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[Space Runaway]

The infiltrator future scene is great too.

Yup. It was also nice to see another standard model that wasn't Arnold(It being his buddy Franco Columbu was pretty cool too).

 

[FTF]

I actually think it's slightly overrated...I mean it's good, but I think T2 is much better.

 

[Toparaman]

I swear this thread pops up every month.

It has new relevance though now that we know there's a remake coming. Judging from this thread, it's clear that a remake is completely unnecessary. The original is a classic. Clearly of its time, but a classic nonetheless.

The tech-noir scene is just awesomely directed, and marked the first time I paid distinct attention to movie direction.

 

[Nappuccino]

T1 is a far better film than T2.

T2 was obsessed with making the crowd happy to the point of pandering to them and it really ruins the experience for me. Sure, there's a lot of impressive stuntwork, but I just can't get into it when Edward Furlong is there neutering the experience.

 

[commedieu]

Yeah, there was no other way to distract the liquid metal machine from ramming them in to certain death. So stupid.

Wrong.

god, does mr.futterman never get to have a roll where he isn't being killed/attacked? FFS.

 

[Toparaman]

T1 is a better thriller, T2 is a better action movie. I prefer the first for how stylish it is and for that constant, escalating tension. Cameron did a remarkable amount of world building in a pretty economical narrative.

It had the better theme, as well.

Agree completely. T1 is sci-fi Hitchcock. T2 has the best-choreographed action scenes I have ever seen to date.

Apart from the film itself, the actual making of T1 is remarkable. James Cameron previous film was a B-movie Jaws rip-off named Piranha 2. He went from that (and prior to that, being a truck driver with no film schooling) to writing and directing The Terminator on a shoestring budget. The actual idea of the Terminator came from a fever-induced nightmare Cameron had.

Cameron even drew the original concept artwork for the film.

A very talented man.

 

[Stitch]

How come the theme wasn't in T3?

It was. Well, kinda... in the end credits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4mUTg4Wnj8

 

[F0rneus]

The Terminator is one of the films I never take out of my Top 5 list of all time. I don't really give a damn about aging effects, or the slight plot holes about the time travelling stuff. It's Cameron's best movie by a wide margin. And his best action film is Aliens IMO.

The Tech Noir sequence is Cameron's filmmaking apex. He never topped that, but then again I can only name two directors who ever did IMO (Carpenter and Argento).

First of all the music is just out of this world. It contributes to the scene in perfect fashion. It lives in it. I can't hear that song and not see every frame of that particular scene play out in my head. The Terminator comes in, stares through the fence looking fucking terrifying to the extreme,crushes that dude's hand and strides inside with murder on the techno-frizz. Everything in there oozes 80s noir cyberpunk sci fi horror class. I feel like I'm sitting right next to Linda Hamilton. She's supposed to be this somewhat plain looking waitress, but in that very scene, she's the most important and fascinating woman in the world. You can't take your eyes off her. And the tension mounts. Film goes into this slick slow-motion. The Terminator passes by and misses her by seconds. Just that shot is beyond outstanding. That shit is engraved in my brain permanently.You see Kyle Reese. Brad Fiedel's omnious score pops out from behind the music and eventually replaces it completely. Sarah is looking at Kyle Reese, he looks at her, and oh fuck the goddamn killing machine sees her. Everything here, the slow-mo, the music, the dread comes to a total stop when Reese fires his shotgun. And everything descends into complete chaos, bathed in eerie red light.

This movie is goddamn perfect. No scene in 2 is better than this. And as good as it was...Even when T2's at it's best, it doesn't get anywhere close.

 

[Synth_floyd]

T1 and T2 are different movies but I think T1 works better. Human vs Terminator is more interesting than Terminator vs Terminator which eventually devolves into a WWF-type wrestling match. I mean why do they use guns against each other when they know it does nothing? Still they are both great movies. Like Alien and Aliens.

 

[Carl]

I definitely before Terminator, but T2 is still a fucking fantastic film

Spoiler

The ending always gets me ;_;

 

[Raptomex]

1 and 2 are the greatest action movies ever. Arnie is king. Deal with it.

 

[jett]

Agree completely. T1 is sci-fi Hitchcock. T2 has the best-choreographed action scenes I have ever seen to date.

Apart from the film itself, the actual making of T1 is remarkable. James Cameron previous film was a B-movie Jaws rip-off named Piranha 2. He went from that (and prior to that, being a truck driver with no film schooling) to writing and directing The Terminator on a shoestring budget. The actual idea of the Terminator came from a fever-induced nightmare Cameron had.

Cameron even drew the original concept artwork for the film.







A very talented man.

Are those really Cameron's? I knew he could draw but I didn't know he was that good.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

The Terminator always scared the shit out of me as a kid. Never felt that way about its sequel, though.

 

[Dr Duncan Steel]

Kyle is probably the most underappreciated hero in science fiction cinema. The Terminator is exceptional.

First movie spoilers

Spoiler

They could've handled his death way better though. That was something that kinda stuck out to me on how abrupt it was. Just bam put a dynamite in its legs and that's it for me. At least make it more dramatic.

