Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Special Edition to a Unforgettable Classic.
Review: Yes Folks! this is James Cameron's first film and it's a classic that inspired another classic Sequel plus a ..... of Imitations everywhere. Arnold Schwartzenger plays a Deadly Cyborg
Killer who plans on Destroying the mother of a futuristic Messiah
but a Soldier sent back from time must save her before the future is destroyed. Exciting and bone-chilling mix of Sci-fi,
Action and Horror, it's worth owning especially in the special Edition from MGM with the Commentary, TV Spots, Original Trailers and Teasers and more.
Rating:
Summary: The Schwarzenegger classic
Review: This special edition DVD is very well done, with surprising special features, deleted scenes and an excellent transfer. It is a pleasure to watch this classic with such clarity and stereo surround sound. A must for Schwarzenegger fans.
The Terminator, is a time capsule of Arnold at his very best. This movie is most likely responsible, for the 15 year action star movie craze that hit the US in the mid to late 80's and dried out by 2000. Jean Claude Van Damme, Steven Segal and others have all been successful in this genre, but all pale in comparison to Schwarzenneger. The combination of his gigantic muscles, Austrian accent and strong screen presence, have carried him much further than his mediocre acting alone could ever have.
The Terminator is probably Arnold's most memorable performance, due to a groundbreaking director (James Cameron), coupled with Arnold being near his physical peak. This is why the movie has become a cult classic. It's not very often you see a director take an action/sci-fi movie seriously enough to do a brilliant job. Cameron is a master at this. Both men would go on to work together in future films, in which all would be extremely successful. But this is the one that started it all.
As the popularity of the action stars have waned in the last few years, Arnold appears to be one of the last that is still remotely successful. In his fifties now, with his aging physique and the public interest turning toward new genres, his popularity has faded considerably. As Arnold may get older, this movie does not. To see the worlds greatest action star at his peak, all you have to do is watch this classic. "I'll be back"
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Summary: Cameron's sci-fi masterpeice is finally done justice
Review: The original "Terminator" is arguably the greatest sci-fi/action film ever, and the Special Edition DVD finally does this classic film justice. Many people look at the sequel as the better of the two, but remember, Cameron was given a huge budget for T2. He was forced to film "The Terminator" for less than $6 million. If you're like me, you could write enough about this movie to fill an encyclopedia, but I'll try to give just a breif plot description for those who have yet to see it.In the future, SkyNET, the supercomputer in control of all military power, decides that humans must be destroyed and begins a massive nuclear war that destroys most of the population. The survivors form a resistance agains the computer and its mechanical army, and eventually defeat it, thanks to their leader John Connor. In a final effort to win, the computer sends a Terminator back in time to kill John's mother, Sarah, before he is born. The humans send back a lone soilder, Kyle Reese, to protect Sarah from the seemingly unstoppable cyborg. When the movie was originally filmed, the soundtrack was recorded in mono, which sounded horrible on the original DVD release of the Terminator. But here you can find a newly recorded soundtrack, with the original soundtrack remixed along with new gun and explosion sound effects. Most of the new sounds are very cool (esp. the HK entrance in the first scene), and the new gun effects are good for the most part. Only in a few instances are the new sounds a little weak. Fortunately the DVD also sports the original mono soundtrack for when you want to watch the original verion. Next to the film itself, the best part of this DVD is the Special Features, most of which were unavailable before. There are two Terminator documentaries, which have cast and crew interviews and behind the scene footage of the original filming of the Terminator, very cool stuff for die hards. Also featured are deleted scenes from the original film, which offer a deeper look into the Terminator mythology, and shows different sides of some characters which you wouldn't see in the original. Also in the special features are all the original storyboards for the film and hundreds more photos of the sets, actors and sketches from the original production. Simply put, for die hard Terminator fans, your wait is over. Terminator: Special Edition is a godsend. HERE ARE ALSO TWO SECRETS I HAVE FOUND SO FAR ON THE DVD. On side one, under Languages, more to "Francais" so it is highlighted. Now move to the right. A little box on the right side of the screen should now be highlighted. Click on it. This gives access to one of four short, random interviews. The second secret is also on side one. Under special features, click on "DVD Rom Features," then under there move so that the Main Menu shortcut is highlighted. Move to the right again, and another small box should now be highlighted. Click on that. This also gives access to four more interviews. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Better than ever before!
