Head to Head – Terminator: Salvation

Perhaps it was because I saw it on a flight from Singapore to London and I was therefore in a state of near-catatonia, but I couldn’t help but wonder what the fanboys were thinking when they gave Terminator Salvation such bad reviews. I’m something of a Terminator fan from way back and I even loved Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (especially the ending), so you can imagine my disappointment when the reviews for Terminator Salvation came in with nary a positive comment to be heard. I wasn’t expecting much when I settled down to watch the film somewhere over Eastern Europe. To be honest, I was expecting one of my favourite franchises to be hung, drawn and quartered before my eyes, but instead I found myself watching an extremely enjoyable, if somewhat sanitised, action film from a director I had never paid much attention to before now. It’s not perfect: Christian Bale phones his performance in (this film is not about John Connor anyway) and it may be a bit too silly in places (oh no, GIANT FRIGGIN’ ROBOT coming! Why didn’t they just send one of those back to kill Sarah?) but it’s fun, dammit!

Nigel, I don’t want to alarm you, but I think you need to go see a doctor. I fear the shift in atmosphere has sent you into a state of delirium. As you said yourself, you watched Terminator: Salvation during a flight from Singapore to London. I myself have taken this very route in the past, during which I watched (and enjoyed) … The Pink Panther. It’s true!!! But Nigel, don’t you see! It’s the lightheaded experience of air travel that enhanced your viewing of the film, not the directorial prowess of … gulp … he who shall not be named. Terminator: Salvation is a painfully boring, action-free, brainless, gutless and heartless sequel to a franchise that deserved far better. My friend, next time you fly, I recommend you take along a book.