "So that's what death tastes like.." and the 'ol "You are a good man Marcus, you just don't know it yet!" Oh dear! Obviously MCG decided that he'd rent a few direct to video scifi 'classics' to nick the best lines from. The film also features a kid who can do some clever save the day stuff (Has nobody learned from the Phantom Menace, really!?).

For all it's faults though, Terminator Salvation is not a bad movie, definately one you can put into your player and settle down for the evening to watch, it's no Judgement Day but then conversely it's no Rise of the Machines either. It sets a good precident for the planned trilogy of films MCG had in mind. I was worried that the movie would be little more than eye candy than substance and although this is probably true for most of the film it's not a big deal for the film.

If I was to quibble more, and I probably have to, the ending is a little cheesy and anticlimatic! I think they should have gone with the whole changing Marcus' face to that of Connors myself - oh stop screaming - it didn't happen ok, you big girl!. Oh did I forgot to mention Dallas Bryce Howard, that's because she was forgettable - she's really got to get out of these Sci Fi films, really first Lady in the Water, then Spider-Man and now this - just stop it will you!? She's in the new Twilight film for god's sake I... oh wait actually, yeah you can have that one Dallas....

Overall then we get a nice entry in the Terminator franchise, perhaps with a more well though out plot and decent bad guy in the next movie we may actually get something, till then this is Mike Jones of Fi-Sci loggin off.. (Ah, see what I did there? No me neither .. shut up!).

We got only the single disc edition for review, which just included some trailers..

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