Review: The Terminator Crushes All Competition
- Aug 25, 2017
- 2 min read
The year is 1984. Science fiction and horror are at an all time high. Enter new comer James Cameron alongside the known only as Conan, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Together they create one of the greatest films ever made, The Terminator.
The T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a highly advanced robotic creation, formed by the AI known as Skynet, that rules the world of 2029, is sent back to 1984. It's purpose is simple, find and destroy Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the soon to be mother of John Connor, the man who will defeat Skynet and restore order to the world. And so, in 2029, John Connor responds, sending back Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) to protect Sarah and destroy the T-800.
The Terminator is one of the few time travel films that actually make sense. Cameron's writing is impeccable, neatly explaining the logistics of the future, the way in which the terminators function, all of it. Throw in a few flashbacks (flashforwards?) detailing the world from which Kyle is from and you get a full and complete story. Even the exposition, usually something that slows down most films, is delivered during a car chase, keeping the film moving.
Then there's the action. From the police station shootout, Tech Noir to numerous car chases, the factory battle and the future wars. They each showcase the indestructibility, the unstoppable nature of the T-800, a character that Arnold brings to life through a total of fourteen lines and his excellent weapon handling. He totally sells the fact that he is an unfeeling machine, something far more difficult than most people think.
The Terminator is considered a landmark film, and for good reason. Its villain is one of the best around, rendering the rest of the cast almost entirely forgotten, and the sense of fear that the film instils is palpable. It truly is a genre classic and a great all around film. Give it a watch.
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