The Terminator Blu-ray offers decent video and great audio in this overall recommended Blu-ray release
In the year 2029, the ruling super-computer, Skynet, sends an indestructible cyborg (Arnold
Schwarzenegger) back in time to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) before she can
fulfill her destiny and save mankind.
It can't be bargained with, it cant be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity or remorse or fear
and
it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.
The Terminator is one of the more important films of the last 25 years. It launched both
director James Cameron and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger to stardom. Cameron would go on to
direct several
blockbusters including The Abyss, Aliens, True Lies, Titanic,
and, of
course, Terminator 2:
Judgment Day. "The Austrian Oak" Schwarzenegger, the former world-renowned body
builder and Mr. Olympia,
had starred in several low budget films like Hercules in New York and the moderately
successful Conan films before donning the
trademark shades of the Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 Terminator. Schwarzenegger too would
star in the Cameron
films True Lies
and T2, not to
mention Predator, Commando, and the touching, vastly underrated comedy
Twins. Now dubbed "The Governator," Schwarzenegger has moved past film and is
currently the governor of the State of California. The Terminator is the movie that
created two Hollywood legends and for good reason. This is one of the most remarkable science
fiction/action films in Hollywood history, featuring then-groundbreaking effects on a low budget, a
mesmerizing story line, fine acting and direction, and, of course, tremendous action sequences.
Uzi 9mm! .45 long slide! Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range!
Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton, Dante's Peak) is an ambitious young woman living in
1984 struggling to make ends meet as a waitress while attending the local junior college. She
lives with roommate, Ginger, and her best friend is a pet lizard. While experiencing another
stressful day at her job in a local diner, she hears on television that another woman also named
Sarah Connor has been gunned down in the city.
She
shakes it off but becomes worried when she hears a newscast stating that yet another Sarah
Connor has
been murdered. In a panic, she slips into a night club, fearful that she is being followed. She's
right. Two men, both from the future, only one of whom is human, are out to get her. One
wants to kill. The other wants to protect. Sarah is important because she will be "the mother of
the future." Her unborn son, John, will rise to lead the surviving humans after a nuclear war
against a race of cybernetic and mechanical organisms in a conflict for world domination. In a
classic and beautifully crafted scene at the night club, one that in
description sounds rather trite and unremarkable but is used to great effect in this film, Sarah
knocks her drink off the table and the camera speeds up (resulting in a slowdown in the motion
when played at 24 frames per second). Connor bends over, a hip 1980s song blares out "you've
got
me burning in the third degree" (if you've seen the movie, do you see the irony there?), and the
cyborg killer walks past in the
same instance, oblivious to its target that is mere feet from him, obscured only by a table and
several
dancers. Finally, the killer cyborg, "The Terminator"
(Schwarzenegger) spots Sarah, raises his pistol, points the laser sight at her forehead, and
prepares for the termination of a life and, ultimately, of mankind itself. The
protector, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn, Aliens) comes to the
rescue at the final moment, fighting off the cyborg long enough to escape with a frightened and
confused Sarah. The Terminaor is
seemingly invincible. Bullets ricochet off its body. It can mimic the voices of others perfectly. It
can kill without feeling or remorse. It's the ultimate weapon, and destroying the seemingly
indestructible is the only hope mankind has.
As the movie ends, we are told by a poor Mexican boy that a storm is coming. Little does the
muchacho
comprehend the figurative meaning that phrase takes on for Sarah Connor. Little did the boy
know what a storm this movie would cause. Since 1984, the Terminator franchise has
seen a downpour of financial and critical success worldwide. Its star and director have gone on to
bigger but not necessarily better things. Perhaps their finest hour, the duo of Cameron and
Shwarzeengger accomplished what is almost impossible in Hollywood: they created a classic film
packed with action, a tremendous, original plot, and, for the time, fine effects on a nearly
shoestring budget. It's status as a classic in its genre is well deserved, and is still perhaps the
finest example of the genre, possibly only eclipsed by its bigger budgeted sequel. Schwarzenegger
makes up for what he lacks in talent with his larger than life presence on screen, but it's his
ability to effectively carry himself and completely immerse himself in the role of the Terminator
that makes this film so special. Cameron, too, is still perhaps most famous for his work on the
Terminator and its sequel than he is for his work on Titanic, despite that film's
still worldwide box office status as "king of the world" in terms of dollars earned theatrically.
