I saw it last thursday and I think it was better than both Star Trek and Wolverine…combined. Seriously, if I was given the option of seeing T4 or seeing X-man origins and Star Trek I would choose T4. It was much darker and more serious than T2 or T3. Very well developed and an all-together great movie. I give it 9.5 out of 10. I gave Wolverine an 8.0 and Star Trek an 8.5.
So casually the movie asks deep questions about existence–
-What constitutes consciousness?
-Is humanity the sum of flesh, the sum of actions, a moral state?
-Can you send your dad back in time to copulate with your mom in order to consummate your birth…?
It’s a GREAT Terminator film. I think what impressed me was that the storyline manages to work on recurring themes without repeating the same time travel formula behind the first 3 films in the series. And the T-800 was there. And there’s more than a few really great action sequences.
Minus a few casting concerns with Connor’s wife and the fighter jet pilot, plus a few clumsy dialogue scenes (common to the series), it deserved better than what Rotten Tomatoes gave it (Pfft. Libs). Anyways, echoing Jerrick, critics probably should avoid the film. Fans should not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7BYFtWGURI
(Extra from the T3 DVD)
Just because [most] of the critics at Rotten Tomatoes didn’t care much for Terminator Salvation, it certainly doesn’t mean that are not BIG “fans” of at least ONE of the films in the series, which most consider far and away the best of the 4.
And if they loved the one linked below so much, as most did, you would think that they would go in the theater with an open mind, hoping to like the next one as well. Just because a critic is paid, doesn’t necessarily negate his opinion, which after all, is all it is.
I found the John Connor character a little annoying, but we know his past and his (supposed) responsibility to the future. Supposed, because there’s no fate but what we make.
Less humor, because it’s a much darker time. The machines are wiping out the species, which makes it harder to be funny. I thought the special effects were well-blended, not taking priority over the story. But there were plenty of them to be sure. T2 will probably be remembered as the film that introduced photo-realistic CGI to major motion pictures. That will always have an effect on how we view that film.
Rank them in order? Hard to say. There wouldn’t be a T2 without The Terminator. But that movie had a much smaller budget. So it’s not a fair comparison but I still consider the first movie to be essential so it can’t be counted out. Each stands well on its own merits.
Humanity is a moral state, at least according to other stories, such as Bicentennial Man, and Star Trek, where the galaxy seems to be populated with “people” mostly just like us, but with different textures on their faces.
And yes, you can send your dad back in time to father you. Otherwise there wouldn’t be a T4 for us to talk about! 
Here are a few random reviews:
A decent action film, far superior to the awful Terminator 3, but it isn’t close to the quality provided by James Cameron’s original or T2.
Plenty of people who will enjoy this kind of soulless, technically correct, mark-hitting moviemaking, but it’s difficult for me to imagine why.
Terminator Salvation is essentially a ripping sci-fi war movie that marries beautifully into the series’ overarching story.
Please let this be the only Terminator film McG directs.
Stylish but shallow, action-packed but without ever being exciting, Terminator Salvation is a movie that looked amazing as a trailer, but doesn’t stand up as a 115 minute film.
It’s basically a zombie movie with machines instead of the walking dead.
The latest installment in the venerable sci-fi action franchise turns out to be a straight-up war film, grim and muscular and thundering and joyless. It’s the color of cement, and it weighs as much, too.
Most of the running time is occupied by action sequences, chase sequences, motorcycle sequences, plow-truck sequences, helicopter sequences, fighter-plane sequences, towering android sequences and fistfights. It gives you all the pleasure of a video game without the bother of having to play it.
The predictable story feels as if it were written by a computer program labeled "sequel.
The way-too-familiar climax feels less like a comment on destiny than like watching a finely crafted but soulless product roll off an assembly line.
With its idea of an insurgency striking against an implacable evil empire, there’s more than a little “Star Wars” in Terminator: Savlation, although not even at its “Empire Strikes Back” bleakest was Lucas’ series this dark.
It parades neither the egghead aspirations of “Star Trek” nor the thick-skulled pretensions of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” but instead feels both comfortable with its limitations and justly proud of its accomplishments.
Did anyone happen to notice the two - at least - Aliens references in this film? (I’m sure I don’t have to mention the James Cameron connection to both series).
Towards the end when John Connor is waiting for an elevator he exclaims, “Come on” impatiently, using not just the same words, but the same intonation as Ripley when waiting for an elevator towards the end of Aliens.
The other one which comes first, I can’t quite recall, although I know I made note of it when it occurred.
And as an aside, what reminded me to post this was watching a rerun of NCIS with Abigail Breslin who at some point asks for a drink of water which struck me as a direct reference to what movie? Anyone?
Airplane?
No, but what do you think of the fact that my daughter’s boyfriend doesn’t find Airplane even vaguely amusing?
Surely he can’t be serious?
I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley! 
Looks like picked the wrong day to quit sniffing glue!
Hasn’t the standard been the awareness of one’s own mortal existence, including one’s ability to influence their reality.
I’d choose your first definition: the sum of flesh. After all, nature’s plan for us was to see how long we could sustain our species, just the same for “animality” and “plantity”.
If you were to sum our collective actions, our collective values, I’d posit this would be the only significant result: reproduction.
Being a believer in the many-worlds interpretation of QM, I’d say it’s not entirely necessary. However, time travel would likely violate many physical laws, so even something as outlandish as the MWI of QM might be turned on its head.
It could be argued that one would be required to arrange for the copulation of his parents in the case that time travel existed. If one’s parents met and married in the normal fashion, one would be compelled to ensure time travellers did not disrupt this process, just as one whose parents included a time traveller would be compelled to ensure they did travel at some point in time. This, however, would obliterate the concept of free will.
My reasoning in invoking the MWI is that in the case where the “time travelling dad” was never sent back to copulate with mom, there would be another chain of events that would lead to the child’s conception. Perhaps another person would send “dad” back in time, but he copulated with the wrong mom, or with several moms. The very fact that the child exists ensures some chain of events occurred… although one or more parties in the event may not be able to put cause and effect together to explain the situation.
Of the questions you’ve asked, BRM, this is the most interesting. I’d suggest we start a new thread, as time travel has many consequences which may not be forseen without a great deal of thought and discussion.
Disturbing!.. I’m not pessimistic but you should have told me that earlier, I would have thought twice before releasing 2 kids in a world where such a thing is possible.
About the “drink quote”, A scene in “the wall” popped into my head but I guess it’s not what you talk about (when Pinky and his groupie enter the appartement).
Didn’t see T3… I’ll watch it when I “find” it (if my stupid government doesn’t cut my internet acces off)
Haha yeah, if you’re in shape! Have you seen Arnold lately? The man has let himself go! He’s having a hard enough time governing CA, let alone his caloric intake!
Check for a pulse.
What is he, a nihilist?
I think he does like shrubbery, so yeah, maybe.