TERMINATOR: SALVATION
June 12th 2009 01:19
Category: Movies
Director: McG
Written by: John D Brancato & Michael Ferris
Producers: Derek Anderson, Moritz Borman & Jeffery Silver
Starring: Christian Bale (John Connor), Sam Worthington (Marcus Wright), Anton Yelchin (Kyle Reese), Helena Bonham Carter (Dr Serena Kogan), Michael Ironside (General Ashdown), Moon Bloodgood (Blair Williams) & Bryce Dallas Howard (Kate Connor).
Produced by: The Halcyon Company and Wonderland Sound & Vision
Released by: Warner Brothers
Running Time: 115 minutes Rating: M
Since the advent of the Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, there have been two key questions echoing in the minds of movie goers everywhere – well at least in those who enjoy the Terminator franchise and they are: Can there be a Terminator 4 and Is it possible to make another Terminator movie and not have Arnold Schwarzenegger starring in the lead role? Truly these are potentially epoch changing questions, questions that when answered could very well change the shape of things to come. Well the Green Lantern can tell you that after in depth consultation with the very cosmic forces that flow and bind the fabric of our reality together and answer is very much forthcoming – or in normal speak I went and saw the new Terminator flick and found that it was good. So good in fact that when I exited the cinema to head of to my usual duties at the Men’s Club I did so with a smile on my face and a spring in my step the likes of which has not happened for some time.
I have to admit that there was some initial trepidation on my part as I made my way through the hurly burly that is everyday life into the heart of the thriving metropolis that is Port Macquarie and the location of the local cinema. As I alighted the stairs that lead into the theatre, walking past some of the local yahoos I could recall the time when I had seen Terminator 3 and the disappointment that I’d been subjected to with watching that particular film. Still I knew that if I passed up catching this new film at the cinema I’d probably in my heart of hearts regret not taking the chance so despite misgivings I steeled my resolve and ventured forth to watch Terminator: Salvation.
The first thing that hits you is the sheer volume of sound as the credits roll and the theme begins, it is literally rolling thunder that pushes you right into the back of your seat. It also has the advantage of drowning out any annoying people who feel that being in a cinema they just have to talk, talk and talk. Not with Terminator: Salvation’s opening credits, they get blown away and the dialogue keeps them well and truly drowned out so you can enjoy and savour your movie viewing experience. Ahhh isn’t technology wonderful, it is indeed.
Strangely the story begins in a somewhat abstract manner, on death row to be precise. This is where we, the audience are introduced to one of the pivotal characters in this film; Marcus Wright ably played by Australian actor Sam Worthington. Marcus is a man who killed his brother along with two police officers. He was found guilty by the courts and sentenced to death, it’s a fate that he is rather pragmatic about because he is guilty and he admits it, but it seems that there are various groups interested in him even though he has been slated to die. Dr Serena Kogan wants him to give over his body to science, to the corporation that she works for to be precise. He agrees, for the price of a kiss. And from that point on the rest is as they say history, although Marcus is completely unaware of the devil’s bargain that he has signed in the year 2005…
Flash forward to the not to distant future, thirteen years later on down the track if you want me to be precise. The year is 2018 AD and Judgment Day has come and gone and Skynet is the major power within the world, there exists a Resistance that is attempting to prevent Skynet’s final solution, the complete and total eradication of all humanity from the face of the planet. John Connor, the target of Skynet’s machinations in T1 and T2, is a leader in the Resistance, although not the leader of the entire resistance. He is engaged in an intelligence raid on a desert installation that is one of the keys to Skynet’s world domination campaign. Things go horribly pear shaped and after narrowly avoiding death from a crashing an Iroquois, a nuclear strike and execution at the hands of a T600. He’s definitely a very lucky individual.
