Biehn’s performance as Reese is incredible, especially his flashbacks to the post judgement day war. His unrelenting will to protect Sarah is just as strong as the Terminator’s is to kill her.
That's interesting because Reese's acting is 1 of the few things that bothered me about the movie - he has very little changes of tone the way he always seems to be shouting with a subtle high-pitch. There are a good number of points where he sounds like someone reading lines rather than a character (though he has some good instances as well)
Kyle Reese: "It can't be bargained with...it can't be reasoned with...it doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear and it absolutely will not stop EVER - until you are dead." One of the best lines I've ever heard in any movie and illustrates perfectly why, in my opinion, the Terminator is one of the most genuinely terrifying 'villains' in cinema history. If Kyle and Sarah had escaped and managed to hide away on the other side of the world, even hiding for years, the T-800 would be looking for them every single moment and - one day - it would find them again. They would NEVER be safe. Brilliant movie and great review Oliver - thanks!
@@Bonez0r no, those have a relatively short mission operation time, and still work under orders or as piloted. It's just a remote controlled plane vs a piloted one, it's not magic and they're far from unstoppable. If you're they're target, then without drones they'd just send a plane or couple helicopters after you instead. There's no real functional difference. With a terminator it's different. They're not opportunity on the orders of a human authority structure you can know or influence, and they are extremely tough and once sent, never stop. Terrorists are pretty different too, but at least they don't operate via government and are similar to an "infiltration unit", and can't be bargained with or appealed to. Really it's all apples and pineapples.
I think T2 is a great film, so it makes itself necessary from that. But T2 is all about spectacle, whereas the original is as efficient and finely engineered as the Terminator itself. It's also a great study film on how to film and edit high quality material with a minimal budget.
I get it, but I thought #2 was better written and had more of a human plot when I re-watched them both recently. The original is still fantastic though. Both films amazed me with how Cameron was able to suck me into the plot.
Why Oliver is amazing: 1- In depth, concise, and mature reviews. 2- Comforting and calming voice overs. 3- Proper English 4- Fantastic production. After a 12 hour work shift, this is the highlight of my day.
All it was, was truth. It was said, that's what was felt. There was no insult involved. Like I say, I do like the videos. There's a lot to them, seems to be a lot of research, and they're very well done in general. It's just one of those things that you hear, like "ATM machine", or "PIN number", that's jarring when you hear it. Like the OP said, 'comforting and calming' in general... that's why something like nuke-u-ler can seem out of place.
The scene in Tech Noir where Kyle figures out the Terminator has spotted Sarah and does the spin and pulls the shotgun out in slow motion is one of my favorite scenes in the history of film. Perfectly executed tension and suspense.
Brad Fiedel deserves FAR more credit. He essentially invented the bombastic film score as heard today from composers like Hans Zimmer (Inception) and Tom Holkenborg (Mad Max: Fury Road). The Fury Road score in particular sounds heavily influenced by Fiedel.
Goy Ishah Lol, yep. Back then we had very little, to nothing, in the way of hair care products. Pretty much just hairspray. Certainly not any kinds of sculpting gels or clays. I remember when mousse started coming around. It wasn’t great, but at least it was something 🤣
Yeah I love it and always say how I love women with permed hair that has volume as opposed to boring straight hair that I personally don’t even think is attractive yet so many women keep their hair that way. My cousin always gets on my case about it and acts like it’s out dated which it’s not
@@JustinLodes I sure miss those days...carrying a big bottle of White Rain hairspray in your oversized denim purse and touch up spray between classes lol. So much volume, then it went flat in the 90s.
Comparing the quality of Terminator vs Terminator 2 is like comparing Alien vs Aliens....both films are classics, and it's hard to say which one is my favorite. Probably the best film series/sequels ever made!
FireTiger941 I prefer Alien. Aliens is a great movie. The final showdown between Ripley and Alien Queen was fantastic but it lacks the horror and mysterious element of the first movie. Alien is better because the score is very creepy and futuristic. The Alien is scary and truly invincible (while in Aliens it can be killed by a shotgun). The setting is simply unsettling (The dead engineer inside the derelict spacecraft is fascinating yet provides a creepy feeling).
I always keep in mind that I should not compare Alien and Aliens because they are both different vibrations. Alien is granddaddy of sci fi horror/terror. Aliens is more guns blazing 💪 action. Though I love both movies.
"It can't be reasoned with. It can't be bargained with. It doesn't feel pity. Or remorse! Or fear! And it will not stop. EVER!!! Until you are dead." When Kyle said that it seemed like it put things on a whole new level...I like this terminator better than the 2nd one because this one appears to be more serious like a sci fi horror.
If a movie can be perfect, this is as close as it gets. Gives me chills every time, even watching this review, or even hearing the music. The low budget just makes it better!
Truly one of the best films I've ever seen, it has one the greatest onscreen couples and musical score. The Terminator is on my list of top 10 favorite films because it's that good
***** Eyebrows burned when he was chasing Sarah and Reese. The scene is the one where Terminator is on fire and punches hand through windshield. I loved that details when I was kid :)
Yes, after all these years it really is truth. Terminator 2 is amazing, and I would say has better overall character development. T1 is a tad too lean in that department comparatively but still does a good enough job for the lean mean well paced horror movie it is. The concept, the darkness, the sci-fi horror is just insanely awesome in T1. Looking back you can see how influenced Cameron was by John Carpenter and Halloween (he has discussed this a little in some interviews over the years) and I love it. T2, while incredible alters the tone a bit. Less horror, less darkness in the future, more action. While the T1000 does bring horror, it just isn't the same as the tone of T1, and the middle of T2 gets a tad slow in the desert. The Terminator is just so brutal and raw, the concept, the fatalism, the unchangable paradox, it is all so awesome.
Arnold was terrifiying in this movie, the close up shot were he is looking around while driving the police car is chilling, the machine means fucking business!!!
Michael Biehn spent a good chunk of his productive life with an adiction to alcohol. It took him decades to admit his problem and take control. God bless him. Today he sleaks out to encourage others to seek out help.
YOU FORGOT ABOUT CHOPPING MALL. just kidding..of course terminator and robocop were the best 80s robot films with terminator being the better of the 2.
@Tony-1971 Modern Hollywood does like strong female characters except if they are girl bosses or strong, masculine male characters, which is what Sarah and Kyle are.
This film will always hold a place in my heart. Dark, Gritty and on pace non stop. Even now I love the war scenes. T2 was great, fun and wow again. But second to this. I'm just Sad what they have done with it. Nothing can be dark anymore. It doesn't even have to be violence to make it dark. Shame it's not for the fans anymore, just money.
I honestly think they can do it again. Make the budget low, add a new terminator actor, keep the cat and mouse idea, and focus on the story and characters making it fresh again.. Idk...I just want a good terminator again.
The mistake with the terminator franchise was moving away from the horror aspect, I believe if they made a reboot as a horror slasher it could work. Maybe rob zombie could resurrect it ? Idk
When I first showed this movie to my friend, I skipped the prologue text. I thought it would be better for her to find out about "the machines" as the film progressed instead. She had no idea what Arnold was until the red vision effect came on lol.
another amazing review. haven't seen T1 in a long time and when Kyle said "I came across time for you Sarah" i actually teard up a bit.. thx for another great video Oliver.
In relation to the part where Sarah phones her mother, it's not completely inconceivable that Reece would know, or at least suspect the imitation abilities of the terminator. Especially considering his earlier monologue describing its ingenuity as an infiltrator. Naturally, he'd be obligated to assume the worst, so it's definitely an oversight by Reece. Given the fact that he grew up in a time where nobody had a "family" or their parents were most likely killed, it just never occurs to him that Sarah might have other loved ones she would want to warn. He was just so preoccupied with saving her life.
