Before Watching: The Terminator (1984)

Rating: 9/10 (14 September 2019)

"The Terminator" (1984) or just "Terminator" is a classic sci-fi movie as well as the start of the sci-fi saga with the same name. If you want to get as much out of it as possible, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before watching:
Terminator is a pure 80's movie. It includes action elements like guns, explosions and shootings, together with some rock-hard testosterone from Schwarzenegger himself. The score is superb, being a mixture of analogue synths together with futuristic sound effects. The special effects and stop motion are quite obviously from the 80's as well, being a bit premature yet not too clunky. All in all - very 80's straight through, and it has in this aspect very similar vibes to Aliens and Die Hard.
However, Terminator also features very human elements and feelings. Relationships feel real, and although crude language and nudity occur, the atmosphere is surprisingly cozy in-between the action. Perhaps due to the strong 80's vibe and subsequent nostalgia, yet in this aspect it is the strongest entry in the franchise. The time travel paradoxes don't stumble but flow smoothly in the narrative, although it will still require some attention.
A slight in-depth note: a few viewers might wonder why Terminator sometimes isn't as accurate of a shooter as you would expect a computer to be. One plausible explanation could be that, according to the movie, the technological advancements stopped or slowed down considerably in 1997 when the war began. If the CPU in Terminator is on roughly the same level, perhaps some calculations for bullet trajectories could struggle to be calculated and executed in real-time.
Conclusively - Terminator is a great gem in both being an entertaining and human sci-fi, as well as being a prime demonstration on the topmost shape of 80's movies. Now, go and see Terminator 2 - Judgment Day.
My personal grade: an electrifying 9/10. If you found this helpful, check my profile for more reviews.