Terminator Salvation 20Min Preview & First Look At More Concept Art!!

By Ron Henriques on January 12, 2009

"He turned it around, he brought us back from the brink. His name was Connor. John Connor.

--Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese in "The Terminator" (1984)

As a die-hard fan of James Cameron's original "Terminator" films, I wasn't too happy when the franchise landed in hands other than his. Cameron had not only crafted a unique sci-fi action series, but one that excelled in dramatic material. The films stood apart from most sci-fi features because first and foremost they told a great story and featured dimensional characters. I was absolutely furious when the third film landed in the hands of director Jonathan Mostow and the final result felt like nothing more than a recreation of what we'd seen earlier.

Time has actually been kind to Mostow's movie and catching bits and pieces of it on cable recently, I realized the picture ain't bad. Though it was a rehash, "Terminator 3" really had no direct effect on the story or the franchise. Released twelve years after "T2" all it did was bring the series back into public consciousness (and maybe help get Schwarzenegger elected Governor of California) and that's a good thing.

When rumors surfaced of a fourth film I was immediately against it because A: Arnold was obviously too busy to do another and B: the series had run its course. Then I heard that the film would be set in the distant future, years after "Judgment Day", the event where the machines initially attempted to destroy humanity with nuclear weapons. Former series producer Gale Anne Hurd had stated years earlier that if she and Cameron had made another film, it might be set in this time period. Okay, that's not bad. Finally seeing mankind's war against the machines might work if done right. But the story would obviously lie with John Connor and how he brought humanity "back from the brink."

Time went by and then I heard the Christian Bale had signed on to play Connor. Whoa! That's some major news. Bale is perhaps the greatest actor of his generation and though he doesn't have the star power of say Will Smith or Tom Cruise (at least not before "The Dark Knight") he's known for taking risks and taking on quality projects, sometimes at personal risk to himself. (See "The Machinist"). Either Bale has sold out and is in it for the money or director McG and the producers approached him with some quality material.

Thankfully it was the latter, though it didn't begin that way. McG admits that when he was approached for the project, he didn't want to ruin a series that meant a lot to him as a fan and initially turned it down. He didn't start his presentation by saying he never liked Terminator much like another filmmaker recently started his with the words "I never liked Star Trek." McG is a real geek and fanboy of this material. At first the story wasn't really working so he brought aboard "The Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan's brother Jonathan who had co-wrote that film and the original story for 'Memento'. Nolan has a sort of "shorthand relationship" with Bale who asked that if the script could be played straight on the stage without the aid of visual f/x he would commit to it.

McG has been getting a lot of flack since his 'Charlie's Angels' days not to mention his stage name. The guy is no dummy, he's churned out at least one blockbuster and knows his way around a movie set, its just that he doesn't have too many quality films under his belt. No one gave him credit for trying to tackle something different with the recent football drama "We Are Marshall" and though the film was no masterpiece its a nice little piece of work. Hearing that Bale and Nolan (as well as co-star Sam Worthington of the upcoming Cameron project 'Avatar') were working along with McG to craft a great story gave me confidence in his abilities long before I saw a frame of film. After seeing a few minutes of footage this week all that I will say is that my support for the director and the production has tripled.

McG is a laid back type of guy who likes to get right to the point and will tell a joke and occasionally use a little profanity to put you at ease. Though he may seem like an old college buddy you knew, it's impressive how much confidence he has in his latest film. He's a Terminator fan just like the rest of us and doesn't want to screw this up. All he is after is telling a compelling dramatic story that just happens to be hidden inside and action picture about giant killer robots hunting humans.

Beware of spoliers!

The first clip we saw, was more like and extended version of the opening moments of the latest trailer. A disorientated Marcus Wright played by Sam Worthington asking a young Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) what year is it and what happened here, followed by that familiar shot of John Connor shooting a crushed Terminator in the head with his assault rifle. We a get a glimpse of Connor and his troops rappelling to the ground but that's about it.

