I was recently looking at upcoming film listings for independent cinema's in the south. I was looking for film that hasn't been released yet but which I hope one of the smaller cinema's might get soon. In doing so I came across two classic films being shown at my local independent picture house, the Duke of Yorks. The first was The Terminator. The second, well you'll find out what that is when I review it next week!
Having never seen The Terminator on the big screen, and after recently re-watching Terminator Salvation and wanting to see the first Terminator again, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.
For those not familiar with the film, it's about Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), an ordinary 80s waitress with an unspectacular life. That is until a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back from the future to kill her before she can give birth to a baby not yet conceived. A son that will one day become the future leader of a resistance movement against the machines that have taken over. Unbeknown to The Terminator, or to Sarah, her future son has sent back a soldier, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), to protect her.
As I mentioned above, I recently re-watched Terminator Salvation and doing so gave me a real hankering to watch the original Terminator film, just to see if it worked as well when you watched them back to back. It also occurred to me that unlike other films which have had several sequels, you can watch the Terminator films in a loop, owing to the element of Kyle Reese being sent back in time. Now that I've done this I would recommend it to others as it does put an interesting spin on the whole Terminator series. It also shows how much homework the people involved in Terminator Salvation did to blend it with the first film.
Right, now that I've jabbered on about Salvation I will get on with talking about the film that started the whole series off, The Terminator. It's an undisputed classic in my eyes. I want to say Arnie's best role, is that going too far? He barely has any dialogue but he is so imposing and genuinely frightening in his portrayal of a killing machine who will not stop. Michael Biehn was perfectly cast as the lovestruck soldier sent back in time to protect a woman he admires deeply, but has never met. And finally Linda Hamilton in the role that has defined her career.
It's true that some of the effects have not stood the test of time but overall the film has. The performances have, and that's what draws you in and keeps you there. Having said that, some of the Terminator effects at the end, although given away by the green screen, were revolutionary at the time and still look great. The direction is slick and the story, which continues through spin off shows and sequels more than 20 years later, still feels unique and appealing.
For anyone who's not seen it, and indeed to anyone who has but maybe not watched it for a while, get on LoveFilm, borrow it off a friend or dig it out of your DVD collection and get watching. Remember what all the fuss was about. You won't regret it. 9 out of 10.
Viewing Date - 23rd September 2011
Original UK Release Date - 11th January 1985
Cast Overview:
Arnold Schwarzenegger ~ The Terminator
Michael Biehn ~ Kyle Reese
Linda Hamilton ~ Sarah Connor
Paul Winfield ~ Lieutenant Ed Traxler
Lance Henriksen ~ Detective Hal Vukovich
Rick Rossovich ~ Matt Buchanan
Bess Motta ~ Ginger Ventura
Earl Boen ~ Dr Peter Silberman
Director ~ James Cameron
Writer(s) ~ James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd
Acknowledgement to the works of Harlan Ellison and Additional Dialogue by William Wisher Jnr
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