1 post tagged “t4”

Being 36 as of 45 minutes ago, the Terminator property is one dear to my heart. The original Terminator (1984) was a tremendous influence on my then-blossoming idea of manhood.  In a general way, action movies of that era and their descendants are the only action movies I care for.  Naturally, the Terminator series is heavily sci-fi oriented, but that has historically been a thin veneer, which peels off in minutes, like the T-800's organic sheath. 

One is a fool to expect anything less than phenomenal effects from a Terminator movie, and Salvation fulfills that hope and then some.  Sure, giant human-shaped robots make no sense, really, but we love them anyway.  What I really want to know is why any post-apocalyptic setting seems to require random fires all over the place.  Wreckage and rubble, sure, but constant gas leaks lasting for decades are a bit much.  The machines, in spite of their inherent and requisite design flaws are marvelously rendered.  Their audible representation was also excellent, fitting in nicely with Danny Elfman's excellent if predictable score.

The acting is also predictable.  Largely lackluster, the dialogue is delivered in that typical action movie style; reminiscent of a can of Coke left open overnight.  The numerous hands that touched the script are also fairly obvious.  Only J. D. Brancato and Michael Ferris are credited, but word on the web is that at least four other scriptwriters worked this project, further proof that Hollywood is a lopsided beast that despises the very foundation upon which it is built. 

Those lines most vital to an action script (i.e. one liners) received some attention by director McG (Joseph McGinty Nichol), but like the rest of his name, the vital relationships and supporting characters were ignored if not forgotten entirely.  The end result is merely typical action movie fare. 

A major complaint is the ending, of which I will say only this: If it annoyed you, you must not have seen it coming.  I am therefore led to believe you have utterly ignored everything every English teacher you ever had tried to teach you.  Read a book

Overall, I enjoyed the movie a lot, but must still consider its flaws in rating.  I give T4: Salvation 6 of 10 points.