Reviews
I don’t much believe in the film term ‘Instant Classic’. Surely that’s a contradiction? How can something be proven to be a classic film, when it’s only just been released? Answer – It can’t. A classic is something, which is able to stand the test of time. It’s painfully obvious to even the smallest brained of mammals, that the one item required to stand the test… is time.
Despite this… When the term is used, I know exactly what is meant. They expect the film to be a classic in 20+ years. All good and fair, except because every other film release is given this tag to slap on the DVD, it ruins the term for everyone else.
The Terminator celebrated its quarter century anniversary this year, and although not strictly an instant classic, the comments being made at the time, certainly now seem more prophetic than most. That and the second instalment Terminator 2: Judgement Day together created a filmic institution on which millions of young action/sci-fi fans were reared.
As great as the first two were… there was always something very obvious missing. So much time had been spent building up this great war between man and machine. The Terminator (Killing Machines) that will ‘Never Stop’, Vs the Human Race, all of what was and will be for all of existence – which we never got to see.
This is what Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines should have been – to complete the trilogy. Instead the 3rd film was set as the final attempt to stop the Machines before they start. The main problem with R.O.T.M, was that it was largely useless. Judgement Day told us that whatever they do... the future events will happen. Perhaps a kind of divine fate then, that the human race is destined… designed even, to sink into a bottom-less pit of self-destruction.
So why do we need another film set before the actual judgement day? We already know how it’s going to end. John Connor isn’t even trying to stop it anymore… He’s got his head in the sand.
It is best therefore to think of the Terminator Series as a Trilogy (not a Quadrilogy – and not only because ‘Quadrilogy’ isn’t a word). On that basis, let’s say the second ends, Cyberdyne Systems is destroyed… but no-one believes it will actually stop SkyNet. Skip to the third… after the first Nuclear attacks, the middle of the war, and the uprising resistance. Perfect.
In this case, as the third instalment of the Terminator Trilogy, Terminator 4 (still with me?) features John Connor (Christian Bale) fighting in the Underground Army, shooting/destroying/and generally outwitting Terminators on a regular basis. Just as Connor and his army pals perfect a new weapon – some kind of Radio Transmitter Disrupter, which can apparently control the Machines, but just seems to kill them. Through some sort of post-apocalyptic press-release he also finds out he is Cyborg Enemy No.2. Who is No.1? Who other than Kyle Reese (Connor’s mate he sent back to become his father – which always seemed weird to me. Sending your mate back in time to fuck your mum).
Simple enough plot. Connor has to save both Kyle Reese (who is the leader of the L.A. faction of The Resistance – Just him and some girl) as well as destroy the SkyNet base with a radio.
The film runs very nicely, keeps itself pumped up with action, remains in a similar gritty style to the original 2 (we’re denying the third exists). There’s enough excitement and humourous additions to fulfil anyone’s requirements.
The only problem with the movie… it doesn’t end. I’m not going to give away the ending…. But I’d love to see a resounding yes or no. Either all the humans die, or all the machines die. This is a good film don’t get me wrong, but there shouldn’t be another. (which there certainly will)…
When I’m sat in the cinema in a couple of years time, watching Terminator 5: Resistance – or whatever they call it, even if it’s just as good as this… I’ll spend most of the time sighing, thinking “When’s it gonna end?”
Terminator Salvation - Brought to you by James Wormald -