In the previous three Terminator films, the story and the action has focused around the conception of John Connor and his early years before the rise of the machines. The first film, which aired in 1984, and the two that followed, starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as a machine at first bent on killing Kyle Reese, Connor’s father, or protecting his son.

The latest installment, Terminator Salvation, places the story in the future and focuses on an adult John Connor leading the resistance after Skynet has destroyed most of humankind in a nuclear holocaust. Adding another layer to the saga is Connor’s determination to find Kyle Reese, a teenager, and protect him until he can send him back in time to ensure Connor’s own birth. This is the first film that both characters Connor and Reese have appeared together and this also is the latest appearance of Reese, who was only in the first film. And, this is the first film in the franchise to receive a PG-13 rating—all of the rest were rated R because of violence.

Terminator Salvation keeps the saga’s continuity through a script written by John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris who co-wrote the 2003 screenplay for Terminator 3. They are experienced at bringing character and technology to the screen through previous films they have co-written such as Catwoman and The Net.

New to the franchise is director McG who took the helm of remaking the Charlie’s Angels concept into fresh films for this generation. His direction focused on Christian Bale’s iron gutsyness that he brought to the role of John Connor, pitting him against a strong but very feminine Moon Bloodgood (Eight Below and the ill-fated TV series The Journeyman) who played Blair Williams, another freedom fighter who helps him locate Reese and some other humans the machines have captured. Bale is both brooding and action-oriented, offering a grittier performance than his more polished but equally legendary roles in Dark Knight and Batman Begins.

In true Terminator tradition, there also is a machine/human dilemma. This one comes in the form of Marcus Wright, played by Sam Worthington (Rogue, Great Raid), who offers yet another type of android.

Anton Yelchin, whom we saw as Ensign Chekov in the new Star Trek this year, offers us a fresh look at Kyle Reese. Sans Russian accent, I believed this character and loved his risk-taking and his protection of young fellow survivor, Star, played by a new actor Jadagrace, who has one of the most innocent faces with very expressive eyes.

Two other performances added much to this film. The first is Helena Bonham Carter’s rendering of Dr. Serena Kogan, the mad scientist who created the new machine/human Marcus Wright. When removed from her roles in innocent period pieces, no one can quite do creepy like her as her roles in
Sweeney Todd, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, Frankenstein, and Big Fish attest.

And no sci-fi film could every be the same without Michael Ironside, who plays General Ashdown. He’s been in just about every B sci-fi movie in the past three decades and always is good for a heartily evil or stubbornly wrong character. I just love when he shows up. In this case, General Ashdown fit the

stubbornly wrong but I’ll die being wrong character.

One note, though, this is the first of the Terminator films that did not have Arnold Schwarzenegger prominent in the film. Terminator 3 was Schwarzenegger’s final starring role before becoming governor of California, and though he was asked to appear briefly in this one, opted out because he was too busy trying to bail out the economy of his state. His visage did appear in one scene as seemed to be a CG rendering of his very recognizable face.

All in all, Terminator Salvation was a good action flick, but it’s not great literature nor does it have striking characterizations. It does continue a really good sci-fi story where fans dig deeper into the myth of John Connor.

Beer Pairing: Tipping our hats to the original Terminator star, we recommend Augustiner Brau Maximator, a Munich doppelbock with a sweet caramelized malt nose and flavors of raisins, chocolate, and bitter hops. Though dark and rich, it is a light, airy brew allowing room for more.