For me, "The Terminator" is a true feminist film. Both of the works personally directed by James Cameron are essentially the story of Sarah Connor, depicting how women navigate the violence of a patriarchal society and disarm men.
The robot T800 in "The Terminator" is like the masculine men of that era—strong, tough, and cold, fully exhibiting a strong sense of threat. This aligns with the traditional masculine image required during the past patriarchal times. Historically, men have always been associated with weapons and were also expected to hide their emotions. Perhaps this is why artificial intelligence Skynet shapes weapons into such male figures.
In the second installment, "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," the T800, originally a weapon, turns around to protect Sarah Connor. In the end, T800 says that as a robot, it finally understands why humans shed tears, which symbolizes a man learning to express his vulnerabilities and emotions, as in the past, men were not allowed to cry. With their strong arms and chests, men are only permitted these two symbols, otherwise they are deemed unmanly!
Men are prohibited from expressing emotions by the patriarchal society; how is this different from robots?
Women are allowed emotional release in a conservative society, as such traits are viewed as inherent flaws—they are naturally considered to be more vulnerable. Thus, we see Sarah Connor struggling in solitude while also displaying anxiety and delicate maternal love. Under her nurturing, the future savior John Connor becomes an emotionally rich man who also attempts to teach T800 how to express feelings.
In "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," the robot hunting the savior turns into a female form, TX, and the story's protagonist becomes the adult John Connor. The theme shifts from dismantling the armament of patriarchal society to fate; if we cannot change the future, what is the meaning of our efforts? Perhaps it is simply being well-prepared to accept fate! TX appears very aggressive and seems to want to imbue women with a sense of rising significance in the new era, but this seems to reduce the strong portrayals of women from the previous two installments to mere constructs of aggression.
The subsequent sequels of "The Terminator" have not fared well, as they somewhat strayed from the original intent. When the worldview becomes too grand, it becomes harder to focus on the entanglements of personal destiny, leading to a loose narrative. "Terminator: Genisys" does capture the original series' style, but apart from the twist of the original savior becoming a villain, it is regrettable that the classic characters' choices upon reunification were not explored in depth. Sarah Connor’s greatness lies not only in her fight against Skynet but against the violence inherent in patriarchal society.
James Cameron has been teased for his perceived disdain for women, even the destroyed billboard for "True Lies" in "Captain Marvel" was viewed by fans as a jab at Cameron (later, the director clarified it was not). However, from "The Terminator" to "Avatar," Cameron's narratives consistently depict women addressing the harms of patriarchal violence. In "Avatar," when Jake becomes paralyzed, he loses his value on Earth; if a man cannot contribute physically, he is rendered 'non-functional'. As a result, on Pandora, he finds his diverse worth again through the guidance of female scientist Dr. Grace Augustine and the leadership of Na'vi princess Neytiri. Jake grapples with a military construct built by a patriarchal system, and when he becomes incapable, he is quickly discarded by it.
James Cameron is truly remarkable; although he has an engineering background, he always prioritizes emotions in his scripts before further constructing the world of science fiction. This is crucial, as even legal systems emphasize reason and emotion; humanity's feelings are always the driving force behind the external world of technology.