A BRILLIANTand FAITHFUL continuation of the franchise

Rating: 9/10 (11 July 2009)

This film faithfully continues the storyline of the first 2 terminator films. In fact it mainly references the first one right down to use of familiar elements that gave me wonderfully nostalgic goosebumps. The tone is different for sure, more despairing and yes less humourless because this is about the future after Judgement Day. A world ruled by machines with pockets of human resistance.
The story is great with a couple of wonderful twists. And towards the end there is a superb surprise that will rock the fans...well it rocked for me. The action sequences were relentlessly thrilling and tremendous in scope which to me is a tribute to Cameron's throw everything including the kitchen sink, action filming methods.
he story of John Connors is actually a back story. Another mysterious character hold centre stage most of the time and the actor who plays him has great presence and star quality. I thought the film was intelligent and well acted for this sort of genre. The future is depicted very much as in the glimpses we see in the first 2 Terminator movies. Though not as darkly lit!
This is a magnificent entry and I simply cannot fathom why this movie is panned by so many. And its not just the critics who are panning it, but more bizarrely, fans of the original. Its sad, because this film deserves its sequel but I fear it will not get it. It probably will be made but as a low budget straight to DVD trash. Sad because this was a truly great entry. My biggest surprise is how MCG, the man who directed the 2 enjoyable but tongue in cheek and nonsensical Charlie Angels films, pulled off such a seriously cool big scale thrill ride of a movie.