But yeah the first has its merits, it just has a very distinct style that many films emulate today. Same with Robocop. But c'mon Teminator 2 is just a class in it's own.

Terminator 1 has the better soundtrack though.

 

[PumpkinPie]

Shop guy: These are brand new; we just got them in. That's a good gun. Just touch the trigger, the beam comes on and you put the red dot where you want the bullet to go. You can't miss. Anything else?

The Terminator: Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range.

Shop guy: Son, what in the hell have you been smokin'?

 

[cj_iwakura]

I like all three, and enjoy how each is respective of its decade(80s, 90s, 2000s).

That said, the first is my favorite. It nails the vibe the best.

 

[dyergram]

First time I saw this movie I was eleven years old. My dad left it next to the tv taped from the night before with a note saying 'I think you will enjoy this' can you imagine my eleven year old mind digesting this movie knowing nothing about it? Good god what a fucking movie.

Also nice night for a walk.


Ps fuck the remastered version where they change the sound of the gun.

 

[Eppy Thatcher]

Kyle Reese was my second father. Teachin the youth of america how to make pipe bombs and that - when necessary - a sensitive touch is a manly ass quality.

"You're terminated, fucker!" Born again hard in the best way possible.

 

[ncsuDuncan]

The Terminator theme music is just awesome.

 

[RELAYER]

Kyle Reese was my second father. Teachin the youth of america how to make pipe bombs and that - when necessary - a sensitive touch is a manly ass quality.

"You're terminated, fucker!" Born again hard in the best way possible.

yeah i like when he is in the alley making a sawed off shotgun and a loop of string connected to his shoulder as a holster under his trenchcoat lol

 

[burgervan]

For the longest time I thought T2 was the superior movie. Then I watched both last year and my god, T1 is such a great, tight action film. It's James Cameron's only movie that doesn't feel bloated in any way.

 

[RELAYER]

For the longest time I thought T2 was the superior movie. Then I watched both last year and my god, T1 is such a great, tight action film. It's James Cameron's only movie that doesn't feel bloated in any way.

I love how much subtety there is.
Another poster described its narrative as "economical" which I think is very apt.

Just in the police station shoot-out, which is primarily an action scene, there's several things that give the viewer something to mull over.

Like when Arnold first enters the station, one of the cops is leaving for the evening and says "Night" to the guy at the desk. He has no idea the guy he just passed in the lobby is about to murder all his co-workers, and that he himself would be dead too if he had stayed at work for another 5 minutes.

Then when the black cop gets shot and the other dude kneels by him just for a second and says "Ed" in a sad voice before running out in the hall.

It's so simple but the way he says it shows that they've known each other for a long time and the unimaginable is happening.

I like that kind of story telling

 

[Sojgat]

nevermind

 

[industrian]

First time I saw this movie I was eleven years old. My dad left it next to the tv taped from the night before with a note saying 'I think you will enjoy this' can you imagine my eleven year old mind digesting this movie knowing nothing about it? Good god what a fucking movie.

When BBC showed the original, uncut, The Terminator for the first time I taped it from the TV. They also included a small documentary as well about it as well.

I must have watched that tape like 1000 times until I got the DVD.

 

[thenexus6]

I am watching T2 now, man I hate the obvious stuntmen James Cameron has in his films. This, True Lies are most notable. It totally takes you out of the moment.

 

[Anustart]

I think it's a tad overhyped and hasn't aged well.

I tend to agree. Though t's not as I think that the is terrible, just that It has room to better.

Also, while I also liked (and still do) T2, I didn't like the 'genre' change it did (from a horror-ish action movie to a family friend action movie).

 

[Bumhead]

The older I get, the more I appreciate T1 and Alien and now prefer them over the sequels.

T2 and Aliens are still endlessly watchable and enjoyable action movies, but I have an appreciation for the timeless themes, atmosphere and film making of the first movies that I never had before.

All 4 are classics, albeit for different reasons.

 

[Metalmarc]

Arnie A Pussy in T2?

Yup that guys right, yeah wow arnie has a lot of fire power in t2, what does he do?
shoot at the vehicles, robots and knees ( not to cause pain), its a terminator not a no killing anti-hero called batman.

Cameron really went on a hippy trip t2 onwards (except True Lies) "i didnt want graphic violence in T2" get the hell outta here cameron, they went for the merch dollar on T2.

T1>T4>sarah connor chronicles>T2>T3

Don't get me started on Exploding E.D 209 and Taser Gun, "Robocop" - permanent Suit Iron Man 4

 

[industrian]

I am watching T2 now, man I hate the obvious stuntmen James Cameron has in his films. This, True Lies are most notable. It totally takes you out of the moment.

I prefer having an occasionally visible stuntman if it means having coherent action scenes.

Considering of course that the alternative is something like this:

 

[Dead Man]

I am watching T2 now, man I hate the obvious stuntmen James Cameron has in his films. This, True Lies are most notable. It totally takes you out of the moment.

Welcome to movie making prior to 2005.

