Review of The Terminator (1984) by Cael M — 28 Jun 2013

One of the greatest and most influential action films ever made, The Terminator is a brilliant, bleak sci-fi adventure, and is backed up by a simple, yet terrifyingly effective role by Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator, and impressive visual effects and action sequences that continue to impress just as much as it did nearly 30 years ago when it was first released.

This film is about a man from the future, named Kyle Reese, who is sent back in time from the bleak post-apocalyptic future of 2029 to 1984 to protect a woman named Sarah Connor, who is the mother of the future leader of a human resistance group, from being terminated by a cyborg named The Terminator.

The pacing of this film is so fast and well executed that it's hard to catch any mistakes or flaws throughout the film (if there are any at all), and there is barely any moment where my heart wasn't pounding thanks to its non-stop thrills.

The atmosphere is gloomy and chilling, and has a feeling of threat and suspicion. The action is great, with groundbreaking visual effects for its time, leading to a huge amount of intense suspense and fear of the fact that the lives of these two main characters are constantly threatened by an indestructible cyborg that is ravaging the city in search for them.

The soundtrack is also great, and has a very epic feeling that perfectly fits in with its setting and atmosphere. Arnold, who gives what is probably his most iconic role, does a very good job at portraying a seemingly simple but very chilling villain that doesn't care how he completes his goal, but if he completes it at all.

Everything works so well, and is a great example of what is sorely missing from most big-budget action blockbusters. This is a classic, imaginative, and mesmerizing movie with that works perfectly on every level, showcasing some of the best action and thrills ever put to screen.