Christian Bale is an interesting choice to play this particular part, but frankly his casting works well, he manages to play the part admirably which is light years ahead of Nick Stahl’s portrayal of the role in T3. The other player who makes a considerable impact in the story is Anton Yelchin who has been given the task of playing Kyle Reese, the man who will eventually become John Connor’s father. Anton brings a combination of intensity and earnestness to the part, making Kyle something more than a two dimensional figure as well as being a man who firmly believes in the fact that it will be the strengths of humanity, its positive qualities, which will help them win the war. In such a bleak, desolate world his dauntless resolve is rather refreshing; it’s obvious that he really has what has often been called an indomitable spirit.
It’s interesting that Marcus when he seemingly revives into this world of the apocalyptic future, a world that is as strange to him as if it were some entirely different planet, is the first person to encounter Kyle Reese, the man that Skynet has effectively listed as enemy number one; before even John Connor. Of course Marcus has no idea what on earth is going on, or the true nature of his seeming resurrection. Somehow though he manages to bond with Kyle and his young cohort, the two sole members of the LA Branch of the Resistance. From such a strange beginning the two men find themselves entering onto a journey whose final destination is not what either of them would expect, a journey that is not only of physical but temporal nature.
Directed by McG, the guy who created the television Supernatural and also worked on the X-Files if my memory serves me correctly, Terminator: Salvation is frankly a truly tight, well thought out and scripted feature. As I said earlier it was a great film to watch, when Christian Bale as John Connor attempts to find himself transport to get into Skynet Central (the former city of San Francisco) he attempts to attract a pursuit terminator, which is a terminator in the form of a really high tech matt black motorcycle, by playing a cassette version of Guns ‘n’ Roses “You Could Be Mine” the theme for T2. Ah it brought back memories when I heard that brief cut, so to did the Alice in Chains track “Rooster” that plays when Marcus Wright and Kyle Reese manage to jump start a jeep. Interestingly Marcus quickly cuts it out and after he does Kyle says “What was that?” “Something my brother used to listen to,” Marcus tells him and leaves it at that.
It’s interesting that this story is not only a story of Salvation in regards to the fate of humanity, John Connor and the Resistance but also the salvation of Marcus Wright, a condemned killer who through a strange quirk of fate managed to gain for himself a second chance. And frankly it has also given the franchise a much needed second chance, considering that T3 almost effectively killed it stone dead. Kudos to all those involved in this production, I suspect that there will be another movie in the wings and look forward to it if is as good as this effort was. Also it was interesting that the colour scheme used seemed to enhance the whole notion that this was a world that had as a result of Skynet seen some truly tough times.
Written by: John D Brancato & Michael Ferris
Producers: Derek Anderson, Moritz Borman & Jeffery Silver
Starring: Christian Bale (John Connor), Sam Worthington (Marcus Wright), Anton Yelchin (Kyle Reese), Helena Bonham Carter (Dr Serena Kogan), Michael Ironside (General Ashdown), Moon Bloodgood (Blair Williams) & Bryce Dallas Howard (Kate Connor).
Produced by: The Halcyon Company and Wonderland Sound & Vision
Released by: Warner Brothers
Running Time: 115 minutes Rating: M
Since the advent of the Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, there have been two key questions echoing in the minds of movie goers everywhere – well at least in those who enjoy the Terminator franchise and they are: Can there be a Terminator 4 and Is it possible to make another Terminator movie and not have Arnold Schwarzenegger starring in the lead role? Truly these are potentially epoch changing questions, questions that when answered could very well change the shape of things to come. Well the Green Lantern can tell you that after in depth consultation with the very cosmic forces that flow and bind the fabric of our reality together and answer is very much forthcoming – or in normal speak I went and saw the new Terminator flick and found that it was good. So good in fact that when I exited the cinema to head of to my usual duties at the Men’s Club I did so with a smile on my face and a spring in my step the likes of which has not happened for some time.