 

[SpinningBirdKick]

In every Terminator thread I always say:

T1 is the superior movie.

T1 is story driven, T2 is special effects driven.

 

[Toparaman]

I tend to agree. Though t's not as I think that the is terrible, just that It has room to better.

Also, while I also liked (and still do) T2, I didn't like the 'genre' change it did (from a horror-ish action movie to a family friend action movie).

I think that "family friendly" is an exaggeration. It's still as gritty as, say, The Dark Knight, and I don't think anyone would call that movie family-friendly.

Are those really Cameron's? I knew he could draw but I didn't know he was that good.

Yes; these were also in the making-of documentary that was included on The Terminator Special Edition DVD, and they specifically said that Cameron drew them. He also designed the Terminator logo (and the logo for Aliens).

Another fun fact about this film: Stan Winston, then unknown but soon to be renowned as a special effects guru for numerous blockbusters, got his big break with this film.

 

[DoktorEvil]

The Terminator theme music is just awesome.

GIFSoup

 

[Dinokill]

Just saw this move for the 2923920 time thanks to this thread. Still my favorite movie of all time with T2. The police station massacre is just so fucking brutal.

Do you guys think a police station type scene will fly today?

 

[120v]

never understood why so many people prefer T1... i mean, i've read enough of these threads to "understand" the opinion. but T2 was such a good and timeless movie it seems a little bonkers that opinion is so prevalent.

though i guess you could argue it'd be neat if maybe there never was a sequel, and T1 just sort of stood there on its own. it didn't seem like something meant to spurn an entire universe like it did. that said, i love T2 and still hold out hope for a proper follow up some day.

 

[chalkitdown1]

I too watched The Terminator last night for the umpteen time thanks to this thread. Gets better with every viewing.

What always gets me when rewatching this (or Aliens and even The Rock) is why Michael Biehn was never a super star. The man's incredible. Never seen him put in a bad performance.

 

[Secret Fawful]

I love The Terminator, but I'm not a huge fan of what they did with Sarah in the second movie.

 

[KernelPanic]

T1 and T2 are like Alien and Aliens.

Both great, I wish T3 never happened it's like a high budget B movie.

 

[Ban Puncher]

Arnie A Pussy in T2?

Yup that guys right, yeah wow arnie has a lot of fire power in t2, what does he do?
shoot at the vehicles, robots and knees ( not to cause pain), its a terminator not a no killing anti-hero called batman.

Cameron really went on a hippy trip t2 onwards (except True Lies) "i didnt want graphic violence in T2" get the hell outta here cameron, they went for the merch dollar on T2.

T1>T4>sarah connor chronicles>T2>T3

Don't get me started on Exploding E.D 209 and Taser Gun, "Robocop" - permanent Suit Iron Man 4

 

[Burger]

I prefer having an occasionally visible stuntman if it means having coherent action scenes.

Considering of course that the alternative is something like this:

That gif is incredible. Video link?

 

[Birbo]

Just saw this Batman VS Terminator animated short. Pretty well done.

 

[bryanee]

Excellent film, the second is my fave though.

I was shocked to hear the super best friends on their podcast say Robocop was better. I like RC but no, no and more no.

 

[IceCold]

never understood why so many people prefer T1... i mean, i've read enough of these threads to "understand" the opinion. but T2 was such a good and timeless movie it seems a little bonkers that opinion is so prevalent.

though i guess you could argue it'd be neat if maybe there never was a sequel, and T1 just sort of stood there on its own. it didn't seem like something meant to spurn an entire universe like it did. that said, i love T2 and still hold out hope for a proper follow up some day.

I'd say it's the same reason that some people prefer Alien to Aliens.

 

[Daft_Cat]

Yah, it's good but definitely not one of the best films of all time. Can't imagine anyone seriously making that argument. It's not even the best in its own series (although, I guess that's debatable).

 

[Extra Sauce]

Just watched the blu-ray. Was maybe my third or fourth time seeing it ever (I don't rewatch movies a ton) and I think I may for the first time in my life say that I like the original better. Now I must watch the sequel on blu-ray to find out for sure.

But yeah, there's a purity to the original's story and atmosphere that has yet to be replicated in other Terminator films. The term "tech noir" stems from Terminator, but I don't know that I would use "noir" to describe the sequel. Like I said, time for a rewatch!

 

[Rhomega Beta]

To all The Terminator and Terminator 2 haters:

I'm surprised this image isn't used more often.

 

[Andrew.]

T1 is awesome.

But T2 is better in every single way possible.

 

[Newlove]

I consider myself a big fan of the Terminator films but I haven't seen the first. I've been meaning to get round to watching it recently.

 

[Andrew.]

I consider myself a big fan of the Terminator films but I haven't seen the first. I've been meaning to get round to watching it recently.

You're a "big" fan, yet haven't seen the original?

What kind of fuckery is that?

 

[Sub_Level]

T2 is dreck plain and simple.

I consider myself a big fan of the Terminator films but I haven't seen the first. I've been meaning to get round to watching it recently.

oh my god