The Terminator

Terrific item! Arrived in great shape!

Great movie!

It is now accepted that "The Terminator", the predecessor of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, is a classic science fiction film. This was not immediately obvious to a lot of people who only gave T1 the nod after the success of T2. I am happy to lavish praise on both movies. Consider though that T1 had a production budget of less than one fifth of T2 and you may start to get a feel for what an outstanding job was done on it. Terminator is the story of a young woman, (Sarah Connor), being stalked. When you get down to it, that is the essence of the film and also the source of the suspense and empathy we feel for that character. We can all imagine what it would be like to have your life placed at risk at the hands of a persistent murderer. Where this film pushes the envelope is that the stalker is a cyborg, (part mechanical, part organic), killing machine, (Terminator), from the future. Everyone else has said it so I may as well. Schwartzenegger was perfectly cast in the role of an emotionless machine of destruction. It's mission to assassinate the mother of John Connor, who was to later in time become the leader of an army that opposed the terminator's creator, Skynet. Said creator being a self aware computer that had taken control of the world by using the automated nuclear defence grid. Sarah has an ally in the form of a soldier who volunteered to travel from the future to protect the mother of his commander against the Terminator. Played by Michael Biehn, Kyle Reese is determined to save the woman that he loves. He managed to fall for Sarah before he had even met her, through a faded Polaroid that John Connor gave him some years earlier. In my opinion, it is Biehn that shines in this picture. Yes, the rest of the actors were excellent but this was the first major film that Bein was in and he was nothing short of brilliant. I think that a large part of the horror we feel towards the terminator is a reflection of Reese's attitude and reactions to it. If this obviously tough and battle scarred veteran is brought nearly to the edge of hopelessness then you just know the bad guy is a serious problem. Terminator was a fast paced film with a relentless series of suspenseful chases and terrifying action sequences. I could not at the time imagine a film that could be as gripping, that is until I saw Judgment Day, otherwise known as T2. Same plot only with the roles exchanged. This time the victim is John Connor a twelve year old boy, the original terminator, still played by Schwartzenegger, is the protector, (reprogrammed in the future). The bad guy is also a terminator, but this time it is an advanced prototype, (T-1000). No longer a Cyborg but a living metal organism that can flow into any shape it desires. If I thought the first terminator was relentless then the T-1000 is unstoppable. Well, at least until he faced the newly buffed Sarah Conner in the dramatic finale. The special effects in T2 were ground braking and the attention to detail was flawless in every part of the movie. I have never met anyone who didn't walk out of the cinema after T2 with a look of stunned awe on their face.

One of the best Sci-Fi movies of all time. Special effects improve in the sequels, but none match the original!

Excelente por donde uno quiera verlo. Audio, video, presentacion

Well I doubt I need to paraphrase the plot, so I won't. But what i will do is discuss the DVD, which most of the time the only info I really want to know. OK, first of all the picture quality is EXCELLENT. In fact, it's so good that it looks as if it were filmed just yesterday. (Except for the occasional Gremlin you see in the film, LOL!) But anyway, the DVD case states that it was transfered from a HD master and it shows. However the new 5.1 soundtrack is not bad, but you can tell that it's all new as to everything hasn't been "stereo-ized". For example, in the police station scene where Arnold is walking through and shooting everybody he sees his guns, there are instances when the gun sounds are in stereo in one shot and then not in another while in both instances they should be as they fire to the left or right. Also the sound is really bad during the film's numerous car chases where the most dominant sound is the music while the car sounds are barely audible and then all of a sudden you get a sound in the left or right channel when the car hits something or makes a powerslide around a corner. But...what can you expect from a soundtrack that was originally just Monoaral. One note though, since I don't have a true surround sound system, that above complaint may not be as bad as I made it out to be. (I have a TV with simulated surround and a 2 speaker stereo that has SRS sound) But as for the Bonus Features, that's where you get your money's worth. First of all it has several deleted scenes w/ or w/o commentary, all of which are in as good as shape visually as the Feature. Second of all it comes with 2 really great documentaries. "The Terminator: A Retrospective" that was shot in '92 (a year after T2) that's OK, but not too indepth, and "Other Voices" that is brand new that really goes into the making of the film that mirrors in quality the documentary that's on the T2: Ultimate Edition. The Menu Navigation is also very cool which sort of takes you through several "Cyberdyne" animations. So if you're looking to complete your Terminator DVD collection as I did after already owning T2, grab this one as it's the best version we'll have for a while, or forever. Oh, one more thing about the sound. They have changed the sound of the Flying HKs. They no longer have that strange screaming robotic sound. They now have a jetliner sound, which may or maynot sound more realistic to you. In fact all of the Future War sequences have been totally revamped sonically.