I consider T1 a sci-fi horror movie, the Terminator is like an undead skeleton covered with dying flesh. Arnold in this also looks like my elementary school math teacher who was a very strict guy handling us like soldiers. Nightmares XD
Even though many film enthusiasts consider T1 as a sci-fi action, you’re absolutely right about the horror elements included in the film that makes it look more like a horror movie.
@@muppetmittstheOG He didn't act. But he was a health nut and wore a strict face even when was supposed to be casual. And oh boy, if you were wrong, you were dead! Heck even if you were right he gave you a hard time. And sometimes the whole class was to blame for someone's fluke. He surely made sure math class was the most uncomfortable time of the day. You did not want to mess with him.
Journey to Silius ont he NES was originally supposed to be the official terminator game and they picked up the rights long before T2 existed, so the license was worthless then, But when T2 emerged, Orion got greedy and snatched the rights back. Which is a shame as Journey to Silius is a fantastic game with a great soundtrack (It's first level music is legendary!!!), infinitely superior to the actual Terminator NES game.
The original Terminator was scary and thats why it worked. I was a kid when I saw it first back in 97/98 on vhs. It literally gave me nightmares. Its still my most favorite terminator film.
I recently re-watched the original Westworld and there are a lot of similarities with that film and the Terminator. I have not heard many people mention that as inspiration but both of the endings fall on similar lines.
Another top-notch vid there mate. Your reviews are excellent. Nice to see you mention Michael Beihn too, I thought he was incredible as Kyle Reece - a true underrated 'action hero' and the way he tells the viewer the story through exposition as the action moves on at a relentless pace is exceptional.
I met Michael beihn twice. He was in Laughlin Nevada at the casinos. At the river palms. He was so nice and friendly and humble. The second time was in Las Vegas at a meet and greet and signing. He signed some of my DVDs/ movies he was in. He is definitely one of my favorite actors
I know this comment is wayyyyyy late. But I love the way you do reviews of movies. Everyone does the movie but you explore everything attached to It. I love it. Some nights I just put on the playlist and just have it on in the background. They are so well done and you narrate so well. I'll be backing your kickstarter now that I know about it. I hope you return to doing these retrospective reviews please.
I feel so dumb for just now realizing Kyle Reese is the father of John Connor. This is probably extremely obvious to everyone else but I only watched bits and pieces of this movie as a kid, whilst watching judgment day several times.
johnny67448 oddly enough it appears to be so, she won in court last I heard. It makes a lot of sense especially when you look at the bad sequels expect t2 n that’s because James Cameron makes the best sequels of all time!
Dude, these videos are awesome! the montages are freekin great, your use of the scores, & the fantastic way you articulate the plot, making of & critical aspects of the movies is just awesome!
brilliant movie , great review … i almost prefer this over the 2nd one … even though T2 is undeniably good , but T1 just has this creepy cold feel through out the movie … suspense just doesn't let up … I agree with what you said about both Michael Biehn and Brad Fiedel . Biehn was amazing in the movie ! Don't see why he didn't get more big roles in his career . And Terminator theme is like the best score EVER written for a movie ! And i'm not just saying that ! I actually prefer theme from the first one over T2 … Even though it's the same composer … Thanks for your review ! Keep it up ! Gotta go watch the movie ! =DDD
I always struggle with which one I like better. T1 had that constant anxiety through the entire movie. Arnold and the rest were great. The music was fantastic. But I also love T2. If only they had left well enough alone after the first 2 and left it as it was.
You are so right. The first two Terminators were outstanding, but they really went downhill after that (though Salvation was kind of decent). But now that Dark Fate has bombed, maybe the franchise won't be back, lol!
The level of tension is off the charts in T1 which is a good thing I think that's where the first one out does the second I think also the first is more of a horror film as a kid the second was my favorite but now as an adult I like the first one the most
Makes me wonder why they have not made serious attempts in recent years to make a new terminator game. Walking around in a GTA like world as a terminator with a very detailed damage model seems like a perfect fit for videogames.
EXTERMINATION MOVIES terminator 2 is much better. The lighting and shots are more professional, the t-800 can actually fight the T-1000. The movie has a larger budget and has alot more impressive stunts. The CGI of the t-1000 are as important and impressive as the CGI from jurassic park. The bond between john and the t-800 makes the ending all the better. Robert patrick's performance as the t-1000 is creepy and manipulative he works perfectly. Overall T2 is the superior film
After seeing T2 5 times as a kid, I asked my mom "What about T1" and she just said that I shouldn't bother because it's very similar but not as good. Imagine my surprise when I didn't listen to her and rented this gem, I'm glad my curiosity got the better of me. I still think T2 is better but T1 can't be overlooked.
Thanks mate Im glad you enjoy the montages I provide with my videos and Im very happy you loved the ones attached to the latest review!. Yes I do all the retrospectives by myself. :)
In my opinion The Terminator is better than T2. Although the sequel has jaw dropping effects and more impressive stunts, the first film has a certain aura and efficiency. The horror in the first film fits the storyline better. Also Arnold isn't good in T2 - he flooks most of it because it of the nature of the character. In the first film Schwarzenegger totally believable - his best film by a country mile.
T2 is nowhere near the first film. The pace of it, amount of characters, threat from the villain, horror, soundtrack, everything! Absolute classic. T2 is merely a great Hollywood sequel. Perfect for the family to buy tonnes of popcorn and watch at the cinema. Must have made him an absolute fortune but for me it drags on, isn't horrific and is too friendly and child driven.
Traveling back in time to be with a woman you feel in love with after viewing her photograph? Sounds like Somewhere In Time except with robots and shit blowing up :)
MisterTutor2010 The resemblance is striking, especially when you realize that the photo was taken when she was thinking about him. "I always wondered what you were thinking about." Just like Somewhere in Time.
I think James Cameron used "Somewhere in Time" more-so for inspiration for his other film "Titanic". Old lady with a piece of jewelry that reminds her of her young lover, and the film goes through time periods, showing her when she was young.
Just watched this randomly last night on Netflix after maybe 15 years?! In my teens (90's) I must have watched this every other day. Not only did it hold up but to me it's better now than it ever was back then.
Yeah, let's ignore the fact that Aliens is pissing all over the concept of the creature of the first Alien movie and essentially just turning it into a generic insectoid-like alien.
kurvos Aliens does? As in the sequel to Alien? There was nothing in that film that contradicted what was in the first film. It came from an egg, a facehugger implanted the embryo and the alien grew from that. Aliens added what they were like in groups, and who laid the eggs. Aliens is one of the best sequels ever made and was followed by utter crap.