Strangely the story begins in a somewhat abstract manner, on death row to be precise. This is where we, the audience are introduced to one of the pivotal characters in this film; Marcus Wright ably played by Australian actor Sam Worthington. Marcus is a man who killed his brother along with two police officers. He was found guilty by the courts and sentenced to death, it’s a fate that he is rather pragmatic about because he is guilty and he admits it, but it seems that there are various groups interested in him even though he has been slated to die. Dr Serena Kogan wants him to give over his body to science, to the corporation that she works for to be precise. He agrees, for the price of a kiss. And from that point on the rest is as they say history, although Marcus is completely unaware of the devil’s bargain that he has signed in the year 2005…
Flash forward to the not to distant future, thirteen years later on down the track if you want me to be precise. The year is 2018 AD and Judgment Day has come and gone and Skynet is the major power within the world, there exists a Resistance that is attempting to prevent Skynet’s final solution, the complete and total eradication of all humanity from the face of the planet. John Connor, the target of Skynet’s machinations in T1 and T2, is a leader in the Resistance, although not the leader of the entire resistance. He is engaged in an intelligence raid on a desert installation that is one of the keys to Skynet’s world domination campaign. Things go horribly pear shaped and after narrowly avoiding death from a crashing an Iroquois, a nuclear strike and execution at the hands of a T600. He’s definitely a very lucky individual.
Christian Bale is an interesting choice to play this particular part, but frankly his casting works well, he manages to play the part admirably which is light years ahead of Nick Stahl’s portrayal of the role in T3. The other player who makes a considerable impact in the story is Anton Yelchin who has been given the task of playing Kyle Reese, the man who will eventually become John Connor’s father. Anton brings a combination of intensity and earnestness to the part, making Kyle something more than a two dimensional figure as well as being a man who firmly believes in the fact that it will be the strengths of humanity, its positive qualities, which will help them win the war. In such a bleak, desolate world his dauntless resolve is rather refreshing; it’s obvious that he really has what has often been called an indomitable spirit.
It’s interesting that Marcus when he seemingly revives into this world of the apocalyptic future, a world that is as strange to him as if it were some entirely different planet, is the first person to encounter Kyle Reese, the man that Skynet has effectively listed as enemy number one; before even John Connor. Of course Marcus has no idea what on earth is going on, or the true nature of his seeming resurrection. Somehow though he manages to bond with Kyle and his young cohort, the two sole members of the LA Branch of the Resistance. From such a strange beginning the two men find themselves entering onto a journey whose final destination is not what either of them would expect, a journey that is not only of physical but temporal nature.
Directed by McG, the guy who created the television Supernatural and also worked on the X-Files if my memory serves me correctly, Terminator: Salvation is frankly a truly tight, well thought out and scripted feature. As I said earlier it was a great film to watch, when Christian Bale as John Connor attempts to find himself transport to get into Skynet Central (the former city of San Francisco) he attempts to attract a pursuit terminator, which is a terminator in the form of a really high tech matt black motorcycle, by playing a cassette version of Guns ‘n’ Roses “You Could Be Mine” the theme for T2. Ah it brought back memories when I heard that brief cut, so to did the Alice in Chains track “Rooster” that plays when Marcus Wright and Kyle Reese manage to jump start a jeep. Interestingly Marcus quickly cuts it out and after he does Kyle says “What was that?” “Something my brother used to listen to,” Marcus tells him and leaves it at that.
It’s interesting that this story is not only a story of Salvation in regards to the fate of humanity, John Connor and the Resistance but also the salvation of Marcus Wright, a condemned killer who through a strange quirk of fate managed to gain for himself a second chance. And frankly it has also given the franchise a much needed second chance, considering that T3 almost effectively killed it stone dead. Kudos to all those involved in this production, I suspect that there will be another movie in the wings and look forward to it if is as good as this effort was. Also it was interesting that the colour scheme used seemed to enhance the whole notion that this was a world that had as a result of Skynet seen some truly tough times.
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