Review: If you have a VHS copy of this film, please drop it in the trash ASAP and order the DVD now. In widescreen, absolutely the only way to go, the film looks great and is loaded with some really neat extras. Director James Cameron says that he thought of the premise for the film all in one shot while he lay sick in bed while in Rome. What an excellent premise it is too. The terminator, played by Arnold is sent back in time, about 45 years, to kill the woman who would eventually give birth to the man leading the resistence movement against the "HK's" (hunter-killers) in the year 2029. Also sent back, to make sure the woman (plyed by Linda Hamilton) lives is Kyle Reese, played very well by Michael Biehn. The film is best when it is in the cat and mouse mode that Arnold and Biehn are continually engaging in. In addition to a pretty darn good film, we're given two good documentaries. One of those is an informal conversation between Schwarzenegger and Cameron about how the film came to be and some of the things that went on during production. Topping that though is one of the better DVD documentaries you're likely to see in the "Other Voices" doc. which incorporates many of those who were involved behind the scenes and some of the painstaking processes that took place to get the film off the ground. I found it interesting that before the film was made, Director Cameron was literally broke and had to rely on his mother to send him hamburger coupons. That's one of the many little asides you'll learn about while watching the extras. There's also the usual selection of deleted scenes, and while I like having those, one can usually tell pretty easily why they were deleted in the first place. These are no exception. Bottom line: this DVD is well worth the price and is a great additon to any serious collector's collection. Buy and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: non-stop action and suspense keeps your heart pounding
Review: This is one of the greatest movies i have ever seen, it is almost as good as the second one. the movie is basically about a woman named sarah connor who is going to give birth to a great leader in an upcoming war (humans vs. machines), the cyborg, half-human, half machine (played by Arnold schwarzenegger)is inscructed to eliminate sarah and thusly, prevent the machine's defeat. the soldier Kyle (played by micheal biehn) is sent back through time to protect her and eliminate the cyborg. this fast paced time travel thriller is definetly worth purchasing. Almost eveything is great about it, the action, the story line, the suspense, and even the roar of kyle's pump shotgun is nicely done. Unfortunatley there is a little bit of sadness in it. If you like action, suspense, or even james cameron movies (they are all great) buy this.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie and a Great DVD!
Review: This movie has held up well over time considering the budget it was made under. I will not go into a movie review since most of you are well aware of the plot, characters, and story. The DVD is just awesome! The movie has never looked this good, I saw it in the theaters when it first came out and also owned the previous DVD. The video transfer was first rate, no edge enhancements, color bleed, or artifacting. The video quality challanges most of the new movies with it's quality. The Dolby 5.1 sound track is superb considering the original soundtrack was a mono track. The dialog is focused on the center channel and rear channels along with the subwoofer are utilized frequently. The extras are just incredible, all 2.5 hours worth. This is a must own for any DVD owner!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Judgement war is near...
Review: I like this movie. It may not have as good or as realistic and
grippling technology as the sequel, but it's worth whatching. I especially like the dark and cold future, a world led by machines that slaughter the human opposition. It would be realistic if the date was only sat a little further, like 2140-something, becous I do not believe that it takes 5 years to biuld a super-self-thinking/race-expanding computer.
Rating:
Summary: Terminator [I'LL BE BACK!]