KRSsven Actually, if you knew anything about the first movie outside of watching it's theatrical cut, you'd know better. In the director's cut there is a scene of the victims being attached to a wall (in similar fashion to how it is in Aliens, so James Cameron clearly has seen this footage). However, here it is clearly seen that they aren't stuck there to be victims to facehuggers jumping onto them. No no - they are actually turning INTO the eggs with the facehuggers inside, thereby becoming these mindless small facehuggers. That also explains why facehuggers look like various human body parts put together - because it IS transformed from a human. They even talk about this behind the scenes and everything. But James Cameron fucked it all up and made them into insect-like creatures. He felt the need to undermine the dangerous xenomorph from the first movie into being nothing but a drone, and now we in Aliens have this new class of aliens called "warriors"... which for some reason are more weak and fragile than the drone from the previous movie. And, now there's the queen, laying all the eggs, and it's all awfully similar to how ants work. Because unlike H.R. Giger's disturbing yet limitless imagination, James Cameron's imagination is limited to what a child could come up with after they learn how an ant farm functions.
kurvos Actually, if you knew anything about this franchise you'd know 'eggmorphing' was something filmed but not in the theatrical release, and that the xenomorphs are capable of creating a limited number of eggs in this way according to some material. Some people accept that both are possible while others say because it wasn't in the film, it isn't relevant. Tbh both can be easily plausible, with the isolated xenomorph creating eggs from scratch due to the lack of a viable Queen. It's clear that the Queen is the normal method of egg creation. I'm afraid it doesn't explain the facehuggers at all - the original eggs were found on an alien ship, of a race humanity did not have contact with. How could they be made of human body parts? It's pretty limited to have their reproduction based around having spare bodies - that they also need for gestation. So now the aliens need twice as many victims (one egg plus one body next to it to create the next soldier) to create just one xenomorph? Nah. Doesn't work. It works much better as a limited and alternate method of creating eggs without having an egglayer around. It was clearly part of the original intent but was removed and has been kicking around ever since. Cameron made one of the best sci-fi films, and one of the best sequels ever made. The ant-colony analogy was only ever an analogy made by Ripley and Bishop - it didn't mean they worked the exact same way. Even the 'Queen' name is given because they can't think of anything else. The aliens actually have a rather elegant means of reproduction - as long as there is a supply of hosts, which can be anything big enough, there is no limit to the number of xenomorphs that could hatch. Also, weak and fragile? They were being shot with AP rounds. Not many organic creatures are going to shrug those off. The whole point of the first film was that they had no weapons...no real way to kill the thing. In the second, even a dozen marines with massive firepower couldn't deal with a large group of them. That's why in Alien3 - an otherwise poor film - they return to the idea of a single alien picking off unarmed people. It's a lot more scary. Aliens was about action, and you're probably the first person I've encountered that views the film negatively.
When I first saw Terminator I had not even seen a trailer for it so I went in just on film poster alone. I remember being in awe of it all and when Micheal Biehn blasted Arnie into the street only for him to get up again it was a moment I'll never forget. Terminator seemed to blow the mind around 10 or so times but what annoyed me at the time ,and still does, was when Reese managed to get Sarah away from Terminator and he got a good distance between themselves but he drives like a maniac as if Terminator is right behind him. Perfect movie all in all made in the days when you were lucky to catch a trailer on telly for any film. Or you could catch Film 82 on the bbc to check out the latest movies. My brother and I called it Film 82 right til the end, that means when Jonathan Ross took over.
Great review, but a common misconception is that Arnie immediately wanted to play The Terminator. He didn't. He wanted to play Reese. Reese was the leading role and the Terminator was the villain, which he did not see as a good career move at the time. Cameron had to convince him to play The Terminator. And thank god he did, because he would have absolutely sucked as Reese, but he was born to play the Terminator.
The original Terminator film is really the only one in the series that makes heavy use of the horror and exploitation elements that can be seen throughout (Hey, buddy, you got a dead cat in there or what?!"). It's a grittier, darker, more personal film and in my book that makes it better. T2 is still one of the best sequels in history, of course.
4.55The Original Mono Sountrack is better than the 5.1 in my opinion it is the definitive version that was released in cinemas and VHS so disappointed by the DVD versions!
This film made white the impact on my brain at the time; I distinctly recall being haunted by the music as well as the premise, with an inexplicable sense of dread and doom. With modern technology now tripping over itself to create what should never be, that sense of doom seems like a premonition.
The Terminator (1984) will always be the one!!! Terminator 2 I enjoyed and Terminator Salvation I also enjoyed. However, The Terminator (1984) captured something and has an energy and feel to it that none of the others have, or could ever have. Also, it came out round the time when home computers *like Commordore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro* etc., were becoming popular. The advent of the home computer AND The Terminator somehow went hand in hand. Thanks for the upload!!! :O)
***** If there was a *time machine* that was available, I'd go back to the 80's Slightly off topic, I have to say that I love the way women looked back in the 80's their hair styles had a look that has never bee replicated. Music too, is another fondness I have from the 80's The list goes on and on....
+Desmond Birch I think what sets the original apart from the others is that real sense of dark horror that none of the subsequent movies really seemed to be able to emulate. I mean, what could be more terrifying that this nigh unstoppable, emotionless machine that wants to kill you? I also thought the narrative worked better when it was just us versus them, humanity versus machine. We kinda got some robotic assistance in the sequels which, for me, dialled back the fear factor
Rob Reeves Bingo!!! You have got it in one!!! :O) *"what sets the original apart from the others is that real sense of dark horror that none of the subsequent movies really seemed to be able to emulate"* Your 100% correct. :O)
***** I agree with you!!! :O) I (like most others) love sci-fi films wth robots, machines amd computers, that's why I included Terminator Salvation. BUT, the original 1984 film will ALWAYS be head and shoulders above the rest. I remember the tag line from the VHS tape cover that I saw when I rented the film back in 1985 here in England. *"He's the thing that wont die, in the nightmare that wont end..."* That sums up the original nicely! :O)
Actually on the Special Edition dvd you do have the option to go from updated Dolby sound to original mono if you want to hear the original sound effects.
I love the first one as much as the second one. It's one of those films I've been watching again and again for most of my life and never get bored of them.
The fact that the T1000 can perfectly mimic the identity of its victims and blend in seamlessly was a very terrifying concept. The scene where it poses as John's stephmom and how swiftly kills the guy in the kitchen out of nowhere, still crawls my skin.
Excellent analysis to the greatest film ever made. I saw scenes from this in a friends house in the summer of 1990 when becoming an avid Arnie fan at the time, and I remember how it engraved into my head that day.. Thrilling,exciting, haunting, everything. Then,when BBC 1 showed it later that summer,(albeit slightly edited down in places for telly) I watched my taped version of it so much, I can still practically recite almost all of the dialogue to this day! Its like a classic first album from a legendary band- limited budget allows every aspect of real blood,sweat,tears to tell a tightly punched, emotionally charged statement of intent with no minute wasted,everything meaningful. All killer,no filler. I love Reece's narration and explanation about everything to Sarah happening as they are frantically racing through the streets with Arnie in deadly pursuit- your dragged along unmercifully,whilst trying to keep up attentively with Reece's nervy narration. Its fantastic, genius storytelling. And though the stop motion shows time and special effect moving on in leaps and bounds since,the final scene with the endoskeleton stalking them in the factory is still incredible. The nocturnal atmosphere,the un-nerving omnimus music that follows Reece and Sarah everywhere,like the T800 itself. Everything is perfect. I smiled hugely seeing the 8bit and 16 bit games here! I remember the classic mag Mean Machines giving the Megadrive version a lousy 43%,cos twas indeed too short and easy,despite looking and sounding so damn good. I loved the game myself. Again, terrific overview. Your channel is great-regards from Ireland,man.
The scene when the Terminator kills the wrong Sarah Connor at her home is pure horror. Just a nightmare that could happen to anyone: a sketchy stranger knocks on the door, kicks it down, and kills you in your own home
For me The Terminator is much better than T2. It has much darker atmosphere, and somehow the terminator itself looks more intimidating and scary than T-1000 (T2 is just too polished and clean for me). I love Michael Biehn in this movie, and his acting is awesome as always, even Arnold delivers the perfect performance as a deadly cyborg; his accents helps a lot here.
Agreed and I'd also like to add that T1 managed to not be so soul-crushingly bleak in tone, but still had fleeting moments where you see a glimmer of hope right before going back to crushing souls. Having checked out the deleted scene here on UA-cam, I'm kinda pissed they were cut since they built even more complexity into the characters from Sarah having to psyche herself up for her shift in the restaurant, to Lt. Traxler having doubts about Resse being crazy and eventually handing over his sidearm so Resse can protect Sarah (after the Lt had been fatally wounded), a confrontation with Resse and Sarah where Resse has a full-on breakdown, etc. As awesome as the movie is as it sits, it could have been even more.
