Pleasantly surprised!!

Rating: 8/10 (29 August 2009)

I was nervous about a "PG-13" Terminator film, so I put off seeing this for quite a while after it came out...however curiosity and being a fan of the other Terminator films won out.
I have to admit I really enjoyed this movie. I needed the bad taste that was "Transformers 2" washed away and this did the trick.
The Good:
Sam Worthington. One of the two best performances in the movie (he was recommended to McG by both Cameron & Russell Crowe.) It's nice to see that Terminator can still be a great story even if John Connor isn't your main focus. (and honestly it was about time some character rotation took place, no offense, I still love the other T films.) I really could feel emotion for and beside him (and his predicament.) I really wish they had given his character more development and room for a possible sequel or spin-off instead of his ultimately disappointing end.
Anton Yelchin. Continually surprises me with the range he shows in his acting. He had huge shoes to fill with Kyle Reese, and he did a great job. At times I could actually feel him channeling the Kyle of T1 through him. Well done, between this and Star Trek he's having a great year!
I thought the desolate look of the future was great. Thankfully McG directs masterfully and is the "Anti-Michael Bay." No sickening "Cloverfield"esque shaky cam, or constant huge explosions needlessly in cities for the sake of just blowing things up. What's blown up here has a purpose for blowing up (for the most part.)
I thought the story was OK, there wasn't a whole lot script-wise that bothered me or stuck out as dumb or corny. (There are a few sub-plots and dialog scenes that I can nit pick at, but nothing too major.) I liked the T-800 cameo too. (I know it wasn't really Arnold, but it really made for a nice connection to the previous movies.)
The Bad:
Christian Bale. Sorry, and i'm a Bale fan. He just seemed as if he was sleepwalking his way through. Although some of his performance comes across as genuine, most of the time it's borderline wooden. I also didn't care for the "shallowness" portion that came through on his prejudiced feelings towards the machines, even though by now he's well into the war and know that with the right programming the terminators can be turned. (Also the writer's seem to have forgotten the experiences he's had in the past knowing it's possible for a terminator to learn and change.)
The female element. Helena Bonham Carter is without a doubt the most interesting female in this movie, and her screen time is around 5 minutes. McG has said with his casting of Bloodgood he was hoping to continue with the "strong woman persona" of the previous movies. But I fail to see that in her. There was nothing particularly memorable about her, nor that strong. Pure placement as a "romantic interest" to be vulnerable around Worthington.
Howard puts in a small role. There's nothing great about her, nor anything bad, she's just there. The pregnant wife/doctor. Since it was not deemed to advance her character at all, I can't say anything about her either way.
The resistance is hidden underground in a secret labyrinth, avoiding any explosions, noise, lights, etc. as to avoid detection by the machines, but when Worthington's character escapes, all hell breaks loose above ground. Guys with lights and guns waving them about and shooting, multiple helicopters, not to mention a huge hell fire bombing of the forest terrain above. Even if they thought he was going back to report to the machines, would they really want to deal with all the enemy attention they have undoubtedly just drawn to themselves?
As mentioned above, lame ending for Worthington. How can they even be sure that his heart would work and be compatible with John? And how lame is it to think that not only does John Connor have to worry about machines constantly coming after him, but life long possibility of organ rejection as well?! Even if the whole purpose for ending the movie was Worthington's character somehow die, you're telling me that's the best you can come up with?! Come on!
But all in all, I thought it was a pretty good movie. It held my attention, was entertaining, and I didn't feel ripped off leaving the theater...will add to DVD collection. 8/10