© Warner Bros. Pictures

I know I’m late to the party but I’ve found it very hard to muster any kind of enthusiasm to post a review for this one.  It’s average in every kind of way.

The story revolves around the appearance of a mysterious man who doesn’t know what year it is, the discovery of a broadcast which can shut down the machines and Skynet, and John Connor’s search for Kyle Reese.  There’s some decent elements sprinkled in this mix, such as how Connor goes on to become the defacto leader of the resistance, but for the most part it’s just a very loose story as a means to join together an almost endless string of action sequences.

But that’s not the worst part.  The worst part is the crappy references to the awesomely fantastic Terminator 2.  First there’s the shitty use of the great Guns n Roses track “You could be mine” as a means to lure the motorcycle machines.  I don’t think I’ve heard that song on the radio in the last 10 years, so what are the odds that it’d be lying around on cassette in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by nuclear weapons?  Slim to none.  Then there’s the Arnie cameo as the lone terminator sent to kill Connor in the terminator factory.  For such an advanced entity, you’d think that Skynet would send every terminator in that place to make sure that Connor was killed.  After all, he’s the future of the resistance and the one thing standing in the way of victory for the machines.  But no, it thinks that one would be plenty even with the knowledge that the human-machine hybrid is on the way to help Connor.

I guess the only good thing I can say about this film is that the special effects are pretty decent and there’s some good action sequences, but it doesn’t even compare to the greatness of Terminator 2.  It just lacks the mood and feel that infused Terminator 2, and even though the action and effects in Terminator 2 were amazing, it’s this atmosphere which makes it what it is.

CONCLUSION
It was average.  Plain and simple.  From the nonexistent story to the shitty callbacks to previous films, it only succeeded in underwhelming me.  Not to mention the ludicrous notion that a helicopter can outrun a nuclear explosion.  Just like Terminator 3, this one is best left forgotten in the Terminator saga.  Stick to James Cameron’s efforts because they are two of the greatest action/sci-fi movies of all time.  McG should be shot for having the balls to attach the Terminator name to this piece of shit.

FINAL GRADE: D-