TERMINATOR (1984)
and
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)
TERMINATOR 3: THE RISE OF THE MACHINES (2003)
Some Terms
Context: The setting for something. Frequently used to imply “background”, “setting” or “situation” in which something or person is found
Human: Just what and is not human is a complex question, although it may not seem so initially. Defining when humans first appear is contingent on what one thinks a human is.
The problem has also raised its ugly head in terms of abortion.
The question has also become complicated by the problem of the addition of non-living things to people to keep them alive – prothetic appliances (artificial arms and legs are less a problem than artificial “hearts”, pacemakers and more recently transplants. These have become the subject of stories as to where the “person” actually is).
Android: An automaton that is created from biological materials and resembles a human being. Also called humanoid.
Cyborg: A human being who has certain physiological processes aided or controlled by mechanical or electronic devices. [cyb(ernetic) + org(anism).]
Robot 1. A mechanical device that sometimes resembles a human being and is capable of performing a variety of often complex human tasks on command or by being programmed in advance. 2. A machine or device that operates automatically or by remote control. 3. A person who works mechanically without original thought, especially one who responds automatically to the commands of others. [Czech, from robota, drudgery.
Time Travel: Obviously travel through time, but especially here, a kind of narrative in which people move through time, usually interacting with characters from other times. The “genre” if it can be called such, has always raised complex problems about cause and effect which are difficult to handle.
Before the Film
Good to start analysis with the questions raised by the film. READ ARTICLE.
What is the “philosophical” question under discussion in this film
Does it have resonances in other areas
What does it mean to be human? What is the relationship between humans and technology – or more broadly what is the relationship between the creator and the created. This is a major question in what film? Frankenstein. (very good!)
Evolutionary question: When do we become human and when are we no longer human:
(2001: A Space Odyssey; Silence of the Lambs (What is he? A monster. Is he a vampire? They don’t have a name for what he is)
Transformer creatures:
Mixed creatures:
Victor Turner in his book Forest of Symbols says that African masks often are half male, half female; half human, half animal; half animate, half inanimate. These masks, he says question the divisions between things in the world. All things share some things in common but also are different from other things.
In religious terms: Humans have souls. Loss of soul is problem as is damning of soul (often associated with vampires, and other unnatural elements). In Hebel’s Niebelungen Lied, Siegfried is a monster because he can’t be killed.
Relationship of people to their tools.
HUMANS AND TOOLS/MACHINES ETC.
The relationship between humans and technology as something that helps people has become challenged in recent time (as has, for example, the ‘advantageousness’ of the agricultural revolution). There is frequently the feeling that we are “moving too fast” and this is disruptive to society – a major theme in many films. Adults can no longer serve as “guides and role models” in a society where the adult population knows less “relevant” material than the younger (at least in terms of technology). Three quarters of human history was written solely in flint. In the last 100 years there has been a greater increase in technology than in all the time previously.
Many films have looked at this problem and have wondered about the relationship between tools and humans. In some cases (See prosthetic memory), the tools seem to have a mind of their own, although in earlier films, it was the body part itself:
Hands of Orloc etc.
The “friendly” relationship we have with tools is also something which can change. Friends can become enemies. In paranoid situations it is hard to know who your friend is (See “The Thing” later in the term)
Camelot (Arthur and Lancelot)
Broader:
What is the relationship between the creator and the creation. What happens in this film between the two. Who creates what and what happens?
Time Travel
The question of whether one can travel in time and affect events which change the future. This is not new in this film, but always raises interesting questions about the issue usually discussed in terms of Einsteinian physics who do not understand Einsteinian physics. Eissteinian physics has enough problems on its own without help from the peanut gallery.
Nietzsche discusses such things in the idea of eternal recurrence. Is time a cycle? Is time linear? Is there a first time? (e.g. where does John Conner come from if his father isn’t born until after he is?) . If there are many possible futures, all existing at once, what does it matter whether you alter one – or do you later them all??? If time is not linear, are there also many possible presents and pasts? How are they related. There isn’t really a consistent theory in most stories about this. Does the story handle time problems well? That is – is it consistent, or worse, does the viewer generate their own problems that make this difficult,.(that is does it make the viewer raise questions about time travel which the film does not and possibly can not answer). Is it a kind of McGuffin – a device necessary to further the plot. (what the spies are after) or as Ebert has written – those things that a character need only say that would resolve the entire movie, but don’t.
