McG's Terminator: Salvation (2009)

For many action fans, the first two Terminator films remain the gold standard of action-oriented science fiction. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, on the other hand, was an unfortunate money-making exercise which is best forgotten. Which brings us to the fourth film in the franchise, Terminator: Salvation. Are McG and Christian Bale able to recapture the glory of the original and its sequel, or is it closer in quality to the awful Rise of the Machines?

Terminator: Salvation is set in the year 2018, allowing us to finally see the war between humanity and Skynet. Right? Well, not exactly. Instead, the film shows the opening act of the war, serving as a prelude to the all out war glimpsed at the beginning of Terminator 2. This is a mistake, as fans have been clamoring to see the war for years. That said, there is still a story to be told here. But is that story any good? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is a resounding "No".

The main problem is that John Conner, as played by Christian Bale, is not the main character of this film. Instead the character with the most screen time is Marcus, a death row inmate who wakes up 15 years after his execution to find that the world has been taken over by machines. How this mysterious interloper comes in to play is best left a secret. And it would be a pretty good secret, if not for the fact that every single trailer and preview spoils it immediately. Marcus is played by Sam Worthington, the supposed next big thing who will also be seen in James Cameron's Avatar later this year. Worthington does a decent job, managing to convey the humanity and toughness required, but he fails to leave much of an impression when all is said and done. Incredibly, the same can be said of Christian Bale as the leader of the resistance, John Conner. It's not that Bale is terrible in the role, just that he isn't given much to do outside of scream, fire automatic weaponry, and bark orders in his unfortunate Batman rasp. This is mainly the fault of the script, which was supposedly rushed into production due to the writer's strike, and I have no doubt that Bale can prove to be a fantastic Conner if given a proper story arc in the already announced sequel. Anton Yelchin does a great job as a teenage Kyle Reese, bringing the right mixture of vulnerability and aggression to the character originally portrayed by Michael Biehn. The rest of the cast is filled with solid actors, however they are all wasted in nothing bit parts and thus not really worthy of discussion.

Overall the acting is very spotty, which may be due more to a weak script than anything. And boy, I am not kidding about the weak script. When the film ends, you realize that the story was in fact superfluous. It didn't even need to be told. As far as I'm concerned, we could have skipped right to the events of Terminator 5. Yes, McG can direct action and he can direct it well. The numerous action sequences are all quite exceptional and really the film's lone saving grace. There are corny moments, choppy cuts, and plot holes galore and it's clear that McG, while he had good intentions, just doesn't have the directing chops to handle a film which needs equal measures of action and heart. Another problem is the relative lack of terminators, which is puzzling given the name of the franchise. The majority of the machines are large monstrosities that seem as though they were created at random, perhaps due to the recent success of films such as Transformers. I think I speak for everyone when I say, "More terminators please."

This review has been almost entirely negative, and much of this is due to the unfair expectation that I, and many others, heaped upon the film before it had even gone into production. The bottom line is that it's a middling effort with fantastic action and little else. There's plenty of promise displayed on screen, from Bale and Yelchin to McG's undeniable eye for visuals, all of which make it even harder to admit that Terminator: Salvation is the first big disappointment of the summer season. Here's hoping that the sequel will benefit from a much better screenplay and a tighter focus. It's not rocket science. Give the people what they want -- John Conner kicking ass in an all-out war with Skynet and the machines. If you're thinking about seeing Terminator: Salvation in theaters, do yourself a favor and see Star Trek instead. Maybe McG, Bale, and Co. should do the same. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009)

I have a confession to make. Growing up, I was a Star Wars kid. Star Wars was filled to the brim with accessible action, good vs. evil elements, and cool looking aliens that instantly attracted me to the trilogy of films. I never really gave Star Trek a chance. I knew that there was plenty to like about the other sci-fi phenomenon, but I was too busy with Luke, Leia, and Han to really give a damn about a bunch of squares in tight shirts. Indeed, Star Wars was my holy grail of sci-fi cinema ... until 1999. As we all know, the prequel trilogy was terrible. Great special effects and action were weighed down by awful acting and even worse writing. Star Wars had been turned into a low-rent space opera. George Lucas tried to make a shiny new addition to the franchise while keeping the core concepts and spark of his original films, but failed miserably. If he ever decides to give it another shot, his first order of business should be to call J.J. Abrams.

