After the disappointment from the last Terminator movie, this 4th installment in the series is pivotal to the franchise – and it scores a big hit. Indeed, this film is well paced, balancing good storytelling with mesmerizing action sequences. It is also full of surprises, which will make you smile (or scream with approval as many did at the midnight premiere). The acting is excellent, though I would prefer Christian Bale play John Connor with more composure. The direction also gets high marks for staying consistent with Terminator lore. Overall, this is good enough for fans of varying backgrounds.