'Terminator Salvation' review

Christian Bale (Credit: Richard Foreman/Warner Bros.)

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It's 2018, and John Connor (Christian Bale) leads the resistance against killer machines that make Transformers look friendly. Other than, you know, saving the human race, Connor also must save the teenage version of his father, Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin, effective), and figure out what's up with mysterious, brawny Marcus (Sam Worthington in a star-making performance), whose agenda still isn't fully clear when the movie ends.

The buzz: No more B-movie sci-fi storytelling or comic relief; “Salvation” is an all-out, square-jawed, post-apocalyptic war. That may sit well with fans who found 2003's "T3" too jokey, while others—who may or may not be upset at the recent cancellation of Fox's "The Sarah Connor Chronicles"—may find the persistent seriousness in "Salvation" as angering as, say, a director of photography getting in Bale’s way.

The verdict: This is a tough, strong movie, loaded with exciting action sequences and paced well so the dust has time to settle before the next explosion. Thing is, some muscular beings have brains, and "Salvation" isn't one of them. For all its noise not much really happens in the story; featured supporting actors like Bryce Dallas Howard, Moon Bloodgood and Common don't have much to do; and few characters come into focus, particularly Connor, who Bale does nothing to develop and plays like an only slightly less grumbly Bruce Wayne.

Did you know? Kyle looks on the bright side about eating two-day-old coyote because, for what it's worth, it's better than three-day-old coyote. A nice bit of optimism that also proves fine coyote is, in fact, nothing like a fine wine.

Video: Watch Matt's review of 'Terminator Salvation'

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