The Top 5 Aspects of the Terminator Franchise

Over 30 years ago, James Cameron started a cultural phenomenon with The Terminator. Two sequels and one reboot later, Hollywood is going for the robotic gold once again with Terminator Genisys. To honor its release on Wednesday, July 1 2015, we are recapping the top 5 aspects of the franchise. So come with us if you want some nostalgia:

Time Travel:

It may not be scientifically possible and it causes a ton of paradoxes, but the series wouldn't exist without the sci-fi concept. It set the ball rolling when Skynet sent a T-800 to kill Sarah Connor and the resistance sent Kyle Reese to protect her form it. It's how Cyberdyne Systems discovered the technology that would lead to Skynet. Who invented it in the first place? Oy, the paradox headache is starting already.

 Cheesey One-Liners:

They've been worn out cliches ever since the release of  Terminator 2: Judgement Day in 1991, but phrases like "I'll be back" and "Hasta La Vista, Baby" are so ingrained in our pop culture that you can't say them without thinking of Arnold Schwarzenegger shooting a shapeshifting T-1000 with a shotgun. Speaking of which...The T-1000:Not saying much, Robert Patrick was terrifyingly epic as the Terminator made of malleable metal. He made a formidable villain, helping make the sequel even more beloved than the original. Moreover, the T-1000 was made with some pretty damn good special effects, which stand up to today's standards. In fact, they cost $5 million and 25 man-years to complete.Non-Communist Paranoia:By 1984, the Cold War was already starting to cool off. By the release of Judgement Day, it would be over. Nevertheless, Cameron came up with a foe even scarier than the Russians: technology. Computers were becoming more and more advanced in the twilight years of the 20th century and it is a scary thought of machines becoming more powerful than their creators. Maybe you should stick to creating a park of living dinosaurs. What could possible go wrong?A Science Fiction Legacy:The Terminator franchise has not only thrilled and scared us in equal measure. It is one of those cultural phenomenons that will live on forever in the science fiction hall of fame with the likes of Star Wars, Star Trek, E.T., and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. But be warned: if you ever come face-to-face with a killing machine, don't try one of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. Just--you, know---run.