Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- The Terminator was shot on a shoestring budget of $6.4 million. Where do you see this lack of greenbacks influencing the film, and how do these qualities affect its feel and tone?
- Why do you think Reese falls in love with Sarah? Why do you think Sarah falls for Reese? What does this tell you about the theme of love in the film?
- The Terminator is a one-note character: its motivations are, in order of importance, to kill Sarah Connor, kill Sarah Connor, and kill Sarah Connor. But do you think the character is an effective movie villain nonetheless? Why or why not?
- Describe the pacing of The Terminator. How do you feel the pacing affects the tone of the film? If you altered the film's pacing—for example, do we really need three car chases?—would that alter the tone? Why or why not?
- How does Sarah being a woman affect her relationship with Reese, the Terminator, and her future son, John? By extension, how does Sarah's identity affect film's themes of war and violence?
- Do you feel the sequels altered the series thematically when compared to the first film? Why or why not?