Film Of The Week #32 - The Terminator

Karl Hungus

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/

And by an absolute landslide this week! Once again, our sci-fi binge is continued, and this is yet another remarkable example of the genre.

You know, a lot of people seem to think that Terminator 2 is the best of the films, and when I was younger, I probably would've agreed, but now I'm not so sure. What The Terminator had going for it over it's sequel was the fact that it was such an incredibly dark film, and quite scary in parts. Towards the end of the film, really did scare me as a kid. It was a very atmospheric, brooding film, something that the sequel rather watered down, for a more action orientated film.

Dont be at yourself

Stylistically they're poles apart, and I have to say that I much prefer the sequel - but perhaps only because I had seen it first.

I wouldn't hold The Terminator as a sci-fi classic - it is too let down by paper-thin characterisation, dodgy acting and ambitions outstripping its budget. Really, the film's saving grace is Arnie, who absolutely convinces as a relentless killing machine. The role was obviously made for him, and if you replaced Arnie in The Terminator (or indeed, the sequel), I don't think either would be as memorable or fondly remembered.

joe_chicken

NekkidBibleMan wrote:

it is too let down by paper-thin characterisation, dodgy acting and ambitions outstripping its budget.

I thought that was the definition of a sci-fi movie

This movie is great. The whole premise behind the story line is very enjoyable. Seeing the events unfold from the point of view of Sarah Connor, who's only hope from an unstoppable killing machine is a scrawny little crazy man who claims he's from the future - brilliant.

I think the idea of this gets diluted a bit if you watch the second one first. But I'd have to agree, that they are both good for different reasons.

It has so many memorable scenes: the nightclub, the police station, the close up of Arnies face as he searches for them in the police car, with that synthesizer "Dun Dun DUNDUNDUN"-ing away in the background.

ixoy

I've always been a much greater admirer of this than the sequel. I think in this case, there's the fac that the Terminator is a bad-ass. He's mono-syllabic, has something like 27 lines, and is just intent on his mission. The sequel greatly diluted this, for me, by having a literally kiddy-friendly terminator minding a pip-sqeak wannabe hacker

A darkness permeates the movie with just a glimmer of hope. There's a sense of confusion about what's going on, which is less obvious in the second and the ending is more poignant for me.

There's also some classic action sequences - the sequence in the police station is a standout and it's ably supported by Michael Biehn and Arnie at his impassive best. Sarah Connor's transition here from waitress to a more harder survivor is more interesting than her asylum-interrred version in the sequel.

Definitely merit of a classic status and am glad to see it won out over its sequel.

mike65

What struck me about it was just how James Cameron made 6 million dollars look like 60 well certainly 30 and how his directoral style was reflected by the title figure - relentless! You did'nt really have time to think about thin characterisation or dialogue. It was KILL KILL KILL!

Sure some of the fx look dodgy now as does the film stock colouring (maybe time has got the better of it already) but this film delivered what the poster promised and more. I find the sequel too slick to be honest, I prefer the grind-house feel of the first.

Mike.

The Bollox

NekkidBibleMan wrote:

Stylistically they're poles apart, and I have to say that I much prefer the sequel - but perhaps only because I had seen it first.

I too watched T2 first, but I prefer T1.

it was much more atmospheric. Especially, for me anyway, the scene when Arnie gets blown to bits in the tanker and Sarah goes looking through the flames for Reese. the music at that bit got my heart going a mile a minute, and the shot when the skinless machine rises from the scrap metal, just fúcking fantastic.

Earthhorse

A sci-fi classic indeed and a film that far exceeds its sequel in almost every regard.

There's a real sense of tension throughout and Cameron manages to get the most out of this mismatch of man and machine. The performances, from all concerned, are great, and the film is never over the top in its approach; when Reese tells his story to the cops they laugh in his face.

I could go on but really this movie is just brilliance from start to finish. One of my personal faves.

senordingdong

As great as this film is, I feel I can't say anything bad about its sequel.

