[EDIT] As a note, I changed the star rating after watching the film on blu-ray. The review is unaltered from what I wrote after seeing it in the theater, but the rating went up half a star. I enjoyed it a lot more on the second viewing. Still a very ... (read more) [EDIT] As a note, I changed the star rating after watching the film on blu-ray. The review is unaltered from what I wrote after seeing it in the theater, but the rating went up half a star. I enjoyed it a lot more on the second viewing. Still a very flawed and poorly edited film, but I really had fun with it the second time around.

The story comes last.

I went into this expecting it to be far worse, but that's not a compliment to it. Any semblance of story arc and character development clearly died on the cutting room floor, as this is a bit of a mess. The first two films are two of my favorite movies of all-time and one simple fact from those wasn't adhered to here (or in T3): the story comes first. They both had great action sequences, but the action was secondary to story and character development. Sadly, that's not the case here.

There was one stretch of this film that I absolutely LOVED; a stretch where I was almost standing and cheering in the theater. When John goes to Skynet headquarters alone, the two-to-three minutes there (starting with "I'll be back") was lovely. I was absolutely giddy to see him break out a boombox and blasting "You Could Be Mine" to distract the machines and then using his hacking skills on them. That had me excited leading to the finale.

Sadly, the film lost itself from there about the time a certain CG cameo took place. Others have praised this scene, but the CGI just looked fake to me there and it really took me (and everyone in my theater) out of the film. Maybe it was that the digital projection was at too high a resolution for that CG, but it looked really bad. Then, the final fight, was just a poor man's rehash of the T1 fight. Much of it was staged with the EXACT same spots and the new bits the put into it felt really implausible. Yes, they felt implausible for a movie about robots ruling over humans in a post-apocalyptic future...

There is no climax to the film. It builds up and then goes out with a whimper instead of a bang. I was one of those that groaned when I read the original ending that leaded onto the internet some 8-10 months ago. McG caved into studio pressure to go with a less controversial and less thought provoking ending. I really wish he hadn't caved. For those that don't know, in the original ending John Connor died. Marcus, covering up his death, took his skin and appearance (which Skynet told him he could do with anyone) to carry on the myth of Connor and lead the resistance. While this is more controversial, it fits with the movie they put out much better than the weak ending they went with. I would have a great deal of respect for McG if he had stood by artistic integrity and refused to compromise a much more compelling story for the sake of explosions.

All this said, the film was a marked improved over T3, but that doesn't say much.

Could have been better and it's just weird not having Ahnuld as the main character, but still worth checking out. A good action movie and cool to see them actually moving the story into the future and the war with the machines. Thought Sam Worthingto... (read more) Could have been better and it's just weird not having Ahnuld as the main character, but still worth checking out. A good action movie and cool to see them actually moving the story into the future and the war with the machines. Thought Sam Worthington was really good as the character Marcus Wright and it was a solid cast that I think did a pretty good job.

Eh, not bad, but it kinda had a "made for tv" feel to it. It had a few good action sequences but for the most part the story and acting is kinda blah. Worth a rent, not a buy.

Really underwhelming and boring. Blaaaaah.

You've got robots, you've got explosions. A combination that you would think could not go wrong, right? Wrong. Right. I've confused myself.

Truthfully, this adds nothing to the story of The Terminator saga. Similar to Rise of the Machines, but with ... (read more) You've got robots, you've got explosions. A combination that you would think could not go wrong, right? Wrong. Right. I've confused myself.

Truthfully, this adds nothing to the story of The Terminator saga. Similar to Rise of the Machines, but with Christian Bale. The only redeeming part is the CGI-Face of the original Terminator.

As for Mr. Bale. I feel he had more emotion screaming at the cinematographer. I'd hate to see what he would say to Craft Service wench. I know how I'd reply if I was her, though. "Excuse me, Mr. Batman. Could you stop yelling at me for a second to change your character from Bruce Wayne to John Conner".

I feel I was unfair to the Craft Service lady. She didn't deserve this.

I love Bale but I dunno.....

I've been spoilt with great films this year I've seen the brilliant District9, Let the right one in and Watchmen but Terminator The Last Salvation was a bit cheesy. When you think back to the original T1 it just does not have the same feel. the new m... (read more) I've been spoilt with great films this year I've seen the brilliant District9, Let the right one in and Watchmen but Terminator The Last Salvation was a bit cheesy. When you think back to the original T1 it just does not have the same feel. the new movie is like the start of a new franchise but pretty ordinary, T2 was good but the kid playing John Connor was irritating & T3 was shite! Liked the glimpse of Arnie in T4 though.

The Terminator franchise was built on thrills, imagination, narrative, emotion, believability, character development and watchability. Terminator Salvation has plenty of thrills.

Terminator Salvation feels both comfortable with its limitations and justly proud of its accomplishments.

Packed with two hours of non-stop action, it delivers everything you could want from a 'Terminator' film and more. Much more.

Few characters ever say more than a couple of sentences at a time, and when they do, it's often to assert the obvious.

McG's boyish sensationalism is inoffensive, justified by paying attention to how Wright preserves an unlikely human essence. Worthington is a find.