Today, October 26, 2014, marks the 30th anniversary of The Terminator, which created a milestone science fiction franchise and helped launch the film careers of both director James Cameron and Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is Arnold’s signature role, and his “I’ll Be Back!” catchphrase has become one of the greatest quotes in American film history.
The 1984 science fiction action thriller takes place in Los Angeles in the spring of that year. Two nude beings from the future arrive in the city: one a cyborg assassin disguised as a human being called The Terminator T-800 Model 101 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) programmed to terminate a woman named Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton); the other a human resistance fighter named Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) sent to protect her.
What I enjoyed most about The Terminator was the action, violence, special effects, and rapid pacing. It was science fiction/horror at its best during that time. The Terminator was not only the first cyborg I remembered in the film but one of the scariest characters ever. He was unstoppable and did not care about anything. He murdered women and anything that tried to stop him from completing his mission. One of the most memorable scenes in the film was when The Terminator killed a punk by punching him through the chest and holding his bloody heart. It was hardcore! Also, who can forget about The Terminator gunning police officers, which has become synonymous with the Terminator films?
Today, The Terminator is one of the most influential science fiction action films with its extraordinary action sequences, haunting synthesizer music, and fast pace motions. The Terminator character is one of the greatest movie villains ever. It holds a special place in pop culture.
By Shamarie Knight, 26th Oct 2014
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