No Fate But What We Make Double Feature: The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

The new Terminator film came to Germany this weekend, so I re-watched the preceding three films to get ready for it, wanting to refresh my memory of the franchise's time-travel-heavy chronology. In The Terminator, the story starts with two naked men appearing separately and mysteriously in flashes of blue lightning. One is large, quiet, and ruthless (Arnold Schwarzenegger); the other regularly-sized and in a rush (Michael Biehn). After the big one (can I just call him Arnold from now on? Because that's happening) kills two women with her name, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) is put on alert by the police. Arnold attacks her at a club and she is convinced to follow the newly-clothed and armed Kyle Reese, as his "Come with me if you want to live" schtick seems completely serious.

They escape (narrowly) the relentless killer and Kyle frantically explains his situation: he has been sent from a hellish machine-controlled future to save Sarah, who is being targeted by the humanoid terminator T-800 so that she can't give birth to John Connor, a prophetic leader in the war against the machines. Sarah is unsure what to believe, and when both are taken into police custody she is haltingly persuaded that Kyle is just crazy. Of course when Arnold drives a car through the precinct entrance and does some pretty non-human things, she's swinging over to Kyle's side fairly quickly. The two make a break for it, allowing for violent reminiscences of the future, worries over an as-yet-unconceived savior son, and halting romantic confessions. Despite this well-deserved break, it's clear they won't be free until the terminator is destroyed, so they work hurriedly to stave his new advances with some home-made explosives and good ol' determination.

I had misty recollections of this movie, probably since it's always overshadowed by the sequel, but honestly: it's really good. It's essentially one big chase movie, yes (as are the next two), but it's an imaginative and extremely well-paced one. It's a good mix of post-apocalyptic lore and down-to-earth characters, with enough thrills, guns, and explosions to be consistently engaging. I really think the final sequence is one of the most nerve-wracking, on-the-edge-of-my-seat moments in film I've seen. It's just really well-done.

Admittedly Sarah Connor is kind of lame and annoying with absolutely horrendous hair, but seeing this with the knowledge of how unbelievably hardcore she will become later makes it better. Arnold is appropriately stoic and taciturn, and I dig Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese (primarily because he's remarkably attractive and often shirtless). The effects are pretty good, especially for the time. The terminator's movements are a bit too stilted (I assume it was done with stop-motion?) but its seeming indestructibility and tenacity are clearly and believably conveyed. Also all of the main chase scenes include pumping 80's synth music. Oh yeah. Overall, it's a fun and interesting chase movie with an intriguing premise involving time travel, robots, and a dystopian future: three of my favorite things!

4/5

Ok next up, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Hot damn. This movie is so awesome, you guys. It's about 10 years later, and once again two naked dudes appear in flashes of electric light. The familiar T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger, duh!) is back and immediately sets a course for young John Connor (Edward Furlong), leaving a course of destruction in his wake; the new figure (Robert Patrick) poses as a cop and embarks on a similar mission. They both catch up with the kid around the same time, but Oh Snap! it turns out Arnold has been reprogrammed as a good guy! And now the advanced model T-1000 is after John, and Arnold is the only one who can protect him! Daaaang! The T-1000 is made of liquid metal reminiscent of Alex Mack, and possesses heightened adaptive skills including the ability to completely replicate any human being it touches.

After learning that Arnold has to do whatever he says, John enlists him to break Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton again) out of the mental institution to which she's been confined for several years. She doesn't really need the help, however, as she has managed to get through most of the facility's security with the aid of a paperclip and no hesitation. So. Bad. Ass. Though she's seriously distrustful of Arnold after her nightmarish experience with an identical model years prior, she sees how her fatherless John instantly connects with him and understands his need for something stable in his chaotic life. She then makes it her mission to change the future by killing Miles Dyson (Joe Morton), the scientist whose work serves as the basis for Skynet, the military computer network that takes over the world through its control of nuclear weapons and desire to eliminate humanity. Now it's up to John and Arnold to try to find a less violent way of changing things, all while on the run from the formidable T-1000.

Yeah so this one, while still on one level a basic chase movie, has so much more going on. It takes the concepts and format of the first film and just goes to town. An action-packed, explosion-riddled, time-travel-enabling town. I love it. The cast is great, with Arnold getting a lot more lines and some great butt-kicking moments, and the totally adorable Edward Furlong really owning the vaulted role of John Connor. But mostly: Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, Holy Shit. She is so, so badass in this movie. It's ridiculous. Hamilton puts all of herself into the character, effortlessly convincing me that the nervous, frazzled woman of the first film could thoroughly and irreversibly harden herself for the sake of her son. She's completely transformed, but still lets the old loving, prone-to-worry Sarah shine through at times. She is easily one of my favorite action movie heroines, and really helps make the movie for me.

I don't think I really have anything bad to say about Terminator 2... some of the time travel stuff doesn't make sense, but that's bound to happen in any movie breaching that subject. I like that they branched out from being just a chase thriller to go into the possibility of changing the future, as well as some moral questions regarding what, if anything, can justify murder. The T-1000 is super cool and very, very intimidating (helped greatly by Patrick's deadly gaze), and works well as a villain due to its obvious advantages over Arnold, which make the viewer seriously question whether he can be stopped. The film is action-packed and better-budgeted, with a complex, well-paced plot and excellent characters. I'll be talking about the third and fourth installments soon enough, but I suspect the series will never top this one.

4.5/5

My original art for this film is available for purchase.