I like both equally, and the reason why is T1, and T2 are different films, which I personally enjoy. I think Terminator is probably a better film, but I think T2 compliments it nicely, and expands upon the story of the first film, which every sequel should. I get why some would like Terminator more, but I think T2 was a worthy sequel, which is more than I can say for the films that followed.
+jacobson084 I think it was a good decision to make T2 with more action because it doesn't feels like a copy of the first film. The same thing happened with Aliens. I love both movies and sometimes I like a bit more the T1 and sometimes T2. however the first one it's definitely have a better and solid script. I have a issue with T2 because i don´t like James Cameron tried to show the T-800 able to learn and feel emotions. That's contrary at what Kyle said in T1.
***** Watching this film now, I realize how perfect it is. Everyone was great, but Arnold was the stand-out and with good reason. Prior to being cast as the T-800, he was risking being typecast as Conan the Barbarian-style characters. Believe it or not, portraying a Terminator is incredibly difficult. You can't show any emotion, human reaction, etc. You can't flinch, can't show fatigue, can't even brush dust from your eyes.That requires a high amount of skill and discipline and few actors can truly pull it off. Arnold, Robert Patrick, Kristanna Lokken, and Summer Glau all pulled it off, which is no small feat even with current technology.
***** Arnie is a natural goofball since that's his normal personality. But the difficulty of portraying a Terminator is something I've been through first hand. Some friends of mine and I decided to do a short 50 minute fan movie based on it and I got volunteered to be the Terminator (a modified 800-series geared more towards infiltration than full assault). That was a pain in the ass since I had waist-length hair and we decided to do a minor parkour-styled chase scene (no huge tricks, but plenty of smooth vaults and the like since parkour was a hobby of mine at the time). Since I was told to keep my hair loose as a Terminator wouldn't need to tie its hair back, it took me a while to not instinctively brush it out of my eyes, not to mention the fight sequences we worked on where I couldn't visibly breathe while absorbing blows and dealing out attack of my own (full-contact with padding under our clothing). Sadly, we never finished the film and I don't have a copy of it, but it gave me a good look at what it means to portray a Terminator and I have mad respect for those who've done it.
Michael Beihn succumbed to alcohol addiction, which is why his career tanked. Ironic, considering that his second big break was replacing James Remar in "Aliens" well after filming had begun because of HIS drug issues. There are still a couple of shots of Remar's back in the final cut of "Aliens" and photos online of him as Hicks.
The trailer at the beginning is probably your best ive seen so far. As an inspiring film maker myself I always watch this for inspiration. I wonder if Cameron will one day do a film with a budget like this again.
The T-800 was the main antagonist, the primary bad guy of The Terminator. in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, The T-800 became a Main Protagonist, the primary good guy and the liquid metal T-1000 is a main antagonist.
Great review and really different from most reviews. I especially liked your comment about Kyle having to die to save Sarah - to me, Sarah really comes into her own when she's not got Kyle to lean on and her full potential is brought out. Great film, one of my favourites.
Get The Terminator on Blu-ray goo.gl/U4hpsQ
Get The Terminator Score here goo.gl/th1SW3
Oliver Harper funny thing about this is Siskel and Ebert didn't like this movie when it first came out either.
Ebert did. Siskel did not.
Connor Brennan they didn't like terminator you could find the Siskel and Ebert episode on UA-cam I watched it like 3 years ago.
jamail white I watched the review again. Ebert gave it thumbs up.
Oliver Harper can you do a Review for the Childs Play franchise
Biehn’s performance as Reese is incredible, especially his flashbacks to the post judgement day war. His unrelenting will to protect Sarah is just as strong as the Terminator’s is to kill her.
That's interesting because Reese's acting is 1 of the few things that bothered me about the movie - he has very little changes of tone the way he always seems to be shouting with a subtle high-pitch. There are a good number of points where he sounds like someone reading lines rather than a character (though he has some good instances as well)
The original Terminator will always be the best for me.
Kyle Reese: "It can't be bargained with...it can't be reasoned with...it doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear and it absolutely will not stop EVER - until you are dead."
One of the best lines I've ever heard in any movie and illustrates perfectly why, in my opinion, the Terminator is one of the most genuinely terrifying 'villains' in cinema history. If Kyle and Sarah had escaped and managed to hide away on the other side of the world, even hiding for years, the T-800 would be looking for them every single moment and - one day - it would find them again. They would NEVER be safe.
Brilliant movie and great review Oliver - thanks!
+FrampleTromwibbler We have Terminator's these days........they are called Terrorists.
Actually they're called drones.
@@Bonez0r no, those have a relatively short mission operation time, and still work under orders or as piloted. It's just a remote controlled plane vs a piloted one, it's not magic and they're far from unstoppable.
If you're they're target, then without drones they'd just send a plane or couple helicopters after you instead. There's no real functional difference.
With a terminator it's different. They're not opportunity on the orders of a human authority structure you can know or influence, and they are extremely tough and once sent, never stop.
Terrorists are pretty different too, but at least they don't operate via government and are similar to an "infiltration unit", and can't be bargained with or appealed to.
Really it's all apples and pineapples.
I was 10 when I saw it,it gave me nightmares
are you sure reese isnt talking about trump? LOL
Raw and pure...the original is still the best.
Yes it is. What are your opinions on T2?
+Dante Sparda Couldn't agree more
I think T2 is a great film, so it makes itself necessary from that. But T2 is all about spectacle, whereas the original is as efficient and finely engineered as the Terminator itself. It's also a great study film on how to film and edit high quality material with a minimal budget.
I thought that was what you meant, and you're right of course, the first film is completely self contained.
I get it, but I thought #2 was better written and had more of a human plot when I re-watched them both recently. The original is still fantastic though. Both films amazed me with how Cameron was able to suck me into the plot.
Why Oliver is amazing:
1- In depth, concise, and mature reviews.
2- Comforting and calming voice overs.
3- Proper English
4- Fantastic production.
After a 12 hour work shift, this is the highlight of my day.
Eddie WolBarret Thats very nice of you to say Eddie! Thank you.
Eddie WolBarret Yes, Oliver has become my favorite UA-cam reviewer.
"nuke-u-ler"
I like the videos, but hearing that put me off a bit.
Blue Dragoness what a shitty thing to say.
All it was, was truth. It was said, that's what was felt.
There was no insult involved. Like I say, I do like the videos. There's a lot to them, seems to be a lot of research, and they're very well done in general. It's just one of those things that you hear, like "ATM machine", or "PIN number", that's jarring when you hear it.
Like the OP said, 'comforting and calming' in general... that's why something like nuke-u-ler can seem out of place.
The scene in Tech Noir where Kyle figures out the Terminator has spotted Sarah and does the spin and pulls the shotgun out in slow motion is one of my favorite scenes in the history of film. Perfectly executed tension and suspense.
And blink and you'll miss it, but he nails the terminators arm with his first shot. Hense why you see him fixing himself later. xD
Brad Fiedel deserves FAR more credit. He essentially invented the bombastic film score as heard today from composers like Hans Zimmer (Inception) and Tom Holkenborg (Mad Max: Fury Road). The Fury Road score in particular sounds heavily influenced by Fiedel.
I'm now imagining the movie with a score by Hans Zimmer.
I think the score is amazing. Excellent sound track and tension building ideas in here. Works really well.
Brad Fidel is probably the only person who can make me creeped out by 80s synth
nope
Exactly. In the same manner Cameron introduced these relentless final acts.
RIP Sarah's Mom, killed by a terminator and completely forgotten about so never even mentioned again
OK, Now I wanna watch The Terminator again
That gorgeous 80's feathered hair. :P
I freaking love that hairstyle.
