A Legend is Born...

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2013)

It's fair to say The Terminator film, made on the comparative cheap, propelled both James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger to the pinnacle of stardom. Not only that, but the film would give rise to a huge franchise.
The Terminator is the perfect vehicle for Arnold- his physique lends itself naturally to the role of an unstoppable killing machine, and his movements in this film are robotic and cold. There is not a single sense of mercy from this machine- the Terminator is a creepy, relentless killer.
The Terminator is also one of Linda Hamilton's earliest roles and her character of Sarah Connor, the mother of humanity's saviour, is a role she would come to be closely identified with. Her wide-eyed, innocent character has her world shattered, and Hamilton's performance is good. She conveys this perfectly.
Michael Biehn plays the desperate, war-weary Kyle Reese, the man sent back in time to somehow protect Sarah from the Terminator. His aggression, his rigid military attitude, slowly gives way to pain and torment- both because of what he's been through and because he falls in love with Sarah, ultimately becoming the father of the very man who sent him back in time.
The special effects are great for the time and watching the film today, it still looks good, which is remarkable considering when it was made. There are several stand-out scenes (including where the Terminator rises out of the fire) and the whole film is a fast-paced, gritty, nervy tale, as you wonder how the good guys can possibly destroy the machine chasing them.
Things end on a poignant note- the Terminator is destroyed, but Kyle dies. Sarah then has to face the future, knowing that sooner or later, a great storm is coming.