Published: May 26, 2009 02:12 am      

Special effects only thing saving ‘Salvation;’ ‘Night at the Museum’ sequel gets 2-potato gift

Editor’s note: A Jacksonville resident has been reviewing movies for friends for several years and has offered to share his thoughts with Daily Progress readers. His reviews come in personal letters to his nicknamed friend, Spud Nut. Our reviewer is Tater Tot, so consequently, the movies get ratings based on potatoes.



Spud Nut,

“Terminator Salvation” (rated PG-13, 114 minutes) is a weak sequel in need of “Arnold” the governator to become a good movie.

Christian Bale tries to carry the lead as John Connor in a time when the TV series about the Connor Chronicles has not done very well either. Sam Worthington tries to fill in the void left by Schwarzenegger in his role as the cyborg with human parts.

The only actor who creates interest in her character is Ms. Moon Bloodgood as Blair, the resistance fighter pilot, who befriends the cyborg.

The special effects are superb, and the constant warfare with automated machines is exciting. You begin to wonder how mankind could ever survive with Skynet having taken over the world intent upon eliminating people. How about having Skynet eliminate any more attempts to revive what seems like a dead franchise? This fourth installment of the story gets only a one and half potato rating.

• • •

“Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” (rated PG, 105 minutes) would be a funnier movie if the boring banter scenes were eliminated and replaced with more of the animated sequences using museum characters.

The activation of art and sculpture pieces is ingenious. Ben Stiller should stay with his hilarious physical comedy and drop the “stick” from this script.

Amy Adams, as Amelia Earhart, plays her part like Katherine Hepburn, and adds a refreshing camaraderie to the battle with the evil Egyptian, Ankmenrah, who tries to take over the world.

As sequels frequently are, this copy is not as good as the original. Give this Memorial Day weekend gift a two-potato rating and a bag of popcorn.

Tater Tot