In terms of time travel movies, especially entertaining ones that possibly predict the actual future, this is the one and only.

The Terminator is an action-packed classic that provides a perfect blend of suspense, sci-fi, and heart-pounding moments. From start to finish, it keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its gripping storyline and dynamic pacing. Watching it as a family was such a fun experience; it's the kind of film that sparks discussions and excitement long after the credits roll. While it leans into action and intensity, it's still a movie anyone 13 and over can enjoy, making it a great choice for the family movie night. That definitely comes from the great performances of the cast that bring this futuristic, high-stakes plot to life. Special effects, although done from an era long past, amaze and still hold up surprisingly well, further adding to the film's charm. The movie has great action intertwined with suspense and intrigue, thus making every viewer take something from it. The members of my family who were not into science fiction were captivated by it, meaning the movie was universal. Beyond the excitement, The Terminator is a thought-provoking film that explores themes of resilience, determination, and the human spirit. While there are a few intense scenes, they’re handled in a way that’s not overly graphic, making it appropriate for teens and above. If you’re looking for a thrilling, well-rounded movie that the whole family can enjoy, this one is a must-watch. It’s a timeless adventure that stands as a benchmark in science fiction cinema.

One of the best movies ever made (leagues superior to the second one that’s for sure) and the transfer is incredible.

Excelente! Audio e imagen!!!! ❤️

Great movies

Im Jahr 2029 steht die Menschheit kurz vor ihrem Sieg über die rebellierenden Maschinen, die jahrzehntelang einen erbarmungslosen Krieg gegen die Homo Sapiens führten. Doch kurz vor knapp gelingt es der zentralen künstlichen Intelligenz namens "Skynet", einen Killer-Cyborg ins Los Angeles des Jahres 1984 zu entsenden, der die Mutter des Rebellenanführers John Connor töten soll, bevor ihr Sohn eine Chance hat, das Licht der Welt zu erblicken. Verfolgt wird der "Terminator" von Kyle Reese, einem Soldaten, der von John ebenfalls aus der Zukunft geschickt wurde, um die Killermaschine an der Erfüllung ihres Auftrages zu hindern. Doch der physisch überlegene Cyborg arbeitet sich effizient durch seine Mission und droht, die Zukunft der Menschheit in der Gegenwart der Achtziger auszulöschen. Ein wahrer Klassiker des Genres. Spannend, hart, visionär und doch so simpel gestrickt, dass die Story auf den redensartlichen "Bierdeckel" passt. Reicht aber aus, den James Cameron legte damit den Grundstein für ein Milliarden-Franchise, das in der Fortsetzung dieses Filmes seinen Höhepunkt erreichen sollte. Besonders legendär ist natürlich Arnold Schwarzeneggers (unfreiwillige?) Interpretation des gefühlslosen Terminators, der sich bunt durch das Nachtleben Los Angeles' ballert. Und vergessen wir nicht die Effekte, die heute vielleicht ein kleines Lächeln bescheren, aber erstaunlich erfinderisch in Szene gesetzt wurden. Selten war der Begriff "Kultfilm" wohl angemessener als hier. Zur Scheibe: Zunächst handelt es sich zwar um eine Neuauflage, aber keine neue Restauration oder sonstwas. Der Film ist logischerweise ungeschnitten und präsentiert sich visuell für ein fast 40 Jahre altes Relikt eigentlich bemerkenswert. Natürlich sieht man ihm seinen "Reifegrad" an, aber Details, Kontraste, Schwarzwerte und Farben fügen sich harmonisch in den Klassiker-Status ein. Noch auffälliger ist allerdings die deutsche Tonspur in DTS-HD MA 5.1, die insbesondere in den Schlachtfeld-Szenen aus der Zukunft eine beeindruckende Sattheit und unerwartet hochwertige Raumeffekte aus dem Hut zaubert. Das Ding klingt besser als manch eine aktuelle Disney-Dolby-Digital-Plus-Spur der "Marvel"- oder "Star Wars"-Filme! Wie kann so etwas sein? Der "Terminator" wischt in dieser Hinsicht also mit Micky Maus den Boden auf. Extras gibt es natürlich auch, aber die Menüführung ist "revolutionär" nervig. Dafür gibt es einige entfernte Szenen, bei denen man durchaus merkt, dass Cameron sich für den richtigen gelöschten Inhalt entschied, und Einblicke in die Entstehung des Filmes. Kurz: Eine rundum würdige Budget-Ausgabe eines legendären Klassikers, der sicher noch weitere zig Male über die häusliche Mattscheibe flimmern wird. Immer wieder grandios, solche Filme sind rat gesät.

