YOUR MOVIE LISTS: THE TERMINATOR Movies
By Michael Arruda
With the upcoming release of TERMINATOR GENISYS (2015), the latest installment in the TERMINATOR series opening on June 30, 2015, here’s a look back at the TERMINATOR movies:
THE TERMINATOR (1984)
Directed by James Cameron
Screenplay by James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd, with additional dialogue by William Wisher, Jr.
Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sarah Connor: Linda Hamilton
Kyle Reese: Michael Biehn
Lieutenant Ed Traxler: Paul Winfield
Detective Hal Vukovich: Lance Henriksen
Music by Brad Fiedel
Running Time: 107 minutes
The film that pretty much made Arnold Schwarzenegger a star. His role as the brutal unstoppable robot Terminator is one of his best.
This early James Cameron film is tighter and less elaborate than his subsequent efforts and is better for it. It’s a gripping thriller filled with edge-of-your-seat moments, a nonstop thrill ride that satisfies from beginning to end.
Linda Hamilton also stands out as Sarah Connor, the unknowing young woman who suddenly finds herself a target of the Terminator, sent back in time to kill her because in the future her son will lead the resistance against the machines which eventually try to take over the human race.
Notable also as the only film in the series where Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator is the villain. In future installments he becomes the hero, a switch that worked to some degree, but the fact of the matter is he was so good as the villainous Terminator that his evil take on the character is definitely lacking in future installments.
For my money, this first TERMINATOR movie is the best of the series.
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)
Directed by James Cameron
Screenplay by James Cameron and William Wisher
The Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sarah Connor: Linda Hamilton
John Connor: Edward Furlong
T-1000: Robert Patrick
Music by Brad Fiedel
Running Time: 137 minutes
This TERMINATOR sequel gets the full James Cameron treatment, as everything is bigger and more elaborate. As a result, this one showcases superior special effects, and many consider this sequel to be the best in the series, although I give a slight edge to the original.
It would have been an even darker movie than the first one except that Schwarzenegger’s Terminator is now “good” and a hero, and the villain here is Robert Patrick’s T-1000. Patrick isn’t bad, and the special effects which create his liquid transformation abilities are phenomenal, but he’s no Schwarzenegger, and the film suffers for it. The Schwarzenegger baddie is definitely missed here.
Still, it’s another exciting thrill ride, a worthy successor to the original.
TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (2003)
Directed by Jonathan Mostow
Screenplay by John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris
Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger
John Connor: Nick Stahl
Kate Brewster: Claire Danes
T-X: Kristanna Loken
Music by Marco Beltrami
Running Time: 109 minutes
Third film in the series is the weakest, although it has grown on me over the years. This tale of another Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent back in time to protect a now adult John Connor (Nick Stahl) from a more advanced and much more dangerous Terminator, the T-X (Kristanna Loken) suffers heavily from the “been there, done that” syndrome. Notable for the first ever female terminator, the T-X, and Kristanna Loken does a nice job in the role, although still, she’s not as memorable or effective as Schwarzenegger was in the original film.
James Cameron’s talents are definitely missed in this third installment.
TERMINATOR: SALVATION (2009)
Directed by McG
Screenplay by John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris
John Connor: Christian Bale
Marcus Wright: Sam Worthington
Blair Williams: Moon Bloodgood
Dr. Serena Kogan: Helena Bonham Carter
Kyle Reese: Anton Yelchin
Kate Connor: Bryce Dallas Howard
Music by Danny Elfman
Running Time: 115 minutes
First TERMINATOR movie without Arnold Schwarzenegger is an attempt to reinvent the series. A lot of fans did not like this movie, but I found it interesting and fun. Sam Worthington plays new character Marcus Wright whose mysterious past drives this story along. Christian Bale is decent as John Connor, although the story revolves more around Wright than it does Connor.
Not bad, and certainly helped by a strong cast. Good job by all involved.
TERMINATOR GENISYS (2015)
Directed by Alan Taylor
Screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier
Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sarah Connor: Emilia Clarke
Kyle Reese: Jai Courtney
Detective O’Brien: J.K.Simmons
John Connor: Jason Clarke
T-1000: Byung-hun Lee
T-800: Aaron V. Williamson
Music by Lorne Balfe
Running Time: 125 minutes
Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to the series in a story that features an alternate timeline, as Kyle Reese is once again sent back in time to protect Sarah Connor, only this time things are completely different because the timeline has been changed.
Opens on June 30, 2015.
There was also the TV series TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CHRONICLES which ran for two seasons (2008-2009) and followed Sarah Connor and her son John after the events of TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY.
That’s it for now.
Thanks for reading!
—Michael