... "RoboCop", the Predator in "Predator", the comedy stylings of Riggs and Murtaugh in "Lethal Weapon" and of course the Terminator in "The Terminator". But what makes "The Terminator" different from the rest of these eighties' classics? The Terminator has a bag guy that you actually want to ... Read review
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Willow Smith, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson, Alice Braga
Advantages: Made Arnie's career Disadvantages: Linda Hamilton's Mullet
...Weapon" and of course the Terminator in "The Terminator". But what makes "The Terminator" different from the rest of these eighties' classics? The Terminator has a bag guy that you actually want to see succeed, even if it does mean that mankind in the future becomes extinct...
The year is 1984, it is early morning. A few flashes and a bolt of electricity later a man appears, naked, from the future. He is the ... ...that both Reese and the Terminator come from the future, in the year 2029. In 2029, machines rule the earth and are hunting down the remaining human rebels, fighting for freedom. But what does this have to do with Sarah Conner. Well it turns out that she's going to be the future mother of the leader of the human resistance - John Conner. Therefore it is imperrative that she is kept alive for the sake of humanity. A cat and mouse style chase between ... more
Many of us may not choose to remember the eighties. The shoulderpads, the mullets, the dodgy makeup, the synthesised music, the yuppies, the drugs etc etc etc. Fortunately I was bron in the mid eighties and therefore don't really remember the decade as well as some of you who are reading the somewhat irrelevant things I am writing. The only way we can get access to that once worrying decade is by either by watching Only Fools And Horses (classic), Top Of The Pops 2 or films of the era.
The eighties saw many iconic screen characters in brainless but very enjoyable actioners. John Macleane in "Die Hard", RoboCop in err... "RoboCop", the Predator in "Predator", the comedy stylings of Riggs and Murtaugh in "Lethal Weapon" and of course the Terminator in "The Terminator". But what makes "The Terminator" different from the rest of these eighties' classics? The Terminator has a bag guy that you actually want to see succeed, even if it does mean that mankind in the future becomes extinct...
The year is 1984, it is early morning. A few flashes and a bolt of electricity later a man appears, naked, from the future. He is the very imposing, muscular Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a robot covered in living tissue, hence: Cyborg (cybonetic organism). His mission is to search for a woman named Sarah Conner and starts to systematically murder every Sarah Conner in the city phonebook.
In another part of town, another mysterious person (Michael Biehn) appears from a spherical vortex of energy, who is also searching for Conner. The Sarah Conner in question (Linda Hamilton), a sometimes clumsy waitress, starts to get a little concerned when it's reported on the news that there is a serial killer on the prowl in Los Angeles who seems to only be killing people by the name of 'Sarah Conner'. She descovers, via looking the phone book that she's next, as she waits in a nightclub to wait for the police to pick her up she notices that the mysterious man (Biehn) has been following her. But she shouldn't really be worrying about him as it turns out that he is there to protect her from the Terminator, who shrugs of gunshot wounds without a second thought and thinks that high speed car crashes are nothing more than minor inconviences. It is he who is doing the killing. Biehn turns out to be Kyle Reese, a soldier who's mission is to keep Conner alive for a very special reason.
It turns out that both Reese and the Terminator come from the future, in the year 2029. In 2029, machines rule the earth and are hunting down the remaining human rebels, fighting for freedom. But what does this have to do with Sarah Conner. Well it turns out that she's going to be the future mother of the leader of the human resistance - John Conner. Therefore it is imperrative that she is kept alive for the sake of humanity. A cat and mouse style chase between Reese and Sarah and the Terminator ensues.
Performances from the three leads are good. Schwarzenegger is silent but deadly as the emotionless cyborg, it was as if the part was written for him. Well... actually it was going to be Lance Henrikson playing the killer cyborg as James Cameron's (the director's) conception that the Terminator would be able to blend into a crowd of poeple without arrousing suspicion. Arnie can't exactly do that, but has the physique to be believable as an object made of steel.
Linda Hamilton plays the helpless bimbo character nicely. Although the whole situation is an invaluable learning curve for her character, making her more independent and single minded. Again, Hamilton handle this change in gestus well proving to be a competent actress who is sometimes under ratted. This is arguably her best performance.
Michael Biehn, another under ratted actor proves that he is talented as the humane protector, Reese. Although his build is nothing like Schwarzenegger's, he can still maintain a huge presence on screen, being ultimately the hero. This is a good performance that is quite convincing. Although (this includes all) there was nothing of Oscar quality.
There are also some solid performance from Lance Henrikson (Aliens), oh and Bill Paxton makes a short but memorable appearence.