Goy Ishah Lol, yep. Back then we had very little, to nothing, in the way of hair care products. Pretty much just hairspray. Certainly not any kinds of sculpting gels or clays. I remember when mousse started coming around. It wasn’t great, but at least it was something 🤣
When girls used to look like poodles :D
Yeah I love it and always say how I love women with permed hair that has volume as opposed to boring straight hair that I personally don’t even think is attractive yet so many women keep their hair that way. My cousin always gets on my case about it and acts like it’s out dated which it’s not
@@JustinLodes I sure miss those days...carrying a big bottle of White Rain hairspray in your oversized denim purse and touch up spray between classes lol. So much volume, then it went flat in the 90s.
Comparing the quality of Terminator vs Terminator 2 is like comparing Alien vs Aliens....both films are classics, and it's hard to say which one is my favorite. Probably the best film series/sequels ever made!
FireTiger941 I prefer Alien. Aliens is a great movie. The final showdown between Ripley and Alien Queen was fantastic but it lacks the horror and mysterious element of the first movie. Alien is better because the score is very creepy and futuristic. The Alien is scary and truly invincible (while in Aliens it can be killed by a shotgun). The setting is simply unsettling (The dead engineer inside the derelict spacecraft is fascinating yet provides a creepy feeling).
Terminator 1 is better than 2...Aliens is better than alien.
I always keep in mind that I should not compare Alien and Aliens because they are both different vibrations. Alien is granddaddy of sci fi horror/terror. Aliens is more guns blazing 💪 action. Though I love both movies.
@@nont18411the theatrical cut has horror and mystery
Terminator 1984 is a better story, in my opinion. Both are great films btw.
"It can't be reasoned with. It can't be bargained with. It doesn't feel pity. Or remorse! Or fear! And it will not stop. EVER!!! Until you are dead."
When Kyle said that it seemed like it put things on a whole new level...I like this terminator better than the 2nd one because this one appears to be more serious like a sci fi horror.
yeah, T1 is a scifi Slasher movie.
If a movie can be perfect, this is as close as it gets. Gives me chills every time, even watching this review, or even hearing the music. The low budget just makes it better!
Just listening to that simplistic theme music gives me chills.
Truly one of the best films I've ever seen, it has one the greatest onscreen couples and musical score. The Terminator is on my list of top 10 favorite films because it's that good
Both 1 and 2 are in my top 10!
Anyone notice Arnold has no eye brow for parts of the film? Weird.
***** Those are probably the parts where he's replaced with an obvious mannequin.
LinkMarioSamus No when he was driving the car, his eyebrows were gone.
***** Eyebrows burned when he was chasing Sarah and Reese. The scene is the one where Terminator is on fire and punches hand through windshield. I loved that details when I was kid :)
The Transformation of Linda Hamilton to this film to T2 to her next film is insane.
Better than the 2nd one for me.
Same.
Neil Tomlinson Agreed. The BEST MOVIE I EVER SAW.
yeah
T2 is one of the best sequels ever but the original is the greatest
Yes, after all these years it really is truth. Terminator 2 is amazing, and I would say has better overall character development. T1 is a tad too lean in that department comparatively but still does a good enough job for the lean mean well paced horror movie it is. The concept, the darkness, the sci-fi horror is just insanely awesome in T1. Looking back you can see how influenced Cameron was by John Carpenter and Halloween (he has discussed this a little in some interviews over the years) and I love it. T2, while incredible alters the tone a bit. Less horror, less darkness in the future, more action. While the T1000 does bring horror, it just isn't the same as the tone of T1, and the middle of T2 gets a tad slow in the desert. The Terminator is just so brutal and raw, the concept, the fatalism, the unchangable paradox, it is all so awesome.
This was the best Terminator imo. One of my favorite movies and James Cameron's best work.
Arnold was terrifiying in this movie, the close up shot were he is looking around while driving the police car is chilling, the machine means fucking business!!!
Agreed, and the sudden/intense "concentration" it shows when it acquires them in the parking garage is bone chilling also.
That is truly an underrated scene where Arnold is basically going "AHA motherfuckers, I found you!"
@@JSSTygerArnold's performance is very underrated.
Nothing beats Die hard, Robocop and Terminator, my top 3 movies of all time :)
Don't forget Alien, Aliens, Predator.
And the O.T.
And also Mad Max!
Goodfellas is still the best
Point Break, thank you very much.
The first one is by far my favorite. I have always described the first Terminator movie is a horror movie and the second is an action movie.
Michael Biehn spent a good chunk of his productive life with an adiction to alcohol. It took him decades to admit his problem and take control. God bless him. Today he sleaks out to encourage others to seek out help.
So happy you brought up MichAEL Biehn's performance, he was amazing as Reese.
Terminator, and Robocop were the best robot films to come out of the 80's
deraj nitram cyborgs ;)
Sound For Free Mindz True.
"Terminator, and Robocop are the best robot films to come out."
Fixed it! :)
YOU FORGOT ABOUT CHOPPING MALL. just kidding..of course terminator and robocop were the best 80s robot films with terminator being the better of the 2.
What about Blade Runner?
My favourite Terminator movie, by a mile.
My favorite movie ever
@@SSNESS
Sadly we wont ever get movies like this again. Modern Hollywood wouldn't like the formula.
@@Tony-1971Sad but true.
@@oriongear2499
💯👍🏻
@Tony-1971 Modern Hollywood does like strong female characters except if they are girl bosses or strong, masculine male characters, which is what Sarah and Kyle are.
This film will always hold a place in my heart. Dark, Gritty and on pace non stop. Even now I love the war scenes. T2 was great, fun and wow again. But second to this. I'm just Sad what they have done with it. Nothing can be dark anymore. It doesn't even have to be violence to make it dark. Shame it's not for the fans anymore, just money.
I honestly think they can do it again. Make the budget low, add a new terminator actor, keep the cat and mouse idea, and focus on the story and characters making it fresh again..
Idk...I just want a good terminator again.
The mistake with the terminator franchise was moving away from the horror aspect, I believe if they made a reboot as a horror slasher it could work. Maybe rob zombie could resurrect it ? Idk
Cameron's best picture and Arnie's best role IMO
the way Sarah's face went from shock to sheer terror in Tech Noir is the subtlty that makes this movie such a classic
...Did that fucker just casually get up after being decked with multiple rounds from a 12-gauge?
Oh shit now he's doing it again!! D:
That scene is great, the music slowly changing giving way to the ominous feel of what's about to come.
When I first showed this movie to my friend, I skipped the prologue text. I thought it would be better for her to find out about "the machines" as the film progressed instead. She had no idea what Arnold was until the red vision effect came on lol.
The club noir scene is so god damn amazing. Everything about it. Especially when Kyle is staring at Sarah not knowing he is about to save her
That stop-motion terminator chasing Sarah and Kyle still gives me the creeps lol.
Badass movie.
The stuff of nightmares.
@iberius9937 The first Terminator is definitely more of a horror movie.
another amazing review. haven't seen T1 in a long time and when Kyle said "I came across time for you Sarah" i actually teard up a bit..
thx for another great video Oliver.
In relation to the part where Sarah phones her mother, it's not completely inconceivable that Reece would know, or at least suspect the imitation abilities of the terminator. Especially considering his earlier monologue describing its ingenuity as an infiltrator. Naturally, he'd be obligated to assume the worst, so it's definitely an oversight by Reece. Given the fact that he grew up in a time where nobody had a "family" or their parents were most likely killed, it just never occurs to him that Sarah might have other loved ones she would want to warn. He was just so preoccupied with saving her life.
