Terminally fascinating, terminally thrilling; may be Cameron's best work

Rating: Null/10 (6 October 2011)

A dismal future seems to await mankind. Machines, including elaborate killer robots, have taken over the earth. There is, however, a small band of human survivors who are trying to regain control of the planet. They are doing rather well at this, on a small scale. So much so, that the machines send one of the best lethal robots (Arnold Schwarzenegger) back in time to bump off a lady, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). This is because Ms. Connor is destined to have a son, John, who will become a great leader of the resistance. Guessing what is afloat, the humans send back their own time traveler, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) to prevent this tragedy from happening. When the robot gets to 1984 Los Angeles, he grabs a phone book. Inside is a listing of three Sarah Connors and their addresses. Methodically, Arnold Robot guns down the first two. But, the one remaining Sarah is the one he learns he really wants. Meanwhile, Kyle shadows Sarah around, for he doesn't even know what the killer machine looks like and has to wait for the robot to make the first move. Hiding in a bar, Sarah knows something is up, having seen the news of the deaths already. Happily, Kyle rescues her at the last minute. From then on, there is an on-the-run fight to defeat and destroy the robot and no surety that the humans will do so. From parking garages, tunnels, motels, cabins, and factories, the terminator does not stop in its pursuit of its prey. Who will win? This film is terminally thrilling and terminally fascinating. It may very well be Cameron's best work, even including Avatar, Titanic, Aliens and others. As the killing machine, Arnold is absolutely perfect, cold, calculating, and more, moving stiffly like a robot would. Kudos, Arnold. Hamilton and Biehn are also quite good while the supporting cast, including Paul Winfield, backs them up nicely. The sets are fantastic, from the futuristic ones to the settings in Los Angeles. Ditto for the special effects, which are way ahead of their time. Moreover, the script is a stunning science fiction masterpiece while Cameron's direction has a relentless pace, pausing briefly for tender moments and, yes, romance. Have you missed the Terminator, believing it to be anything but a thinking man or woman's movie? Don't put off a showing any longer!