Movie #101: The Terminator

Movie #: 101
Movie Title: The Terminator
Year Released: 1984

Director: James Cameron
Notable Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Paul Winfield

Short Description: A human-looking indestructible cyborg is sent from 2029 to 1984 to assassinate a waitress, whose unborn son will lead humanity in a war against the machines, while a soldier from that war is sent to protect her at all costs. (IMDB.com)


Rank on the Top 100 Lists (as of 1/7/2013)

AFI.com: N/A
IMDB.com: N/A
Ranker.com: #38
Lifed.com: N/A
Empire.com: N/A
FilmCrave.com: N/A
FlickChart.com: #63



Date Watched: 6/12/2016

Grade: 3 out of 5 (Good)

Rationale: As is the case with movies that have prequels, sequels or spinoffs, I can’t help but compare them even though I know I shouldn’t. That said, The Terminator is simply ok in comparison to Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Having experienced Arnold Schwarzenegger as a good Terminator in T2 and a bad Terminator in The Terminator, it’s hard for me to not prefer his role in T2. Sarah Connor is a more complete character in T2 than in The Terminator and in addition to a new bad Terminator, you get the cocky, young John Connor thrown into the mix. Kyle Reese is a fine character as a human soldier protecting Sarah Connor from Arnold’s bad Terminator, but he just doesn’t compare well to the T-1000 as a legit opponent for Arnold.