The nightclub slo-mo walk by is one of my favourite movie scenes ever
I’ve seen this movie a thousand times, man. Yes, You’ve made me excited to see it again. Well done and thank you.
Thanks Nathan!
When I learned that this movie only cost $6 million to make, it just made me love it even more, so impressive
Lol the feminist reboots get 60 million and only make 6 million! Lol movies suck today
@anneblubaugh58 Indeed they do.
I consider T1 a sci-fi horror movie, the Terminator is like an undead skeleton covered with dying flesh. Arnold in this also looks like my elementary school math teacher who was a very strict guy handling us like soldiers. Nightmares XD
Even though many film enthusiasts consider T1 as a sci-fi action, you’re absolutely right about the horror elements included in the film that makes it look more like a horror movie.
Lol wow
How does a maths teacher act like a terminator?
@@muppetmittstheOG He didn't act. But he was a health nut and wore a strict face even when was supposed to be casual.
And oh boy, if you were wrong, you were dead! Heck even if you were right he gave you a hard time. And sometimes the whole class was to blame for someone's fluke. He surely made sure math class was the most uncomfortable time of the day. You did not want to mess with him.
Timeless classic. One of the greatest films ever made. 10/10
Journey to Silius ont he NES was originally supposed to be the official terminator game and they picked up the rights long before T2 existed, so the license was worthless then,
But when T2 emerged, Orion got greedy and snatched the rights back. Which is a shame as Journey to Silius is a fantastic game with a great soundtrack (It's first level music is legendary!!!), infinitely superior to the actual Terminator NES game.
Davis Warden he comments on all of Oli's videos
Amadeus Dredd I've seen him on other videos. Not just Oli's.
really?
The original Terminator was scary and thats why it worked. I was a kid when I saw it first back in 97/98 on vhs. It literally gave me nightmares. Its still my most favorite terminator film.
The Terminator is my favourite movie of all time period
One of the greatest movies ever
It is the greatest movie IMO
I cannot remember when I first saw The Terminator but it never gets boring 👍🏻
I recently re-watched the original Westworld and there are a lot of similarities with that film and the Terminator. I have not heard many people mention that as inspiration but both of the endings fall on similar lines.
Another top-notch vid there mate. Your reviews are excellent.
Nice to see you mention Michael Beihn too, I thought he was incredible as Kyle Reece - a true underrated 'action hero' and the way he tells the viewer the story through exposition as the action moves on at a relentless pace is exceptional.
Yeah, loved Biehn in this. Such an underrated actor, he really should've had a bigger career than he did.
I met Michael beihn twice. He was in Laughlin Nevada at the casinos. At the river palms. He was so nice and friendly and humble. The second time was in Las Vegas at a meet and greet and signing. He signed some of my DVDs/ movies he was in. He is definitely one of my favorite actors
Terminator 1 is definitely my favorite.
Bastard 137 Same
I know this comment is wayyyyyy late. But I love the way you do reviews of movies. Everyone does the movie but you explore everything attached to It. I love it. Some nights I just put on the playlist and just have it on in the background. They are so well done and you narrate so well. I'll be backing your kickstarter now that I know about it. I hope you return to doing these retrospective reviews please.
I feel so dumb for just now realizing Kyle Reese is the father of John Connor. This is probably extremely obvious to everyone else but I only watched bits and pieces of this movie as a kid, whilst watching judgment day several times.
84: T1
85: Robocop
86: Aliens
87: Predator
88: Abyss
Man, what a time for scifi lovers
Robocop came out in 1987 and The Abyss came out in 1989
Don't forget The Empire Strikes Back and Blade Runner.
RoboCop same year as Predator. 1987.
Linda Hamilton is such a cutie in thus movie
Great lips.
Yes she's beautiful
James Cameron came up of a Terminator movie after he had a nightmare while sleeping at a Italian Hotel.
While making Piranha II
Nope! Turns out that was a lie! A black woman named Sophia Stewart wrote it as well as the matrix which where both apart of the same story.
@@baa848 You forgot to mention that she was handicaped. And 1/16 cherokee
johnny67448 oddly enough it appears to be so, she won in court last I heard. It makes a lot of sense especially when you look at the bad sequels expect t2 n that’s because James Cameron makes the best sequels of all time!
Йцукенг Ааыф lol
Dude, these videos are awesome! the montages are freekin great, your use of the scores, & the fantastic way you articulate the plot, making of & critical aspects of the movies is just awesome!
brilliant movie , great review … i almost prefer this over the 2nd one … even though T2 is undeniably good , but T1 just has this creepy cold feel through out the movie … suspense just doesn't let up … I agree with what you said about both Michael Biehn and Brad Fiedel . Biehn was amazing in the movie ! Don't see why he didn't get more big roles in his career . And Terminator theme is like the best score EVER written for a movie ! And i'm not just saying that ! I actually prefer theme from the first one over T2 … Even though it's the same composer … Thanks for your review ! Keep it up ! Gotta go watch the movie ! =DDD
Best score ever seems a bit over the top. Example, the good the bad and the uglys score was better.
See, Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson? THIS is how you create a strong female character.
Done yet?
@@dr.s8972 Are they?
I'm trying to convince my self only two movies were made
I always struggle with which one I like better. T1 had that constant anxiety through the entire movie. Arnold and the rest were great. The music was fantastic. But I also love T2. If only they had left well enough alone after the first 2 and left it as it was.
You are so right. The first two Terminators were outstanding, but they really went downhill after that (though Salvation was kind of decent). But now that Dark Fate has bombed, maybe the franchise won't be back, lol!
The level of tension is off the charts in T1 which is a good thing I think that's where the first one out does the second I think also the first is more of a horror film as a kid the second was my favorite but now as an adult I like the first one the most
Makes me wonder why they have not made serious attempts in recent years to make a new terminator game. Walking around in a GTA like world as a terminator with a very detailed damage model seems like a perfect fit for videogames.
You Really do give the best reviews bro I subbed...
thank you very much dude.
Oliver Harper Your welcome bro keep em coming :)
Hasta la Vista, Oliver
OFFCOURSE I AM A TERMINATOR I'LL BE BACK!!!
These series are GOLD! Thank you Harper.
My pleasure!
When this came out all my friends wanted to be The Terminator...I wanted to be Kyle Reese.
I Like this way more than T2
wrong
UNCLE MAX Both are great.
EXTERMINATION MOVIES terminator 2 is much better. The lighting and shots are more professional, the t-800 can actually fight the T-1000. The movie has a larger budget and has alot more impressive stunts. The CGI of the t-1000 are as important and impressive as the CGI from jurassic park. The bond between john and the t-800 makes the ending all the better. Robert patrick's performance as the t-1000 is creepy and manipulative he works perfectly. Overall T2 is the superior film
Not story-wise it isn't. And Kyle bonding with Sarah >> John bonding with the T-800.
ricar james that's your opinion I think both of them are awesome but the rest suck balls
After seeing T2 5 times as a kid, I asked my mom "What about T1" and she just said that I shouldn't bother because it's very similar but not as good. Imagine my surprise when I didn't listen to her and rented this gem, I'm glad my curiosity got the better of me. I still think T2 is better but T1 can't be overlooked.
Thanks mate Im glad you enjoy the montages I provide with my videos and Im very happy you loved the ones attached to the latest review!. Yes I do all the retrospectives by myself. :)
In my opinion The Terminator is better than T2. Although the sequel has jaw dropping effects and more impressive stunts, the first film has a certain aura and efficiency. The horror in the first film fits the storyline better.
Also Arnold isn't good in T2 - he flooks most of it because it of the nature of the character. In the first film Schwarzenegger totally believable - his best film by a country mile.
Tom Oke
Too much humor in T2.
