Plot: What’s it about?
Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) will have a pivotal role in the future of the world, but of course, she doesn’t know that right now. She seems to be a normal woman, trying to live her life and make ends meet, not much else. But she is destined to be the mother of John Connor, who will be the leader of a band of rebels, who will fend off an invasion that threatens mankind’s survival. You see, the work in robotics will advance by leaps and bounds soon, to the extent that self operating machines will be possible, some that even look like humans. In the right hands, these kind of machines can be invaluable, but as always, something ends up going haywire. Skynet is a powerful system that controls these robots and in the future, it chooses to rebel against the humans, sending out powerful robots to demolish mankind. But Sarah’s son proves to be a true savior and leads mankind it the battle against the cyborgs. But Skynet has a new plan, in which a cyborg with immense powers of all kinds is sent back to find Sarah, then terminate her. As this Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) closes on in her, can she discover the truth in time to save herself and the future of all mankind, or has Skynet finally found a way to leave the human race behind?
As far as the movie itself, it more than deserves this kind of treatment, given the worldwide success and massive fanbase it has enjoyed. It is hard to believe The Terminator was a low budget movie, but it was, although the visuals and most of the effects still look good. No, it doesn’t measure up to the sequel or more modern blockbusters in terms of effects, but as far as entertainment, it holds its own and then some. In truth, I prefer this film to the sequel, not just because it came first either, but it seems tighter and more realistic, perhaps due to the budget limitations involved. A true classic in several genres, The Terminator is a must own movie in most circles and with such a rich presentation, there’s no reason not to pick up this release.
The man who makes The Terminator work is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who of course, has made a career of the science fiction & action genres. Yes, Cameron and Gale Ann Hurd’s writing provides the skeleton for Arnold’s role, but without his persona, this movie would have never been the smash success it went on to become. No, his acting is not the best, but he is excellent in this flick, never going too far with his lines, or mannerisms for that matter. Just the look he gives, even with his sunglasses on, is enough to make you run away and in this case, that is just what was needed.
Video: How does it look?
About a decade ago DigiBook of this film was released to Blu-ray with, well, mixed reviews. There was no change in the video quality from the very early 2006 Blu-ray version of that disc. Time has solved a lot of the issues that plagued this release and we’ve now got a new 4K version that hits all the right notes. And, let’s face it, if you’re a fan of James Cameron’s films then this has been a good year for them regarding 4K titles. But I digress…Right off the bat, the film seemed to have more depth, due in no small part to the increased amount of detail in the image. Contrast and black levels are also improved which gives the movie a bit more clarity. What really stood out, to me at least, was the lack of grain in most every scene. This just seems to be a lot more solid transfer all-around. Yes, there might be a few instances of a bit of AI interference, but by and large anyone I’d watch it with either won’t notice or won’t care. For me, this is the best the film has ever looked.
Audio: How does it sound?
This one has it all when it comes to audio. Not only do we get a new Dolby Atmos mix, but purists will appreciate the DTS HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track which sounds…amazing. For years, this movie only contained a mono track but Cameron, as he so often does, has remixed this movie into a very impressive surround mix. Vocals are strong and crisp, surrounds are active and the front stage is very active indeed. While this mix can’t hold a candle to modern releases, it’s a good-sounding Atmos mix though I actually preferred the 2.0 mix. Of course, the sequel blows this soundtrack away (pardon the pun) but considering its roots, The Terminator sounds pretty darn good.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I’ve lost count of the number of versions of this film over the years and the myriad of supplements that are associated with it. But Warner’s new disc has unearthed some “oldies but goodies” so let’s dig in.
- Deleted Scenes – These total nearly 10 minutes in length and contain seven scenes with optional commentary by Cameron.
- Creating The Terminator: Visual Effects & Music– Pretty self-explanatory on this one as the visual effects (stop motion T-800 anyone?) and music are explored from the film.
- The Terminator: Closer to the Real Thing – You’d think that a feature concerning robots and such would be boring. You’d be mistaken. James Cameron, Russ Tedrake (who, I’m sure has his PhD by now), and Terminator 3 director Jonathan Mostow, all give us their insight on the current* state of robotics (*current is around the year 2003) and how close we’re coming to this becoming a reality.
- Unstoppable Force: The Legacy of The Terminator – Again, we get director Jonathan Mostow, John Landis, writers Michael Ferris and John Brancato, Stuart Gordon, James Cameron, and Edward Furlong as they dish on the original.
The Bottom Line
The Terminator is a bonafide classic, there’s no denying it. I still prefer the sequel over this one, but not by much. Four decades later it still manages to entertain. Warner’s new 4K disc is nothing short of amazing giving us improved visuals, a new 2.0 mix as well as a new Dolby Atmos mix and throw in some supplements that are a bit different than the standard offerings.
