Salvages a lost franchise

Rating: 10/10 (22 May 2009)

This series was in serious jeopardy after the terrible T3 of 2003. The characters, mythology, and script were mistreated, there was no atmosphere and the film felt like a joke.
This film is the complete opposite of that. This is the first Terminator film that isn't just a rehash of the first. This is also the first Terminator film without Arnold Schwarzenegger's direct involvement. Gone are the cheesy one-liners and chase/escape plot. Instead, we are in the future. 2018. Post-judgment day. The film has been given excessive silver treatment to instill an eerie, apocalyptic feel, and we are instantly drawn into this ugly world.
The cinematography is amazing. Camera-work and framing are top notch and the action never fails to thrill. Some may find fault with the movie's pace; I can't say for certain, but it seems as if there's never more than ten minutes in between action scenes. For an action junkie like myself that's wonderful. For someone who expects more to a movie than thrills, it may be a problem.
But this is not your father's terminator. At least, not completely. Unlike T2 the deeper themes and emotional depth are more or less relegated to the background. When these scenes do appear they work well; Knowledge of the first two films greatly enhances the experience however. Many nods exist toward the characterization of Kyle Reese (played brilliantly by Anton Yelchin) from the first, and the father/son relationship he is engaged in with Christian Bale's John Connor. Determined and wary, Connor is one of the more human characters in the film, as the film serves to explain how and why he captured the Resistance's hearts. "Fanservice" may be the term of choice, as dialogue, musical cues, and more all help establish this as a true Terminator film, in line with the first two.
Newcomer Sam Worthington's Marcus Wright has the most intriguing character arc in the film; half of the film's emotional and literary payoffs exist due to his excellent portrayal. Other than these three characters however, most humans in the film are more or less one-note. This is where both the writing and McG's direction are called into question. This is not a James Cameron film; there are bad lines and (consequently) bad delivery. Perhaps a few more takes could have improved the film; there are no bad actors in the film, just intermittent weak performances. Nevertheless, these moments are few and do not hurt the movie to a significant degree.
The worst note is in fact found in the score, as Danny Elfman unfortunately fails to reach the jarring mechanical heights of Brad Fiedel's original work. The iconic drums of the original Terminator theme are retained, but the emotional main chords are nowhere to be found; Instead a similar but less powerful score reminds the audience of the original's greatness, but fails to deliver it. Including the original would have made a world of difference, as this is the lone blemish which serves to separate this film from feeling like a true Terminator.
McG has finally reached credibility as an excellent action director. The few character moments are done well, and the practical and CGI effects are both utilized to the fullest. The vision of an apocalyptic world and a war between man and machine from Cameron's films has been fully realized. Faithful to the past films and also introducing a few new subtle twists, Terminator Salvation offers an engaging watch... as long as you have the heart for it.