T2 is nowhere near the first film. The pace of it, amount of characters, threat from the villain, horror, soundtrack, everything! Absolute classic. T2 is merely a great Hollywood sequel. Perfect for the family to buy tonnes of popcorn and watch at the cinema. Must have made him an absolute fortune but for me it drags on, isn't horrific and is too friendly and child driven.
Traveling back in time to be with a woman you feel in love with after viewing her photograph? Sounds like Somewhere In Time except with robots and shit blowing up :)
MisterTutor2010 The resemblance is striking, especially when you realize that the photo was taken when she was thinking about him. "I always wondered what you were thinking about." Just like Somewhere in Time.
Christopher Plummer would be an interesting Terminator.
I think James Cameron used "Somewhere in Time" more-so for inspiration for his other film "Titanic". Old lady with a piece of jewelry that reminds her of her young lover, and the film goes through time periods, showing her when she was young.
Just watched this randomly last night on Netflix after maybe 15 years?!
In my teens (90's) I must have watched this every other day. Not only did it hold up but to me it's better now than it ever was back then.
Kyle Reese is my favourite movie character of all movies I've seen, he nailed that role.
great retrospective... Is it me or was Linda Hamilton hot back in 84?
Indeed, she was!
Heartbreakingly beautiful in T1 to heartstompingly gorgeous in T2.
johnny67448 silly hair that was a style then in 1980s but Linda Hamilton was hot in Terminator
She was absolutely hot great lips.
What a difference between T1 and T2 ! As a kid a thought they were different actress!! Without a doubt Sarah was a knockout in T1
Terminator - like Alien, another franchise where there are two films in each, with anything else falling into the realms of irrelevant fan-fic.
Agreed, and the same could be said about the Mad Max series as well.
Yeah, let's ignore the fact that Aliens is pissing all over the concept of the creature of the first Alien movie and essentially just turning it into a generic insectoid-like alien.
kurvos Aliens does? As in the sequel to Alien? There was nothing in that film that contradicted what was in the first film. It came from an egg, a facehugger implanted the embryo and the alien grew from that. Aliens added what they were like in groups, and who laid the eggs. Aliens is one of the best sequels ever made and was followed by utter crap.
KRSsven Actually, if you knew anything about the first movie outside of watching it's theatrical cut, you'd know better. In the director's cut there is a scene of the victims being attached to a wall (in similar fashion to how it is in Aliens, so James Cameron clearly has seen this footage). However, here it is clearly seen that they aren't stuck there to be victims to facehuggers jumping onto them. No no - they are actually turning INTO the eggs with the facehuggers inside, thereby becoming these mindless small facehuggers. That also explains why facehuggers look like various human body parts put together - because it IS transformed from a human. They even talk about this behind the scenes and everything.
But James Cameron fucked it all up and made them into insect-like creatures. He felt the need to undermine the dangerous xenomorph from the first movie into being nothing but a drone, and now we in Aliens have this new class of aliens called "warriors"... which for some reason are more weak and fragile than the drone from the previous movie.
And, now there's the queen, laying all the eggs, and it's all awfully similar to how ants work. Because unlike H.R. Giger's disturbing yet limitless imagination, James Cameron's imagination is limited to what a child could come up with after they learn how an ant farm functions.
kurvos Actually, if you knew anything about this franchise you'd know 'eggmorphing' was something filmed but not in the theatrical release, and that the xenomorphs are capable of creating a limited number of eggs in this way according to some material. Some people accept that both are possible while others say because it wasn't in the film, it isn't relevant.
Tbh both can be easily plausible, with the isolated xenomorph creating eggs from scratch due to the lack of a viable Queen. It's clear that the Queen is the normal method of egg creation.
I'm afraid it doesn't explain the facehuggers at all - the original eggs were found on an alien ship, of a race humanity did not have contact with. How could they be made of human body parts? It's pretty limited to have their reproduction based around having spare bodies - that they also need for gestation. So now the aliens need twice as many victims (one egg plus one body next to it to create the next soldier) to create just one xenomorph? Nah. Doesn't work. It works much better as a limited and alternate method of creating eggs without having an egglayer around. It was clearly part of the original intent but was removed and has been kicking around ever since.
Cameron made one of the best sci-fi films, and one of the best sequels ever made. The ant-colony analogy was only ever an analogy made by Ripley and Bishop - it didn't mean they worked the exact same way. Even the 'Queen' name is given because they can't think of anything else. The aliens actually have a rather elegant means of reproduction - as long as there is a supply of hosts, which can be anything big enough, there is no limit to the number of xenomorphs that could hatch.
Also, weak and fragile? They were being shot with AP rounds. Not many organic creatures are going to shrug those off. The whole point of the first film was that they had no weapons...no real way to kill the thing. In the second, even a dozen marines with massive firepower couldn't deal with a large group of them. That's why in Alien3 - an otherwise poor film - they return to the idea of a single alien picking off unarmed people. It's a lot more scary. Aliens was about action, and you're probably the first person I've encountered that views the film negatively.
Perfect movie, love the 80's! One of Cameron's finest along Aliens!
When I first saw Terminator I had not even seen a trailer for it so I went in just on film poster alone. I remember being in awe of it all and when Micheal Biehn blasted Arnie into the street only for him to get up again it was a moment I'll never forget. Terminator seemed to blow the mind around 10 or so times but what annoyed me at the time ,and still does, was when Reese managed to get Sarah away from Terminator and he got a good distance between themselves but he drives like a maniac as if Terminator is right behind him. Perfect movie all in all made in the days when you were lucky to catch a trailer on telly for any film. Or you could catch Film 82 on the bbc to check out the latest movies. My brother and I called it Film 82 right til the end, that means when Jonathan Ross took over.
Great reviews. I share all of your sentiments on the Terminator films. Thank you!
1:00 - 2:35 summarizes why this is one of the very best films ever. GREAT REVIEW!
This film thrilled me to my soul!!
Great review, but a common misconception is that Arnie immediately wanted to play The Terminator. He didn't. He wanted to play Reese.
Reese was the leading role and the Terminator was the villain, which he did not see as a good career move at the time.
Cameron had to convince him to play The Terminator. And thank god he did, because he would have absolutely sucked as Reese, but he was born to play the Terminator.
The original Terminator film is really the only one in the series that makes heavy use of the horror and exploitation elements that can be seen throughout (Hey, buddy, you got a dead cat in there or what?!"). It's a grittier, darker, more personal film and in my book that makes it better. T2 is still one of the best sequels in history, of course.
4.55The Original Mono Sountrack is better than the 5.1 in my opinion it is the definitive version that was released in cinemas and VHS so disappointed by the DVD versions!
One of the greatest films ever made!
This film made white the impact on my brain at the time; I distinctly recall being haunted by the music as well as the premise, with an inexplicable sense of dread and doom. With modern technology now tripping over itself to create what should never be, that sense of doom seems like a premonition.
The Terminator (1984) will always be the one!!! Terminator 2 I enjoyed and Terminator Salvation I also enjoyed. However, The Terminator (1984) captured something and has an energy and feel to it that none of the others have, or could ever have. Also, it came out round the time when home computers *like Commordore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro* etc., were becoming popular. The advent of the home computer AND The Terminator somehow went hand in hand. Thanks for the upload!!! :O)
*****
If there was a *time machine* that was available, I'd go back to the 80's Slightly off topic, I have to say that I love the way women looked back in the 80's their hair styles had a look that has never bee replicated. Music too, is another fondness I have from the 80's The list goes on and on....
+Desmond Birch
I 100% agree. 80's women were hot as fuck. I love their hair and clothes too. And of course the music.
+Desmond Birch I think what sets the original apart from the others is that real sense of dark horror that none of the subsequent movies really seemed to be able to emulate. I mean, what could be more terrifying that this nigh unstoppable, emotionless machine that wants to kill you?
