Dynamic exploration of time and action

Rating: 9/10 (3 April 2010)

A Terminator model from the future is sent to 1984 to assassinate Sarah Connor (Hamilton) and her only protection comes from Reece (Biehn) a soldier from the future.
James Cameron's sharp science fiction masterstroke has lived long through its 26 years and has spurned many sequels and parodies that have never matched the true quality of what hit us hard in the mid 1980's.
At a time travel state of media hype with Doctor Who, Bill and Ted amongst others The Terminator lived strongest through the 80's thanks to its bravado impersonal bad guy in Arnold Schwarzenegger and through a plot Cameron devised that has a strong action intrusion that battles significant issues like human survival and the relativity of humanity in adversity.
Opening with some flashing lights and naked men you may wonder what you've flicked on but all becomes clear after the hour when the true meaning of robots and the future is conversed and analysed and up until then its none stop intrigue through these bizarre protagonists hunting down a Sarah Connor.
Cameron shoots in a way that gives the film a thrilling edge between the two characters of the Terminator and Kyle Reese and as of their violent actions trouble ensues and the viewer watching for the first time will be enticed into a gripping mode of adrenaline to see who reaches her first, and to what purpose.
Cameron, a man who once again smashed records with Avatar last Christmas launched into the film world with this film and to many, he has never bettered this bravado showcase of action adrenaline.
Scripting this as well, Cameron brings a new dimension to entertainment through his choice of settings and plot depictions of time and humanity. The final scene in the work place is bravado action excitement with a seemingly never ending fight sequence that generates as much excitement as the first few minutes, showing a good consistency to his works.
Schwarzenegger as many know him at his best gives a wonderfully unemotional and perfectly inhumane performance as the evil Terminator and using very minimal dialogue has created an icon that can only be mimicked.
Linda Hamilton in her most famous on screen performance braves the ordinary into the supernatural role perfectly with the right appreciation of panic and naivety to what is around her. Michael Biehn is wonderfully used as a frustrate figure of responsibility and as a saviour that gives the film a great balance of strong action with powerful dramatic implications.
Whilst there have been 3 sequels thus far and with a fifth in the offing, the story is far from over but with this originality and excellent appreciation of time consequence and action direction, will this picture ever be topped?