Terminator is one of my favourite films having seen it when I was about 12 and it scaring the bejesus out of me. T2 went one better in many ways and then things fragmented with T3. So it’s refreshing to see that the downward spiral may well be halted by the efforts of director McG and the film’s star Christian Bale.

Terminator's Evolving - Concept art from T4.

I love the concept art for this film, and much more can be found in Wired’s article on T4. It just seems that they are paying the franchise some reverence which is good. It is too easy to knock out rubbish without care, and that exactly what went wrong with Terminator 3. In the hands of a more imaginative director, maybe the third instalment would not have been so pedestrian, but to be honest, it’s only the positive signs that have me enthused about the film.

Script tweaks by Johnathan Nolan, and good cast and imaginative director seems to be doing the trick, but let’s hope that McG can deliver. Time will tell if Jim Cameron’s non-blessing of “I reserve the right to hate it. But I wish you well, and if you’re going to make a Terminator I’d prefer you make a good one to a bad one” was wise.

Terminator Salvation is released in the UK on 5th June, 2009.