Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that kids will want to see this film due to its reputation as a "classic" action film and the presence of Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is not the sweet exasperated Arnold of Kindergarten Cop, nor the comedic action hero of True Lies, nor even the huggable father stand-in of Terminator 2 and 3. This is a relentless, shark-eyed killer Arnold. His systematic destruction of the inhabitants of Los Angeles is unsettling even for adults.
Families can talk about the conventions of action movies and director James Cameron's statements regarding corporate culture, unchecked technological development, and nuclear war. Families might also want to discuss the transformation of Linda Hamilton's character from sweet, defenseless damsel-in-distress to strong and independent action hero.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Ken Feil
The story begins with the arrival of a pumped-up naked Arnold. He is "The Terminator," a cyborg sent from the post-apocalyptic future where machines have taken over the world via nuclear Armageddon. His mission is to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the woman who will eventually bear the leader of the future resistance. Soldier Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is sent back as well; in this case to prevent The Terminator from carrying out his mission. Reese must protect Sarah long enough for her to give birth to her son John, who will lead in the fight against the machines.
THE TERMINATOR is more serious than the second two Terminators in the series. Arnold's character bears none of the playful ambiguity of the sequels; he simply kills. True, he does utter the infamous phrase, "I'll be back," a promise that the character utterly fulfills, yet, the effect is less ironic than horrifying. Co-written and directed by James Cameron (True Lies, Terminator 2, Titanic), THE TERMINATOR is an excellent vehicle for Cameron's facility with sci-fi action, spectacle, as well of his integration of themes such as humans versus machines, the destructiveness of war, capitalism, and the questioning traditional gender roles in his films.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentSome nudity and sex scenes. |
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ViolenceGraphic and gory violence, with numerous fights, explosions, car accidents; a very high body count. |
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LanguageConsistent profanity. |
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Social BehaviorThe heroes are ultimately pacifists, although they, as well as the villain, use killing as a means to solve problems. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCharacters drinking in bar. |
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