It's Memorial Day Weekend, which means giant Hollywood blockbusters at the multiplex, and this week there are two: Terminator: Salvation and Night At the Museum: The Battle of the Smithsonian. First up, Terminator: Salvation, the fourth installment in the man vs. robot series. While the film lacks the fire of star Christian Bale's now-infamous F-bomb-dropping rant, Peter Travers says this film isn't half bad, thanks to co-star Sam Worthington, a young "Russell Crowe without the attitude" who will be seen later this year in James Cameron's much-anticipated Avatar. Travers also applauds the work of the film's director, McG.
And in the Scum Bucket is Night at the Museum: The Battle of the Smithsonian, the sequel to the equally Scum Bucket-worthy Ben Stiller film, which Travers insists made him puke.
For a better alternative — and if you want to avoid the long lines for popcorn at the cineplex — your indie theater will likely be showing Steven Soderbergh's clever The Girlfriend Experience, starring porn star Sasha Grey, the subject of a recent Rolling Stone profile.
Read all of this week's reviews:
Terminator: Salvation
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
The Girlfriend Experience
Easy Virtue
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GF Experience | May 26, 2009 3:59 AM
I keep seeing that "In Bed With Sasha Grey" article posted here on the front page of the website... and it's been up there for a long time. Look Rollingstone, if you keep getting into bed with Sasha Grey, you will eventually get an STD...just sayin'
Men on Films | May 25, 2009 10:31 PM
Hated it
caro | May 24, 2009 5:10 PM
the real trouble with Terminator is not enough script! they has Christian Bale and he has nothing to play! you don't care about John Connor! all is for Marcus!
another trouble is too many spoilers revealed in the trailers and in the interviews! but this movie is a good(well better than T3)action movie! you don't lost your money but you don't need to see it for Christian Bale! the real achievement of T4 is Christian Bale acting looks boring and i wasn't able to believe it!
ThaShizzle | May 24, 2009 2:28 PM
*MINOR SPOILERS, WON'T RUIN MOVIE FOR YOU*
There was so much symbolism in T4 that I feel flew over the heads of just about everybody in that theater. When Marcus Wright was about to get the lethal injection, it appeared that he was on a crucifix-like restraint system. Marcus was like Jesus, sacrificing his own life for the greater good of humanity. When Marcus got the car, Rooster by Alice in Chains came on. A song about the perils of war (specifically Vietnam) and the physical and emotional destruction it causes. A clear reference to the war between humans and the machines. Then later in the story, when all of the people were in the holding cells, it was just like the holding cells that were used during the holocaust. But what really made the movie for me was seeing Arnold naked :3 (jk).
Anonymous | May 24, 2009 9:39 AM
Go see Night at the Museum! I personally thought the first one was pretty good. I think it's great for kids. Compared to the other kids movies that have come out this year: Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana & Hotel for Dogs, at least Night at the Museum offers something to people over the age of ten.
love or hate | May 24, 2009 12:13 AM
Christian Bale really was not in it all that much. But overall I thought the movie was good.
By the time I get to Pheonix | May 23, 2009 9:39 PM
I really enjoyed it. But they should have called it T4:Terminator Salvation. I really wish Arnold was in it though. Although I did enjoy the little cameo he had. or was that all computer shit? Either way I enjoyed it. Christian Bale really wasn't in it that much.
The Seeker | May 23, 2009 12:11 PM
Terminator was passable at best, in my opinion. Decent enough action movie until the end, which was pretty lame. The closing narration rendered the entire film useless in one sentence. Also, it was hard to care about any of the characters, the acting was spotty in some places, and the more dramatic scenes sometimes came out as laughable.
Art | May 23, 2009 4:32 AM
Peter do you know how to just kick back and enjoy a movie? I loved Ben Stiller's new movie...too bad you didn't!
Frances The Mute | May 23, 2009 2:17 AM
Terminator Salvation is a mindless action film...unlike the first and second T-films that started the series off. (Terminator 3?: Blah.) Kyle Reese's pathetic character alongside his mute little sidekick that can hear when bad things are coming was damn retarded. The future scenes you see in T2 with a 5 second glimpse of the non-Christian Bale "John Connor" are better than all of Terminator Salvation.
