The original Terminator film from 1984 is yet another reason I contend that 1984 was the single best year in film history. Recently, The Terminator went through an intensive remastering and restoration process and was screened at Cinemark theaters across the country. Of course, I had to go and it was absolutely worth it.
There’s so many classic lines including “I’ll be back” which Arnold is still using as an in-joke on most of his movies today. But what really shines here is the great pacing and direction. Even at this young age, James Cameron is already showing why he’s one of the masters of the modern blockbuster. With a low budget, he makes this film look stellar. It doesn’t hurt that Michael Beihn is giving 110% as Reese, chewing scenery every step of the way. Some of the stop motion special effects are obviously very dated but the practical effects are still stunning and hold up even to this day. If you haven’t watched The Terminator in a while, it’s worth firing up again. You won’t be disappointed.