The meatiest clip presented was an action sequence involving Marcus and Kyle set at an abandoned gas station. Marcus, Kyle and a young child arrive to the seemingly abandoned location only to be confronted by humans who emerge from hiding with their guns drawn. As Marcus gives Kyle the signal to leave and old woman played by Jane Alexander says "Not before this young one has something to eat." One of the men replies with anger, gun still drawn: "You're giving them our food? That's our fuel. What gives you the right?"

Suddenly one of the men gets pulled through the ceiling, followed by another. There's a Terminator outside, and HK, Hunter Killer, only it doesn't look like anything we're familiar with. There's been controversy that it resembles one of the robots from Transformers, but McG stated that Skynet's army starts off bulky and like a sports car, gets leaner, meaner and better before becoming the streamlined T-800. The visual effects were unfinished, but this Terminator is impressive

As the giant HK rips through the gas station the entire group is flung through the air. (wearing stunt cables that will obviously be digitally removed later). It grabs humans from the ground and drops them into a holding pen containing several others inside one of the flying HK's we are familiar with. Very similar to how the tripods captured humans in Spielberg's 'War of the Worlds'. Part of the group attempt to escape by car only to be blasted to smithereens by the robot from a great distance.

Marcus and Kyle manage to maneuver a gas tanker under the robot's legs and ignite an explosion by shotgun from the back of their tow truck while speeding away. It looks like the HK is down for the count, but it quickly emerges from the smoke unscathed. The HK robot is too large and lumbering to properly pursue Marcus and Kyle in the tow truck so it's lower legs quickly open with a motorcycle HK emerging from each one. These are the new cycle Terminators we saw in the trailer and they are pretty cool. We get a couple of pov shots in Terminator vision where one of them navigates the road to avoid wreckage. Kyle manages to drop an oil drum and detonate it with the shotgun to stop one, but the other is still in pursuit. Their only hope is to drop the winch from the tow truck and use it like an anchor to get this Terminator on wheels tangled up. They manage to succeed and finally the pursuit is over. Or so they think. Just as they reach a massive suspension bridge that flying HK pops ups again, cruises ahead of them and blows out the middle of the bridge before cutting to black.

The third clip is a confrontation between Marcus and John where we get a greater glimpse of what Marcus really is or what he might be. Connor is flying a helicopter at night over a lake surrounded by burning trees. He yells "Do you see him?" to one of his men in the back, implying that maybe Marcus fell overboard. As he drops a line into the lake, a Terminator in the form of a robotic eel, pops out and pulls the man in the water. He dies rather quickly while John is under attack with many of these things bursting through the cockpit to get him. After bailing out, John searches the lake on foot with his assault rifle while we get p.o.v. shots of his legs underwater with more of those eels hunting him. John manages to get off a few rounds to evade a few, but just as it looks like one is about to get him, Marcus emerges from the water in slow motion grabbing one and destroying it.

Marcus has injuries to his face and torso exposing a metal endoskeleton much like the superficial damage Arnold would suffer from in the original films. Though at this stage of production his wounds consist of tracking markers on his face. John's ready to shoot Marcus till he says "Kyle Reese is in Skynet. You need me, I can get you in! Connor at this point knows what this guy is, but with his adolecent father now held captive by the machines must make a deal with "the devil" to get him back.

"Why should I trust you?" Connor asks. "Because I need to find out who did this to me and so do you," Marcus replies. As Marcus slowly backs away hands raised over his head, Connor still pointing his gun at him asks "What are you?" Marcus: "I don't know."

The final bit of footage is a montage of clips, some we've just seen and some seen in the trailer. One moment shows Connor apparently making an announcement over a CB radio. "This is John Connor. We are being hunted by machines working nonstop around the clock. If you are listening to this. You are the resistance!"

Another bit of footage involves Connor taking orders from his superior General Ashdown played by sci-fi vet Michael Ironside ("I'm gonna suck your brain dry!"). McG states that though Connor becomes the leader of the resistance he starts off here as a subordinate, a foot soldier just taking orders.

Ironside: "John Connor! The prophesied savior of humanity."
Connor: "Skynet is collecting humans for R&D. They are manufacturing human tissue."

