James Cameron Week
For a man whose fame was solidified in platinum following the record-breaking success of Titanic, James Cameron's roots were set firmly in the sci-fi genre. With his earlier critically acclaimed films like Aliens and The Terminator, Cameron was considered the go-to director for all-things action and science-fiction. In honor of this man's lauded filmography, and in anticipation for his upcoming return to the genre that made him famous with Avatar, I will be highlighting some of his most praised work, and with respect to the genre, some of the greatest science-fiction films in history.
We start off this week with a special double feature!
The Terminator (1984)
Rated R for language, violence and gore, and brief nudity
Affiliation: Writer and Director
"Your future is in his hands."
The Plot
An advanced cyborg assassin is sent back in time to eliminate a young Sarah Connor, who would later give birth to the leader of the human resistance in the fight between man and machine initiated by the SkyNet corporation, in hopes of altering the events that have transpired.
Starring
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Biehn
Linda Hamilton
Why You Should See This Movie
In Cameron's first mainstream foray into the sci-fi genre, he gave us one of the most iconic characters of all time: The Terminator. Designate T-model 101, The Terminator was originally conceived as a threat to the future - and more imminently - the life of Sarah Connor, who would give birth to the savior of the human resistance following "Judgment Day" unleashed by SkyNet. Arnold's on-screen presence exudes intimidation and fear; quite simply, there was no one else who could have pulled off this role more perfectly. It's thanks to the success of this groundbreaking sci-fi film that we were blessed with its sequel.
Fun Fact: O.J. Simpson was considered for the role of the Terminator, but the producers feared he was "too nice" to be taken seriously as a cold-blooded killer. In 1990, (years, ironically, before Simpson's first trial) Dark Horse Comics printed issues using his likeness.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Rated R for strong sci-fi action and violence, and for language.
Affiliation: Producer, Writer, and Director
"It's nothing personal."
The Plot
A reprogrammed T-101 is sent back in time by the future John Connor to protect his young, past self as another, more advanced T-1000 model - made of liquid metal - is bent on killing the child before he has a chance to become the resistance leader. Meanwhile, remnants of the previous T-101 Terminator were picked up by Cyberdyne Systems and are being studied by Miles Dyson, the man who will become the creator of SkyNet.
Starring
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Linda Hamilton
Edward Furlong
Robert Patrick
Why You Should See This Movie
Reprising his role as a T-101 model Terminator is Arnold, this time playing the hero as he protects both John Connor and the returning heroine, Sarah Connor, from a more deadly T-1000 series. What the first movie did right, T2 did perfectly. Combining a far more harmonized symbiosis of action, science-fiction, and drama, T2 is perhaps one of the greatest sequel films ever made.
Fun Fact: Arnold Schwarzenegger said during the making of this film that he would never play another evil character again, but he later played the villain Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin (1997).
For a man whose fame was solidified in platinum following the record-breaking success of Titanic, James Cameron's roots were set firmly in the sci-fi genre. With his earlier critically acclaimed films like Aliens and The Terminator, Cameron was considered the go-to director for all-things action and science-fiction. In honor of this man's lauded filmography, and in anticipation for his upcoming return to the genre that made him famous with Avatar, I will be highlighting some of his most praised work, and with respect to the genre, some of the greatest science-fiction films in history.
We start off this week with a special double feature!
The Terminator (1984)
Rated R for language, violence and gore, and brief nudity
Affiliation: Writer and Director
"Your future is in his hands."
The Plot
An advanced cyborg assassin is sent back in time to eliminate a young Sarah Connor, who would later give birth to the leader of the human resistance in the fight between man and machine initiated by the SkyNet corporation, in hopes of altering the events that have transpired.
Starring
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michael Biehn
Linda Hamilton
Why You Should See This Movie
In Cameron's first mainstream foray into the sci-fi genre, he gave us one of the most iconic characters of all time: The Terminator. Designate T-model 101, The Terminator was originally conceived as a threat to the future - and more imminently - the life of Sarah Connor, who would give birth to the savior of the human resistance following "Judgment Day" unleashed by SkyNet. Arnold's on-screen presence exudes intimidation and fear; quite simply, there was no one else who could have pulled off this role more perfectly. It's thanks to the success of this groundbreaking sci-fi film that we were blessed with its sequel.
Fun Fact: O.J. Simpson was considered for the role of the Terminator, but the producers feared he was "too nice" to be taken seriously as a cold-blooded killer. In 1990, (years, ironically, before Simpson's first trial) Dark Horse Comics printed issues using his likeness.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Rated R for strong sci-fi action and violence, and for language.
Affiliation: Producer, Writer, and Director
"It's nothing personal."
The Plot
A reprogrammed T-101 is sent back in time by the future John Connor to protect his young, past self as another, more advanced T-1000 model - made of liquid metal - is bent on killing the child before he has a chance to become the resistance leader. Meanwhile, remnants of the previous T-101 Terminator were picked up by Cyberdyne Systems and are being studied by Miles Dyson, the man who will become the creator of SkyNet.
Starring
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Linda Hamilton
Edward Furlong
Robert Patrick
Why You Should See This Movie
Reprising his role as a T-101 model Terminator is Arnold, this time playing the hero as he protects both John Connor and the returning heroine, Sarah Connor, from a more deadly T-1000 series. What the first movie did right, T2 did perfectly. Combining a far more harmonized symbiosis of action, science-fiction, and drama, T2 is perhaps one of the greatest sequel films ever made.
Fun Fact: Arnold Schwarzenegger said during the making of this film that he would never play another evil character again, but he later played the villain Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin (1997).