A dark vision of post-apocalyptic war. Mostly shot at night, or in the rain, McG's direction is punchy and intense, with screaming jet planes and groaning megamachines. Action sequences are reminiscent of his Mission Impossible work. Bale brings his Batman intensity, falling short of tearing all the lights down. Worthington plays the strong quiet type admirably, giving Eastwood a run for his money. Plot, as usual, is riven with time-travel paradoxes. Script is riddled with one-liners and cliches. Arnie makes a crowd-pleasing "appearance." However, the producers seeking to drain the franchise of every last ounce of energy leave things open for future Terminator outings.