James Cameron (one of favourite directors) splices heart stopping action sequences with engaging characters seemlessly and despite it being a cheap $7 or so million project, it's not your standard popcorn faire. The building love interest between Conner and Reese makes it a more emotionally charged picture and ironically the love story (which is the eventual core of the plot) ironically leads to the conception of John Conner. This in itself leads to a serious of bewildering time travel related questions. If the Terminator hadn't gone back in time, Reese would never have met Sarah at that time and therefore no John Conner??? I think i'll stop there... But the story is much more clever than it makes out to be.
Cameron's script (he wrote it as well) is simple but very, very effective. To maintain the horror that is th Terminator character, his dialogue is minimal. For the entirety of the film (103 minutes), Schwarzenegger has these lines to say:
Nice night for a walk. Nothing clean, right. Your clothes. Give them to me. Now. The 12 Gauge Autoloader. The .45 Longslide with laser sighting. Phased Plasma rifle in 40 watt range. The Uzi nine millimeter All. Wrong. Sarah Conner? I'm a friend of Sarah Conner. I was told she was here. Can I see her please? Where is she? I'll be back F**k you a$$hole Give me your address there Get Out
Not alot really, but hey, it works. The special effects for a film of such a low budget are fairly impressive, even by today's standard. Gunfights, car chases, explosions, the metal Terminator endo-skeleton. It looks like effects guru Stan Winston had his work cut out for him. The future scenes with the humans fighting the machine HKs (hunter killers) are also done well, cutting corners at every opportunity. Some models for the scenes weren't finished due to the filming schedule so carboard cutout accessories were stuck to them (boasters etc) to make them look more complete.
Soundtrack is of course, eighties, all the way. The signature theme tune is haunting with the synthesised drones. Cameron ("T2", "Aliens") obviously knows that music is improtant in increasing tension and that all important scare factor, which this film experiements with but fortunately doesn't rest the whole story on it.
BOTTOM LINE The seventies had Darth Vader, the eighties had the Terminator. It stands tall over all the imitations made after it, due to its believable love story that doesn't feel forced at all. A dark and daring motion picture that has been planned exhaustively and it shows. Cameron proves that he is a jack of all trades for all film genres as this film blends most of them into a cocktail of pure, classic entertainment. Watch it, if you want to live...
CERTIFICATE : 15/18 (depending if it on VHS or DVD: see note) TIME APPROX : 103 minutes
CAUTION Strong lanuguge Strong violence Some sex
IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY : Terminator 2: Judgement Day - the bigger and arguably better sequel that is an action masterpiece.
You'll be back
<DarkMark
NOTE : since its DVD release and due to the high quality of picture, the BBFC decided that a stop motion skeleton model just isn't scary anymore and therefore bumped it down to 15. The VHS remains 18 due to its lack of picture quality compared to DVD.
Advantages: Uncommonly good storyline for an action film, super special effects, imaginative design, excellent value DVD Disadvantages: Many won't enjoy it for its occasionally-graphic violence
...2-disc Special Edition DVD of Terminator for only £7.99, and if there is a film out there that makes a more apt present for a father, then I’ve yet to find it!
James Cameron’s first outing as a film director may at first glance appear to be your typical action film; its got good guys and bad guys, guns ‘n’ gore, and a large dollop of explosions thrown in for good measure. But Cameron is a very clever man – his ability ... ...drawings to life.
The Terminator is a sci-fi/action thriller that was first released back in 1984. For its time (and considering the relatively tight budget), the special effects and make-up design were fabulous, and as the film unfolds at a terrific pace, it becomes all too easy to overlook what is also an extremely impressive storyline, with a great deal more to it than many of the no-brainer action films that had gone before it and have appeared ...
tom1clare 07.03.2004 (10.03.2004)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Terminator
...been a fan of the terminator franchise, owning all three DVD's. Been to see the ride at Universal Studios etc, I could watch these films countless number of times. This review is on the first terminator film, were the saga first started and where this epic film set a standard for future sci- fi films. The film truly is a part of cinematic history, not largely due to its script, but for its direction, its sci-fi action sequences and its character ... ...to the concept of the terminator a unstoppable, machine which is sent back through time from the year 2029, to assassinate Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, the leader of the human resistance against the machines, in the future. The hell bent machine, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger must track down Sarah Connor and terminate her, before John is born, if successful, then John would not exists and the machines would inevitably win the future ...
jaygami1986 24.10.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Terminator
Advantages: Non-stop action. Arnie IS the Terminator. Disadvantages: Looks a little dated.
...pastel wardrobe. The bulky Terminator slams back into the past, naked, kills a group of punks (led by Cameron stalwart Bill Paxton), acquires their clothes, and relentlessly tracks down Sarah.
