Hit and miss.

That's how you can describe two summer films -- "Terminator Salvation" and "Night at the Museum 2."

While the former didn't make Schwarzenegger money, it did prove the franchise can survive without Ahnodl

With "Terminator Salvation," director McG gives the franchise new focus and a sense of purpose that pulls it out of the realm of action/adventure. This is his "Apocalypse Now," filled with cautionary advice about technology and its future. Even more so than "T2," it hammers home its message -- and still takes us on a glorious ride.

The only problem? "Terminator Salvation" is loud. Really loud. At times you'll feel like you're in the middle of a machine struggling to get out. It's the ultimate heavy metal concert.

Christian Bale turns up as John Connor, the young man charged with leading humans in their battle against machines. Skynet -- the evil defense force determined to annihilate humankind -- has gotten a stronghold on the West Coast. A young Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin), however, is determined to get to Connor and share what information he knows. To make it, he needs the help of a mystery man, Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), who turns up from nowhere. Wright outlasts the biggest of the Terminators (they're practically Transformers they're so big) and finds a potential love interest. When he, Reese and the woman finally get to Connor, there's a bigger hurdle to scale.

McG keeps the secret (providing a great link to the original films) and uses it to fuel an even bigger one. He plants the seeds of discontent, too, and has a few moments that suggest this is "Black Hawk Down" or some other muted war film.

"Night at the Museum 2," however, isn't a good sequel. It's just a second shot at getting the first film right.

In the original, Ben Stiller gets hired as a night guard at the Museum of Natural History. There, the exhibits come to life and cause plenty of trouble.

In the sequel, Stiller's a successful flashlight salesman who returns to the museum, only to discover his friends are going to be packed up and sent off to the Smithsonian's archives.

Upon their urging, he travels there, sneaks into the storage area and battles an egotistical Egyptian (Hank Azaria) who has come back to life, hoping to release evil after getting a secret code. It's real "Mummy" in premise but, this time out, the film doesn't seem as haphazard in its set-up.

Stiller even gets a love interest (Amy Adams) who happens to be a mannequin dressed up to look like Amelia Earhart. Naturally, they get a chance to fly (inside the Air and Space Museum) and bond over that secret code.

Director Shawn Levy doesn't throw many curves, but he does keep the action moving. Several minatures (including Owen Wilson as a cowboy) and a couple of monkeys get laughs, but this is really just a fight to the finish. The bad guy's henchmen include Al Capone, Napoleon and Ivan the Terrible. The good guys get help from Einstein bobbleheads, a statue of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), this time in bust form.

For hams like Azaria, Christopher Guest and Bill Hader (who's very funny as Custer), this is a chance to slice the comedy good and thick. Again, they aren't given great lines, just the opportunity to squeal.

Watching "Night at the Museum 2" is like following a tour guide through a museum. You know he'll hit the highlights but there's got to be plenty more you're missing.