Terminator Salvation

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres this Thursday for Memorial Day weekend is the long awaited finale that takes us into the future with Sony and Warner Bros. Pictures film “Terminator Salvation”.

This film tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world in 2018 where Judgment Day has come and gone with the leveling of civilization by the machines called terminators. John Connor (Christian Bale) is a man who saw the future knowing about it his whole life.

The reason for the life and death struggle is because of a company called SkyNet who control the terminators. Their goal is to take humanity to extinction, beginning with Connor.

A rag-tag group seek out Connor to lead them in the resistance but everything he was told by his mother all those years ago has changed. The future he had been taught has strangely been altered by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington). Wright is unsure about anything because his only memory is that of being on death row. He is confused by the post-war world.

Connor is unsure of who Wright is or his reason for being part of everything which brings understandable mistrust. Together, however, they must infiltrate SkyNet to rescue the young teenage boy Kyle (Anton Yelchon) who is connected to Connor.

In the process, they both discover a horrible truth about the potential annihilation of mankind. As SkyNet begins its final assault on humanity both Wright and Connor must do what they can so save the world.

FINAL WORD: Is there any role Christian Bale can’t do? Finding his stride with the Batman series he once again places a brooding character in Connor. Anyone who has viewed all the Terminator films will not have a hard time picturing him as the boy who grew into his destiny.

Worthington is grand as Wright and being the counterpart to Bale’s Connor character, they couldn’t have found anyone better. Blair Williams as Moon Bloodgood portrays a strong woman in an uncontrollably violent world.

Other cast members are Jadagrace as Star, Bryce Dallas Howard as Kate Connor, Jane Alexander as Virginia, Michael Ironside as General Ashdown. Dorian Nkono as David, Ivan G’Vera as General Losenko, Chris Browning as Morrison and Beth Baily as Lisa.

This film will revive a franchise! It is action packed and raw with a cast that is dedicated to making this film as fantastic as it is. The big question is will Gov. Arnold Schwartzenegger be seen here? You will have to see for yourselves.

The role of John Connor has a long list from it’s beginning with Edward Furlong as the teen John Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Nick Stahl played the role in “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” Thomas Dekker plays the role of Connor in the television series “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” with John DeVito playing the even younger Connor. That’s quite a lineage!

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “Terminator Salvation” four tubs of popcorn out of five. Here, once again, is another fun ride leading into a summer of films many fans have been waiting for.

This film is packed with action, the storyline is fast paced and there isn’t a moment where one can be bored with the story. Yes, this film can be easily seen and understood for the Non-Terminator types.

Be prepared for an assault on your senses, a story that follows the past into the future and 110 minutes of man saving humanity.

Remember, when the end begins…. we fight back!