Date watched: June 5th, 2009
Where? Cathay @ E!hub Downtown East
Movie-buds: Nina, Hakim and Syahmi

I was actually rather surprised that this film was enjoyable. After reading several scathing reviews, I was very worried going into this film. On the other hand, I have heard people saying that this installment of Terminator should not be missed. Hence, I entered the movie theater hoping for the best - trying to avoid any disappointments.


The fourth film in the Terminator series, this film revolves around two main characters. Resistance leader John Connor (played by Christian Bale) and Marcus Wright (played by Sam Worthington) as the cyborg. The truth is, I seriously have no idea what this film is all about. So, upon reading about it on the net after watching this, I soon learned that this movie traveled back in time before the first three films happened (correct me if I am wrong). It adapted the story like how George Lucas adapted it to Star Wars.

This film also introduces a young Kyle Reese from the original 1984 film, played by Anton Yelchin, as well as depicting the origin of the T-800 Model 101 Terminator. Yup, Anton Yelchin - the Russian from the recent blockbuster, Star Trek.

STORY-LINE
In 2003, Dr. Serena Kogan (played by Helena Bonham Carter) of Cyberdyne Systems convinces death row inmate Marcus Wright to sign his body over for medical research following his execution. A year later, the Skynet system is activated, perceives humans as a threat to its own existence, and eradicates much of humanity in the event known as Judgement Day. This film brings us forward to the year 2018, showing John Connor leading an attack by the Resistance on a Skynet base. John discovers human prisoners and the plans for the development of a new type of Terminator incorporating the human tissue. Although Skynet's been destroyed, Marcus emerges from the wreckage of the base and proceeds on foot to Los Angeles (LA).


Passing through the famous Hollywood sign and having to see LA down to its rubble, Marcus got rather confused as to what had happened. Little did he know, he was a cyborg himself. Passing through the ruins of LA, he came across a cyborg whose mission was to kill any figures with a beating heart in it. Not knowing what to do, Kyle Reese came to the rescue and brought him somewhere safe. There, he met a mute girl, Star (Jadagrace Berry) who was trying to run away from the cyborgs.


Kyle relates to Marcus the events of Judgment Day and the ensuing war between humans and machines. Hearing John's radio broadcast, the three left LA in search of the Resistance. They survived an attack by the machines, but Kyle, Star, and several other humans were taken as prisoners.

I personally love the whole chunk of this film. It grips my attention and I was hoping the best for the characters. And before I could think the "grip" was over, I was taken aback and it starts all over again. The sound and visual effects were awesome. It was heartwrenching at the same time - with the large machines shooting deadly lasers at the innocent.

Unfortunately, a pair of Resistance A-10s got shot down. Marcus, who managed to escape the abduction, locates downed pilot Blair Williams (played by Moon Bloodgood) - knowing that Blair could bring him to John's base. A magnetic land mine along the way wounded Marcus.


Attempting to save his life, the Resistance fighters discover that he is in fact a cyborg with human organs. Marcus believes himself to be human, demanding to be released so that he can save Kyle from Skynet, but John orders his destruction.

However, Blair released him and helped escape from the base. During the resulting pursuit, Marcus saved John's life from Skynet Hydrobots, and the two formed alliance - Marcus will enter Skynet's HQ and attempt to disable its defenses so that John can rescue Kyle.






He busted out from a storage facility and attacked John Connor. From that part of the film onwards, I got rather confused. Was the "Arnold" Cyborg built to kill John Connor? Was that why when John Connor was in the building, it came attacking him? I tried putting the pieces together on my own. Well, it makes sense though! Haha!


The fight scene at the end was just awesome. Skipped a heartbeat here and there but that was pretty much it. I soon began to question the storyline because it became rather unrealistic. They were at Skynet's HQ, so why isn't there large numbers of Cyborg attacking the intruders? What happened to the other cyborgs? Hmmmm...

Anyway, while battling with the T-800 model 101 Terminator, John was mortally wounded, but succeeds in destroying Skynet's base by rigging several Terminator nuclear power cells as explosive, detonating them as he, Marcus, Kyle and Star were airlifted out. Kate Connor (played by Bryce Dallas Howard), John's wife, tries to save John's life, but his heart was too damaged. Marcus offers his heart for transplant, sacrificing himself to save John.

The quote Marcus gave left an impact on me even after the movie ended. He said something about everybody deserving a second chance, and that he already lived for the second time.

It was something like, "Everybody deserves a second chance to live. I've had mine".

John could have avoided the fatal attack and let Marcus live. But oh well, the ending was great, yet nothing spectacular.

Oh! I read somewhere that it costs $200 million to produce this film. Fu-yoh! Expensive or what?! They managed to cover the costs and spare around $14 million to go around. Haha!

Lastly, my personal rating of this movie would be 3 out of 5 stars.


Cheers!