The Terminator series grinds to a distinct and palpable halt with this inert, flat-out worthless entry, in which director McG proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that he should never, ever step outside the candy-colored world of the Charlie's Angels franchise. The would-be filmmaker has infused the proceedings with a relentlessly artificial atmosphere that proves impossible to ignore, with the slick camerawork and overuse of computer-generated effects undoubtedly exacerbating the movie's pervasive resemblance to a high-end (and hopelessly mindless) video game. The promising storyline (which revolves around John Connor's post-Judgment Day war against the machines) is ultimately employed to seriously underwhelming effect by screenwriters John Brancato and Michael Ferris, as the scripters prove to have virtually no interest in either developing the myriad of characters or exploring the mechanics of the distinctly dystopian landscape - with the emphasis instead placed on meaningless action sequences that are defined by their woefully over-the-top characteristics (ie McG's obsession with big explosions and loud noises results in a movie that often feels like a Michael Bay production). And although the film boasts as impressive a cast as one could envision - Christian Bale stars as Connor, while Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Michael Ironside pop up in supporting roles - Brancato and Ferris' inability to flesh out any of the characters ensures that it becomes increasingly difficult to work up any enthusiasm for their respective endeavors (although, to be fair, Yelchin does a reasonably decent job of evoking Michael Biehn's Kyle Reese). The pervasive lack of context effectively hinders Bale's efforts at transforming Connor into the storied leader of the resistance we've been hearing about since part one, as the actor's expectedly intense work comes off as a lot of tough-guy posturing that ultimately adds up to nothing (ie this is the series' least interesting take on John Connor). The movie admittedly does improve slightly as it humorlessly marches into its comparatively enthralling third act - it's here that Connor encounters a familiar face from his past, in a short-lived sequence that stands as an obvious highlight - yet Terminator Salvation's almost overwhelming dearth of positive attributes cements its place as a brainless popcorn flick that seems to have been geared solely to hyperactive adolescents.