Reviews of Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Judgement.

Posted : 3 weeks, 6 days ago on 13 November 2009 10:39 (A review of Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

''3 billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day. They lived only to face a new nightmare: the war against the machines. The computer which controlled the machines, Skynet, sent two Terminators back through time.''

The cyborg who once tried to kill Sarah Connor must now protect her teenager son, John Connor, from an even more powerful and advanced cyborg.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Terminator

''Hasta la vista, baby.''

The first Terminator project was a modest success at the box office in 1984; by 1990, millions of people were anxious for a sequel. James Cameron granted their wish and again exceeded expectations with his effort.
The sequel is 10 years later, based upon the age of the central character (played by newcomer Ed Furlong from American History X). Cameron was provided with a budget exceeding the original picture a hundred fold over, and used this to his advantage. Notably, this was an early use of computer FX which are prevalent today; back then, they were simply amazing to behold (this was before even Jurassic Park, and each instance of their use was mind blowing). Most of the best examples of effects used in T2, revolved around the T-1000 super-villain (Robert Patrick), a revolutionary approach to depicting a fantastic menace. Arnold was back as another durable cyborg, a multi-layered hero this time, the big man was on the side of good.

The film was another impressive progression of action and suspense, interlocked with the theme of nuclear holocaust. More than just building on the threat of nuclear annihilation from the 1st pic, the picture throws the concept at the audience with some striking images. It slows at about the halfway point when the heroes evade the pursuing super-killer for a time, but then you see that nuclear bomb going off, still about the best such depiction ever seen. Just when you think you can relax for a few minutes, a city blows up. By this time, the definitive version of this film is the extended cut Cameron presented a couple of years later. The extra scenes accentuate the plot and elaborate the story wonders, not that they needed it, but it's a nice little dessert for fans.

''I need your clothes, boots and your motorcycle.''

Like all the best sequels, it presents characters which progress and advance. This is especially true of Linda Hamilton's character; she's really lived those past 10 years and is a much older, much stronger mother figure here, moulded by ceaseless struggle. She really does turn out to be the mother of the future, as mentioned in the original Terminator, obsessed with saving us all from a nuclear Armageddon. Arnold, of course, has to play a more human-like, more understanding cyborg, very different from the mono-syllabic droid he interpreted in the previous installment. The film pulls another fast one in the beginning, still keeping the audience guessing as to which is the heroic protector, Arnold or the T-1000(the T-1000 actually seems more human than Arnold in the first segment). When the hero turns out to be Arnold, the viewer claps in appreciation for a fine role reversal. We had to wait another dozen years for the next one, but it could never match this baby.

Overall, Terminator 2: Judgement Day is not like other typical actioners, which are usually mindless, moronic and are little more than an excuse to eat snacks and put on in the background as mindless accompaniment. Instead, it's got depth, emotion, character and is highly memorable, and keeps you glued to the screen throughout – as well as boasting some astounding action and suspense while flaunting state of the art effects at the time, which still look good to this day. T2 is quite possibly the best action film and a unrivaled sequel, in existence, and I'm predicting that it will hold that honour for all time...Lastly, just picture this; Patrick Patrick running; his arms going up and down; his hands straight; that droning, mesmerizing sound of toned dread pounding in the background. This is a thrilling, timeless piece of action/thriller art which squeezes at your heart strings. Just writing about T2 makes me want to watch it again, then melt everytime...and hear those iconic lines...Arnie will be back! and thus viewers will be back for repeated viewings everytime.

''The future's not set. There's no fate but what we make for ourselves.''

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He's Bock

Posted : 3 months ago on 11 September 2009 01:19 (A review of Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

What does pure badassery from the future look like?
A big, muscular humanoid who likes to steal biker clothes, swing his shotgun on a high speed motorcycle, wear his sunglasses even at night, and is programmed to speak with a heavy-@ss Austrian accent.
This is the series in which Ahnold solidified the catch-phrase ""Ah'll be bock."
And he didn't stop coming bock until we finally elected his blockbuster @ss into office.
Well,
I guess that's one way to stop an unstoppable killing machine.




One of those rare exceptions when a sequel is better than the original.
James Cameron, you are a god.

This movie is one of those rare times where an original that was already pretty bad-ass is followed up by a sequel that is even more bad-asser.
As someone who enjoys the category of science fiction probably more than any other genre when it comes to films, I seriously think that Judgment Day, along with his efforts on Aliens, shows why there should be a law that states that James Cameron should be in charge of directing all sequels from now on.
After a going thru a summer this year that has been epitomized by listlessly plotted blockbusters such as the other movie known as T-2 (Michael Bay's), this T-2 is a reminder that even though a certain degree of suspension of belief is required from one's brain in order to accept a movie about battling robots, you do not have to completely revert to the mind level of a five-year old in order to enjoy it.



Mannn....
I wish I was made outta liquid metal.

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A good improvement over the first

Posted : 11 months ago on 13 January 2009 06:39 (A review of Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

"The second Terminator production has been widely regarded as better than the first."

Because it is. Featuring improved everything, the inverted Arnie role is key to the film. Without that, the film would lose a lot of the outstanding quality it has. While the original is good, this is essentially Terminator Mark II, filling in the pitfalls of its original and far exceeding it

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Not as good as the first.

Posted : 1 year, 7 months ago on 22 April 2008 07:59 (A review of Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

"Hasta la vista, baby."

The second Terminator production has been widely regarded as better than the first. I do disagree with that statement, but I most certainly enjoyed this sequel.

Terminator 2 now follows Sarah Connor (Hamilton) and her teenage son John (Furlong). It has been many years since the events of the first movie, and the machines in the future are now trying to kill John Connor once again. This time a more advanced, shape-shifting T-1000 (Patrick) is sent to do the job.

Schwarzenegger is now the protector, and has been sent back in time to ensure John Connor survives the fight the war. For me, this was the film's biggest disappointment. I preferred Arnie as the villain rather than the protector. Because of Arnie's physical appearance he's much more nefarious and unforgettable as a cold killer who says very little. Instead he talk a lot, shoots a lot, and even smiles. But this more human approach destroys the image of Arnie from the first movie, in my opinion.

But that's not to say that Robert Patrick wasn't good as the T-1000 - because he was exceptional - but Arnie made a more memorable villain.

The special effects are absolutely out-of-this-world considering the age. Because the T-1000 is 'liquid metal' and can transform his limbs into different shapes, it had to take some amazing CGI to make it look real. Cameron achieves this beautifully. With each new film, Cameron sets the bar higher in terms of new influential technology and special effects.

And the action in this movie is first-rate. Overall, Terminator 2 is no-where near the quality of the first movie. That said, the film is intrinsically great entertainment and cannot be missed.

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Terminator 2: Judgment Day review

Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 25 August 2007 06:18 (A review of Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

This is easily Arnie's best role. The number of times I have watched this film has probably reached triple figures by now, I just can't help but sit through it every time I see it on. Plenty of memorable action scenes and quotes. Even the plot is good for a sci-fi film, many a talking point can be raised concerning it.

The Machines have sent back a new and improved Terminator to kill John Connor, son of Sarah - the target from the first film. This time, humanity manages to capture and reprogramme a T-800 Terminator to protect John and send him back as a bodyguard. Cue an epic clash of the titaniums which ends up with one of the most heart-wrenching scenes I've ever seen. It easily bought me to tears the first time I saw it! I'm not sure whether there is much point of reviewing this film, everyone must have seen and loved it by now!

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