Terminator Salvation review

Terminator Salvation
Directed by: McG
Distributed: Warner Brothers

Saw this film a day before it was released.. how? I dunno, I was surprised just as much but to hell with that.
When I think of Terminator I think of two things... T-800 or Arnold Schwarzenegger. While this has both of those in one way or another it lacks the story that the first and judgment day had to support the action.
The positives of Salvation: The action sequences (which are abundant) are mind blowing and clear cut to keep you in the edge of your seat. I absolutely loved the new motor-terminators, the harvester (screw you Michael Bay), and the water snake T's. Sam Worthington. Wherever McG found this guy Hollywood needs to take notice. This guy, who I just found out is the lead in James Cameron's Avatar due out next year, is phenomenal in the role of Marcus Wright, a terminator who carries the exo skin of a convicted murder as well as his brain and heart. Those are the only organs Marcus Wright carries after the operation to make Wright one of Skynet. Worthington almost single-handedly saves the weak script by delivering his lines with guile and poise to win over the audience as the "good" terminator, a role Arnold accomplished in T-2. Even when regarded as a machine his acting is what makes the convincing arguement that the chosen ones are sometimes filled with enough emotion to evoke trust and compassion. Danny Elfman also does a great job in scoring, which I had my reservations at first because cmon.. this is Danny Elfman the man who normally does kooky Tim Burton films and stores his music in arthouse films at best. Then I remembered the great themes he had done in Spiderman, Desperate Housewives, the Flash tv series, and other contemporary projects. Oh and one more on that Arnold thing... (*Spoiler alert)

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... I had a big geek out moment when I saw Arnold (digital arnie) walk out to that iconic music and attack Christian Bale. Great choice by McG to insert the man in the story by having the T-800 trigger John Conner's emotionial button.

Now to the negatives... sigh.
I had HUGE... HUGE HUGE problems with the script. This film deserved so much more and all it got out of the dialogue was decent crap. By the way I took a look at the writers for this film and saw two names that made me cringe in Michael Ferris and John Brancato. For those of you who aren't familiar with these two let me just say one thing: Catwoman. Yes that Catwoman with Halle Berry, winner of many razzie awards I believe. Then I saw the team that concocted the story but not the script in Jonathan Nolan (The Dark Knight, Memento, Prestige) and Paul Haggis (Casino Royale, Million dollar Baby, Crash)... Are you effing kidding me?! These two should have been writing the script all the way, not the first two idiots who think sexual innuendos for every film is a necessity. With actors such as Christian Bale, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Anton Yelchin this film would have been a great film if given the dialogue believable and strong to boost this franchise in the right direction.
McG.. or whoever takes over for the next 2 in the inevitable trilogy needs to figure out that they have the talent, they damn sure have the action, all they need is the script.

Out of 10 fingers I give this a 5. And a 5 is being generous at best..