Abrams' resume as a director is a bit thin, but in a short amount of time he has shown a creative flair nearly unrivaled in Hollywood today. We all know about the television sensation Lost, but to me, the real precursor to Abrams' work on Star Trek was Mission: Impossible III. Abrams took a moribund franchise that was basically on life-support and breathed new life into it with startling efficiency. The film was well constructed and full of excellent and creative action sequences which seemed to arise relatively naturally for such a film. Despite its reported budget of $150 million, this reboot of Star Trek feels much the same way. The Phantom Menace, this is not.

The film opens with a breathtaking sequence in which a monstrous mining vessel attacks a lone Starfleet ship. It is the setting for the birth of James T. Kirk and is marvelously effective, not only at introducing us to this newly re-imagined universe, but at setting a tone for the two hours that follow. This is a character-driven film, despite all of the great effects and action. I'd heard that Star Trek was more character-driven than Star Wars. Now, I can see why. What follows is a funny, exciting, emotional, and wondrous tale of the origins of Kirk, Spock, and the U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew. The film is accessible to newbies like me, while retaining all of the elements that endeared the original franchise to fans all over the world. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto star as Kirk and Spock, respectively, and each actor knocks it out of the park. My only previous experience with Pine was as a raving neo-Nazi in the awful Smokin' Aces, but any doubts I had were quickly erased as he exhibits just the right amount of swagger, courage, and humor needed to portray an immensely likable hero. Quinto is also excellent as Spock. His performance conveys a wisdom which seems to elevate him above the oftentimes chaotic events and characters that surround him. It also helps that he looks the part. Indeed, the audience will even get a chance to compare him to the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy.

The rest of the cast is great as well, although since this is really the origin story of Kirk and Spock, the supporting cast doesn't get all that much to do. Still, it is worth mentioning Karl Urban as Bones McCoy and Bruce Greenwood as Captain Pike as both actors turn in performances that leave you wishing they had more screen time. Eric Bana is tasked with playing the villain, Nero, and it is an interesting role. This is not an evil genius out to conquer the galaxy. He is not motivated by greed or thoughts of galactic domination. No, he is just a miner, albeit a very angry and homicidal miner who has come from the future. Nero provides a very believable threat to Starfleet and our heroes and Bana acquits himself well in a rare chance to play the bad guy.

There is plenty of action, more than I anticipated in fact, and the visual effects are stunning. Many of the action sequences even manage to include some subtle nods to the importance of science in the Star Trek universe, such as the dead silence of space during an explosion-filled battle. Although I don't have a history with the franchise, I get the feeling this is how Star Trek is meant to be. Grandiose spectacle with some science to back it up. Thrilling action with characters the audience actually cares about. And somewhat of a surprise to me -- a healthy dose of humor, as well. A sequel has already been announced and I'm not surprised. Star Trek plays like the opening act in what should be a very satisfying series of films. As a fan of not just science fiction, but movies in general, I can only hope that this rebooted Star Trek franchise will "live long and prosper." Judging by the quality of this film, that shouldn't be a problem. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Looking ahead to Whatever Works

Attention fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, and Woody Allen. Larry David is starring in the new Woody Allen comedy. Yes, you heard me right. I remember hearing about Whatever Works some time ago, but there wasn't much news to be had and it quickly dropped off of my radar. Well, the trailer has just been released and it looks hilarious. Larry David is a comedy god and Woody Allen, when he's on his game, can make comedies with the best of them. Consider this a late addition to my must see summer movie list. Whatever Works will be released June 19th and you can check out the trailer below.

Anticipated Films of Summer 2009

With this past weekend's release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the summer box office is officially open for business. Over the next four months, countless films will be released, many with a heavy emphasis on action and comedy. Here's a look at the films which you should watch out for this summer:


Star Trek (May 8)
Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive and, from the looks of the trailer, J.J. Abrams is poised to deliver a shiny new Star Trek filled with great effects, action, and acting. George Lucas, you might want to pay attention to that last one. I've never even seen an episode of Star Trek, but that won't stop me from lining up for what looks to be not only one of the most exciting movies of summer, but one of the smarter ones, too.


The Brothers Bloom (May 15)
Honestly, I don't know a whole lot about The Brothers Bloom, but critic after critic has been raving about this snappy little con flick. The great cast promises top-notch acting and don't you think people will need a break between all of the explosions of Star Trek and Terminator?


Terminator: Salvation (May 21)
Christian Bale looks to continue his incredible run with the latest entry in the Terminator franchise. Bale always brings his A-game, but I'm a bit skeptical of McG as a director. After all, this is the guy who brought us the Charlie's Angels films (if you can even call them films). That said, the trailers look intriguing and Bale is probably the best actor today at picking scripts. Can you even remember the last bad movie this guy was in?


