The Terminator ( * * * * * )
It's easy to take The Terminator for granted.
The Acting: Watch the way Arnold's eyes lead his methodical head movements during the brilliantly camouflaged exposition-heavy car chase scene near the start of the film. As he canvasses the parking lot, he is a robotic killing machine, surveying his surroundings with almost insect-like intensity. It is said the Robert Patrick studied Schwartzenegger's acting in this movie to prepare for the T-1000 and was also impressed. Linda Hamilton's performance is so good that you care about her as a character instead of noticing her apalling 80's hair. Beihn is perfectly cast as a human drained of emotion, but filled with intensity.
The Story: I'd just like to say again, there was a time when this story, the idea of robotic Terminators from the future, didn't exist. And damn few writers could have executed it in a way that, despite the ultra-low budget, holds up today. I also think this was the movie that popularized the "you-gotta-kill-him-twice" rule in almost all action and horror movies to come.
The Direction: James Cameron, I hate to slob your knob, but you kicked fucking ass in this movie. I just watched the scene today where the T-800 shoots up the police station and I swear it gave me the chills even before I heard one the cops say the word "terrorist". And here's a trick for you filmmakers out there--if you want a movie to be timeless, include time-travel as a plot device and people can't really bitch about the 80's hair. Because that's when it is.
Overall: The Terminator, its universe, is iconic. And I was impressed to learn that Cameron, in addition to writing/directing/producing the film, provided concept designs for nearly every piece of the Stan Winston model of the cyborg. Also, saddest body-bag zipping scene ever, and best open-ended ending ever.
Tredekka Rules:
The Acting: Watch the way Arnold's eyes lead his methodical head movements during the brilliantly camouflaged exposition-heavy car chase scene near the start of the film. As he canvasses the parking lot, he is a robotic killing machine, surveying his surroundings with almost insect-like intensity. It is said the Robert Patrick studied Schwartzenegger's acting in this movie to prepare for the T-1000 and was also impressed. Linda Hamilton's performance is so good that you care about her as a character instead of noticing her apalling 80's hair. Beihn is perfectly cast as a human drained of emotion, but filled with intensity.
The Story: I'd just like to say again, there was a time when this story, the idea of robotic Terminators from the future, didn't exist. And damn few writers could have executed it in a way that, despite the ultra-low budget, holds up today. I also think this was the movie that popularized the "you-gotta-kill-him-twice" rule in almost all action and horror movies to come.
The Direction: James Cameron, I hate to slob your knob, but you kicked fucking ass in this movie. I just watched the scene today where the T-800 shoots up the police station and I swear it gave me the chills even before I heard one the cops say the word "terrorist". And here's a trick for you filmmakers out there--if you want a movie to be timeless, include time-travel as a plot device and people can't really bitch about the 80's hair. Because that's when it is.
Overall: The Terminator, its universe, is iconic. And I was impressed to learn that Cameron, in addition to writing/directing/producing the film, provided concept designs for nearly every piece of the Stan Winston model of the cyborg. Also, saddest body-bag zipping scene ever, and best open-ended ending ever.
Tredekka Rules:
- Rule 1: No Movie Can Get More Than 5 Stars, Not Even Deadfall. Or Terminator.
- Rule 2: Any Movie With A Deadfall Alum Automatically Gets 2 Stars--awarded to Michael Beihn.
- Rule 4: Sweet Actor Bonus--Brian Thompson, who may I state for the record was the first guy ever "terminated" onscreen in a movie, +1 star
- Rule 6: Over The Top Acting Award--Michael Beihn, +1 star.
- Rule 7: Cameo By Terminator Intestines, +1 star.
- Rule 11: Giant Robots Make Good Cinema, +1 point. And I'm not referring to the T-800 here, but the Skynet Hunter-Killers (flying and tank versions).
- Rule 12: Dodged The Pretentious Bullet Award. How? By acknowledging the works of Harlan Ellison. +1 point.
- Rule 14: Cool Gun Award, +1 point. There's uzis and shotguns and shit, but actually I love the plasma rifles and the other Terminator's machine gun, the one who broke into the resistance hideout. (Wouldn't it be cool to be that "Other Terminator" guy from "Terminator"? Let's look it up...Huh! Franco Columbu, from Conan, Running Man and Big Top Peewee! Damn, it would be cool to be him! Oh, wait, it says he was Mister Olympia for two years, so...steroid nards. Forget it. Deal's off.
- Rule 18: The Two-Headed Calf Boobie Prize. I know, you're like, wha?? But I know of some very disappointed people who went to see Exterminator. -1 point
- Rule 22: The Great Entrance Award. Falling buck naked out of a ball of lightning into a windswept alleyway was pretty fucking original at the time. Good thing for them it was a nice night for a walk. +1 star.
Tredekka Score: ( * * * * * )
posted by Tredekka at 6:24 PM
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