Review of The Terminator (1984) by Thequietgamer — 11 Jul 2015

When it comes to sci-fi there just isn't another mind out there like Cameron's. His legendary work here infuses the genre with dark and gritty noir. Heck, given the relentlessness and ferocity of it's antagonist it's darn near part horror as well. The film's world pulls no punches in any department. While certain aspects of the movie might seem simple by today's standards the film is no less impressive.

The story is effectively conveyed through minimalist dialog. Characters do carry on conversations, but the actual backstory is told rather quickly so as to put the film's focus squarely on the conflict at hand. The time travel scenario may have you scratching your head at some points until you realize the ending is meant to set up the sequel. It doesn't completely wrap up the overall story b it's conclusion. It instead leaves you with a satisfying ending for it's story while leaving viewers with the promise of more.

The characters are portrayed spot on by the actors, but the real star of the show is Arnold Schwarzenegger. He plays the ruthless and somewhat terrifying "terminator" to perfection. While ultimately he doesn't do much actual acting as his lines are kept to a minimum he still manages to instill terror at his presence. Also it's just as fun as ever to watch him shoot things up.

The film also just does a lot of cool things. While the special effects are obviously dated today, it' not hard to notice how cool the scenes must have looked back in the day. There are some really cool effects going on that toady couldn't be done without at least a little CGI. Cameron made the film's most impressive moments (which usually involve gore) all happen without it. A very impressive feat considering the time.

While aspects of it haven't aged well and it's not as groundbreaking today as it was when it first came out, this is still one of the most original and creative sci-fi movies out there. With a sharp plot, good writing, cool effects, and an original theme this is one that 's still worth watching. It still manages to stand out as one of the best sci-fi movies you'll ever watch. If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend that you do.

I give it an 8.9/10.