Review: Great Action Movie. Yes it is indeed. An awesome story about a soldier from the future being sent back in time on a mission to stop a mankilling machine. The cyborg is also sent back in time to kill the mother of a child who grows up to be the most courageous leader to ever live. Just so he won't be born and teach humans how to fight against the machines they are at war with. Yes, the hero of the story speaks of how in the near distant future a nuclear war happens and wipes everything that is seen today out for good. Decades later, the most terrible war in history occurs of humans fighting machines. The machine sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor, mother of John Connor, is almost indestructible and can not be beaten by an ordinary human being. The only person with the skill to dodge it's attacks and open fire upon it is Kyle Reese, the hero and soldier sent back in time to stop the evil T-800 from altering history. It comes out later in the story that Kyle Reese is John Connor's father. Yes, only he didn't live throughout the end. Reese was killed trying to blow up T-800 with a fuse. But that didn't completely destroy the machine. Sarah took him out by having him crushed with something closing down on him. She had finally learned to have the guts and courage Reese had spoken to her of. Arnold Schwarznegger makes a good villain in this movie. A really big guy going around trying to kill people. And a small man trying to stop him which helps explain him being so tough and almost impossible to beat. Arnold usually is a good guy. He plays the same character in the sequel and in that movie T-800 is the good guy sent back to protect instead of kill. I'm sure a lot of people thought there was going to be a sequel to this movie by the famous quote of Arnold himself- I'LL BE BACK!
Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC SCI-FI MOVIE
Review: I saw this movie when it came out in 1984 when I was a teenager. I thought it was a great movie then and it is still a great movie. It doesn't seem dated at all.
The movie is about a humanlike (cyborg) killing machine from the future that comes back to 1984 to kill a young woman before she gives birth to a boy who will be a leader in the future. A man from the future also comes back to try and save her from the Terminator.
The movie has a great story to it. It has a very dark and moody atmosphere to it mainly because of the perfect music that goes along with the movie. The plot line will really make you think all the way through. A very smart film. You will be on the edge of your seat all the way through with very few scenes to catch your breath.
The acting in it is superb. Arnold makes the perfect Terminator. Michael Biehn and Linda Hamilton have excellent chemistry together.
The special effects are very nice. Especially when you consider that computer graphics were not used back when this movie came out. The effects are very realistic and you will never say anything looks fake. You will probably be surprised when you watch the documentary. The effects don't seem at all dated like some movies during that time.
One of the main things that attracted me to this dvd is that they remixed the soundtrack to support 5.1 digital surround sound. It was originally in mono. It sounds awesome! I have seen quite a few action, sci-fi movies that have great multi-channel sound and this movie sounds the best so far. From the spaceships in the future to the machine gun fire, it totally surrounds you! Fantastic!
The extras including two documentaries and deleted scenes are worth the price of admission alone. Some very interesting facts about the movie that will make you say, "that's how they did that?!".
If you were too young when it came out at the theater or you have seen it on t.v. where it is edited to death you need this dvd. Especially if you have a 5.1 surround system, this is a must have for your collection. This movie is as fresh as it was in the mid 80's and will be fresh thirty years from now. A true classic sci-fi movie.
Rating:
Summary: Technological paranoia at its finest
Review: Great DVD compliments this classic sci-fi film. Granted, the film does show its age by the way of film grain on the print, but this film simply has never looked so good. Color balance is superb, with the stark blue and black palette rendered as beautifully as it could ever look. The black level is appropriately dark without losing detail. And the sound is simply awesome. An outstanding remastering effort. The deleated scenes featured on the DVD certainly makes one wish for a director's cut. They really expand on Cameron's idea behind the story. The Terminator was released back in 1984 by a then nobody named James Cameron. With only 6 million dollars to spend, Cameron managed to give the Terminator a much bigger look and feel than the budget. Something he learned from Roger Corman. The film was not expected to make much money. As it turned out, it was a commercial monster and both Cameron and Arnold were on their way to fame. The Terminator is a "cautionary tale" of sorts about the rise and domination of Artifcial Intelligence. Which is, believe it or not, a very real possibility. Obviously, The Terminator pre-dates The Matrix in its fear of AI. In 2039, among the ruins of civilization, the AI warlords send a murderous cyborg via time travel to 1984 to kill Sarah Conner, the mother of the future human resistance. But the resistance has sent their own "protection". What follows is a film long on both action and violence. It seamlessly melds the best narrative mind tricks of science fiction literature with the visceral violence of the best action movies. Arnold is utterly effective as a death machine. Both Biehn and Hamilton are decent genre actors. In the end, The Terminator takes its place among the classics of science fiction.
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