McG states that all the Connors, Sarah, John and Kyle Reese have always played the outsiders in these films and are always waving their arms trying to get people to listen to their ideas to save humanity while everyone looks at them like they're loony. There is apparently a plot point involving a raid on the Terminator manufacturing facility devised by Ashdown. The T-800 that we are all familiar with is coming and Connor discovers it is ahead of schedule.

Connor over the radio to the assault team: "Abort the mission the game has changed!"

Ashdown: "Negative, do not abort. Stay the course!"

Connor: "If we stay the course we are dead! We are all dead!"

Additional clips include young Kyle Reese telling that old woman and young child: "Stay alive. Here," Points to his head. "And here." Points to his heart.

It probably takes some time for Marcus to discover he's been altered into some type of cyborg since he appears to have a romantic relationship with a girl in the form of fighter pilot Moon Bloodgood. She gets to show her skills at combat in a brawl with a few rough types as well as one or two physical stunts you may have seen in the trailer.

We also get to hear John's voice saying "This is not the future my mother warned us about." Apparently something in the timeline has been altered. As he stares at the classic photo of Linda Hamilton that Kyle Reese carried in the original film we hear his wife (Bryce Dallas Howard) say "If you saved us in another life, you can save us in this one."

In one of the final shots we hear her say "We've never seen anything like this before," followed by Bale staring past the camera at something in awe saying "The devil's hands have been busy."

A few extra tidbits I remember:

This is the first Terminator film where there is no time travel involved in the story. Marcus is apparently from the past (our present day) and has been altered somehow.

Even though this film tells the story of John Connor it is very much the story of young Kyle Reese and how he becomes a man. Many of the classic lines Michael Biehn spoke in the original are revealed to stem from Kyle's brotherly relationship with Marcus. The first film was about the preservation of Sarah Connor, the second and third about the protection of John. This one is about the protection of Kyle Reese.

This film honors the Terminator 3 storyline, but not the current television series. Judgement Day occured in 2003.

Though he hopes this film can be the start of another trilogy with a new beginning McG says that many fans may be disappointed with the ending because it makes the story "elliptical".

He reassured us that all the rumored endings we've heard about online (including the one where Connor gets killed and good Terminator assumes his identity by wearing his skin) are all fake.

McG does a killer impression of Christian Bale and playfully asked an audience member to ask his "Bale" to do something as an actor that wouldn't help the story to which he flatly replied in a cockney accent "I ain't doin' it!"

Says Bale just cares about good work and not the money and hates being famous. He loves his wife and kid and doesn't have a entourage or sports car but drives a beat down pick-up truck from the nineties.

Bale is so powerful as an actor that McG chose to hold the camera on him in unedited takes for almost entire scenes as he contols his eye movements and breathing. He's an intimidating presence and thankfully Worthington holds his own against him in their scenes.

Warner Bros. gave them their blessing to go for a hard R for this movie because the studio heads like to take risks like they did with "The Matix."

McG stated that they created their own film stock for this picture. They took an old film stock from Kodak and reprocessed it with three times as much silver to give the world a gritty post nuclear event look.

When he started the presentation at stage right was an actual full size bulky T-600 that moved it's head and had glowing red eyes. ("The 600 series had rubber skin") This was an early version of the Terminator that Kyle Reese told Sarah Connor were easy to spot because of their rubber skin.

He chose to bring the late Stan Winston aboard because he wanted as many of the robotic effects to be real and not CGI. (Much like Nolan did with his visual f/x in 'The Dark Knight.") McG said he missed a time when in the late seventies and early eighties even the big event movies were good movies and that he wanted a sense of realism with the f/x to serve the story.

Though this is a male oriented film, like the original it is full of strong female characters like those played by Bryce Dallas Howard and Moon Bloodgood.

McG wouldn't give details about how Arnold might appear in the film or whether or not he was in the movie at all. All he would say was "We're working on it."

He actually went to chat with Cameron on the set of 'Avatar' and even played around with his 3-D digital camera system. He assured Cameron he would honor the mythology and handle the story in a respectful manner. Cameron was pretty frank and said he couldn't blindly get behind the movie, but he understood that McG must feel as he did when he followed Ridley Scott with the second 'Alien' film.

