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Terminator Salvation*
*ing: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington and Helena Bonham Carter
Directed by McG
Tagline: The End Begins
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With films like Batman Begins and The Dark Knight behind him, Christian Bale has arrived in Hollywood big time. But amidst the rising star graph, Terminator Salvation is a regrettable dent. Even as the film has raked in moolah on the US box office, it still doesn't make for a decent film. |
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Terminator Salvation is washed-out, weak and ultimately boring. For those who haven't seen the first three films - The Terminator, Terminator: Judgment Day and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines - this film just might remotely entertain you for some of its smoldering fighting sequences. But for fans of the franchise, this film is a major disappointment.
For one thing, there is nothing remotely original about this film. Since the inception of the first film, The Terminator, it was clear that a war was ahead and John Connor needed protection.
And that is where the real action began. There was Sarah Connor, the mother and other Terminators with a clear aim and mission in sight. And these machines were frightening and eerie for their sheer determination and skill.
In Terminator Salvation, John Connor lives in a post-apocalyptic world where machines and human beings have a go at each other. And then there are other subplots as well.
Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) who has no recollection of the past is on death row and John must decide his fate while rescuing others. But neither are the subplots explored with vision nor is there anything enticing about this film.
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There are many reasons why Terminator Salvation is such a disappointment. Arnold Schwarzenegger's absence stands out like a sore thumb. He never had too many dialogues in any Terminator films but it was his demeanour and the bond he developed with John Connor over the years that gave this man versus machine story some heart and hope. Arnold was the saving grace of Terminator 3 and without him, Salvation is lacks intrigue and that unpredictability factor Arnold's Terminator brought with him.
The other problem is the story itself. Humans versus machines is a Hollywood favourite. The jaw-dropping, mind boggling and inspiring Matrix franchise from Wachowski Brothers took the game to a new level. Conceived as a trilogy, The Matrix gave man and machines plenty to fight about. But the epic battle had a story line that moved in a coherent gripping manner all the way to third and final film of the franchise, The Matrix Revolutions.
There is no Salvation for this Terminator though Christian Bale does justice to his inadequate script. Throughout the film he growls and moans and fights machines but unfortunately there is nothing else to it. |
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Director MCG, whose credits include Charlie's Angels, has gone down with this film. The tagline, "The End Begins", should hold true for the Terminator franchise. It really is time to close this chapter.
– Maheen Sabeeh
*YUCK
**WHATEVER
***GOOD
****SUPER
*****AWESOME |
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