Salivating Over TERMINATOR: SALVATION Trailer!

Despite the lapses in time/space science, I have always enjoyed the TERMINATOR series. To this point, it's been a muscular, man-style series, full of spectacular action set pieces, lioness-like heroines, and cynical brutality. The first in the series, 1984's THE TERMINATOR, introduced the world to director JAMES CAMERON'S high-octane, lushly-photographed directorial style. It also propelled star ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER into the stratosphere with this, his first iconic performance as the killer robot from the future. Sadly, the film doesn't hold up as well as the others in the series, thanks to a decidely eighties look and sound, and also featuring some horrible stop-motion compositing that nearly ruins the brilliant designs of STAN WINSTON. Still, the catchphrases work, and the MICHAEL BIEHN/LINDA HAMILTON chemistry is perfect. And there are loads of "whoa" action moments. Cameron returned to the series in 1991's TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY, inarguably the best in the series. Although the film has dated a bit, one is left to marvel at the astounding stunts and action sequences on display throughout. Even better is Hamilton, who bulked up in her return as the tough heroine, while Cameron shades the characters with depth and resonance. Arnold's Terminator is a hero this time around, and his character's "arc" is handled perfectly. But the greatest legacy of the film are the startling CGI effects, most of which still stand up to today's standards (is it my imagination, or do the CGI effects in TERMINATOR 2 and JURASSIC PARK seem more believable than the stuff we see today??). By 2003, Cameron was deep in the ocean when TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES came to theaters. In place of Hamilton, we had CLAIRE DAINES whine and scream her way through the film, while NICK STAHL stared vacantly. The new terminator, a lethal female robot known as the TX, was no replacement for Arnold in the first film or ROBERT PATRICK in the second, but KRISTANNA LOKEN does an okay job with the silly part. More impressive is a 50 year old Arnold returning to this high-action role as another good Terminator. And I still say that this film has one of the better car chases on record. Gotta love real stunts!!! Anyway, the new film TERMINATOR: SALVATION brings golden boy CHRISTIAN BALE to the role of John Connor next year. Here is the teaser trailer, presumably to show in front of THE DARK KNIGHT this weekend:

A few thoughts ... First of all, why does Bale growl every line he has ever uttered on film? Does this guy not have any inflection in his voice? Does he have any emotion whatsoever? Is he, in fact, human?? I love the editing of this trailer. It's mechanical, disruptive, and broken ... and then it slowly morphs into the classic Terminator theme music. BRILLIANT! There is little to say about the imagery, considering that it is quickly shown and not of any particular substance. The world looks appropriately scarred and battered, and the film seems to have a decent tone thus far. While concerns linger that the filmmakers will continue to screw up the timeline of this franchise, this is a pretty good first look at an eagerly-awaited film.