Out Now: Terminator Salvation

Christian Bale returns for what he hopes will be another summer blockbuster (although we doubt it ourselves) after last year's runaway hit, Batman: the Dark Knight.

But if you have seen both films you will be forgiven for getting the impression that Terminator Salvation is a futuristic version of the latter film given Bale's inability to change acting personas.

Like Keanu Reeves, Christian Bale seems to give the same broody, glum and often wooden performance in every film role he plays and playing John Connor is no exception.

This movie is the first in the series not to feature Arnold Schwarzeneggarand none of the cast from the third installment. This will likely be an instant turn-off point for diehard fans of the first two movies.

Terminator Salvation skips ahead to 2018, after machines have rebelled against mankind and for some very generic, (if slightly pointless reason) are trying to kill every last person on the planet. Spurred on by the evil Skynet software programme, it is up to John Connor (Christian Bale) to lead the human resistance against the killer machines.

If you have not seen the original movie, a man by the name of Kyle Reece travels back in time to protect John's mum in the 1980's from a terminator who has also gone back in time to kill her (Kyle subsequently becomes John's father).

In the latest editiion John Connor is out trying to find his-father-to-be, who is captured by the machines, as well as destroying Skynet. He is joined by Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a man with no memory on his quest. But Marcus harbours a dark secret.

The CGI and explosions in the film keep an otherwise repetitive and often dull plot punctuated by poor acting going. And just when you thought the Terminator series had come full circle you will groan at the prospect that the makers are planning to make another one.