This movie has been a constant watch for me growing up and as this movie came out a year before Back to the Future and several more years before Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, this was actually the first sci-fi movie that I ever saw involving any kind of time travel. Also I was amazed by how unpredictable this movie proved to be in which in some places made this movie suspenseful, but also at the time I thoroughly enjoyed how unique and original this whole concept was. True since this movie there have been some rip-offs but back when I was younger this idea had not been thought of before. Granted this movie is more violent than those other aforementioned sci-fi movies with time travel but the whole idea of choices that one has to make to do either the right thing or the wrong thing and ensuring a better future by protecting those than can save the future with a hero named Kyle Reese (played by Michael Biehn) from the dreary future and a deadly human looking cyborg from the same time being the titular The Terminator (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) making up the hero and villain of whom's action dictate how and if the human race survives is a cool, fun, and well thought out plot concept.
It was interesting to meet the character of Sarah Connor(Linda Hamilton) back when she is a lowly waitress in L.A. having a miserable job where she puts up with rude and obnoxious customers not yet being rough, tough, and militant as she is slated to become in the future but rather at this point Sarah is very passive, timid, and non-violent. It's from her soldier protector from the future Kyle Reese that we get to know that she will not only give birth to resistance leader in the future, one John Connor but she is meant to toughen up later. More on that with T2. It's really fascinating seeing Sarah go through originally being too scared and passive to eventually being forced to toughen up from all of this danger of being hunted down later on.
The action is awesome for it's budget with such exciting scenes as Sarah and Kyle driving intensely while having a tense shootout with the Terminator in the parking garage, going from under a tunnel and a big highway while tossing homemade sticks of dynamite at him, and even more when they both try to evade and blow the Terminator up while he's driving a big tanker truck.
One of this movies most brilliant of special effects is the Terminators endoskeleton of which both comes off as awesome and unique as well as creepy and nightmarish. The Terminator's endoskeleton is one truly great achievement in terms of something that was unique, original, groundbreaking, and it was a tremendous special effect that to me still holds up. Also it is one scary and monstrous looking thing that proves equal parts menacing and horrifying to look at as it is strong and considerably deadly. I can remember that freaky endoskeleton giving me nightmares as a kid. The credit all goes to the genius and groundbreaking creative mind of the late great Stan Winston. R.I.P.
The sex scene between Sarah and Kyle was brief but very steamy for sure.
The musical score was intense and hit all of the right notes for the uncertain suspense and tension as well as the ever-present dangers that came down the pike. A good mix and balance in the score with powerful synth melodies.
Even though The Terminator's path of destruction at the police station was tragic and unfortunate, it was still action packed and exciting the way by which he comes in hot and takes all those unsuspecting and basically defenseless cops out.
I also enjoyed the handling of a couple of stalker/killer scenes as they were slasher like. Those scenes being when the Terminator kills the wrong Sarah Connor and the scenes where he kills Sarah's roommate and her boyfriend.
All in all, If you are into great sci-fi/time traveler/action from the 80's or otherwise, are into Arnold Schwarzenegger, love eye-candy as Linda Hamilton more than made for plus being sexy, also handsome and charismatic Michael Biehn, if you are into robots or the like, if you are into James Cameron's action and/or sci-fi movies, and if you love classic 80's ideas well then this one is for you. A MUST SEE!!! 10 STARS OUT OF 10!!!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2019
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Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2013
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Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2019
It played ok, no problem. Quality of picture and sound was fine. Much better than the normal 1080p versions. But is it the 2013 Remastered version ? Who knows?
Anyway, I'm happy with the quality of video and sound (5.1 DTS HD).
Only thing is it looks cheap from the outside, not the usual nice high quality Blu-Ray cover I am use to buying retail.
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Totally different cover ??
By phillip j. on December 5, 2019
Surprised to see what I ordered was NOT what I received. It was a totally different cover. Very cheap looking. Almost like a pirated copy type cover. So I have no way of knowing if this is the 2013 Remastered release or not :(By phillip j. on December 5, 2019
It played ok, no problem. Quality of picture and sound was fine. Much better than the normal 1080p versions. But is it the 2013 Remastered version ? Who knows?
Anyway, I'm happy with the quality of video and sound (5.1 DTS HD).
Only thing is it looks cheap from the outside, not the usual nice high quality Blu-Ray cover I am use to buying retail.
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