Definite improvement on 3, but please don't make a Saw series out of it.

Rating: 6/10 (27 December 2010)

Picking up from the scrap metal inspired dregs of its predecessor, which left a bitter aftertaste, Salvation is grantable of being a vast step up from that. As a 4th instalment though, it is the Indiana Jones of 2009. Not being tragic enough to be a Shakespeare play (like the latter's abysmal finale), or the zesty jumpstart sought after, which at least ditches the shackles of its formulaic overtone that lost its voice after 3.
Migrating the series to the less traditional, but frequently seen apocalypse of 2018 the man vs. machines battle wages on with John Connor (welcomingly replaced by Christian Bale) being the core source of hope, basically replicating the whole Zion affray and Neo worship with several tweaks.
McG has done well for himself, showing he's more than just a fan who wanted to direct (direction in Charlie's Angels = near nought), but someone who understands the origins of the series that were mentioned in 1 and 2, like the Clone Wars were in Star Wars.
Now it seems the laser beams, crumbling architecture and global deterioration have been revamped for a more modern age though still maintaining some of the essence Cameron introduced to the audience briefly in his future depiction. It doesn't produce the unwanted runt of a litter that could have been an Emmerich and Bay combined mishap, but borrows heavily from others and coats 99% of film in CGI; making it as humane as its metal protagonists.
Carpet swept fakeries alike, it suits the film greatly and while it priorities visuals more than script it vastly boosts better all-round performances. If it bartered with emotions more then it might have been the offspring fans hoped for, but Terminator was never about sentiment was it?