Up (May 29)
Pixar. Honestly, at this point that should be all any self-respecting film fan needs to know. As expected, early buzz is pointing towards Up being yet another triumph along the lines of Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Wall-E.


Moon (June 12)
Sam Rockwell stars as the lone worker on, you guessed it, the moon. It's a tall task to ask any actor to carry an entire movie largely by himself. Luckily, Sam Rockwell has acting chops to spare. Add gorgeous visuals and a mind-bending sci-fi story to what is sure to be a great performance and you have, along with Star Trek, the summer's can't-miss science fiction film.


Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 24)
Yes, Michael Bay is the polar opposite of such respected auteurs as Fellini, Coppola, Scorsese, and Mann. That said, there is one thing that Bay does better than just about anyone else on the planet. He blows stuff up. He uses copious amounts of slow motion. He blows stuff up. He discards all elements of proper storytelling. Did I mention he blows stuff up? Seriously, the first film was beyond stupid, but it was also a whole lot of fun. The sequel promises more gratuitous robot action and more gratuitous shots of Megan Fox. Questions, anyone?


The Hurt Locker (June 26)
All you have to do is check out my preview below for what I hope is the best modern war film since Black Hawk Down. Jeremy Renner, Guy Pierce, David Morse ... what a great cast. It's refreshing to see a different take on the tired war genre. I'd imagine there aren't many movies out there about bomb squads in Iraq. Along with Moon, this is the lowest-profile film on the list, but that shouldn't discourage you from seeing it. It's quite possible that they will be the two best films of summer when all is said and done.


Public Enemies (July 1)
Depp. Bale. Mann. This is my most anticipated film of the summer. Period. It's been too long since Johnny Depp played it cool. He's given us three rounds of Jack Sparrow (two too many), a bizarre take on Willy Wonka, and a homicidal barber since his last truly slick role as George Jung in Blow. Now I understand that Johnny Depp is the king of weird, but he can also play it cool better than just about any actor working today. This is why I'm so excited to see his take on John Dillinger in Michael Mann's latest crime epic. Throw in Christian Bale and an excellent supporting cast consisting of Billy Crudup, Channing Tatum, Marion Cotillard, David Wenham, Giovanni Ribisi, and Stephen Dorff and you have the recipe for the first flat-out crime drama masterpiece in several years.


Bruno (July 10)
Sacha Baron Cohen is back. 2006's Borat was over the top, controversial, and absolutely hilarious. I don't know if I've ever laughed harder during a movie. Borat has been retired, but only to make room for another character that long-time fans will be familiar with: Bruno, the flamboyant Austrian fashion writer. The buzz is that Cohen went even further than Borat with this film, putting himself in genuinely dangerous situations (think the rodeo scene from Borat multiplied by 1,000). Bruno is my pick for the best comedy of the summer, although some Apatow guy might change that a few weeks later (see below).


Funny People (July 31)
At long last, the third film from newly crowned comedy god Judd Apatow is here. Featuring an incredible cast, including Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Eric Bana, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, and Jason Schwartzman, Funny People promises to continue Apatow's unrivaled blend of comedy and heart. The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up both had something relatively unique with the genuinely good-natured undercurrent that ran beneath all of the weed jokes, nudity, and Munich references. Combine the can't-miss Apatow brand with Adam Sandler getting back to adult comedy and you have an unstoppable summer hit. While it might not be the most gut-bustingly hilarious film of the summer, I can guarantee three things about Funny People right now: It's going to be funny as hell, it's going to have way more heart than your typical comedy, and it's going to make a boatload of cash.


Inglorious Basterds (August 21)
A perfect finish to what looks to be a great summer of movies, Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds is the only film that I'm looking forward to as much as Public Enemies. A Tarantino-directed World War II film starring the always excellent Brad Pitt about a small squad of Jewish soldiers tasked with killing as many Nazis as possible. I ask you, how can that go wrong? Now, I know that there are those who hate, and I mean absolutely detest, Death Proof. I can understand this, but even if you hated Death Proof, just take a look at QT's oeuvre: Reservoir Dogs (classic), Pulp Fiction (classic), Jackie Brown (criminally underrated classic), and the Kill Bill films, which while not classics, were still excellent and well-made pictures. Brad Pitt is quickly turning into the movie star of his generation and this looks to be another great film for both Tarantino and Pitt.