Absolutely agree. Anton was awesome in it, and I totally bought him in the role. Having seen him as Chekov, I was really impressed by how differently he played the role. At times, I found myself wanting him on the screen more than Bale, and I like Bale as an actor.I watched Salvation expecting it to be dire, and those expectations were met unfortunately. However there is one positive aspect to the film: Anton Yelchin. He was by far the best actor in the film, and i hope the negative reaction to Salvation doesnt damage his career too much.
Also agreed that practical models rule. CGI certainly has its place, but having some models in there is always a nice touch.