So Terminator Salvation then...

If there's one thing that annoyed me before the film had even begun, it was the rating. 12A. Thats right.... a 12. Immediately, this should ring alarm bells to anyone who has seen and loved the first two films. (Both being given 18 certificates on release). The whole point of these films were the combination of great effects for their time, and  the tense, scary psychological edge of your seat situations. Terminator 3 (another 12A) was an utter let down when it came to the latter, and I was praying that this would be recitified in the latest offering.

Unfortunately, despite some incredible visual & audio effects, and a decent soundtrack, once again the dark sci fi thriller has been reduced to an action film. The plot is there but cliche ridden, parts of the story / script are hideously cheesy or seemingly unnecessary, and you are pretty much guaranteed to find Christian Bale annoying on some level by the end of the film. (The Bat's gravelly voice seems to have found its way into John Conner's Larynx). In fact, I  found myself routing for Sam Wortington's Marcus Wright more than any other character.

Although I  can happily state the film is better than Rise of the Machines' twisty arms and legs, it still seems to lack the atmosphere and immersion of the first two movies.

I'm now off to write up a petition to beg for no more movie additions to the franchise.. or sign one of the many that inevitabily already exist.