by Gaynell Parker

Created on: May 27, 2009

Finally a movie worth seeing! After the third Terminator movie with it's poor excuse for a carry over from the second one they finally hit the target with this latest installment. Anyone who has been a true fan, but hated the extremes, (such as myself) will really enjoy this. Terminator Salvation is a real plot, has likable and believable characters, and is the first clean installment of the series.

I wasn't sure if Christian Bale was going to make a good job of John Conner, but he does a great job. The actor, Anton Yelchin, who plays Kyle Reese does a good job as well, (he's also had a busy year making movies) making you believe this kid could be the man who creates the future he's been sent from.

I liked the human factor in how Sam Worthington portrays Marcus Wright and he does a fantastic job. In fact, I think he might overpower Christian Bale. I think we'll be seeing lots more of that actor in the future (no pun intended!).

The story line is a little different, but it's basically the same story that they've been showing us for the series. This time, the reality of what John Connor has been telling them is coming to pass, with the new Terminators having human skin and vital organs. I'm sure when they get to making the next movie, they'll have the dogs included. I was wondering where they were in this one, and realized that they hadn't needed them yet. Of course, it was interesting the lack of animals anyway and perhaps that was supposed to be due to the lack of survival after Judgement Day. Who knows.

Unfortunately it was pretty obvious that the opening scene after Wright's execution is a trap, but it still works because it explains how he comes to the future. There's still a debate as to why he is alive is it because of the good doctor's experiment with Cryogenics? Her research involved genetics, so how does his brain work? All of it is simply background, because he does exist and he's running around thinking he's human. It's a great scene when he discovers he's not, and thinks they've done something to him. I really like the interaction between him and the pilot, Williams. She looks a little more put together than most of the people around her, for some reason her clothes look better and she has fantastic hair. But her relationship with Marcus is believable, and makes the whole thing work.

What impressed me the most was how Marcus was able to leave his past behind and become a different person. One willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice to help someone else though that was the saddest part of the whole movie. The general consensus around here is that there were plenty of other dying people they could have used for a heart transplant why did it have to be him? But of course, that's what makes it so wrenching and real.

Personally, I think this was the best installment of the whole series. Way better than Schwarzenegger's versions, I think this one stands free on its own. You definitely don't want to miss it!

Learn more about this author, Gaynell Parker.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.