The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Gems: The Terminator (1984)

How do you choose what to watch on all those streaming services you have access to? There are so many options that it is just overwhelming. These services constantly release new content and overshadow all the great films from the past that are already there and ready to watch. Now there is The Wasteland Gems! Here is a great film on streaming right now that you should check out this weekend:

The Terminator (1984)

What is the biggest and most prescient advancement in technology going on right now? Artificial intelligence. A.I. has been around for a while but the advancement of it has become a rising tide in recent years. Film has looked at the advancement of sentient technology for years and some of the most iconic films of all time have explored the dangers of such work. But there is one franchise that has become synonymous with the “Machines will take over!” vibe and that is The Terminator. James Cameron delivered a one-two punch of the first two films in the franchise (and the only great ones). But it all began back in 1984 with a techno-thriller mixed with science fiction combining both time travel and killer robots!

What is the most important part of the film? The sci-fi elements. Cameron delivers in spades. There are quick looks at what this apocalyptic future will look like, and the practical effects are quite impressive. You have the T-800, which is the most consistent technological presence in the film. Obviously, it looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger for most of the film, but the audience slowly sees more of the exo-skeleton throughout the film. That first time you see the red eye through the torn skin on the T-800, you get how terrifying this machine can be. The climax of the film delivers this terminator in all its glory with the stop motion effects combined with animatronics. The Terminator also has one of the most iconic representations of time travel as it delivers the “time is a closed loop” perspective (revealed from some interesting narrative twists). The time travel mechanism is cool as well and has turned iconic. Big sphere and naked travelers…keep it simple!

Why does this film work so well? Cameron. This is one of the best visionaries in the history of cinema. His ability to leverage technology to bring his films to life is downright incredible. Here, The Terminator feels so elevated due to the impressive craft that Cameron injects into it. The film has a gritty feeling to it as you feel this urban feel of Los Angeles (in stark contrast to the desolation of the future scenes in the film). Cameron conjures so much tension and thrills into the film with visceral and practical action. The film has a bit of a slasher/horror vibe injected into a sci-fi/action film. The impressive and iconic score from Brad Fiedel has an epic and industrial feel for the theme and gives way to a more pulsating techno feel as the action begins. Cameron understands how to push audiences into discomfort (with violence and terror) while still delivering a well-paced and highly entertaining and thrilling experience. That is The Terminator in a nutshell.

What is an unfortunately overlooked element of this great genre film? The cast. Now, there are no Oscar-worthy performances like Sigourney Weaver in Cameron’s Aliens but there is some strength in this well-cast film. Schwarzenegger is not asked much but he delivers in creating presence, delivering sharp robotic one-liners, and being intimidating. Perfect. Linda Hamilton is a charming and endearing lead who crafts plenty of empathy for Sarah Connor. Sarah might not be a bit of a “damsel in distress” this time around but she still gets her big “final girl” moment which Hamilton sells well. Michael Biehn is a charismatic and relatable hero figure in the film as Kyle Reese, the man of the future. This trio is the true core of the film and anchors the experience full of thrills, vibes, and genre-elements.

Does The Terminator hold up after 40 years? This is still one of the best science fiction thrillers around with its state-of-the-art effects work and impeccable direction. There are plenty of iconic lines and an iconic performance by Schwarzenegger as the killer cyborg from the future. The Terminator is jam packed with genre elements that come together to create quite a cinematic experience. The entertainment that Cameron delivers is just as unstoppable as the killer machine at the core of the film.

The Terminator is streaming on Peacock.