Sam Worthington who also stars in 'Avatar' will apparently play Perseus in the upcoming "Clash of the Titans" remake.

Danny Elfman just signed on for the score. McG considered director Alejandro González Iñárritu's collaborator Gustavo Santaolalla for the earthy-humane part of the score and Johnny Greenwood from 'Radiohead' for the cold machine aspect. Couldn't get Hans Zimmer but actually met with original Terminator composer Brad Fiedel who know runs a surf shop. He didn't want to repeat Fiedel's work with Cameron so brought aboard Elfman who will give it a Wagnerian quality as well as use most of Fiedel's themes and ambient sounds.

The first scene (not shown to us) features Marcus in the present day, in prison and about to be executed. He cares little about the world or himself. They cut to black and he wakes up in 2018 to a world ravaged by war. During these events he re-discovers what's worthwhile about humanity. The film is a vehicle to show what's best about humanity hence the title "Salvation".

Well, all I can say is that even though I don't care much for these types of advance presentations, I didn't feel like I was at a trade show or watching an infomercial. McG made a great pitch, but didn't come across as arrogant or like he was b.s.ing you. My optimism for the final product has not only increased, but I look forward to the potential it has to become a new trilogy.

Maybe by the third film (and when his term is over) they can bring Arnold back as a special Terminator needed to assist John to destroy Skynet once and for all. Just a suggestion, but with this glimpse of material that seems promising, the possibilities for the evolution of the story seem endless.

Kellvin also ended taking a batch of photos via his iPhone of the concept art for the film, which you can check out below.

Source: Latinoreview

Tags: Terminator Salvation, News

Comments

stoked
Commented By: GuyverV on 2009-01-13 02:01:53
this sounds great. i can't wait to see it.

RANDOMGuy
Commented By: Dude on 2009-01-13 02:58:10
Whats with the mouth rape?

on 2009-01-13 03:27:01
I'm getting pretty excited about this now and just for the record I hated terminator 3.

MARCUS TERMINATOR!
Commented By: Me on 2009-01-13 03:31:03
Last photo second from right - marcus written under terminator.

Commented By: avoidz on 2009-01-13 03:54:41
Good article, and nice pics,. I'm on the fence about this movie, but I'll give McG a chance to bring his A-game to the franchise. Still looks a bit too much like Transformers in design (Terminator bike?), though.

Giant Robot SILLY!!!!!!
Commented By: Jon Pattern on 2009-01-13 05:07:49
FIRST - WHY WOULD A GIANT ROBOT HAVE 'CHICKEN' LEGS? WHAT'S WITH THIS?! Do these DUMB concept artists STILL have a hard-on for the legs of the Cyclops in 7th Voyage of Sinbad?? And the 'look' of the robot - - it's a NON-LOOK of nutz 'n bolts fitted together to look like a human being . . . SHEESH! Haven't we seen this crap before?! Give-me-a-break. And the no-head on the robot? That 'look' goes back decades to Saturn 5 with Kirk Douglas & Farah Fawcet. This PROVES that McG has hired TV-DUMB conceptual artists - THINK - if this movie was done in the 'golden era' of sci-fi - the 1950s - how THOSE art directors would have designed the robot. Think of the amazing orignality of Robbie, Gort, Tobor, even The Collusus of New York was a better, more original design for a robot. This movie is made up of pathetic conceptualizations. Sorry - "BEEN THERE, SEEN THAT."

T-750
Commented By: Alex Soto on 2009-01-13 05:39:55
Wow, hes a T-750, I'M PSYCHED!!!

ED-209
Commented By: wanker666 on 2009-01-13 09:53:45
Actually ever since Robocops ED-209 (awesome design) the reverse legs really caught on unfortunately, look thru any concept /art/forum and pretty much every robot uses that leg design, its sad really ppl..

batman!!!
Commented By: Brandon B. on 2009-01-13 10:40:36
that one missle thing looked like ''THE BATMOBILE''

Nice Terminator?
Commented By: TORC on 2009-01-13 10:49:55
The first film a masterpiece,the second so watchable,but so flawed,the third was a straight to DVD choice-what goes around comes around Cameroooooon,you ruined the Alien now someones rained on your parade,but good luck with Avatar it'll be a 1 or a 10

I don\'t know about this
Commented By: The Authority on 2009-01-13 13:04:45
T2 was better than the first Terminator. T3 was direct to video junk. This seems like they are trying to add Transformers visuals to the Terminator story.

