New On DVD, Blu-Ray: 'Terminator Salvation'

'Terminator Salvation' (PG-13 and Unrated Director's Cut) Then-future California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger warned many times in the "Terminator" franchise, "I'll be back," and he is -- but only in a digitally-rendered cameo -- in "Terminator Salvation." Unlike the previous three "Terminator" installments, though, the film isn't about Schwarzenegger's cyborg, but the machine-dominated future where humans are nearly extinct.

About 25 years after the first film debuted in theaters, "Terminator Salvation" begins in 2003 in the prison cell of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a convicted murderer awaiting execution. Courted by Dr. Serena Kogan (Helena Bonham Carter) to donate his body for an experiment with the robotic company Cyberdine, a guilt-ridden Marcus signs away his soon-to-be corpse, not fully realizing the impact of his decision.

Fast-forward 15 years, where the clean and sterile environment of the first scene has turned into a gritty, post-apocalyptic world of chaos. Judgment Day came 14 years prior, when Skynet -- a network of artificial intelligence -- nearly wiped out humanity with nuclear proliferation and an army of Terminator machines in all shapes and sizes. The survivors, known as the Resistance, find strength in John Connor (Christian Bale), a chosen leader guided by the recordings of his late mother, Sarah (voice of Linda Hamilton).

Unable to find a way to defeat Skynet, John's one shot at saving humanity lies within Marcus, who suddenly appears with no idea of whom or what he has become. But when John's wife, Kate (Bryce Dallas Howard) discovers that Marcus is a machine and human hybrid, he must decide whether to put his mistrust aside. If John doesn't penetrate the walls of Skynet's control center to save a throng of human captives -- including the teen destined to be his father, Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) -- his whole existence will be in peril.

Despite some interesting story twists, including an unexpected tale of redemption, "Terminator Salvation" is often overpowered by the film's special effects. That's not to say that the visuals and action scenes aren't spectacular -- they are -- it's just that they're a necessary evil if you want to tell the story of a world dominated by machines. And that's not a good thing for a movie that's lacking big in soul.

DVD Features: The Blu-ray disc version allows you to watch director McG host an in-depth look at the film with picture-in-picture commentary, storyboard comparisons, a Terminator mythology timeline. The Blu-ray and regular DVD versions include production featurettes and more. (Warner Home Video)