Yes! Both terminators were so weirdly inhuman without being inhuman. And it was the 1980s and they just kind of nailed that with total realism that had no reason for being as good as it was.
It was like a new chapter of sci-fi really leaning into the realistic expectations of the future instead of the fantastical versions. It’s the same reason why Bladerunner was so good and stood the test of time. No bullshit interpretation. Just, “Everyone calm down about your ideas of the future. What would actually happen? How would this thing actually be if it really happened?”
I love the story that Arnold got the part as the terminator when he sat down with the director and nerded out so hard about details about what the terminator would not do that a common human would do, so much that the director couldn’t think of a better person for the role, despite Arny traditionally doing hero roles.
Yes! Both terminators were so weirdly inhuman without being inhuman. And it was the 1980s and they just kind of nailed that with total realism that had no reason for being as good as it was.
It was like a new chapter of sci-fi really leaning into the realistic expectations of the future instead of the fantastical versions. It’s the same reason why Bladerunner was so good and stood the test of time. No bullshit interpretation. Just, “Everyone calm down about your ideas of the future. What would actually happen? How would this thing actually be if it really happened?”
I love the story that Arnold got the part as the terminator when he sat down with the director and nerded out so hard about details about what the terminator would not do that a common human would do, so much that the director couldn’t think of a better person for the role, despite Arny traditionally doing hero roles.