Anthony's Film Review - The Terminator (1984)

The Terminator is a memorable sci-fi action flick, thanks to its director and stars...

The Terminator cleverly blends various science-fiction topics: technology turning against humankind, the apocalypse, and time travel. Suppose that, in the 21st century, a supercomputer system called Skynet is built to provide defense in warfare but later develops self-awareness and becomes intelligent, independent, and protective of itself. This supercomputer, and the various machines it builds, wipes out the city of Los Angeles and most of humankind. However, the surviving humans, led by a man named John Connor, band together to fight this powerful menace.

Now suppose Skynet has the ingenious idea of sending a deadly cyborg back in time to 1984 in order to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor. This cyborg, called the Terminator, is stronger than any man and has no regard for human life. He is focused solely on his mission to terminate Sarah Connor. If he is successful, then the future would be rewritten without John Connor, giving Skynet and the machines total freedom to destroy the world. If you think about it, this is quite an intriguing premise for sci-fi. What's even better is having Arnold Schwarzenegger, a perfect casting choice, in the role of the Terminator.

As for the protagonist, a man named Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) also goes back in time to 1984. His objective is to protect Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) from the Terminator. These two actors also deliver good performances, whether they are battling the Terminator or discussing their next move. It is interesting to see Sarah Connor gradually change from an ordinary woman to someone who is frightened about the dark future. She clearly becomes tougher with time.

The movie is essentially a deadly game of cat and mouse. There is suspense whenever the Terminator find a way to catch up to Sarah Connor. There are thrills when the Terminator leaves a path of death and destruction. While most of the movie is set in 1984, it does jump back to the 21st century for scenes of Skynet's laser-blasting machines and the human resistance. They remind us that the battles in the present and future are one and the same.

The Terminator is not just noteworthy for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and even Michael Biehn. It's also a masterpiece for writer and director James Cameron. He has pitched a brilliant idea and brought it to stunning life. Overall, I enjoyed The Terminator. It is one hour and forty minutes of tension and excitement that will definitely please fans of cinematic sci-fi, action, and thriller.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about The Terminator, visit the Internet Movie Database.

In addition, check out my reviews of the following:

The Terminator Films