The Terminator

Rating: 10/10 (18 March 2005)

There are those who believe in fate, and the smallest decisions and actions could determine a person's whole future, well imagine what would happen if the future came to you, a fantastically inventive idea from director James Cameron (Aliens, Titanic). It is 1984, and from a flash comes the human looking machine (cyborg) from the future, 2029, called the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger). This machine is on a mission to kill a woman who is key to what could help the future, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), and the only man she can count on who knows most about this future is Kyle Reese (Michael Beihn), who also came from it. He tells her all about the Terminator, the war (Judgement Day) and why it is important she lives. She is the mother of the man who is the saviour for the human race, John Connor. Also starring Paul Winfield as Lieutenant Ed Traxler, Aliens' Lance Henriksen as Detective Hal Vukovich, Bess Motta as Ginger Ventura, Earl Boen as Dr. Peter Silberman, Rick Rossovich as Matt Buchanan and Dick Miller as Pawnshop Clerk. The film is made up of many gripping chases, fantastic gory effects (as the Terminator loses his flesh in his hunt, and it is a low budget film!) and fantastic direction from Cameron. The excellent sequel followed in 1991. Arnold Schwarzenegger was number 54 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, and he was number 20 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, Terminator (Villain) was number 22 on 100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains, the film was number 37 on 100 Years, 100 Quotes ("I'll be back."), it was number 42 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, and it was number 98 on The 100 Greatest Films. Outstanding!