Starting to sound good.
Commented By: 420band on 2009-01-13 13:39:25
All the references to Transformers are worthy comparisons..BUT most robots (realistic-plausible) ones are gonna seem alike.. I'm still trying to understand this Marcus character and if time travel isn't a part of this one then WTF? So It's Micheal Biens character thats the main focus point and not John Connor? Sounds a little scrambled but I'm starting to think that they might get this one right after the SHIT that was part 3 ( A TOTAL LETDOWN) badly casted as well!

T3
Commented By: Alan on 2009-01-13 16:17:41
I'm gonna stick my head out here to get chopped off...T3 is vastly underrated. T1 and T2 present the same story, we can change the future, "No future but what we make" with that annoying kid voice from T2. T3 destroyed that completely, and presented an entirely different framework, we can't change the future or at least, we can't stop Judgement Day. Without T3, there'd be no need for T4 and such because of the optimistic ending of T2.

T3 editor\'s comment
Commented By: Alan on 2009-01-13 16:29:06
My bad, "No 'fate' but what we make." Cause it rhymes...

sarah coÃ±o
Commented By: ultramuerte on 2009-01-13 17:35:33
ugly as hell...hey, lets add zillions of nuts and bolts to disguise the fact that we dont even know how to pose a character.... SO LAME

Anything Original?
Commented By: Nemo -- N'rn Wisconsin on 2009-01-13 19:03:09
So, obviously, the artists watched the Matrix movies, the Alien movies, and Transformers.

You Pansy Ass Fashion Magazine Columnists commenters!!!
Commented By: Anarex on 2009-01-13 19:42:58
Looks very promising and for the people bitching about the concept art its just that concept, not a finished idea, not the final product, and maybe on some there nowhere near what is in the final movie. There just a means of cheaply seeing whats possible and were they MAY want to go. So stop bitching. YOU Terminator concept art whiners sound like a bunch of pansy ass fashion magazine columnists!!! You idiots don't get it! All the terminators are, are TOOLS; there there to AID in telling a GREAT STORY about humanity NOT about a excuse to make the best looking robots bullshit you've been spouting, You should be focusing on the STORY, and ACTING/ACTORS. Because your missing the point! In T1 and T2 that your so fond of there were almost no real shots of robots it was all about people, and T3 was what you guys seam to be asking for but clam to hate, really sexy, hard on inducing, looking robots in a battle royal and the story and acting was there to support that robot battle royal. So who the f^#k cares if the robots don't meet your fashion requirements. What made the Terminator movies good and resonated with most people were about humanity fighting the worst parts of themselves. The robots are just transportation to get there in. From what I've heard from the writer it sounds like there on the right track.

Commented By: bvocal on 2009-01-13 20:29:35
with the rabid fanboy thing happening on the interweb, it's amazing anyone bothers to make film any more, because ya'll are just going to rip it all apart any chance you get. If ya'll got such great ideas and asthetics, go make film yourselves. Or are you to too busy playing in your parents basements?

Haaah
Commented By: T2Fan on 2009-01-13 21:50:12
Cool image, but it's not like terminators series before. The robots become much more huge, and it just feels like.... the matrix? LOL

sweet
Commented By: Brian Peen on 2009-01-14 00:15:34
I worked on T3. I used to take naps at lunchtime in her dad's office, on the bench. One day I woke up, and the stage was pretty much empty. I walked out into the long hallways, and there was a tank at each end, pointing their guns towards me. It was an awesome moment...a little freaky, for sure. Anyway, I was very pleasantly surprised with T3. Very well written, great action, and surprisingly funny. T2 is a classic, but T3 holds its own just fine. Not saying it's better, but I think it is a very cool movie, and anyone who has a problem with it can suck it. These people dissing T3 remind me of all the millions of people that hate Matrix 2 and 3. They might not be as cool as Matrix 1, but those movies are great sci-fi. Classic, classic stuff in 2 and 3 (freeway chase, staircase fight scene, sentinel end battle, etc.). People really get hot to hate stuff that they feel doesn't measure up, and I think it's strange. Why so passionate about hating something? If I am passionate about hating something, it deserves it...like Mission to Mars. People that hate T3 or Matrix 2 and 3 just want to hear themselves talk and probably have ADD.

