Sequels have a tendency to completely destroy what made the original great. The matrix’s should be proof of that. And while the original Terminator is considered a classic to most, I feel the second one is where the series peeked. The long gap between these two good movies (19 years, and don’t talk to me about the third one cause let’s face it, that was just a cash grab and a awful one at that.) was time well spent to perfect the series.

Salvation picks up after Judgement day. We finally get to see the war in full swing against the machines. The story revolves around John connor (Christian Bale) as he tests out a new signal designed to shut down the machines as well as struggling to keep up with the evolution of the machines. Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) is a new character with a dark past who wakes up to find the new post-apocalyptic world and spends the whole movie trying to get back Kyle Reese from SkyNet.

I feel this is one of the strongest entries in the series. The writing and the acting in it are just as good as Judgement Day. I absolutely loved the new concept of the “terminators” in this one. They really evolved the concepts in this movie. From the way the Resistance fights and organizes attacks to the new types of machines. I really don’t want to give away to much of the movie, so I have to edge a fine line here. But If you take this movie in comparison to the first 3 movies, you’ll see what I’m talking about in terms of evolution. The ideology of the the series is so brilliant that to bring something new to the table takes alot of thought. (There is one Massive plot hole in the series that I will get to in a minute.) I loved how everything from the past 3 movies is brought into this. It’s like they control where the story can go, but even with the constants of the past actions they still find a way to make this movie fresh and original.

Even with as great as this movie is, there are a few downfalls. Bale yet again spreads himself massively thin. He plays Connor not as a brillant leader, but as the whinny kid who throws temper tantrums at the local Wal Mart. To often does he lose his bearing and just start screaming for no real reason. Then there are times where he just appears lost in the scenery. It’s kinda sad to watch him, cause he is a truly talented actor. But for as low as Bale brings the movie, Worthington more than makes up for him. He just brings this real fresh intensity to the movie. Some of the cliches of the series are here, and at times they are somewhat unnecessary. But that’s not really enough to discourage me from giving this movie the respect it deserves.

Now for the plothole of the series. Ok, so Kyle Reese is Connor’s father due to hooking up with Connor’s mother in the first one. So trying to keep this as basic as I can. Kyle Reese is ordered by John Connor to go back in time to protect Sarah Connor thus CREATING John Connor. So in theory, Connor never should have existed to give that order. This really has nothing to do with my review of the movie, it’s just something I’ve noticed and wanted to put out there for everyone to ponder.