Presented in 1.85:1 high definition 1080p, I must admit that I was not vastly impressed with the
image found on this Blu-ray disc. Granted, the film is more than twenty years old, but this
particular print used for the transfer was in less than ideal condition. There were severe and clearly
discernible instances of scratches and speckles all over the place. There is a great deal more clarity
here than on previous editions, however, so much so that many of the phony looking special effects
look even phonier in high definition. Black levels are not entirely solid, bordering on dark gray at
times, but I've seen much worse on many newer titles (such as in Broken Arrow). Overall the image quality is
sufficient. It's certainly better than its recent DVD counterparts, but not overwhelmingly so. I
don't think The Terminator will ever look much better than it does here. It's also the best
the film has ever looked and these two factors make this image quality score better than it probably
should.
You haven't heard The Terminator until you have heard it in uncompressed PCM 5.1 sound.
I've seen this movie more times than I can remember and it was like hearing it for the very first
time. High definition sound is every bit as good as high definition imagery and believe me, the
difference is clear and discernible to even the average listener with a decent setup. This track is
active and loud. Surrounds are in play throughout. Dialogue can be a little muffled under the loud
and rambunctious effects. Sometimes it does sound a bit forced, but it's a very well done remix
overall. Rumbling bass is ever present in action shots. I guess the biggest drawback
would be the music emanating from the rear channels, but otherwise this is a fabulous remix of the
original monaural track. The war sequences set in the future literally put you in the middle of the
action. I was most impressed with this mix. The overall score receives minus half a point for the
mix being too aggressive at times with the music coming from the rear speakers, and it also gets
knocked half a point for the lack of the inclusion of the original mono track for the purists out there
who want both (myself included). This is the type of movie that lends itself well to a remix, unlike
some other recent films I have reviewed that included a mono-only track, and I'm not disappointed
with it. I just would like to have both this and the original mono mix available to me.
The Terminator is a film that screams for a special edition, but what we get on this Blu-
ray
disc is severely lacking. Leading off is Creating the Terminator: Visual Effects and Music
(480p, 12:58). This is a fascinating look at making parts of the film, notably the futuristic battle
sequences, but a more comprehensive version (which is out there, just not included here) would
have been welcome. Terminator: A Retrospective (480p, 20:31) is a dated, somewhat
cheesy retrospective that starts out with a trailer and becomes a discussion between James
Cameron
and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold discusses his reaction to the
script (he originally read for the part of Reese) and the duo discuss some of the behaviors of the
Terminator and Arnold's portrayal, and the origins of the famous "I'll be back" line.
Terminated
Scenes (480p, 9:56 total) are seven short scenes cut from the film, one of which is a
precursor
to events in the second film. Finally, 1080p trailers for S.W.A.T., Underworld: Evolution, and xXx finish off this
disappointing group of extras.
Like the movie's villain, this film is relentless in tension, action, and appeal. Looking back, the
effects are dated but the intriguing plot, fine direction, and, at least at the time, a groundbreaking
and plausible science fiction story made The Terminator a film for the ages. It
engendered a new era of science fiction/action films that is only surpassed in scope by its sequel,
a film
with an appeal all its own that is certainly more polished and slick than The Terminator
but
it doesn't quite manage to beat out its predecessor in heart. This Blu-ray edition represents quite
the quandary for me. The image and sound are certainly better represented here, but the real
question is if it's worth the upgrade. Certainly the PCM track is worthy of your dollars, unless, of
course, the purist in you demands the original mono and eschews the remixed multi-channel
version, which I, the purist, surprisingly loved. The image quality is spotty at best, a shinier and
crisper image than its standard definition counterpart to be sure, but it's not so much better that
the
upgrade is necessarily warranted. The special features, of course, are pitiful and lacking for a film
of
this stature. I'm recommending The Terminator on Blu-ray, but cautiously. You can bet
your bottom dollar that there will be another edition somewhere down the road, but until then,
I'd
go ahead and pick this up, especially of you are equipped to hear the full PCM 5.1 soundtrack via
HDMI.
In an early announcement to retailers, MGM Home Entertainment in conjunction with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has revealed that they will bring 'The Terminator (Lenticular Cover)' to Blu-ray on May 12th, day-and-date with the DVD re-issue and one week before ...
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