This is not perfect because of some of the usual Cameronisms in the dialogue and acting, besides that this is a really inspired fusion of horror, science fiction, romance and action. We often refer to T2 as the bigger and better film, however for me there’s something about the tone and atmosphere of this one that makes it more special. I certainly find the lighting and synth score way more appropriate for a concept like this. Arnold is perfectly cast for this role (some great practical effects work for his mechanics as well) and the rest of the cast is decent; everyone plays well defined characters but getting good, nuanced performances out of actors has never been the James Cameron way. It’s less obvious when he’s going for a tongue in cheek/cheesy feel during a scene, however the romance can be handled much more awkwardly for example. We know that Cameron, especially during his early days, was all about finding a balance of masculine and feminine energy in his films, and with this he kinda already showed that he’s just simply better at the masculine side. For instance, I have nothing but praise for the set pieces. They’re all very memorable because of the impressive imagery (look no further than the use of fire during the finale), great build-ups and pendulum swings, precise technical execution and interesting use of Arnold.
Review by JordyVIP 8BlockedParent2023-11-18T00:59:27Z— updated 2023-11-26T13:33:41Z
This is not perfect because of some of the usual Cameronisms in the dialogue and acting, besides that this is a really inspired fusion of horror, science fiction, romance and action. We often refer to T2 as the bigger and better film, however for me there’s something about the tone and atmosphere of this one that makes it more special. I certainly find the lighting and synth score way more appropriate for a concept like this. Arnold is perfectly cast for this role (some great practical effects work for his mechanics as well) and the rest of the cast is decent; everyone plays well defined characters but getting good, nuanced performances out of actors has never been the James Cameron way. It’s less obvious when he’s going for a tongue in cheek/cheesy feel during a scene, however the romance can be handled much more awkwardly for example. We know that Cameron, especially during his early days, was all about finding a balance of masculine and feminine energy in his films, and with this he kinda already showed that he’s just simply better at the masculine side. For instance, I have nothing but praise for the set pieces. They’re all very memorable because of the impressive imagery (look no further than the use of fire during the finale), great build-ups and pendulum swings, precise technical execution and interesting use of Arnold.
8.5/10