I also thought the narrative worked better when it was just us versus them, humanity versus machine. We kinda got some robotic assistance in the sequels which, for me, dialled back the fear factor
Rob Reeves
Bingo!!! You have got it in one!!! :O) *"what sets the original apart from the others is that real sense of dark horror that none of the subsequent movies really seemed to be able to emulate"* Your 100% correct. :O)
*****
I agree with you!!! :O) I (like most others) love sci-fi films wth robots, machines amd computers, that's why I included Terminator Salvation. BUT, the original 1984 film will ALWAYS be head and shoulders above the rest. I remember the tag line from the VHS tape cover that I saw when I rented the film back in 1985 here in England. *"He's the thing that wont die, in the nightmare that wont end..."* That sums up the original nicely! :O)
Actually on the Special Edition dvd you do have the option to go from updated Dolby sound to original mono if you want to hear the original sound effects.
Hey Nick, glad you loved the review and shared the same feelings on the horror aspect. Always a pleasure to hear your feedback.
Oliver Harper I am ULTRA FAN OF TERMINATOR SAGA, especially ofcourse 1 and 2, piece of arts... and I just love your review.
Pozdrav
I love the first one as much as the second one. It's one of those films I've been watching again and again for most of my life and never get bored of them.
This was scarier than t2 fight me
The fact that the T1000 can perfectly mimic the identity of its victims and blend in seamlessly was a very terrifying concept. The scene where it poses as John's stephmom and how swiftly kills the guy in the kitchen out of nowhere, still crawls my skin.
The opening song still gives me chills. classic soundtrack
A true sci-fi classic movie! A absolute Masterpiece!
Excellent analysis to the greatest film ever made. I saw scenes from this in a friends house in the summer of 1990 when becoming an avid Arnie fan at the time, and I remember how it engraved into my head that day.. Thrilling,exciting, haunting, everything. Then,when BBC 1 showed it later that summer,(albeit slightly edited down in places for telly) I watched my taped version of it so much, I can still practically recite almost all of the dialogue to this day!
Its like a classic first album from a legendary band- limited budget allows every aspect of real blood,sweat,tears to tell a tightly punched, emotionally charged statement of intent with no minute wasted,everything meaningful. All killer,no filler.
I love Reece's narration and explanation about everything to Sarah happening as they are frantically racing through the streets with Arnie in deadly pursuit- your dragged along unmercifully,whilst trying to keep up attentively with Reece's nervy narration. Its fantastic, genius storytelling. And though the stop motion shows time and special effect moving on in leaps and bounds since,the final scene with the endoskeleton stalking them in the factory is still incredible. The nocturnal atmosphere,the un-nerving omnimus music that follows Reece and Sarah everywhere,like the T800 itself. Everything is perfect.
I smiled hugely seeing the 8bit and 16 bit games here! I remember the classic mag Mean Machines giving the Megadrive version a lousy 43%,cos twas indeed too short and easy,despite looking and sounding so damn good. I loved the game myself.
Again, terrific overview. Your channel is great-regards from Ireland,man.
I love this Film! I was 2 when it came out, still holds up to this day.
The scene when the Terminator kills the wrong Sarah Connor at her home is pure horror. Just a nightmare that could happen to anyone: a sketchy stranger knocks on the door, kicks it down, and kills you in your own home
Ah, the 80's 👍
My childhood.
I loved this soundtrack when I was a kid. So memorable!
For me The Terminator is much better than T2. It has much darker atmosphere, and somehow the terminator itself looks more intimidating and scary than T-1000 (T2 is just too polished and clean for me). I love Michael Biehn in this movie, and his acting is awesome as always, even Arnold delivers the perfect performance as a deadly cyborg; his accents helps a lot here.
Agreed and I'd also like to add that T1 managed to not be so soul-crushingly bleak in tone, but still had fleeting moments where you see a glimmer of hope right before going back to crushing souls. Having checked out the deleted scene here on UA-cam, I'm kinda pissed they were cut since they built even more complexity into the characters from Sarah having to psyche herself up for her shift in the restaurant, to Lt. Traxler having doubts about Resse being crazy and eventually handing over his sidearm so Resse can protect Sarah (after the Lt had been fatally wounded), a confrontation with Resse and Sarah where Resse has a full-on breakdown, etc. As awesome as the movie is as it sits, it could have been even more.
I like both equally, and the reason why is T1, and T2 are different films, which I personally enjoy. I think Terminator is probably a better film, but I think T2 compliments it nicely, and expands upon the story of the first film, which every sequel should. I get why some would like Terminator more, but I think T2 was a worthy sequel, which is more than I can say for the films that followed.
+jacobson084 I think it was a good decision to make T2 with more action because it doesn't feels like a copy of the first film. The same thing happened with Aliens. I love both movies and sometimes I like a bit more the T1 and sometimes T2. however the first one it's definitely have a better and solid script. I have a issue with T2 because i don´t like James Cameron tried to show the T-800 able to learn and feel emotions. That's contrary at what Kyle said in T1.
*****
Watching this film now, I realize how perfect it is. Everyone was great, but Arnold was the stand-out and with good reason. Prior to being cast as the T-800, he was risking being typecast as Conan the Barbarian-style characters. Believe it or not, portraying a Terminator is incredibly difficult. You can't show any emotion, human reaction, etc. You can't flinch, can't show fatigue, can't even brush dust from your eyes.That requires a high amount of skill and discipline and few actors can truly pull it off. Arnold, Robert Patrick, Kristanna Lokken, and Summer Glau all pulled it off, which is no small feat even with current technology.
*****
Arnie is a natural goofball since that's his normal personality. But the difficulty of portraying a Terminator is something I've been through first hand.
Some friends of mine and I decided to do a short 50 minute fan movie based on it and I got volunteered to be the Terminator (a modified 800-series geared more towards infiltration than full assault). That was a pain in the ass since I had waist-length hair and we decided to do a minor parkour-styled chase scene (no huge tricks, but plenty of smooth vaults and the like since parkour was a hobby of mine at the time). Since I was told to keep my hair loose as a Terminator wouldn't need to tie its hair back, it took me a while to not instinctively brush it out of my eyes, not to mention the fight sequences we worked on where I couldn't visibly breathe while absorbing blows and dealing out attack of my own (full-contact with padding under our clothing). Sadly, we never finished the film and I don't have a copy of it, but it gave me a good look at what it means to portray a Terminator and I have mad respect for those who've done it.
Only just watched this last week and now I’m hyped to watch it again!
Still a great movie, one of my all time favourites
This movie gave me such chills as young, and still do. Its so damn good.
Perfect actors, music, director, everything.
Michael Beihn succumbed to alcohol addiction, which is why his career tanked. Ironic, considering that his second big break was replacing James Remar in "Aliens" well after filming had begun because of HIS drug issues. There are still a couple of shots of Remar's back in the final cut of "Aliens" and photos online of him as Hicks.
The trailer at the beginning is probably your best ive seen so far. As an inspiring film maker myself I always watch this for inspiration. I wonder if Cameron will one day do a film with a budget like this again.
One of the greatest movies ever made. Better than the 2nd by miles imo.
"It can't be reasoned with. It can't be bargained with." VS It can be taught to tell jokes. It can be taught to high five.
😂
Depends how it's programmed
The T-800 was the main antagonist, the primary bad guy of The Terminator. in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, The T-800 became a Main Protagonist, the primary good guy and the liquid metal T-1000 is a main antagonist.
Great review and really different from most reviews. I especially liked your comment about Kyle having to die to save Sarah - to me, Sarah really comes into her own when she's not got Kyle to lean on and her full potential is brought out. Great film, one of my favourites.