Customer Reviews

The Terminator (Special Edition)

5 star:		(204)
4 star:		(65)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

This is one disc that i cannot see any reason to own.The transfer is not even widescreen ,the sound may not even be stereo,the graininess of the film just accentuates the feeling of poor quality..The feeling is that this film was a low budget effort ,which was part of the grittiness of the director's vision,but became one of the true science fiction film noirs...If you have a DVD or even a VHS of this film,don't bother to upgrade to Blu-ray,any quality improvement is only relegated to new menus .....

I had seen numbers 2 and 3 of the series but not this one and so was interested in going back to the origins after watching the latest installment: Terminator Salvation. I understand now why it was critically praised and strong enough to launch a franchise. It also helped very much into understanding some aspects of the last film. Actually, the first Terminator struck me at how internally logical it was in its fictional concept which is not an easy thing to do considering the inherent pratfalls whenever time travel is involved. It just consistently made sense compared to the plot holes of Salvation.

The action was obviously much lower-budget but it felt right and it looked good. The director James Cameron filmed some very effective stunts that still hold up today. You could always tell what was going on and follow the action. The terminator was an imposing menacing presence. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the title role played it without showing any emotion (which makes sense) while his massive physique, ponderous movements and plastic looks (he does look artificial sometimes!) sell the character. You could nitpick that the head of Arnold was obviously replaced by a fake head sometimes (mirror scene) but weirdly it kinda worked anyway into making him more creepy. The other main roles, Sarah Connor and Reese, were played just right showing enough emotion without going into overexagerated melodrama. They were believable and likable.

Since I already knew most of the twists, from having seen the later movies, it is difficult for me to comment on them. However, I must say they were well implemented and must surely have been effective back then. The story was quite interesting and the glimpses of the future were particularly engrossing. The soundtrack sometimes seemed a bit weak with the synthesizers but one should see it as a "time capsule" of the eighties (time the movie takes place and when it was filmed) and basically it fits with the haircuts and wardrobes of the time.

In terms of extras, there is basically none except the trailer and some script-to-screen dvd-rom features for the PC I could never access no matter how much I tried. Other editions of this film with lots more extras do exist: there's a 2 disc special edition http://www.amazon.ca/Terminator-Widescreen-James-Cameron/dp/B00005N5S5/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1244514956&sr=8-15 and a blu-ray edition. If you get this version, get it because it's the cheapest and you only want the film with no frills.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 for the movie. 1 star out of 5 for the lack of extras.

Yeah, the graphics or animation were not that great, but it was the 80's and things have changed. Still a great story and concept.

what can one say about this movie.i mean it's a true classic,and was
way ahead of it's time,in terms of its vision.it launched director
James Cameron's career into high gear.it made a big household name of
of Arnie.his performance in this movie is pitch perfect as the title
character,an unstoppable killing machine.Linda Hamilton and Michael
Bien are also good.the effects were pretty good for the time,i
think,though there weren't that many.there is even a bit of humour in
the mix,with some great,memorable one liners.the movie definitely
leaves an impact,and has had a huge influence in popular culture,even
to this day.my vote for The Terminator is a very strong 4/5

James Cameron showed the world his modus operandi for the first time in this spectacular sci fi action- fest starring Schwarzenegger as the Terminator. In his first major action role as the lethal machine, who is aptly described by Michael Biehn's charcter 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!" Arnie is the quintessential killing machine on a mission to off Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton) to prevent the birth of John Conner, the leader of the resistance against the future war of man against the machines.

The action is thrilling, heart-pounding stuff, with the Termintor on a mission to kill anyone who gets in the way. Stan Winston's animatronics used to create the Terminator are brilliant and the CG is "Whoa" material. Director Cameron, (Let's forgive him for Piranha 2) here shows what he can do when it comes to action, and boy, does he do it well! This is truly one of the most explosive, thrilling and amazing sci fi action films ever made. The DVD extras are excellent too, with commentaries, 'making of's, "terminated" deleted scenes, trailers that fully capture the menace of the machine and the nerve-shredding pace of the film, production info and more. YOU MUST OWN THIS DISC.

This dvd has really bad picture and sound. 2001 A SPace Odessy has better image. If you own the DVD, you don't need to buy this.

I am very dissapointed with the sound in this DVD, I own the VHS version of this movie and the sound on that is much better. Theres a scene where Arnold goes to the 1st Sarah Conners house, when he puts the red dot on her forehead and shoots, the gun sounds like a cap gun. In the VHS version it sounds like a cannon....wow, what a waste...this is the reason DVD is not all its cracked up to be....i will stick with the VHS version just for the soundtrack... way better than this crap.

I was very pleased to have found this movie and the whole terminator trilogy on amazon. I purchased the set for my nephew as a Christmas present. Thanks so much for helping me put a smile on his face.

The phrase "I'll be back" conjures up pretty much one image in today's world; yes that of the first of the Terminator series of movies.

Nighttime, wind and electricity swirl around and the appetence of a naked Anry (Arnold Schwarzenegger.) Frightening in its self but only a taste of what is to come. It seems that he is invincible and is targeting all the Sara Connors in the phone book. Each one being dispatched more violently than the last. A less robust being (Michael Biehn) also appears the same way. He too is seeking Sara.
What is so intriguing about Sara Connors (Linda Hamilton)?
Who will find her first?
What effect can the outcome have on humankind?

I thought Arnold's accent added to the character of the movie. It is the way one says, "I'll be back" that adds the threat.

this movie goes down in history as one of only 4 standard setting sci fi films.the 1st in 68 with 2001 a space odyssey,then in the 70s with the star wars group.then there was the ter,minater team.the only real flaw with this set is that the sequels are so far apart.its awful.i argued for years that a sequel was feesible.it was almost 10 years before the 80 million dollar sequel showed.these are wsay too good too let sit like that.i heard that arnold only has like 16 lines in the whole movie.story is this,there is this chick who mothers a boy who grows up to be the guy who saves the human race from extinction in the future.the machines send back arnold swarzanega[man,whatever]who is a cyborg to kill her before she concieves.however,the humans had stolen some of the time displacement equipment and sent back a soldier to protect her.as you can guess,a lot of people get wasted.id wait until the kids were about 12 for this one.it started out as a indy film and then hit big.there are three parts.this one,the second one with the gelatonaus terminater and the 3rd one with terrible acting but ovet the top action and effects.this is the least greatest of the three but is still awesome.it is a bit much for the squaemish.there is the mom,sara conner,in this story as a 80s style single from the punky brewster era.she gets busy with the soldier boy.you know making plastic explosives and the like.arnold gives one of his best performances even though he doesnt say much.the important message is:do not trust machines!this movie is intense!this is arnolds third best movie.after,of course the other two terminater films.the future?well,maybe by 2015 well have a 4th one and by 2040 #5 will finaly show.anyhow,id love to see one where all this stuff they keep talking about goes down with the machines trying to exterminATE the humans and the war and all.