What the 1980's were all about.

Rating: 9/10 (23 May 2003)

This is a genuinely great film in every regards. James Cameron has crafted a film that works on so many emotional and story telling levels, it was an early sign of what a great talent he was going to be in future years (even if the budgets were to get out of control). To start of The Termintator works as a great science fiction/time travel story, but transends that and goes of into other fantastic realms as Cameron takes the film and turns it into a great gothic love story, a nightmarish thriller and a story of irony and love. It is a classic film and one that defines the 80's. Where he suceeds most is with his story. Cameron's abilities as a story teller is what makes him one of the best directors working today and the story of Sarah Connor and the battle to either save or end her life is compulsive film and is dealt with with great assurance from Cameron as he takes full control of the screenplay and the direction, squeezing every emotion and inch of suspense for all it is worth.
It is no surprise to see that Arnie went on to bigger and better things after this film. His performance in this film is that of sheer menace. The lack of emotion and that cold, icy face makes the character an icon, even if he is such an evil person (thing). While saying half a dozen lines, looking evil and firing lots of guns isn't what you would call a great performance, Arnie turns it into an art form and showed everybody in 1984 that this guy could just be the next best thing.
If Arnie (sorry for calling him that, I can't spell his surname) is the evil centre of the story, then Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn are the emotional centre, the love story that develops between them heartbreaking at the end, but one which throughout the film gives us a sense of optimism. Their performances are fantastic, especially Hamilton, and the development of their characters is spot on.
It is no surprise that Cameron went on to bigger and better things after this, but the film is still a monumental one and one that is often associated with him, even if it is a low budget thriller. While the sequel would go on to be better (in my opinion), it is the sheer horror and viciousness of this film as well as the performance of Arnie that will always make us remember this one even more.