However, all is not lost, because the future rebels rumble the machine's plan, and send back their most likely candidate, grimacing commando Reese (Michael Biehn). It looks a bit of a mis-match, as the Terminator can withstand any amount of gunfire, car crashes, ... ...planet, and that's why the Terminator role is so perfect for him. Henriksson (who has a small role as a detective) probably would have been tempted to do some acting, but Arnie pitches it just right, keeping his face straight throughout the movie and moving with slow, mechanical movements. His "I'll be back" line isn't terribly funny on paper, but in the context it is hilarious, and now Arnie shoehorns it in whenever he gets the chance.
Stan Winston's ...
Plissken 11.10.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Terminator
Advantages: Superb groundbreaking sci fi Disadvantages: None
...ultimate adults sci-fi, then The Terminator is most definitely the ultimate teenage sci-fi film. The Terminator, however was not an immediate hit and took a while to find its audience as it was too cool for parents and unsuitable for young teenagers. When I was at primary school it was the film you had to have seen, along with Predator and Robocop and the fact that it was an 18 only increased the desire to see it. Long before I had seen it , everyone ... ...still famous is Arnie. Since Terminator he has made many, many other films where he wanders around with a gun and kills everybody in sight. Its become an annual thing and most are extremely popular; Predator, Commando, Conan the Barbarian, End of Days, The Last Action Hero and Total Recall. But of course he has made a few turkeys and we will never quite forgive him for The Sixth Day or Jingle all the Way. Arnie seemed to discover in The Terminator ...
willgould 23.10.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Terminator
Advantages: Amazing extras and a fine transfer of a classic film Disadvantages: none
The Terminator was once a B-movie, dwarfed by larger blockbusters it overcame its shackles by boasting a fantastic storyline and a great casting move of having Arnold Schwarzenegger play the unstoppable cyborg killing machine. Not weighed down by the relationship aspect or the in-jokes of the sequel, this film is as fresh now as when it was originally released. There is an overwhelming feel that this film was 'meant to be' and everything is perfect, ... ...really dated that much since the 80’s. It’s a testament to James Camaron that this film did as well as it did and is still considered as a classic piece of Sci-fi horror even now. The storyline, for those not in the know, is that robots control the future. A band of human freedom fighters are the only thing that opposes the machines and when they learn of a plot to send a killing machine (the Terminator) back to the past to kill the mother ...
pbyron 13.04.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Terminator
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Terminator"
Advantages: good action sci-fi movie with plenty of story Disadvantages: the big guys wooden acting...??
Director: James Cameron.
Producers: John Daly, Gale Anne Hurd and Derek Gibson
Writers: James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn and Linda Hamilton.
Released in 1984 this first film begins a series of fantastic movies where future meets present with action pact consequences.
**BRIEF PLOT**
When a machine wrapped in human skin cells is sent back from 2029, (where the machines rule the world), to 1984, the machine, or 'Terminator' (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is hell bent on destroying all the Sarah Conners in the phone book.
Fortunately, for Sarah Conner, (played by Linda Hamilton) a savour appears in the form of Kyle Reese, (played by Michael Biehn), a human from the future who follows the Terminator through the time portals.
With the terminator on a mission to eliminate ...
Advantages: Arnie; Michael Biehn; Love sub-plot; Scary; Concept of the Future Disadvantages: Dated CGI
Arnold Schwarzenegger was born to play a cyborg. In this iconic role, the tight-lipped, square-headed Austrian warped into the minds of many 80s youths, such as myself, and made us truly believe there are killer robots aiming to wipe out our existence in the near future. Even today, the haunting science behind the fictitious tale of The Terminator contributes to my cynical outlook of men at war with machines.
By now, it is common knowledge that John Connor is at the pinnacle of humanity's resistance when the nuclear war begins sometimes in the 21st century. The machines, of course, fully aware of this threat, decide to send a T-800 model (Arnie) back in time to kill Connor's mother Sarah; thus, attempting to eliminate the child's existence prior to him being born. Fortunately, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), is also sent back as one ...
Advantages: Some visually entertaining if unengaging special effects Disadvantages: Terrible dialogue, direction, plot and acting, Unoriginal, dull and unengaging.
First of all let me start off by saying that Terminator 1 and 2 are amongst my favourite films, and I even found T3, whilst not of nearly the same calibre, to be an enjoyable enough film. I've always found the Terminator universe's combination of nuclear armaggeddon, giant machinegun-wielding metal skeletons, tense, fast-paced plots, timetravel, fantastic gun battles and car chases and apocalyptic landscapes strewn with the skulls of untold millions to be utterly intoxicating, so it would take a seriously bad film to curtail my interest in the franchise. Enter pretentiously named hack-director "McG" and his team of Hollywood cretins.......
Terminator 4: Salvation is set in 2018, after Skynet has triggered the nuclear near-annihilation of mankind, and picks up the story of John Connor, leader of the human resistance, played here by ...
