While undeniably a classic and a major influence on pop culture (although maybe not as much as it's successor), The Terminator is not good.  The action is slow and dated, the visuals are really dated, and the overall acting and writing screams the 80's.  This film didn't age all too well, and it relies heavily on it's sci-fi storyline.  The storyline isn't bad at all, and considering when it was written, it's pretty interesting and inventive.  But this is honestly the only good aspect of the movie.  James Cameron did a good job with the cinematography and visuals given the limitations of the time, but even so this movie looks very bland today.  Still, it's one of the classics for sci-fi, so I had to watch it at least once.  Although I imagine my first time will also be my last.