MOVIE REVIEWS

Nothing that follows is as the four imagined,or as you would. Especially watch out for Zach Galifianakis — the ill-dressed,fat,unkempt odd man — who turns out a performance to dunk all stereotypes.

TERMINATOR SALVATION
Cast: Christian Bale,Sam Worthington,Bryce Dallas Howard,Helena Bonham Carter,Anton Yelchin
Director: McG
First let’s try and figure out this sequence: a) in The Terminator (1984) a terminator is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor before she gives birth to John,while he sends back Kyle from the year 2029 to save her. John is fated to save mankind against the machines; b) in Terminator 2 (1991) an advanced prototype is sent back in time to kill John,who Sarah had with Kyle,while again John from the future sends back one of his own terminators to save the two; c) in Terminator 3,a yet more advanced prototype is sent back to kill fighters leading the war against the machines,while mankind too sends back a terminator to save John and his wife. We are told John would die around 2032. The time is 2004.

And now,get your mind around this puzzle: Terminator Salvation,we are told,is a “prequel” – for,John here co-exists with own father Kyle (Yelchin),who is in his teens,apparently sent back from the future by John himself. Bet you can’t figure out that one,but in a franchise so used to shuffling between the past,present and future,time understandably must be hard to keep track of.

So,grant the film that leeway. And then brace yourself for two hours of relentless shooting,blazing,blowing up,melting,dying,and so forth,from which one man and only one man emerges unscathed. And no,that’s not John Connor,as played by Bale,who has found his star on the rise since the much-appreciated The Dark Knight.

In a story that really makes no excuses for those who haven’t seen or don’t appreciate all that metal can be twisted and shaped into,and dispenses altogether with human connect sans a few,perfunctory scenes between a sparse Bale and his radiant,very pregnant partner (Howard),Sam Worthington as a being who is half-machine and half-human stands out.

Convicted for murders,Marcus (Worthington) had donated his body to science as his last wish,and wakes up 15 years later hoping that he has found his second chance. Of course that’s not to be. Within him,in fact,lies the war being fought across a devastated American landscape with no towns,vehicles or food apparently -Judgment Day has come and gone – and Marcus has to choose whether it’s his human or machine side that wins.

While Bale shouts out loud a few times about the importance of being different from the machines,he appears too mechanical,literally following the prototype established by the earlier films. In his few addresses to the Resistance leaders or in private moments alone with his mother’s voice on a tape recorder (yes,tape recorder),he shows none of the qualities that make him the prophet who will apparently save mankind.

The visual effects,of course,are par the course. Skynet,which controls the machines,deploys all firepower that is at its service,on the ground and in the air,and the film’s greyish tones are well conceptualised. However,there is no Arnold Schwarzenegger (only an insult of a cyborg or,whatever they call it,looking like him),or even that liquid metal delicacy called T-1000 of Terminator 2 for that something extra.

But all you fans out there,don’t worry. A sequel looks very much in the works: the Terminator will be back.

BOLT
Cast: Voices of John Travolta,Miley Cyrus,Susie Essman,Mark Walton
Directors: Byron Howard,Chris Williams
After a long,long time an animation that isn’t working its brains too hard — growing out of the reach of the little fans — or not working them at all — in the belief that children will swallow it all.

And what can be more moving than the story of an adorable dog that is part of a television show in which he saves the life of his young master week after week — Thursdays,8 pm — but which he believes to be all real. For authenticity’s sake,Bolt (Travolta) has been led to believe that he actually has superpowers which he deploys to save Penny (Cyrus) from serious attacks.

And then one day,he suddenly finds himself in the actual world,still believing his screen persona to be the reality. He believes he can fly,stare hard and make things melt,blow things apart with his “superbark”. Above all,he believes Penny is really out there in danger needing his help.

A hamster in a ball (Walton) and a street cat called Mittens (Essman) come to his aid — the first by continuing to believe he is a superdog,and the second by never telling him he isn’t.

Wonderfully animated — Bolt is being released in both 3D and 2D formats,and its directors are old hands at animation — the film gives each of its characters a distinct voice and personality. From the Hollywood cats on the TV show to Mittens,to the pigeons Bolt encounters on his sojourn across the US in search of Penny,all the animals have dialogue that is witty without trying too hard.

The film is a nice commentary on how the media uses and chucks emotions (perhaps none more than those of children),but how when it’s real,nothing can come in the way.

shalini.langer@expressindia.com