An '80s sci-fi classic

Rating: 9/10 (23 August 2015)

In the year 2029 mankind has been virtually wiped out by intelligent machines but humanity is fighting back under the leadership of John Connor. It is too late for the machines to defeat him so they send a cyborg killer, a Terminator, back to 1984 to kill his mother, Sarah Connor, before he is even conceived! John couldn't stop this plan so he sends his closest friend, Kyle Reese, back to protect her. Sarah is just an ordinary young woman who has no idea what is about to happen to her; the first she knows that something strange is happening is when two other women, also named Sarah Connor, are reported brutally murdered. It looks as if she will be next but Kyle rescues her just in time she isn't safe though; the Terminator is virtually indestructible and it has only one mission; to kill her.
It is hard to believe that this film is now thirty years old; apart from the '80s 'big hair' it has hardly dated. The plot is relatively straightforward and little time is wasted on unnecessary twists. Arnold Schwarzenegger understandably dominates as the merciless Terminator; he may be a character of few words but those he does say have become iconic; 'I'll be back' has become his catchphrase thanks to him saying it once in this film. Linda Hamilton does a fine job as the ordinary woman, Sarah Connor, we can believe that despite her obvious vulnerability she has an inner strength. Michael Biehn is also good, playing Kyle, a tough but very human character. Director James Cameron gets the action started early on and it doesn't let up until the end. The action is fairly violent, for the most part it doesn't dwell on injuries but there are still a few shocking moments as innocent people are gunned down. Overall I'd say that this is a great film that stands multiple viewings; I know a lot of people prefer the second instalment in this franchise but for me this is the best.