This somewhat cheap looking ACTION movie became an unexpected action classic. Didnt age too well, but the adrenaline fueled ACTION is still top notch!

Rating: 5/10 (15 June 2019)

I was astonished when I read how cheap this movie had to be made, back in the eighties; only 6 million dollars were available! There simply was no money at all ! And it only made 40 million at the box office. Terminator became much more popular though later on by repeated tv airings and video and dvd releases.
Arnold Schwarzenegger wasnt yet a household name back then, he was merely a B-movie actor with muscles. Everything changed for the better with this movie. Terminator launched Arnie's carreer and rightfully so, because he portrayed the ultimate killing machine in a way that is still nervewrecking and fun to watch to this very day.
Despite the cheap looking (sciencefiction) sets and some cheap looking special effects, there is something truly maniacal AND exciting about this action movie. A killing machine from the future (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has come to earth to kill an innocent woman. Why? And can he be stopped? This story is as ludicrous as can be, but the execution of the ACTION is fascinating nonetheless, because of the relentless killing spree, with contineous riveting action scenes upon action scenes. One big long adrenaline fueled ACTION party! The action photography is excellent!
Terminator 2 is considered to be better by many and it is, because this original has got some quite corny and cheap moments, which are fortunately absent in the sequel. Terminator 2 does look way much better and has got a more credible portrayal of the characters. Only the terrific action in this original Terminator made me watch it though, because besides the action, the rest of the story is rather corny, cheap looking and outdated.
Watch them both would be my advice, starting with the original, so things will get MUCH better when you start watching the sequel next.