An absolute game changer for Sci-Fi action

Rating: 10/10 (12 February 2020)

This is an absolute classic and it's a film that not only started a franchise, but spawned a concept that's spilled into all areas of modern cultural entertainment, let alone other movies.
In the future, machines are the dominant force on earth. Human kind has practically been wiped out, all apart from small cells of freedom fighters and rebels, who all follow the lead of John Connor - an almost prophetic guerrilla leader who's standing up to the machines. To change the course of the human/ machine war, an assassin robot is sent back in time to kill the unborn leader's mother before he can be born and have any impact on the war. In order to counter this, and make sure that John Connor is born, a freedom fighter is also sent back in time, to stop the assassin robot. This is where things get tricky, certain actions from either machine or man could detrimentally affect the future and have a butterfly effect on the way things turn out - the future may not end up being the future while the past is in flux. Does that make sense?? (I tried explaining this to a friend in the early 90's and it just garnered blank expressions!).
I'll start by saying that cast in this film is absolutely brilliant, everyone delivers a top class performance, for some people this film elevated them to superstar status allowing them to choose better movies that they may have previously had. The standout star in this film is undoubtedly Arnold Schwarzenegger. While he only had a few lines in the film that's all he actually needed as his mannerisms and demeanour are enough to portray brick-wall dominance and violence. It's probably fair to say that had he been given more lines, then this film may have been slightly spoiled, his English accent at the time wasn't brilliant, and the use of little dialogue lends well to portraying an emotionless machine intent on bringing death. Props also need to go to Michael Biehn, who acts as the story teller and the vehicle for the films pace, he's the freedom fighter sent from the future to protect Linda Hamilton's character, who is going to be the mother of the human resistance. A lot of people really got their big break here, from Arnie, to Biehn, Hamilton, even the likes of Bill Paxton and Lance Henrikson - some of who, carried on their relationship with directory Cameron in other movies.
The look and feel of the film, the cinematography is splendid. Mainly filmed at night or in dark locations, set in urban areas, this really films like a dark and moody film. There are flashbacks (or flash forwards as it's from the future), that juxtapose the urban landscape with the warzone future that's yet to come. The CGI and special effects in the film are fantastic, while they look slightly dated now in places, at the time these were revolutionary and haunting. James Cameron does a brilliant job knitting together a great story with a top cast, great effects and fantastic visuals. Breaking the mould and making Sci-Fi bigger and better than ever, bringing the future to your current existence (while previous sci-fi classics have usually looked at being in the future already, or even space exploration) this almost smart but lethal, almost Orwellian, action chase film is an absolute masterpiece, and it's easy to see why, despite being low budget, it broke so many records and conventions - and spawned sequels, prequels, comics, TV series, as well as inspiring other parts of modern entertainment. Easily one of my favourite films of all time 10 out of 10.