He died...so we may live.

Rating: 9/10 (29 May 2009)

I saw Terminator Salvation with my friends and we enjoyed the movie a lot. It was very entertaining, full of action and amazing graphics. I know it was in the sci-fi genre, but it was almost a horror film because there were many moments that caused me to jump from my seat. However, the movie also brings us deep questions about life and what it means to be human.
The primary narrative element of the movie comes from its "atmosphere". The story is set in 2018, a post-apocalyptic world devastated by nuclear war. It brings the audience into their world – one dominated by cold, ruthless machines.
The secondary narrative elements are the "characters" of John Connor and Marcus Wright. John is the leader of the Resistance movement that fights against the machines in order to preserve the human race. In one of the scenes John's superior commanded him to blow up Skynet. (Skynet is the control tower of the enemy base with all the machines but also with human captives.) John refuses to sacrifice the humans as collateral damage along with the machines. John believes that valuing life is what made humans different from the machines. John is a character who brings hope to the human race. As long as he is around, people feel that things are going to be alright. Marcus, on the other hand, is a hybrid of human and machine. In the year 2003, he committed crimes that resulted in his death sentence. Later on, he was turned into a machine but he didn't know it until later on when John revealed the fact to him. Marcus is a man struggling to find his identity. He then "chooses" to be a human and fights against the machines.
The title of this series Terminator "Salvation" and Terminator "Judgment Day" are biblical terms. It uses metaphors and symbols found in end-time narratives of the Bible. The name of John Connor (J.C.) most likely points to Jesus Christ (J.C.). Both these figures bring hope and salvation to the human race. Both of them gave their lives so that others may live. (HollywoodJesus.com lists many more parallels between Terminator and the Gospel story).
The big question in this movie is this: what makes a person "human"? Is it a beating heart? Is it believing that you are human? Is it loving people around you? The central theme about life is that there is always a choice you can make. You can choose to resist evil, or not. You can choose to protect the people you love, or not. You can choose to be human, or not. You can choose to believe in God (or a higher purpose) and receive salvation, or not. Choose your path wisely.