Review of Terminator, The Special Edition (2 Discs)

Introduction

In this blazing, cinematic comic book, Arnold Schwarzenegger is perfectly cast as the fiercest and most relentless killing machine ever to threaten the survival of mankind. From Oscar-winning director James Cameron, this fast-paced, cleverly conceived, rip roaring action adventure fires an arsenal of thrills, intriguing plot twists and heart-stopping suspense that never lets up for a minute.

In 2029, giant super-computers dominate the planet, hell-bent on exterminating the human race! And to destroy man`s future by changing the past, they send an indestructible cyborg - a Terminator - back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the woman whose urban son will become mankind`s only hope. Can Sarah protect herself from this unstoppable menace to save the life of her unborn child? Or will the human race be extinguished by one mean hunk of mutant metal?

James Cameron was a debut film director working on Piranha II, when he became fever-ridden whilst staying in a hotel in Rome, scavenging off other hotel guest`s leftovers. But, the fever had a big advantage to Cameron - during a feverish dream, a cyborg that just would not die was still chasing a girl, after surviving numerous bullets and explosions with its name on it, and the burning intent it possessed to kill the girl was still as vibrant as when it started the chase.

This idea became the roots for The Terminator, a movie that became a cult phenomenon. From the synopsis above, it depicts a movie full of promise - a real battle of good vs. evil, a movie where an innocent, unaware and naïve girl must save the future of mankind by battling a cyborg from the future…a cyborg that won`t drop dead if you shoot at it, a cyborg that doesn`t obey any rules: the only rules it obeys are the rules that the CPU processor it houses create.

The real chi of The Terminator is the script: not only are the action set-pieces chaotic and explosive, but the dialogue and story is so provocative and intriguing, it will literally grip you, and fill you full of wonderment and questions, which are all answered before the running time completes. But of course there is more to come…

As the synopsis states, Schwarzenegger is perfectly cast as the Terminator, a thing with no emotions, a thing with no limits…the Terminator is merely an outlet of violence, a medium used to complete certain objectives, and that is it. It won`t retire to a family life, nor share any ups or downs of life, to put it bluntly, the Terminator is an expendable unit.

Although the Terminator has no emotions, Schwarzenegger does express them. You can see what he is thinking just by his facial expression, whether he is confused, determined or assertive, and he completely nails the role. Whether it is his catchphrase or scenes of him showing no mercy, you will believe he is indestructible, you will believe he rules the future.

As for James Cameron`s directing, in one word: immersive.

Add to that an excellent performance from Michael Biehn as the hero Kyle Reese, and a fairly good performance from Linda Hamilton (she was much better in the second), and you have yourself a winner.

Video

It is presented in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, and the print is crisp and clear, although occasionally there is some dust and grain - after all this movie was made back in 1984. There are no compression signs though, and for its age, it is an acceptable transfer.

Like the synopsis states, I suppose one way to describe The Terminator is by calling it a blazing, cinematic comic book, but even the action sequences possess more than a slight diversion for your eyes. The scene in the nightclub, Tech Noir, is great - for the first time you can see how the puzzle fits…Reese vs. Terminator, with Sarah Connor on the sidelines. From this moment on, she gets pulled into the main piece of the puzzle, and soon the puzzle becomes Reese & Sarah Connor vs. Terminator.

Audio

A DD 5.1 track is on offer, which has been re-mastered since the original cinema release. The surrounds are used perfectly, whether it is during the action scenes, or presenting the crisp dialogue. The main audio stream`s ambience level is just right, and the track is always crisp and clear.

Brad Fiedel`s score is legendary…up there with Williams` Star Wars theme and the various Bond incarnations. His nervous, pounding, even relentless percussion beat fits the scene perfectly - whether it is playing whilst Kyle Reese and Sarah Connor are running from him, or during more low-key scenes, the score will set the mood in a way other score`s have tried and failed.

Features

The extras include:

Terminator - A Retrospective - this is a 19 minute documentary looking back on the production process and how a little movie by an unknown shot to fame, and spawned perhaps the most successful (and best) sequel of all time…Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Other Voices Documentary - this is an excellent, incredibly insightful documentary that clocks in at just over 59 minutes. It focuses on almost every single aspect of the production, by interviewing not only Cameron and Schwarzenegger, but also every other key player involved in things such as the makeup, score and set design. This is one of the most interesting documentaries I`ve ever seen, and it even boasts a great replay value.

Deleted Scenes - there are 7 scenes on offer here, and they all add to the plot and character development well. However, it would have been better if they had been branched into the movie, instead of being available on the second disc only.

Trailers & TV Spots - there are 3 trailers and 2 TV Spots here, and they do exactly what they say on the tin.

Still Material - there is a lot of this on offer, such as James Cameron`s artwork, some production photos, some of Stan Winston`s photos, some visual effects photos and publicity material.

DVD-ROM Features - there are 3 scripts available for people with a PC equipped with a DVD drive.

The Terminator is presented in an MGM Special Edition DVD, spread across 2 discs, and supplied in a drawer case, with an 8-page booklet containing production notes and the chapter listings.

Conclusion

Even 18 years on, The Terminator is still a classic, a movie that shows how technology and man`s greediness to have computers do what they want can get out of hand, and how the basic human instinct of survival will kick in, and how a girl who doesn`t know a world of violence or hate can be sucked into it and then fight back.

Due to a strong script and good acting, The Terminator starts the story well, the story which is carried on in the superior sequel. Although the movie isn`t as breathtaking as it could be, it is damn near it.

Disc wise, MGM have done us proud. The two documentaries make essential viewing, and although the rest of the extras are slightly sparse (a commentary would have made this DVD), they do deliver an excellent insight into how they made one of the classics of modern day cinema.

Overall, this is a great addition to any serious DVD collector`s shelf, and yes, this DVD really does live up to its `Special Edition` tag. Recommended.