Critique: Film> Reviews.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was born to play a cyborg. In this iconic role, the tight-lipped, square-headed Austrian warped into the minds of many '80s youths (such as myself), making them truly believe that there really are killer robots out there aiming to wipe out human existence in the near future. Even today, the haunting science behind the fictitious tale of The Terminator contributes to my cynical outlook of men at war with machines.

By now, it is pretty much common knowledge that John Connor is at the pinnacle of humanity's resistance when the nuclear war begins sometimes in the 21st century. The machines, fully aware of this threat, decide to send a T-800 model (Arnie) back in time to kill Connor's mother Sarah; thus, attempting to eliminate the child's existence prior to him being born. Fortunately, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) has also sent back as one of the freedom fighters, and is willing to protect Sarah (and John) from the seemingly- indestructible cyborg by any means necessary.

The horrifyingly original concept, combined with memorable performances from the lead characters, make The Terminator a raw and emotional chase between humanity and its most feared creation on the edge of extinction. Schwarzenegger and Biehn are a conflict in species, which is fascinating to watch as the story develops: The T-800 shows no remorse in its killings and will stop at absolutely nothing until Connor is dead; whereas Reese is the determined saviour that we admire for his sheer humaneness in putting his life on the line just so that our species has a chance to live on.

Director and screenwriter James Cameron also manages to slickly execute an underlying love story, which never threatens the intense pace of the film's action. The love scene between Sarah and Reese, in particular, is so powerful that I find myself being overcome by a cold shiver down the back of my spine every time I watch it. This exploration of human character is something Cameron would develop as an ingenious trademark in his latter movies (Aliens, for one).

Compelling, relentlessly entertaining and obsessively technophobic, The Terminator is the nation's worst nightmare and an indelible wake up call for evolution in the near future. Don't say Cameron didn't warn you.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2008.