The Terminator is one of my all time favorites and a classic that stands the test of time. I love the mystery in the first half of the movie, two enigmatic characters searching for the same person; Sarah Connor. It ultimately comes down to a classic cat and mouse chase with a few well-executed time-travel twists.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is perfectly cast, there isn't a single scene where I didn't buy that he's a robot. He not only fits the role for obvious physical reasons but also because he's so good at playing the stone cold serious type that cracks a few funny one-liners once in a while. Kyle feels like a generic character at first but once his allegiances and goal are revealed he becomes compelling. Sarah is my least favorite but not by much, she's really elevated once she connects with another character.
Lots of thrilling action, a few epic car chases, good use of slow-motion (bar scene), atmospheric, the score is minimal but effective and pretty solid sci-fi premise. Love the horror visuals and the romance really fits and has meaning in the storyline.
There's nothing I respect more in a movie than practical effects and omg, these will never get old. The miniature sets in the opening sequence and the stop-motion in the third act—I love how weird it looks. The third act is a masterpiece for that reason but it's also for how thrilling it is and visually stunning. Very rewatchable. So hyped for Judgement Day!
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
Review by Corrupted NoobieVIP 9BlockedParent2019-11-02T10:43:44Z
This is by all accounts, one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. While the second is still an amazing film in its own right, it just didn't quite top this masterful mix of tension and atmosphere.
I've always liked T2 over this since I was a kid for obvious reasons. But coming back has been a change in perspective and appreciation for such a game-changing movie. The perfect representation of how going into a movie blind is so beneficial to put you in the character's position. The choice to make it so vague and let us as the audience figure out the reasoning behind the chaos as the story progresses is astounding in its craftsmanship. Little to no exposition is given until we are told the sole answer we have been asking after these characters have been established. The visuals and character nuances give us pieces of the puzzle to what the plot is before we are informed. It's one of the reasons this film is a staple of sci-fi, but there are so many more.
I could rattle them all off like how the score is amazing, the acting from both the lead actors are fantastic, and how the concept is terrifyingly becoming more a reality. Not to mention how the fear for AI could be applied to any technology we develop. However, everyone else has already said these things, and I recommend this film to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. It's a great stand-alone piece and is deepened by its first sequel (While T3 isn't great, the ending is still something to admire).
For a film considered by many to be outshined by its successor, I say that the original is still the best.
10/10