Anarex = Dumbass
Commented By: Jon Pattern on 2009-01-14 00:31:58
So all of us complaining about the lousy robot are pansy ass fashion critcs. Look, you moron - 1) This conceptual art is close to what will appear in the film. I know because one of my friends has seen footage and confirmed it. 2) And if you don't believe me, go view the trailer where you can see this stuff for yourself. And then your SHIT statements about the rest of us bitching about poor designs in the film . . . You're the idiot who doesn't get it. Do you know ANYTHING about film? I've worked in the business for over 25 years, written magazine articles on vintage movies, and have worked as a historical consultant on a number of classic DVDs. Here's a real big secret for you: A director can focus on the story and STILL have great, original design in the areas of art direction, props, camera work, lighting, sound effects, etc. Talk to George Lucas about Start Wars and Ridley Scott on Alien & Blade Runner. Yeah, who remembers the design work in those three films? Bland, bland, bland. Original design work was really not needed, was it? Just throw some lame stuff on the screen - the story comes first & will take care of everything else. Who would even notice that junk, anyway. Just detract from the plot. And then your garbage about "Tools" - - Of course everything in a film is in the service of the story. Think we don't know that? But according to you, originality in design in film doesn't matter. Leave it out. You don't get it, kid - design is ALWAYS in the service of the story. And yes, schmuck, WE KNOW THAT. What is paramount in movies is that they are a visual medium. Especially in imaginative fiction. And as for you - who doesn't care what he sees - you should see this movie blindfolded. Your whining is in defense of shit-bad, boring, second rate work. You CAN have original designs that fit the story AND look superb. But no, you don't know this yet. How old are you? Six? As for making the best looking robots - WHY THE HELL NOT?! Where does it say that everything that serves the story has to be ripped from old sci-fi movies? Or so bland as to be utterly forgettable? I bet you think White Bread is gourmet eating. And if you think the producers of this film are paying the conceptual designers $14 an hour for a non-interesting, bland, cliche design (the kind YOU'D like... right?) - then you don't know jack about the business. The problem evident is that the producers/director hired a poor design team, and then, through their bad taste, picked out a lousy look for the giant robot. They're clearly not getting much for their money; and they are paying these guys $ thousands. If that robot was the least bit interesting to look at, it WOULDN'T HURT THE STORY. IT WOULD ONLY ENHANCE IT. Using your lame argument - I suggest that: - the next time you see 7th Voyage of Sinbad, close your eyes and imagine the Cyclops is just a tall, naked man with one eye. - the next time you view Alien, imagine the creature is simply a big bug with teeth. - imagine the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars as a nuts 'n bolts silver tube spaceship design. - imagine the Mother Ship from Close Encounters as a nuts 'n bolts blob looking like a black bar of soap. - imagine the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues as a $5 cigar tube with a tail on it. - imagine Robby the robot from Forbidden Planet as a store-mannequin spray-painted silver, who walks & talks. Then you'll realize the kind of sad excuses you're making for the poor work shown here. Good design IS extremely important. And if you can't understand that, then you've got room temperature IQ.

Chicken legs
Commented By: Looking forward to it on 2009-01-14 02:47:51
Helps them run faster and gives better cushioning to animatronic/robotic legs, which is important because of the substantial weight involved.

ugh
Commented By: Toby1 on 2009-01-14 03:25:51
Artwork without one single original idea. Absolutely depressing and awful. T1 was best. T2 was for 'all the family' T3 underrated and most adult of the lot.

too long
Commented By: JT on 2009-01-14 09:41:42
thx for the article. you have a lot of "and's" that should be "an's" also you dont need to type the entire dialogue of the trailer and explain it, just show the thing thx though

Really?
Commented By: McJay on 2009-01-14 12:00:50
Kyle Reese always fascinated me in the series (even though he only appeared in T1) So imagine my joy when I discover it's HIS movie this time 'round.

