News From The Resistance: Skynet Base Destroyed

Terminator Salvation:
"The future is not set, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves."

Wow. That was pure awesomeness. Okay, so it wasn't as good as Star Trek, but I wasn't expecting it to be. TS is simply the closest any other sequel has managed to get to being as good as T2 and is much improved over T3.

All the elements were there and I had the feeling that the film was a rather large homage to the previous three films, while trying to start off it's own storylines. The continuity was also there, such as Connor's scar and Kate's pregnancy.

In terms of story I would have preferred it if Blair and Barnes had had more character development, but I guess that can come in time with this being the first of a new trilogy. There were times when I thought "Where are they going with this?" before I realised that the main plot was John Connor saving young Kyle Reese and thus the future as well. So really it hasn't deviated from the formula, McG has simply put a new twist on the "Person of importance who must be protected" element of the story. Which was a nice touch and was much better done than T3.

The acting was terrific and Christian Bale turned in an absolutley amazing performance as a fated mesiah who feels that he doesn't know what's going on anymore. I quote from the trailer "This isn't the war, my mother warned me about". Bryce Dallas Howard feels completely natural at his side offering much needed support. Seeing his fellow resistance soldiers rallying around him and drawing hope from one man is a great sight to behold.

Also, watch out for a cameo by everyone's favourite muscle-bound machine, and his catchphrase.

Overall, the film left me speechless. As a sequel it doesn't do much to reinvigorate the franchise, but works instead as a new stepping stone for the next one. The war has only just begun.

"I'll be back!"