The Terminator (1984)

User Review

• 

  Barneyonmovies

  7 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: 'The Terminator's premise may require slightly too much explanation to be classed as "high-concept," but it certainly fits that mold in some ways.
  
  A murderous robot (Arnold Schwarzenegger) returning from a future where machines are at war with humans is a neat idea, as it allows for some brilliantly iconic fish-out-of-water moments. Then, the fact he's using the phone book to track down and kill all the potential mothers of a future warrior leading the fight against machines creates some brilliant tension, particularly as we follow the true intended Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) from the start. To top it all off, the parallel introduction of a human from the future (Michael Biehn) who wants to protect Sarah makes for some extremely cathartic cat-and-mouse type action too.
  
  Combined with the oh-so 80s production design and score, and James Cameron's direction which establishes his penchant for huge machines and clangy action, that all makes for a highly entertaining blockbuster that will mostly keep you engaged and smiling.
  
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The script doesn't provide any characters arcs or even meaningful motivations aside from survival, so the moments where attempts are made to create sincere emotional character beats (particularly from the relationship between Kyle and Sarah) fall completely flat.
  
  VERDICT: Though hardly profound, James Cameron's 'The Terminator,' has the tension, humour and spectacle to earn its place in the highest echelons of silly 80s blockbuster territory.

  Like?

  0 member like this review.