Welcome return for a classic franchise

Rating: Null/10 (10 June 2009)

"T1" (1984) and "T2" (1991) were terrific, but then both were written and directed by James Cameron. "T3" (2003) - directed by Jonathan Mostow - was not in the same class, but still thoroughly entertaining. Even as "T3" was released, we knew that Arnold Schwarzenegger was embarked on a political career that was likely to mean that (in spite of his catch phrase) he would not be back in the iconic role.
Six years later, we are back - but with a different director and no Arnie and, in contrast with the largely contemporary settings of the first three movies, a story set in a post-apocalyptic 2018. At the helm on this occasion is McG (real name Joseph McGinty Nichol) - best-known for directing the two "Charlie's Angels" films - but some gravitas comes from the overly-intense Christian Bale as resistance leader John Connor and the Australian Sam Worthington as a cyborg with identity problems.
The narrative can be summarised in just six words: one explosion after another after another. In the middle of all these conflagrations, there are no less than ten types of machine seeking to eradicate the remaining humans. So there's plenty of exciting action and impressive visuals, but it's a classic case of a triumph of style over substance with minimal characterisation, a plot that is implausible when it is not confusing, and an ending that is surprisingly and disappointingly weak. Nevertheless there's certainly enough to enjoy here to encourage the plan that "Salvation" will be the first of a new "Terminator" trilogy.