The Story Lacks Slightly but Definitely Worth Seeing

Rating: 6/10 (22 May 2009)

I just went to see Salvation last night and I must say I definitely enjoyed it. There is no question that this movie legitimately warrants the $5-10 bucks people will shell out to see this on the big screen (it is certainly worth seeing it on the big screen if nothing else). OK, so the story lacks a little bit, actually it lacks a lot. There isn't really a whole lot of substance to this film but the potential is there.
It's nearly impossible to avoid the frequent belittlement of Director McG regarding this movie and I think it needs to be addressed. Yeah, maybe he isn't the next Steven Spielberg but nonetheless he's giving it his all. For the haters who claim McG is the reason this movie is "trash", they need to point the finger elsewhere. Though the dialogue in this movie probably only constitutes about 10 pages of the script and can be summed up in any one of the theatrical trailers, the blame should not fall on McG but rather the screenwriters John Brancato and Michael Ferris. McG didn't write the script for this, he was in charge of making this movie pretty, and believe me this movie is pretty.
The visual effects in this film are second to none. I was simply blown away at the intensity conveyed in some of the action sequences and the cinematography is stellar. Props to the production design and art direction of this movie for creating such a believable and realistic post-nuclear world that is so bleak, barren. The various models of Terminators in Salvation are bigger, meaner and more bad-ass than ever before and the explosions only get bigger as the movie rolls on. There is no doubt this movie is a summer-action-get your popcorn ready-blockbuster movie, and it should be treated as so.
Though Bale seems almost typecast from his role as Batman, he is still the perfect fit as John Connor. Let's just hope Public Enemies (later this summer) and his next Terminator performance encompass more emotion so that we don't see Bale succumb to the regretfully same generic action hero that Nicholas cage has become.
Even though the story lacks slightly in this movie, we have to collect ourselves and take a step back to realize that development for another movie is already underway. Lets be positive and think of this movie as a segue, merely a transition to familiarize the audience with the barren, post-apocalyptic landscape, and the key players of the resistance for the ensuing, and more complete story yet to come in the next film. Keep your fingers crossed.
All in all, this movie is worth seeing simply for the unbelievable visual-effects, just try not to be too nitpicky.