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The Terminator
1985
James Cameron's THE TERMINATOR is one of the tightest, tensest sci-fi films ever made and a landmark in the genre. In the year 2029, battles rage between the superintelligent machines that rule the world and the last vestiges of humanity. In late-20th-century Los Angeles, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) suddenly finds herself .. Read more
| Starring | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Paul Winfield, Michael Biehn |
|---|---|
| Director | James Cameron |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller |
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The Terminator
James Cameron's THE TERMINATOR is one of the tightest, tensest sci-fi films ever made and a landmark in the genre. In the year 2029, battles rage between the superintelligent machines that rule the world and the last vestiges of humanity. In late-20th-century Los Angeles, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) suddenly finds herself stalked by an unstoppable killing machine--a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent from the future to kill her and her unconceived son, John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance. Sarah can rely only on Reese (Michael Biehn), a soldier sent from the future to protect her from the seemingly indestructible Terminator and save humanity. This low-budget masterpiece was the breakthrough film for director Cameron, who weds special effects, thrills, and understated romance to create one of the finest action films of the 1980s, which spawned many imitations but few equals. Science fiction author Harlan Ellison sued over the film's similarities to his own works, especially the OUTER LIMITS episode "Demon with a Glass Hand," and won acknowledgement in the film's credits. Schwarzenegger will forever be known as the relentless Terminator, a heartless killing machine who returns (in a kinder, gentler form) in 1991's TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY.
| Starring | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Paul Winfield, Michael Biehn |
|---|---|
| Director | James Cameron |
| Studio | MGM ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 43 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Eighties Greats |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 19 Mar 2001 Production year: 1985 |
| Format | DVD |
The Terminator (1985)
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Arnold Schwarzenegger said “I'll be back,” and he was, seven years later. But the success of the sequel should not undermine the powerhouse strengths of this, James Cameron's original hi-tech nightmare, with violent cyborg Arnie time-warped from the future to alter the nuclear war-torn course of history. Generating maximum excitement from the first frame, the dynamic thrills are maintained right up to the nerve-jangling climax. Wittily written with a nice eye for sharp detail, it's hard sci-fi action all the way, and Linda Hamilton shines as the bewildered waitress who will unwittingly become the saviour of the human race.
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Back from the future in which the machines rule comes a rippling robot (Schwarzenegger) who terminates opponents with... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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13 out of 15 people found this review helpful
Great
The phrase ?I?ll be back,? is engrained on the world ever since Arnie?s deadpan delivery to a policeman in The Terminator. Sales in black shades rocketed and we finally realised that there was a role for a large muscle-bound actor with limited ability in the English language, other than as Conan, The Barbarian.
The Terminator was the first outing for director James Cameron, and he hit the movie world with a timeless classic. The Terminator is the story of a T-800 robot, sent from the future into the past, to eradicate the mother of the still unborn John Connor ? the man that would prove to be the undoing of the robots.
Arnie plays the emotionless robot in a way that another actor simply could not. This was inspired casting and has really everything to do with Arnie?s current superstar status.
Cameron uses suspense in this film well. Although it is an action movie, there is a strong love interest which is tackled sympathetically. Although some of the special effects show up compared to later movies in The Terminator franchise, this movie carries you along out of sheer originality.
If you enjoyed Terminator, you may also like to hire [Terminator II ? Judgement Day], and [Conan, The Barbarian]. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
The Original and Best
It's strange how your opinion can change so dramatically with hindsight eh?! For years, whenever asked the question 'name a sequel that's better than the original' I would point to T2: Judgement Day as being better than its predecessor.
But you know what? Now the gloss has worn off on T2's special effects, try watching these films back to back. You’ll realise that although T2 is still a great action film (quite possibly one of the best ever made), The Terminator is a landmark in sci-fi horror filmmaking that’s right up there with Alien and as a result, stands the test of time far better than it’s highly regarded sequel.
Arnie never played a role better than this in his entire career – he IS an unstoppable, emotionless, invincible, killing machine – his few lines only serve to make him more terrifying. Likewise, Kyle as the all-too-human protector of Sarah Connor only makes the couple more vulnerable and the film is dripping with a palpable sense of tension – they’re never safe – not even in a fully manned Police Station.
It boils down to these simple facts – The Terminator allowed time to develop its characters and created a gripping atmosphere whilst making the whole idea seem all too plausible. The story is superbly paced and grounded with a sense of realism that’s simply missing in T2’s overblown, (yet still spectacular) action sequences.
You know what? Rent all of them, (even the steaming turd that is T3) have a Terminator marathon, and decide for yourself – somehow T2 and T3 just seem hollow when following the original, which is a testament to the amazing work of the cast and the imaginative vision of one of the great directors of the era ..........well.........before he became obsessed with that $%@ing boat of course -
News and features
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Whedon offers £5,000 for Terminator franchise
- 03 Nov 2009
Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon has offered £6,250 to take over the Terminator film franchise. The TV mogul has posted an open letter on fansite Whedonesque.com asking film bosses to seriously consider his offer amid reports the franchise is being auctioned off. He tells EW.com, "I love The Terminator... I was thinking to myself, 'Not since they auctioned off frames from The Little Mermaid have I wished I had more money this much. So you know what, never hurts to ask.' "I... Read more
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The Terminator
James Cameron's THE TERMINATOR is one of the tightest, tensest sci-fi films ever made and a landmark in the genre. In the year 2029, battles rage between the superintelligent machines that rule the world and the last vestiges of humanity. In late-20th-century Los Angeles, Sarah Connor (Linda ...
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