Welcome to the Salvation

Rating: 9/10 (20 May 2009)

With the unmistakable collision of metal, the barrage of artillery and ordinance, the scorched temperature of engines, the burning stench of gasoline and rotting corpses, and the precisioned whirling of mechanized parts...the Machines have returned (cue Terminator Drums).
It is 2018 and the land lays waste from the nuclear toll of Judgment Day...mankind's legacy. But amidst these ruins are the hubs of Skynet assemblers and hunter killers vs. the pockets of Resistance tacticians and strategists.
The New Machines T800, Harvester, Aerstat, Hydrorobot, MotoTerminator and the familiar HK are varied in their capabilities and arsenal but all programmed towards the collection and eradication of humans.
On land, sea and air the Resistance is well armed with conventional weapons. Although they are seemingly fragmented and scattered, they are committed, organized and held together by the band-aid transmissions of Radio Free Resistance. Huddling around the warmth of burning drums and radio broadcasts, the freedom fighters listen to the messages of hope and guidance which strengthen their resolve.
Over the years we've endured the rambunctious growth of the juveniles Furlong and Stahl but now is the time of the prophet warrior. From the wired intensity of Christian Bale's performance as John Connor one can appreciate he's acting on an adrenaline edge, and just a hair trigger away from his infamous off-screen tirade. If Jackman's method of preparation was a cold shower, then Bale must have submerged in the ice of an adamantium pool (my bad). Nevertheless as the Leader of the Resistance, Bale/Connor preaches the anthem and might of the indomitable human spirit.
The secondary players hit their mark strong. On his quest towards the Resistance is the nomadic enigma Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington). Along the way he encounters a brash and young Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) of the LA Resistance Branch. Decent supporting performances also by Common, Bryce Dallas Howard, Helena Bonham Carter and Moon Bloodgood. But I could have done without Michael Ironside, like the 80s relic mad dog Richter, barking out his unheeded commands.
The action and chase sequences are frantic and visceral as the carnage ensues. The special effects of the unrelenting and menacing Terminators were amped up to both impress and frighten. We've all seen many action scenes of this genre before. But McG's culls the best together painted with a fresh coat of metallic vs. flesh, cold steel vs hope and desperation. His film respectfully pays dues to its iconic origins with familiar soundbites, albeit too cute, but the fans roared its approval. Since Cameron's groundbreaking T & T2, we have waited long to witness this story of the apocalyptic battleground for man's survival.
Kudos to McG, Bale and Co for finally delivering Salvation and this vision.
Note: IMO negative reviews compare too much with predecessors or genre bests. Surely The Road Warrior (great film) did not invent the car chase scene. Nevertheless Terminator Salvation faithfully supports the core franchise's arcing story and timeline.