Terminator home page.  Reviews of all four Terminator films.

The Terminator (1984) – B

Considering that “Terminator” has become an incredibly popular and influential franchise, it’s interesting to look back on the movie that started it all. As a film, The Terminator is, essentially, a low-budget chase film. Its success is thanks to the rather inspired sci-fi angle of having a futuristic cyborg play the part of the unstoppable predator, immediately lending a palpable aura of invincibility to “The Terminator.” This also allows the film to explore such themes as the dangers of over-reliance on technology as well as the conflict of fate and free will. Admittedly, these explorations are hardly profound or fully addressed in the film, but they are enough to turn what is otherwise a fairly middling plot into a full-blown multi-media franchise.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day – A-

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a nearly flawless Hollywood blockbuster film. As a sequel, it manages to convey a deeper, more thoughtful story than its predecessor. And it manages to jam more explosions, more actions, and much, much better visual effects into that story. There is the questionable decision to focus the story on a young John Connor, which results in some cringeworthy moments. But mostly, this film gets credit for its explorations of fate, and how our choices matter in shaping the future. Toss in some commentary on the human condition and you get a film that is more than a typical special-effects extravaganza.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – C-

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is the inevitable sequel. The one where the lure of fortune prove to be too seductive. The one where the actual story and results are secondary to the purpose of creating another movie just because the opportunity exists. For almost the entire length of the film, T3 feels like little more than a contrivance to get Arnold Schwarzenegger back into one of his most iconic and memorable roles: That of The Terminator. In fact, had it not been for the “Terminator” moniker, it’s not likely that this film would have made much of a splash. Much of the movie is draped in poorly executed action-set pieces that are almost entirely implausible – a severe detriment to a film that wants to be taken seriously.

And yes, T3 wants you to take it seriously.

Terminator: Salvation – C

Terminator: Salvation is a movie that is more about style than substance. Granted, the film does make an attempt at substance, and the style can often be quite entertaining, if not compelling. And as a pleasant surprise, the most important character is not the one played by Christian Bale. But on the whole, the film never really connects. The pacing is too hurried. The acting is average-at-best. The visual effects are actually very good –one obviously poor scene notwithstanding. But the story is muddled and unfocused. And ultimately, the whole mix ends up being loud, flashy and empty. Worse yet is the fact that this film presents nothing truly new or remarkable – if you’ve seen the other Terminator films or even the Matrix films and the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, you’ve pretty much seen all there is to see in Terminator: Salvation. You can certainly enjoy the film, but this is one case in which possible enjoyment does not translate to certain quality.