On CLIPS In June, 2009
TERMINATOR SALVATION

In a bleak future, John Connor (Christian Bale) must save the life of Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) in order to survive.

TRIVIA: Who played Kyle Reese in 1984's "The Terminator"?

ROG'S VIEWPOINT
        (2 CAMS)     RATED PG-13

John Connor (Christian Bale) and a group of survivors wage a battle against killer machines after Skynet launches a nuclear attack. The war intensifies with the arrival of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), whose only past memory is of being on death row. Now Connor must decide Wright's fate while trying to rescue young Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) - John's father. With so many plot twists, "Terminator Salvation" should be an intellectual masterpiece. But sadly, it's mostly brawn with very little brain. Director McG ("Charlie's Angels") covers the entire movie with McAction, leaving the story by the wayside. He blows up enough stuff to fill several Michael Bay epics. Most of the cast members appear to be just going through the motions. Christian Bale grunts and growls from beginning to end, while apparently staying in character off-screen. The women don't fare any better. Moon Bloodgood sees plenty of action as resistance fighter Blair Williams, but Bryce Dallas Howard has too few scenes as Connor's wife Kate. Helena Bonham Carter appears briefly as Dr. Serena Kogan, who is connected to both Wright and Skynet. Jane Alexander is almost entirely lost as a human survivor. The acting kudos go to the gritty and emotional performance of Sam Worthington with honorable mention to Anton Yelchin's fearless Kyle Reese. We'll see more of Worthington in "Avatar" and Yelchin is flying around space as Chekov in "Star Trek". I sat through the disappointing "Terminator Salvation" waiting to see if Arnold returns and wishing for the return of TV's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles". The movie's tagline "The End Begins" could be prophetic for the theatrical series - it may or may not be back.