The Hindu : Karnataka News : A special effects-stuffed, bloated extravaganza

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Sunday, Jun 28, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka

A special effects-stuffed, bloated extravaganza

Christian Bale in ‘Terminator Salvation’

Terminator Salvation (English)

Cast: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Helena Bonham-Carter, Anton Yelchin, Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard

Director: McG

What started off as a robust B-grade film, with bright colours, eighties hair and camp humour has now morphed into a bloated, special-effects stuffed extravaganza. Terminator Salvation, the fourth instalment of the iconic sci-fi franchise is set in the post-apocalyptic world of 2018. The machines in the defence systems of Skynet have, as we all know become “self-aware” and are busy making terminators to hunt and kill humans.

John Connor is leader of the resistance. His plans go awry with the appearance of the mysterious Marcus Wright. Also throwing a spanner in the works is Kyle Reese, who as all Terminator junkies know, is John’s father, the man who goes back from the future to save John’s mum, Sarah.

Directed by McG, who made his feature film debut with Charlie’s Angels, Salvation, is rather grim and can be completely enjoyed only if you are completely clued into all the “Terminator” lore.

Unlike the rebooted Star Trek film, Salvation does not have enough substance to stand on its own. Everything the film offers has been done before — from the crushed skull to the good terminator. This creates a feeling of déjÀ vu, which makes things even more confusing thanks to the film’s back-and-forth timeline.

That is not to say the film is not stylish. The sepia-toned colour palate that all futuristic films seem to favour is used to excellent effect in this film. The shots and framing are innovative without being out of the ordinary (the exploding chopper was eye-popping), while the stunts are cool without being wow. Of all the hardware, the coolest were the bikes — oh for one of those jam-busters for our city roads!

Of the cast Christian Bale looks grim and grunts most of the time as John Connor. Wonder which was the scene the director of photography mucked up that prompted the infamous meltdown. The three women — Moon Bloodgood as feisty Blair Williams, a resistance leader, Bryce Dallas Howard as John’s pregnant wife Kate (looks stunned) and Helena Bonham Carter (gnashing her teeth as the evil scientist) — form a trinity of creator, destroyer and preserver.

The original Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, makes an appearance in the virtual form as a work-in-progress looking suitably creepy. Sam Worthington plays the conflicted Marcus Wright with not much expression. Bale promises us that he will “be back,” and there is enough in the end of the movie to signal sequels. The question is do we want any more of this?

MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER

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