I feel action movies anymore are more concerned with digital effects than actual plot, dialogue, and overall quality: (new Star Wars/Trek, Xmen, Transformers, and now Terminator).
Here's an idea, keep the same digital effects and let someone like Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino (Hell, John Hughes even?) write the storyline/dialogue.
Fuck it.
THE COMEDIAN | May 23, 2009 12:14 AM
I loved Termenater Salvation. It had great action that looked real for a change.It had a good story. The humor was a little lacking.But then again what's so funny about an apocalyptic future run by Ahhhnoldless machines. Bryce Dallas Howard was majorly miscast!!!! That was the only thing that bothered me about the movie.
fairey | May 23, 2009 12:13 AM
You naysayers are all crazy.Sam gave an awesome performance and it was full of kick ass scenes, especially the helicopter scene in the beginning that made you FEEL like you were crashing in it yourself! I do have to say that Sam outshone Christian but it was still awesome.
Kang | May 22, 2009 5:03 PM
*In the board room at the movie studio*
We are going to spend a ton of money revising the Terminiator! We are going to get the biggest action star of today Bale!
We are going to get the top of the line CG effects! Now a director...hmm... JJ Abrams? no...Kevin Smith?.hell no....Tarantino?...naaah.Hmmm. I GOT IT, LETS GET MUTHERFUCKIN McG to Direct!! The guy from superbad? No you idiot the director of Charlies Angels and a few subway commercials! GREAT FUCKING IDEA! .....?
Anonymous | May 22, 2009 3:23 PM
I can't trust anyone that calls themselves after something off a McDonald's menu plus Charle's Angels has staind my brain Mcg is more like Mc puff!!!
zzz | May 22, 2009 2:34 PM
mcg and michael bay may not be amature but they stink... i can do a better job but there is no oppurtunity
zzz | May 22, 2009 2:32 PM
Mcg and michael bay may not be amature but they stink ... charle's angels was poop anybody that has the ego to call themselves after a Mcdonad's menu i can't take serious . Peter you missed the ball you usually just call it like it is Roger ebert nailed it...
terminator fan | May 22, 2009 2:28 PM
terminator salvation is a passable action flick. sam
Worthington gives a good performance.
and the subplot involving him and kyle Reese is probably the best part of the movie apart from the action sequences.
the problem is. this is not a
terminator film. i found myself
not really caring about the
characters.
the worst part for me i'm afraid was christian bale's performance as john Connor.
you just don't care about him.
i enjoyed nick stahl's
performance in the third one
even if the movie was merely
perfunctory.(though it is
growing on me)
and i do like christian bale
but he just kinda ruined this role for me.
john Connor is supposed to be
scared. frustrated and always
on the brink. otherwise human.
bale played the role without
joy. he just yelled into a
radio a lot and looked
incredibly worried most of the
time.
so to wrap up. great action
sequences. some lackluster
performances and an interesting
subplot or two.
back to the drawing board guys.
Dean | May 22, 2009 1:38 PM
I heard it the new Terminator was not that good from friends that saw it.I will wait for the dvd
Chris | May 22, 2009 12:51 PM
Terminator Salvation is a very loud, mindless and fun movie. I didn't find it boring at all, but don't go in expecting some thought-provoking movie like The Dark Knight last summer. Enjoy this movie on it's terms of being a summer action blockbuster, and you won't be disappointed.
I'd give it 3/4 stars.
Moviedozer | May 22, 2009 10:13 AM
Enough with the Wolverine references and the screaming. And what's with the cussing? Did that whole rant thing with Bale really have anything to do with reviewing the movie?
TraversyouDaMan | May 22, 2009 4:57 AM
Travers, great stuff as usual had me ROFLing again. I wouldn't be so against night at the musuem personally, thought the first was funny enough, certainly alot better then your Chiawowha's and crap.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
LOL.
HelloJackToad | May 22, 2009 3:41 AM
Travers gave it two and a half stars. Rottentomatoes 35 %. IMDB rates it 8.2/10.
Must be good then?