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The Terminator
Robots, gunfights and the Governator, what more could you ask for. I thought on rewatching this film that it would be dated like so many other 80’s films. However, as the film takes place in 1984, it’s still pretty cool.
I spent most of the film waiting for Arnie to kill Kyle, but knew that would only happen after John was conceived. When he finally dies, I wasn’t all that upset, in fact, I was kind of hoping that Arnie would win. He was, after all, the coolest thing about the movie. I can see why they made him the hero in the second movie. It didn’t hurt that he had no acting skills, after all, monotone dialogue coming from an expressionless cyborg makes sense when you’re playing a robot.
If you look at the film from a time paradox point of view, it can’t happen. It requires the son to send his father back in time to ensure that he was conceived. Fortunately, in true dodgy fashion, this is not such an issue, and can be overlooked. In fact, it probably gives it more credibility as a dodgy movie, forcing the brain to shut down and enjoy the mindless violence.
Dodginess
I thought while watching the film that the flashforward showing the war between the machines and the humans would be the dodgiest part. I was mistaken. Arnie taking a craft knife and cutting his eye out took the cake. Not only for the grossout effect of removing your own eyeball, but also because it gives the terminator a reason to don the sunglasses that complete the black leather trenchcoat look. If this was all the film had going for it, it would still deserve 5 on the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man scale of dodginess.
Rewatchability Rating
While it was great to watch it again after so many years, I think the only reason it would find it’s way into my DVD collection would be sentimental. The effects used for the Terminator after his skin has been burned away are laughable by today’s standards, and this has a negative impact on a film that isn’t comedic. As a result, this one only rates a 2 on the rewatchability index.
Most Memorable Quote
This wasn’t even a contest. It’s the one line everyone knows from the film. “I’ll be back!”
Final Thoughts
It was good to watch it again but I don’t think I’d have watched it if I had had to make any sort of effort. It’s really only worth watching for nostalgiac reasons, or if you want to see just how far the special effects industry has come in the last 20 years.