Terminator Salvation: 5 Wins and 3 Fails That Will Shock Fans!

Since its release in 2009, Terminator Salvation has found a place as the more moderately received film of the franchise. It’s not as exceptional as James Cameron’s initial Terminator movies, but it’s undeniably improved compared to the disappointing Terminator: Genisys and the unsuccessful reboot attempt, Terminator: Dark Fate. As more time passes and viewpoints evolve, there are indeed some positive aspects of Salvation that deserve recognition. However, it’s important to acknowledge that there are still significant flaws in the film that cannot be overlooked.

In the following, we outline five aspects where Terminator Salvation succeeded, and three areas where it fell short.

We’ll discuss five strengths of Terminator Salvation, as well as three areas where it struggled to meet expectations.

1) Cyborg Hybrids

The “Terminator” series has consistently explored the delicate boundary between humans and technology, yet none have done so as intriguingly as “Terminator Salvation.” The arrival of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a human-cyborg hybrid, added an exciting twist to the franchise that I regret was revealed in previews for the movie. Since “Salvation,” the series has not delved deeply into this idea, except perhaps in the “Terminator Zero” anime. Given our current rapid advancement in robotics and artificial intelligence, it would be captivating if future episodes revisited this theme, as it is increasingly relevant today.

2) Right: The Future War

One major topic of debate among fans following the first two Terminator films is the Future War led by John Connor and the resistance, depicted in the Terminator franchise. Fans were captivated by glimpses of this dystopian world ruled by terrifying machines, and they longed to see more of it. Director McG and his team excelled in creating the setting for the Future War in Terminator Salvation, bringing to life many discussions among fans about what this future world might look like. While James Cameron was constrained (by financial and visual limitations) in depicting a bleak, post-apocalyptic landscape, Terminator Salvation offered an excellent opportunity to bring this vision to life on screen.

3) Right: Mechanical Menaces

Parallel to the grand scheme of the design in the Future War was how Terminator Salvation showcased a diverse array of mechanical menaces from Skynet and its legion of machines. Ranging from lethal “Moto-Terminators” on motorcycles to the colossal “Harvester” mech capable of rounding up humans in large numbers, Salvation truly reveled in expanding the notion of Skynet’s robotic killers into a fully fleshed-out universe. None of the other sequels have managed to capture that degree of creativity and originality.

4) Right: Classic T-800

In simpler terms, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 character is a famous figure across all Terminator films. After the third movie in 2003, it seemed like Arnold might have retired from the series as he shifted focus to politics, becoming California’s governor from 2003 to 2011. Fans wondered how they would continue the story without the T-800 models resembling Arnold – but the directors of the film Salvation found a way to overcome this challenge effectively.

In the thrilling climax of the third act, John Connor (Christian Bale) and his future father, Kyle Reese, find trouble during their rescue mission when they encounter the latest model of Terminators – the T-800. The movie, “Terminator Salvation”, was a pioneer in utilizing advanced CGI technology, particularly face-swapping, to make bodybuilder Roland Kickinger appear as a convincing young Arnold Schwarzenegger, much like the one from the 1984 original film. The team decided to keep this transformation a secret until the movie’s release, creating an unexpected and groundbreaking cameo that marked a fresh start for filmmaking technology.

5) Right: Meet Kyle Reese

In conclusion, it’s worth noting that Terminator Salvation made an exceptional choice in casting Anton Yelchin as a younger Kyle Reese. Yelchin, a remarkable talent of his time, was undeniably suited for the part given its challenging predecessor played by Michael Biehn in Aliens. Although the portrayal of Kyle Reese’s storyline in Salvation may be open to debate, it is evident on-screen that Yelchin brings depth to the character. He adds nuances, such as his surrogate little sister relationship with Star, which helps us understand how he transformed into a formidable soldier defending humanity and becoming the harbinger of its future survival.

1) Wrong: Heart to Heart

The final scene in the movie “Terminator Salvation” has sparked much discussion among viewers. In this climactic battle, John Connor is fatally wounded by the T-800, but Marcus Wright steps up to continue the fight and save Connor’s life. In an unexpected turn of events, Marcus sacrifices his own human heart during a makeshift transplant on the battlefield, ensuring that John would live on. However, this ending leaves audiences puzzled as it doesn’t align well with the storyline presented earlier in the movie. The filmmaker appears to have intended for this ending to foreshadow why John Connor would eventually trust and rely on Terminators (as seen in “T2”), but the development of Marcus Wright’s character feels excessive and drawn out.

2) Wrong: Romantic Confusion

In recent times, movies often steer clear of conventional methods for portraying romantic relationships. Yet, when Terminator Salvation was initially released, few films explored the concept of platonic bonding. Unfortunately, this film also follows suit, featuring a subplot where Marcus Wright develops a relationship with Blair Williams (Moon Bloodgood), one of John Connor’s top resistance pilots. The chemistry between Moon and Sam Worthington is striking, but it’s tainted by the awkwardness of watching a human woman potentially getting close to a machine-man. This dynamic generated immature, titillating questions that the filmmakers likely didn’t intend to address, and felt incongruous in an otherwise somber sci-fi dystopian narrative.

3) Wrong: Softer Cut

It’s worth mentioning that the movie “Terminator Salvation” was initially met with debate due to a potential unseen director’s cut, similar to the recent release of “Zack Snyder’s Justice League”. Some fans are advocating for the distribution of the “McG Cut” of “Terminator Salvation”, which is said to have deviated from the PG-13 theatrical release in favor of a grittier, R-rated version that aligns better with the traditional style of “Terminator”. This implies that the theatrically released version might not be the optimal version of “Terminator Salvation”, and the director’s cut could elevate it to one of the most acclaimed films in the “Terminator” series.

You can stream various Terminator movies through Hulu, Sling TV, Roku, and Amazon Prime.

2025-05-22 05:12