We will see...
Commented By: Elektra en Ray on 2009-01-14 12:16:24
I love the design from the robots. But some stuffs remember me a little on the Film Starship Troopers. But we will see, if that work or not. Or if we will disappointed.

steel structure still standing after fire?
Commented By: joe on 2009-01-14 12:34:13
the tsca 6 image isn't very realistic...i thought steel structures completely collapse and disintegrate to dust after a fire...

Nice concept art
on 2009-01-14 12:45:13
I think the concept art looks really nice, although slightly reminiscent of The Matrix in some instances. I like the idea of the Terminators starting off bulky and getting streamlines in the sequels.

GENERAL
Commented By: Ef on 2009-01-15 08:48:30
First off, you have to give them credit for not only wanting to bring the Terminator franchise back but also for respecting the original material. I loved the human story about the Terminator and like Cameron stated before, the special effects are just tools to tell a story. So if the robots look like transformers, so be it. Skynet would have reference data on all television programing to asimilate their technology so it fits the trend that Sky net would want to manufacture transformer style characteristics and then decide, to their credit, that that was a stupid concept and instead focus on manufacturing cyborgs as better killing machines. Now for all you morons and pomple faced geeks, there are plenty of other kid friendly films for you to watch this year: Transformers, Star Trek and Watchmen. So stop knocking Terminator. You sound like the drama queens on oscar night obsessing about who wears what while you're too pathetic to look at yourself. When you make your movie, I like to post my comment and you will see what mature audience comments really sound like.

General
Commented By: You-see?-Key on 2009-01-15 17:12:53
Watchmen not a kid friendly movie.

Cool
Commented By: Paul on 2009-01-19 16:20:10
I agree that some of this looks dumb, but I am powerless against seeing it. The big draw for me is Bale, It's like Bruce Wayne's more bad-ass relavtive. His acting is really remarkable. I'd love to know where he studied. A good acting school is worth itâ€™s weight in gold. The key is to find one that caters to your individual needs. Not only do you need the basic tools for auditioning, scene study and the like, but you need a curriculum that works with whatever your schedule may be. Whether you work all day, go to high school or care for your kids, not everyone can study in the traditional way. Another acting program that works this way is Film Connection. http://www.film-connection.com/Acting.htmlThe Film Connectionâ€™s acting program is affiliated with Joe Anthony studios and fetures valuable one-on-one mentoring. They are also available to anyone living in the United States and have financial aid assistance.

2004
Commented By: t850 on 2009-01-21 20:03:02
in t3 judgment day is 2004. july 24 2004. if you watch when arnold checks the date on his watch and pause it frame by frame the last date to come up, is 2004

Sequels CAN Be Successful
Commented By: Ghain on 2009-01-24 16:23:22
Seldom does something really amaze me. I can be impressed to no end, but true amazement comes at times few and far between anymore. Many of you are most likely like this as well. It seems lately that Hollywood has ran low on ideas. Many movies are remakes of originals...good remakes (mostly), I'll grant them, yet recycled material nonetheless. Truly original and captivating story is becoming harder to come by. So when I was in a theater to watch "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (I still have mixed feelings about that experience) and saw the first 3 seconds of the trailer for "Salvation", I had a feeling that it was going to be something that truly amazed me. So far, it has. By reading Ron's comments above and viewing the concept art, I have to say this movie is impressive to say the least. For one, it has Bale, a great actor mainly because (in my opinion) he's not full of himself and believes in the work he does. That comes through on the screen to me, when an actor/actress is into to role, not just being the character but believing in the world it's set in. Reason two for my nod to this film, is the director is trying to honor Cameron's vision, and is there to actually tell a story and not try to sensationalize everything. It is his humbleness in this matter that I believe will make the film great. When individuals care about their work and aren't just there to recieve a paycheck, good things tend to happen. Not just a movie is made, but a story is experienced, shared by all, and you walk away from the experience with a feeling of gratitude; that you were given something. Maybe I'm crazy. But I know a good film when I see it, and this one is proving to be one of those. My advice, for those who would be insane enough to want it, is see it. And while you watch it, forget the world you come from, an immerse yourself in the experience. Suspend disbelief, and appreciate this creation. :)

