*This review contains some spoilers, but no more than what are revealed in the trailers.
Who would've thought that a Terminator film would end up feeling like a B-movie? The franchise was once known for its big flashy action sequences that were as fun as they were thrilling. In Terminator Salvation there's still plenty of action, but little fun to be had. The washed-out color palette, which works well for the post-apocalyptic setting, contrasts starkly with James Cameron's more colorful approach to action. The effect is that everything just feels a bit dull. The characters take a backseat to action--another thing that never happened in past entries in the Terminator series. The film feels alienating at times--keeping the audience detached from the characters. This is rarely a good sign, and Terminator Salvation is not an exception. ...read more