Terminator Salvation, The Next Chapter
A Preview of Upcoming Blockbuster and Brief History of the Franchise
Mar 25, 2009
Released in May 2009, Terminator Salvation looks to be as epic and explosive as it’s predecessors. But in this newest addition to the long running series, a few traditions have been broken.
For one thing, the film’s main star isn’t Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has been affiliated with the Terminator movies since their very beginning (though he does provide some voice acting). Secondly, it’s the first film not to be set in the familiar surroundings of modern day earth. Instead, the story takes place in a war-ravaged future, years away from the present. Judgment Day has happened, the machines are in control, and only one man and his unlikely allay can liberate the human race from eventual extinction.
Terminator Salvation: The Latest Instalment.
Dark Knight and American Psycho star Christian Bale assumes the role of John Connor (seen originally as a rebellious youngster played by Edward Furlong in Terminator 2: Judgment Day- and later by Nick Stahl in Terminator 3: Rise of the machines) a man destined to lead mankind in their struggle against the tyranny of Skynet and their ruthless mechanical dominance over the planet earth.
In Salvation, John Connor must strive to assume his prophetic leadership role as the war between man and machine reaches explosive new heights. Along the way, he’ll meet Marcus Wright- played by Sam Worthington- an anomalous cybernetic life form with the mind of a human being. As their lives converge, the two warriors must uncover the deadly secrets of past and present in order to survive the oncoming terrors of the future.
The Origins of Terminator
The Terminator franchise has given life to 4 films, a TV series and numerous computer game and comic/ novel spin offs. The saga originally began in 1984, when writer and director James Cameron approached studios with a screenplay he’d written, telling the story of a ruthless killer cyborg sent from the future to assassinate the mother of an influential resistance fighter. Already showing an impressive resume of film related talent, Cameron was swiftly given permission to direct his own creation, giving him nearly full creative control over the film's outcome.
Following several auditions including Aliens star Lance Henrikson and controversial ex- American footballer, O J Simpson, the role of the evil metal humanoid was eventually given to Austrian body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose Hollywood acting career rose to unprecedented heights after his menacing notoriety in the film. The movie also starred Cameron’s wife-to-be, Linda Hamilton as the Terminator’s prey, Sarah Conner, and Michael Biehn as future freedom fighter Kyle Reese.
With the aid of effects legend Stan Winston, the film contained stunning special/ make up effects, and gave rise to the iconic scary red-eyed metal endoskeleton now synonymous with the series.
Resulting Sequels
The 1992 sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day raised all the standards set by the first film, with a bigger budget, deeper storyline, and nearly twice as much action, the film recast Arnie as a protagonist counter part to his original role, this time on a mission to protect a young John Conner from the deadly T-1000, (played by Robert Patrick) a newer meaner terminator with the power to liquefy his body and change his appearance. It is one of the few movie sequels regarded as being as equally good as the original.
The 2003 follow up Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was Arnie’s last acting role before his political career as Governor of California. It was also the first movie not to have James Cameron’s involvement. The film also introduced the first female terminator, played by Kristanna Loken, as the deadly T-X. T3's open ending can be considered a prelude to the events in Terminator Salvation.
The Significance of Terminator
Since its original conception in the early 80’s, the Terminator saga has always maintained a high level of quality and technical proficiency- from the stunning model work of Stan Winston, to the ground breaking CGI used to create the T-1000, and the unrivaled elaborateness of the action set pieces in all the films. Audiences can expect more from a Terminator film than from the average action/ sci-fi blockbuster.
The franchise has also kept above its imitations by upholding those small underlining themes that turn a good movie into a great one. Alongside their stunning explosive and futuristic appearance, Terminator films have provided messages of hope and survival, of endurance and perseverance against seemingly insurmountable odds. More importantly, they have been about making the right choices, and understanding the responsibility and power of those choices in the years to come. Not just brainless science fiction, Terminator is a message to humanity saying. “Don’t give up just yet!”
As Sarah Connor- John Connors mother- says in the closing moments of Terminator 2 Judgment Day: “If a machine, a terminator, can understand the value of human life, perhaps we can too.”
Terminator Salvation is released May 21st 2009.
 |