This film presents a dark, foreboding and terrifying story, yet also an action-packed, thrilling and unforgettable adventure. “The Terminator” is a standout movie, a defining film of the 1980’s, and one of the finest sci-fi cinematic releases of all time. It launched the careers of director James Cameron and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and offered audiences one of the most ruthless and unstoppable villains in all of fiction: the deadly cyborg from the future. The story concerns two time travellers – journeying back to 1984, from a bleak future decimated by decades of war between a machine Artificial Intelligence (called Skynet) and the few remaining humans who have survived nuclear apocalypse. These time travellers have distinctly opposing missions. One is a man-machine, a cyborg, who is programmed for assassination. The other is human resistance fighter, sent to protect a young woman. As the paths of these time travellers inextricably collide, history is itself capable of being re-made. If the Terminator is successful, Skynet will win the war and achieve ultimate victory. If the resistance fighter can save the woman, her son – not yet even conceived – will one day defeat Skynet and provide humankind with a second chance. This film, from 1984, is a very low-budget affair. This resulted in the director – as well as the special effects team – being highly innovative. The outcome is impressive … and while a couple of shots do not quite hold-up to present-day scrutiny, this pre-CGI movie presents us with a horrific vision of the future. The performance by Schwarzenegger – as the unfeeling Terminator – is awesome, and he offers us a highly memorable antagonist. Likewise, the roles played by Michael Biehn (as resistance fighter Kyle Reece) and Linda Hamilton (as the young woman Sarah Connor) are engaging and poignant. At every level, the cast and crew did a wonderful job. The success of this movie – especially as a VHS release throughout the latter half of the 1980’s – led to significant interest in a sequel. And 1991’s “Terminator 2” continued the story – presenting us with a perfect complement to the 1984 original. Yet, as occurs when a franchise is successful, further sequels have been made: “Terminator 3” (2003), “Terminator Salvation” (2009), and “Terminator Genisys” (2015). While none of the latter three films are as good as the initial two instalments, there are some great moments to be had watching them. On Blu-ray, this film looks and sounds as good as it possibly can. It’s obvious that the original filming was not as high-quality as it might have been. Yet in HD the picture is clear and sharp. The audio is also great. There are many ‘bonus features’ included (documentaries, featurettes, photo galleries, commentaries, and so on). As such, I highly recommend it.