Looks great!
Commented By: Matximus on 2009-01-27 17:40:53
Believe it or not, this is ALL based on concept art from the ORIGINAL Terminator movie. the Matrix ripped off Terminator, not the other way around - who had the whole "machines" ruling the world idea first? Lastly, I'm so glad to hear that so many of you won't be seeing this because it looks so stupid (LOL), I guess I'll have the entire theater to myself!

Marcus
Commented By: JJ on 2009-01-30 20:14:21
Looks like Sam Worthington's character Marcus Wright is a Terminator hence the 'Marcus' Terminator model according to that bottom concept art, was this common knowledge or not?

Terminator Salvation
Commented By: Rohan on 2009-02-02 10:57:48
You guys are total d***s. The Matrix stole their whole idea from Terminator. This movie will be the s***. And personally, Matrix Revolutions was the effin worse. The end of it was simply horrible. We have no idea what happened to the humans. Ever since T2 I've waited to see terminator take place post judgement day. If you losers choose not to that's on you. Stay home and hug up with your gay lovers you c*ck cravers. TERMINATOR SALVATION!!!!!!!!!!

hhm
Commented By: nick on 2009-02-08 20:57:10
I wish i could get excited about it but it looks like its gonna be a CGI star wars fest,not good,T3 sucked the SCC in childish rubbish,they wrecked the best scifi franchises ever in my opinion i really hope bale can put something back to the terminator legend that it deserves as its been plundered since T2 the best scifi film of all time,they shouldve let it be and die with cameron. like they shouldve with aliens cameron best scifi director of all time!

Forgive them, Father...
Commented By: AleX on 2009-04-21 15:30:46
Hey, there's a lot of people here that doesn't have a clue of robots in films, not even dates or titles of older films, in other words, don't know a shit about what they're talking about... first of all, if they ever seen the first terminator, they could realyze that huge terminators were there, in the front of their very eyes and noses

Forgive them, Father (2)...
Commented By: AleX on 2009-04-21 15:41:20
Second: Schwarzzenegger's presence is very expendable, since int he first THE TERMINATOR, there are several scenes where other terminators are shown, in that legendary scene where kyle sees sarah connor's picture vanished by fire.

Forgive them, Father (3)...
Commented By: AleX on 2009-04-21 15:43:44
And 3rd: It is not Saturn 5, you murron, it is Saturn 3, where Robot Hector appears.

Forgive them, Father (3)...
Commented By: AleX on 2009-04-21 15:45:28
and four: If you are willing to write something, please take in count at least try not to write nonsenses. Thanx.

garbage
Commented By: benhoward on 2009-04-27 15:27:17
Who gives a sh** this movie will be disastrous. It might be just a few notches better than Terminator 3. Just a little though. The first clue is the little kiddie rating they gave it. PG-13? You gotta be kidding me. And yes I know a movie doesn't have to be rated R to be good,..aka The Dark Knight blah blah blah..This is a F***king TERMINATOR MOVIE that's showing the actual WAR WITH THE MACHINES! It has to be gritty and dark and bloody and have no PG restrictions. And yes I am pissed that the Moon Bloodgood naked scene has been cut out. I want the movie complete and untampered with. We're getting a watered down piss poor excuse for a Terminator film so I will not be like the rest of the sheep out there and waste my money..nuff' said

Moving ON...
Commented By: Johnny on 2009-05-22 14:00:01
The Terminator franchise is done...finito. Lets move on to newer fresher and equally if not arguably far more fascinating storylines/series like Autumn Rain/The Burning Skies etc. If producers only knew , original stories like theese are goldmines waiting to be discovered!