Hello, Movie Buffs!
In 2029, the world has been taken over by Skynet, a computer AI that has achieved sentience and now seeks to launch a global nuclear holocaust in order to wipe out humanity for good. However, John Conner leads the human resistance and is on the verge of stopping SkyNet from achieving its goals. In an effort to ensure that their goals are achieved, SkyNet sends an indestructible cyborg known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) back in time to the present day to kill John Conner's mother, Sarah (Linda Hamilton) before he’s even born. But all is not lost as John sends his own soldier, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), into the past to save his mother the killer machine. Can Kyle save Sarah and her unborn/unconceived child from an unstoppable menace? Or will the human race be extinguished before it even had a chance to fight back?
It’s crazy to think that The Terminator (1984) - directed by James Cameron (Terminator: Dark Fate, Avatar series) and co-written alongside Gale Anne Hurd (Terminator: Dark Fate) - almost didn’t make it to the big screen - the Terminator was almost terminated. Fortunately, Orion Pictures liked the premise of the film and it’s a good thing that it did because it became one of the greatest films of the ’80s. Filled with iconic catchphrases like “Come with me if you want to live” and “I’ll be back,” the Terminator is a piece of pop culture that has inspired and entertained audiences for years, and each new installment only adds to the hype. The story continually builds at an even pace towards its endgame with expertly choreographed action and deep characterization. It is a perfectly constructed sci-fi horror that doesn’t let go of its intensity. Even though this is one of the first films that James Cameron has directed, it is no surprise that he hit the nail on the head.
The cast performances are incredible. This is one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's (Terminator: Dark Fate) most iconic roles and it is clear early on that he was the perfect person to play the Terminator. Although she reminds me a little of Joe Dirt, Linda Hamilton (Terminator: Dark Fate, Dante’s Peak) is suited perfectly for the role of the feeble and ruggedly beautiful girl next door, Sarah Conner. It is a shame though that, until recently, her film career didn’t extend beyond this film and its sequel because she would have been great in similar action-packed films and made even a few rom-coms. Michael Biehn (Aliens, The Abyss) is great as Sarah’s protector Kyle Reese, but his performance is secondary and he tends to sit in the background when both Hamilton and Schwarzenegger are on scene.
Overall, The Terminator (1984) is a relentless, gripping, action-packed sci-fi horror film that was almost ended before it even had a chance to begin. At close to 35 years of age, this film has come a long way and yet the story still remains to be just as entertaining now as it was back then, especially since it is a source of some of pop culture’s most iconic catchphrases. All in all, this film was a success and I highly recommend that you check it out if you have not done so already, especially if you have plans to see Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) in a few days.
Final Vote --- 8 of 10 stars
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Movies Similar
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