After the film
Time travel old story – Time machine (HG Wells); City on the Edge of Forever (Star Trek- Joan Collins; Writer Harlan Elison) Back to the Future (etc)
Photography
Camera placement (angles):
Imagery:
Titles
Name of café is “Tech noir” Black or dark technology.
Lighting
Photography and Editing
Narration:
Context sensitivity:
Sound
Machine imagery
Human imagery:
Music
Religious material:
CONCLUSIONS
Film stresses importance of individual over government.
In plot: Government agency produced computers that took over the world. Police have real information about Terminator from Kyle but don’t believe it. Psychologist argues that Kyle’s “delusion” is perfect and uncheckable. But so is his diagnosis! It is built on a set of uncheckable ideas (time travel not possible, etc.) Assumption is story is untrue.
In film: shots of authority as overwhelmed (e.g. attack on police station), but individuals successful
Equality of sexes. Susan AND Kyle necessary to terminate Terminator
Machines are not human but can take over and are dangerous.
In Plot: Machines took over; some danger in telephone answering machine “even machines need love”
The question of creator/creation parallels both Frankenstein and religion (the relationship between God and people). Terminator moves into a religious mode occasionally and resonates with certain biblical stories.
Passage of Kyle Reese and Terminator through time portal INTO THIS WORLD equates them in some way. Terminator comes to bring death; Kyle to bring life. Parallel entries, somewhat parallel functions – to do something to or with humanity.
Vampires
werewolves, etc.
Mermaids, satyrs, centaurs, etc. (half human/half animal
Demi gods (half human/half mortal): Hercules, Christ etc.
Cyborgs – half machine/half human (see Robocop as well)
Colossus the Forbin Project
2001: A Space Odyssey
Inherit the Wind (two lawyers, once friends now on opposite sides)
The Birds (feathered friends become attackers)
Machines (revolt)
Low shots may show power or entrapment. What is visible behind the character is relevant to interpretation.
Shots of machines crushing skulls. Parallel shot at end – machine crushing Terminator’s “skull”.
Many police killed in building, non officials (Susan and Kyle) escape. Individual vs. government.
Why 2029 – 100 years after the depression. Destruction of society - again
Often dark and mechanical – electric light rather than outdoors – Even outdoor light is often electrical street lights etc, Lights often flash (lightning, disco, police lights)
Lightening is rarely “normal”. Only scenes when people from the future are not around is “normal” or realistic lighting used. Often red and blue are major colors. They match those on police cars.
Rapid cutting during chases and action scenes; hand held camera destabilizes the frame,
POV shots from Terminator’s perspective show red screen with information on it, which distances viewer and keeps the viewer from identifying too closely with the terminator.
Slow motion sequence in Tech-noir to increase time building tension.
Linear/non linear. Why non linear. How does the time travel in the film reflect the narrative structure. Time travel makes time not linear, films structure reflects that
Remember the same things in different context mean different things. Non linear narrative does not mean the same thing here that it does in Silence of the Lambs where the context is different.
Telephone answering machine message: Even machines need love,
Off screen sounds – build tension – typical also of horror films
Mechanical sounds as dangerous – police sirens, screeching tires
Cars telephone answering machine Nightclub is “Tech noir”
Text: Talk to the machine. Machines need love too.
real truck crushes toy truck
Sarah’s room mate’s boyfriend in shorts. Humanness and vulnerability of nudity,
Sex scenes which Terminators can not replicate enhance “humanness” of humans
Dogs sense terminators – not unlike their relation in other films with supernatural creatures. First murder victim has dog which senses terminator. Dogs appear in “future” sequence to spot terminators in humans’ hide outs. Do barks at terminator at motel.
Often metallic machine like sounds
John Connor is the son of Susan Connor (same last name, not husband’s). Husband Kyle Reese is from future, not really normal human having passed through time portal. So we have a “fatherless” child, with initials J.C. created from a mother impregnated by a not normal human, whose mission is to save humanity. Does this sound familiar?