I remember seeing it as a child and being terrified when the skeleton rose from the fire, the whole edge of the seat, bitting your finger nails type tension, almost shouting at the screen while Sarah Conor ran away.
No movie has been able to top the 'run from the bad guy untill you're cornered' scene...many have tried but none have toped it.
(**** it, I'm going to watch this when I go home!)

Galvasean

Wait, so he is sent back in time by John Connor to protect his mother Sarah Connor and later goes on to impregnate Sarah Connor with John Connor, becoming John Connor's father, ergo John Connor sent him back in time to create him...
Oh dear Ive gone cross-eyed.

Duggy747

It's really the machines fault. Had they not sent a machnie back then Reese wouldn't have come back thus he wouldn't have shagged Sarah which then resulted in the birth of John Connor

Oh dear, now my eyes are wonky

Can't say much about this classic movie that others haven't said. It gave us James Cameron and Arnie............nuff' said.

Terminator 2 for me, though it is more stylish it has the stunts that still to this day make you go "Now THAT'S a stunt!!" But Terminator 1 is pretty damn close because of it's darkness and the ever-clinging fact that Arnie is relentlessly coming for you and he ain't gonna stop! Not for character development, not for a love sub-plot and especially not for a montàge where he walks alone in the rain on a lonely street pondering his existence...................bah, I'm just going on a rant.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to get viciously pissed for the weekend.

johnny_ultimate

I don't think Ive ever seen the whole thing straight through, only bits and pieces whenever it is on TV (quite regularly). But I know it nearly back to front with all the catchphrases and parodies that have followed. I do like the sequel alot though.

Also, it amuses me how the franchise has become more and more diluted as time progresses. The original was 'Hard 18s', the sequel 'soft 15s', and the threequel a pitiful '12PG'.

Snake Plisken

The Terminator was the video to rent when I was a kid (along with Evil Dead & the Thing),I used to get all my mates around and watch it. I love the small parts that Lance Henrikson and Bill Paxton have in this along with the excellent Michael Biehn (and all 3 re-united in the excellent Aliens). Ok some of the effects look dated in today's cgi dominated movies, but at the time seeing Arnie pull his eye out was super cool. All of the catch phrases were brilliant as well from the "fork u asshole" to "I'll be back". Cameron's smalll budget was well used and made this movie look like it cost 10 times the budget at the time.
I Was let down by T2 as I thought making Arnie the good guy was a cop out by Cameron (also listening to Cameron T2 commentary track he said arnie wanted to be a badass in T2). great choice for the movie of the week

Snake

qwertplaywert

I consider this an alt-horror-action movie ,as opposed to sci fi, while T-2 as sci-action, I dont think ye can compare the movies ,both 2 of the greatest in their genre, but different elements

Galvasean

johnny_ultimate wrote:

I don't think Ive ever seen the whole thing straight through, only bits and pieces whenever it is on TV (quite regularly). But I know it nearly back to front with all the catchphrases and parodies that have followed. I do like the sequel alot though.

Also, it amuses me how the franchise has become more and more diluted as time progresses. The original was 'Hard 18s', the sequel 'soft 15s', and the threequel a pitiful '12PG'.

I wouldnt call it hard 18. If it were out now it would probably only be 15s. Oh no here comes the TV spinoff...

Laserface

Lance henrikson (or however you spell it)..was originally supposed to be the terminator.
then arnie came in and really wanted the role.
it's on the dvd extras thingy

this film is stll one of the best

gucci

a superb film, one of the original most talked about films when i was in school
as stated above T2 is a lot slicker, but T1 had the darkness and that strange look into what the future could be like, that makes it great and horrifying. he's a cyborg cold killing machine, quality. and sure to state the obvious, there probably wouldn't be terminator 2 if there wasn't the original!!
hard to believe the movie is the same age as me, i know it may look slightly dated compared to new movies.

kevmy

Really like this film but as someone stated before can't say anything bad about T-2.

It's a very different film and has probably dated a bit more than T-2 (T-2 is one of the few high-budget films that has every single dollar up there on the screen)

Still love this and a good choice.