McG has a sure handle on the setpieces, which are typically big, bold, frenetic and exhilarating. It’s when the focus strays from fi ghting that niggles begin to creep in.

Mud-coated and desperate to fi gure out what happened to him post-death sentence. Marcus enjoys a full arc through the movie, from that quietly mysterious prison opening, through his reintroduction, staggering naked into frame, Matching his co-star’s intensity, the hitherto low-profile Aussie actor steps ably into a key role that gives him plenty to do.

Viewed by some as mankind’s prophesised saviour (cue audio cameo by Linda Hamilton), he’s seen by others as an annoying loose cannon, which spikes the plot with extra tension.īut for all of Bale’s growling, glowering, conflicted Connor moments, this is actually Sam Worthington’s film. Smartly, we’re shown tomorrow’s world before the man who will lead the Resistance takes up that position. John Connor’s efforts to ‘fight the power’ also engage, whether he’s trading fire with the marauding machines or butting heads with his own commanders (including Michael Ironside in a fun cameo) over decisions and tactics. Mash-up of snake, shark and alligator, to the towering, stomping Harvesters and soaring, roaring Hunter-Killers, Skynet’s forces are characters in themselves, making our heroes’ lives hell at every turn.įans will happily tick off the many references to what has come before, from a blast of Guns N’ Roses’ ‘You Could Be Mine’ (entirely apt given where it appears in the pic) to signature lines (Connor gets to say, “I’ll be back” without it sounding too cheesy or forced) and even some familiar beats during the final factory-based showdown. There’s been a major upgrade and expansion of murderous hardware: from the slithery Hydrobots that haunt lakes like a worst nightmare

Terminator salvation