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07/28/03

2 hr. 19 min.
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert Patrick, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Joe Morton
Producer: James Cameron
Writers: James Cameron and William Wisher
Director: James Cameron

Rating: **** Stars (Out Of 4 Stars)

In 1984, writer-director James Cameron gave us “The Terminator.” It starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as a killer cyborg sent from the future to murder Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) before she can give birth to her son John Connor , who will lead a revolt against the ruling army of machines in the future. It was an intelligent and exciting sci-fi horror picture that won the hearts of movie buffs with it’s cinematic twist on the future and its mind-blowing special effects. And in 1991, when we thought that we could never have a better sc-fi picture, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” was released.

“Terminator 2” takes place ten years after the original. John Connor is now a young boy who is in foster care because his mother Sarah Connor was placed in a mental hospital. They think she’s crazy because she continues to warn them that a nuclear disaster is about to happen and the world will be taken over by cyborgs. She attempts to escape repeatedly because she thinks her son is in trouble, and she’s right.

Two Terminators are sent from the future: A good one called the T-800 , played by Schwarzenegger, whose mission is to protect the young boy, and a bad one called the T-1000, played by Robert Patrick, who is assigned to kill the young boy. This evil Terminator is a newer model. Instead of being a metal robot, he’s a hunk of liquid metal - which means he can form into different people and morph his fingers or whole arms into large knives. You can even blow a whole in his stomach with a gun and the wound would seal right up! So Sarah, John, and the T-800 have to band together to stop this unstoppable machine.

The original “Terminator” mainly focused on full throttle action and suspense, while this film has all that and some more. James Cameron explores a lot of important messages, like our self destructive behavior and how our technology has become so advanced it takes control of us. They explore this and many other things, but it never feels like they’re cramming it down our throats. It all goes down pretty easy. The film works on a multitude of different levels. An action movie, a sci-fi movie, a horror movie, a drama, a character-driven film, a special effects carnival, and a little bit of comedy. When some movies try to pull all this off, the film grows stale and the fun oozes out of it, but “Terminator 2” pulls it off wonderfully.

“Terminator 2” forms a sort of father and son relationship between the T-800 and the young John Connor. This is one of my favorite aspects of the movie. Since the young boy never actually met his father, this cyborg sent from the future to save him is the closest thing to a father he has ever had. One father and son moment is when John gets tired of the T-800 replying with words like “Affirmative” and “Negative”, so he teaches the cyborg saying such as “No problemo” and “Eat me.” Not only is it a really funny moment, it is a real good conversation that probably would take place between a father and son.

I don’t think anyone will complain that this film doesn’t have enough action. From beginning to end, Cameron gives us some of the best and memorable action scenes ever put on film. I have never been so exhilarated during a movie. We get scenes like the T-1000 chasing John in a semi, T-800 taking out a whole S.W.A.T. team, the T-1000 chasing the gang in a helicopter, and the adrenaline-pumping climax that takes place in a Steel Mill. These action sequences along with Brad Fiedel’s score are amazing.

This film is a staple in CGI technology. The magnificent work was done by Industrial Light and Magic, the George Lucas special effects shop. The idea for the T-1000 idea was originally tried out in “The Abyss” where an undersea tank was visited by a monster that was made completely of water. So Cameron took what he learned making “The Abyss” and took it to a whole different level. We also get cool effects like the T-800 arriving from the future in a hail of lightning, and the T-1000 breaking through the helicopter window to then pour inside. These effects will definitely blow your mind.

The cast is strong all around, and certainly anyone who enjoyed the performances by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the first film will be more than happy with his in “Terminator 2.” Schwarzenegger slips back into his T-800 role with no flaws. He does a great job as he starts out as a mindless cyborg but gradually forms some human qualities. Schwarzenegger’s best film so far.

Linda Hamilton also re-enters her role as Sarah Connor, doing an even better job here. Her character has changed a lot since the original film. She realizes that the end of the world is coming and she cannot be weak and helpless. I feel her pain. You’re with her every step of the way as she turns into her own sort of Terminator. Edward Furlong did pretty good for his first film. There were some parts where he did feel a little off but it didn’t hurt the movie.

And with every action movie you have to have a villain, and Robert Patrick as the T-1000 pulls it off magically. He has an intense and frightening presence. If I saw this guy on the street I’d get chills. The scary thing about him is he never gives up. You shoot him, he heals right up, and keeps on coming at you. He doesn’t even think about it. He’s an ultimate villain.

In a large ocean of action films starring horrible actors and having horrible plots and being loaded with sex and drugs , “Terminator 2” sticks out like a sore thumb. People will still be endlessly watching this film for the years to come. The film has been ripped off a countless number of times, but can never even get close to what this film was. These days nobody in Hollywood can figure out how to make a good and intelligent action film. So they load it up with nudity, sex, drugs and a plot that is so ridiculous and stupid that I rather watch an episode of “Teletubbies.” I can only name a few recent action films that haven’t watered it down with all that crap: “The Mummy,” “Equilibrium,” and “The Matrix.” That’s why a lot of action films these days are in the top ten of the Box Office for two weeks or usually go straight-to-video.