This fourth vision of the Terminator universe recaptures the dark, brooding impact of the original film ...

Rating: 9/10 (10 March 2012)

While not technically a sequel, this fourth vision of the Terminator universe recaptures the dark, brooding impact of the original film while maintaining character growth and depth. Christian Bale brings a new dimension to John Connor, giving us both the leader we knew he would be, yet the man who is still finding his potential. Sam Worthington is exceptional in the role of Marcus Wright, providing us with another key to the development of the T-800 / T-101 unit we have seen in the past films. Anton Yelchin must have studied Michael Biehn's character very closely. He looks and sounds like a young Kyle Reese, right down to the inflections of his voice. We have a believable setting and characters that we knew in their younger days now developing into the characters we hoped they would be. To no surprise, the Terminator appears in the final scenes of the film, but this time it is a digital version of Arnold Schwarzenegger that is quickly reduced to the skeletal frame. As in the previous films, the final battle occurs in a factory setting, only this time it is in the factory where Skynet is assembling Terminators. Rated PG-13 for violence and language, this film is not only collectible to the lovers of the Terminator, but to the lovers of good science fiction everywhere.