The Terminator

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, Paul Winfield, Lance Henriksen, and Earl Boen

Written by: James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd, and William Wisher, Jr.

Directed by: James Cameron

It sometimes is amazing to take a franchise that is so iconic, so well loved, and has such an aura that everyone knows about it and most love it, and then go back and watch the original film (or whatever) that spawned such devotion.  Amazing because sometimes you watch a film and part of you can’t help wonder how that became what it is today.

The Terminator is a perfect example.  Some may stop reading now because I’m insulting their  baby, but I’ll be honest, it’s not my intention, because I do like the saga and even like the film, but to me it’s just hard to see how it got from point a to point b while other similar movies don’t.

First off the move is undeniably cool.  Arnold’s portrayal of the machine is as good as it’s iconic placement would suggest, but it’s funny that the movie in all honesty is one long action chase sequence.  Amazing that they can draw that out for nearly two hours and yet still be somewhat effective.

The film is well paced despite that and definitely has some dark humor in it.  One of the first sequences involves a naked Arnold looking for clothes from three young punks, including a blue mohawked Bill Paxton.

When Michael Biehn’s character of Kyle Reese  is sent back to protect (and let’s face it, impregnate) Sarah Connors, mother of the future, the chase is on.   In fact it is her character that is hardest to come to terms with having seen what she is to become in the later media.  How did this ultimate 80s chick who couldn’t hurt a fly become the demon warrior we see in T2 or even the Sarah Connor Chronicles?  But I do digress as it is unfair to judge this film on what happens later.

This Sarah Connor though is annoying.  It’s not that it’s unrealistic, and perhaps it was even subconsicously intended, given the way the film almost makes you want to cheer for the Arnold, but I wanted him to catch her and string her up.

Michael Biehn was very solid as Kyle Reese, playing it as straight as can be with little traces of humanity himself at first acting just enough insane and just enough intrinsicly involved in the storyline.  It was most necessary for Kyle’s character to be strong, as he’s the one the audience has to believe the most.

The special effects are very 80sish  and extremely dated at this point.  From the futuristic laser show to the rubber Arnold face when he has to take his eye out, it is especially strange to watch after watching the much more advanced T2.

For a character with little dialogue…(he, of course, get’s the requisite ‘I’ll be back’ in there), Arnold truly carries the film much the way he carries his frame.  Strong, straight up, and with a sense of true determination.  The character will become a cariacture of itself later on, but for now it’s good to sit back and watch the film unfold.

Overall it was an imaginative tale held back a bit by the effects of the time, and perhaps not quite the epic feel it was going for, but well worth the watch.

B-

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