Daniel Cann

Well, for starters it has eschewed the time travelling of its predecessors, focusing on the not too distant future (2018). The war between humankind and the machines is in its full throes after ‘Judgement Day’ and John Connor (Christian Bale) is a rising leader of the resistance, not quite ‘The’ leader yet. He is assisted in his struggle by his wife Kate (Bryce Dallas Howard), and his lieutenants including Barnes (Common) and the feisty and independent Blair (played with passion by Moon Bloodgood). The plot sees Connor trying to track down his father Kyle Reese (played here by ‘Star Trek’s’ new Chekov: Anton Yelchin), the man who is destined to be sent back in time to protect Connor’s mother. Also pursuing Reese are the machines. The race is on and it is not just Connor’s future that is at stake but humankind’s future as well.

Sam Worthington as Marcus Wright deserves praise for his sensitive portrayal of a man who wakes up in an apocalyptic future to discover he is not who he seems to be in true ‘Frankenstein’s Monster’ style. His story and character arc is of as much importance and interest as Connor’s.

As you can probably guess, there is not much humour present in this one. There are no dry one-liners delivered by Arnold Schwarzenegger, as he is busy being the Governor of California. His image is used in a scene involving a T800 however. The film is not worse off for its lack of wit as it would have looked out of place amongst the chaos and the carnage and the world being portrayed.

The film brings to mind George Miller’s ‘Mad Max’ in style and look as Skynet machines like Harvesters and Moto-Terminators tear up the landscape looking to either destroy or enslave humans on the run in the desert. Visually the film is a triumph, you are totally immersed in this dystopian desert world and the pace leaves you no time to ponder.

There are also nods to ‘Blade Runner’ for style as well as to the previous entries in the series. Luckily it avoids being overly reverential and appears fresh and original as a consequence.

Bale may be a tad monosyllabic at times but the other characters that become entwined with the main story manage to lift everything. I found myself just as intrigued by Reese’s and Wright’s journeys as much as Connor’s. That is my only minor quibble in a film that is packed with incident, action and suspense. It otherwise deftly avoids making any wrong steps, vividly bringing to life a bleak future where people are being hunted to extinction by relentless machines and our only hope lies with the belligerent and unbowed resistance.

This will appeal to fans of the original and deserves to win over a new audience. The Terminator is back!