Terminator Salvation review

T4 started badly when they didn't use the original theme tune, which is sacrilige....Superman Returns managed it, why not T4?

They seriously need to get Cameron or Ridley on board with this franchise. I found the plot to be thin, two pointless characters in the Moon Bloodgood girl and the mute little kid. WTF was the point of those two? No real character plot around them at all, apart from her seemingly letting a Terminator go free because she fancied him. He was a Terminator yet she immediately trusted him. They are killers and they will decieve and do anything to achieve their ultimate goal. Yet she "listens to his strong heartbeat" and decides he's OK.

The swimming Terminator worm things were such a ripoff from Transformers it was unbelievable. All I could think of was the little evil Transformer when I saw them, they even made a similar noise. Bale's John Connor seemed to lack any sort of Gravitas or authority, which he commanded in Reign of Fire as the leader of the last dregs of humanity against the Dragons. And he randomly jumps out of a troop transporter into the sea (carrying his gun and with earpiece intact) at the EXACT location of a submerged submarine, to go chat to his superiors? Gimmie a break, why not just radio them?

Considering that humanity is supposed to be blown to shit, they had a surprisingly efficient little resistance going on. A fully manned airbase with power and seemingly unlimited aviation fuel to power all their jets and helicopters? And nothing was attacking this base that was lit up like a Christmas tree? That would have been wiped out by HKs long ago. They even had top of the range flat screens and technology too. Everyone seemed well fed, fit and healthy. Where was the starvation and desperation seen in T1 when you see Kyle coming back from duty into his underground bunker, and observing the misery and hoplessness of people on the brink?

Too much stuff was stolen from the first 2 films aswell. The scene where Connor comes back to his base and everyone stands up out of respect as he walks by - from T2. The crawling Terminator torso chasing Connor just like in T1 chasing Sarah. The frozen Terminator covered in molten steel, would have been totally melted - like when Arnie was lowered into the steel in T2....but no, this one survived and did a copycat routine of Robert Patrick trying to walk while frozen, only this time it was molten steel not ice. Connor backing up and trying to fire at an oncoming Terminator, just liek Sarah in T2. And I'll forgive the old line of "I'll be back" as that *has* to be thrown in ;)

As for the CGI Arnie - utterly gratuitous and pointless, although very cleverly done.

The only thing that impressed me was Anton Yelchin/Kyle Reese. I remember he was in Spielberg's "Taken" as the young Jacob Clarke, and he pulls off Reese perfectly in this film. He has the hunted look in his eyes, the wiry strength and the solid determination to survive. Shame he had to drag around the mute pointless kid in every action scene.

Lots of explosions, lots of noise, all helps mask a paper thin storyline. If they are going to do another instalment I hope to hell they get a better team on board. Bale usually impresses me but this time he faded into the background, eclipsed by Yelchin, who seemed more of a leader than John Connor ever would be.

Also, the radio controlled Terminator motorbikes rocked....