Director: James Cameron
Story: James Cameron, William Wisher Jr.
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick
Music: Brad Fiedel
Time: 146 minutes
Bottom-line: More action packed than the first, but not as good
James Cameron directs the second installment of the Terminator series. Cameron waited seven years after directing the first film (which came in 1984), for sufficient technology to develop, so that he could create unique special effects. Well, this film is worth the wait. Filled with tons of action and exceptional special effects, T2 is another blockbuster from Cameron.
The story follows the same pattern as the first. In 1995, a ten year old John Connor (Edward Furlong) is living with his foster parents, while Sarah Connor (Hamilton) is in a mental hospital for trying to blow up a computer factory. This time, the machines of the future send back another Terminator, called T-1000 (Patrick) to kill John. And again, humans also send back a protector, a machine called the T-800 (Schwarzenegger) to prevent John from being killed. And again, it is a matter of time, before one of the machines reach John.
The T-800 says that John Connor, in the future, reprograms the T-800 to return as John’s protector instead of his killer (as shown in The Terminator). There is a scene where Sarah is scared of the T-800, as she does not know that it is actually her protector, and not a killer. The T-1000 is an advanced prototype Terminator, made of liquid metal. It can transform itself into any object, like knives, or even humans.
The T-1000 even transforms itself into John’s foster parents, and that’s when the viewers understand what it is capable of doing. After that scene, you as a viewer, expect each and every object to be theT-1000 in disguise.
The main setback for Cameron, at that time, was the technology. He wanted lots of computer generated imagery (CGI) and other visual effects for the character of T-1000, who had a lot of shape shifting to do. But the seven year long wait paid off. The special effects are terrific, as is the editing. The T-1000’s changes from one body to another are all smoothly shown, with no glitches. In fact, in almost every scene that features Patrick, visual effects are used. When bullets are fired into his body, holes appear, but they merge back together. His hands become knives and other sharp weapons here and there in the film and they again change back into his arms. These scenes are also visually fantastic.
Now, coming to the story. As I said, the basic story is the same: man versus machine, two guys sent back in time, one protector and one killer… chase and more chase… that stuff. What Cameron has basically done is that he has created a better hero (compared to a human who was shown in the 1984 film), and so, naturally he has created a villain who is twice as powerful as the one in the first part. And he has added the character John Connor, to aid the hero against such a villain. So, in short, a powerful villain on one side, a less powerful hero plus a heroine and a boy on the other side, with the same story, make a new film! However, this film is more violent compared to The Terminator. Few scenes of the first part showed lots of blood, but here, few scenes where the T-1000 kills people are shown in close-ups, which make them more gruesome.
Linda Hamilton, and to some extent Furlong, have acted well. Schwarzenegger, well, what did you expect? He still has the same robotic voice and facial expression, but again, his character makes his role famous. And the villain is also a robot, so even lesser acting problems! Joe Morton has done a good supporting role, with decent acting.
The action sequences are excellent. This film has lots of action, and the two vehicle chases are very thrilling to watch. The camera work is superb. The action sequences, though great to see, also include many elements from the 1984 film: repeated firing of bullets by the hero at the villain, hero in a small car, followed by the villain in a huge truck… These scenes also used a lot of CGI, especially during the second chase towards the end of the film, where the T-1000 is splashed with liquid nitrogen.
Overall, Cameron’s Terminator 2 is a thorough entertainer. There may not be much of a story, there is very little acting, and too many action sequences make the film a bit boring, but extensive use of CGI and terrific action sequences make the film visually dazzling. This film still stands out today, even twenty years after release, for its eye-popping special effects and for the impact it left on English cinema, along with The Terminator.
My Rating: 3.5/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92%
Story: James Cameron, William Wisher Jr. Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick
Music: Brad Fiedel
Time: 146 minutes
Bottom-line: More action packed than the first, but not as good
James Cameron directs the second installment of the Terminator series. Cameron waited seven years after directing the first film (which came in 1984), for sufficient technology to develop, so that he could create unique special effects. Well, this film is worth the wait. Filled with tons of action and exceptional special effects, T2 is another blockbuster from Cameron.
 |
| Schwarzenegger as the T-800 |
 |
| Patrick as the T-1000 |
The story follows the same pattern as the first. In 1995, a ten year old John Connor (Edward Furlong) is living with his foster parents, while Sarah Connor (Hamilton) is in a mental hospital for trying to blow up a computer factory. This time, the machines of the future send back another Terminator, called T-1000 (Patrick) to kill John. And again, humans also send back a protector, a machine called the T-800 (Schwarzenegger) to prevent John from being killed. And again, it is a matter of time, before one of the machines reach John.
The T-800 says that John Connor, in the future, reprograms the T-800 to return as John’s protector instead of his killer (as shown in The Terminator). There is a scene where Sarah is scared of the T-800, as she does not know that it is actually her protector, and not a killer. The T-1000 is an advanced prototype Terminator, made of liquid metal. It can transform itself into any object, like knives, or even humans.
The T-1000 even transforms itself into John’s foster parents, and that’s when the viewers understand what it is capable of doing. After that scene, you as a viewer, expect each and every object to be theT-1000 in disguise.
 |
| Furlong as John Connor (left most), Hamilton as Sarah |
The main setback for Cameron, at that time, was the technology. He wanted lots of computer generated imagery (CGI) and other visual effects for the character of T-1000, who had a lot of shape shifting to do. But the seven year long wait paid off. The special effects are terrific, as is the editing. The T-1000’s changes from one body to another are all smoothly shown, with no glitches. In fact, in almost every scene that features Patrick, visual effects are used. When bullets are fired into his body, holes appear, but they merge back together. His hands become knives and other sharp weapons here and there in the film and they again change back into his arms. These scenes are also visually fantastic.
Now, coming to the story. As I said, the basic story is the same: man versus machine, two guys sent back in time, one protector and one killer… chase and more chase… that stuff. What Cameron has basically done is that he has created a better hero (compared to a human who was shown in the 1984 film), and so, naturally he has created a villain who is twice as powerful as the one in the first part. And he has added the character John Connor, to aid the hero against such a villain. So, in short, a powerful villain on one side, a less powerful hero plus a heroine and a boy on the other side, with the same story, make a new film! However, this film is more violent compared to The Terminator. Few scenes of the first part showed lots of blood, but here, few scenes where the T-1000 kills people are shown in close-ups, which make them more gruesome.
Linda Hamilton, and to some extent Furlong, have acted well. Schwarzenegger, well, what did you expect? He still has the same robotic voice and facial expression, but again, his character makes his role famous. And the villain is also a robot, so even lesser acting problems! Joe Morton has done a good supporting role, with decent acting.
The action sequences are excellent. This film has lots of action, and the two vehicle chases are very thrilling to watch. The camera work is superb. The action sequences, though great to see, also include many elements from the 1984 film: repeated firing of bullets by the hero at the villain, hero in a small car, followed by the villain in a huge truck… These scenes also used a lot of CGI, especially during the second chase towards the end of the film, where the T-1000 is splashed with liquid nitrogen.
Overall, Cameron’s Terminator 2 is a thorough entertainer. There may not be much of a story, there is very little acting, and too many action sequences make the film a bit boring, but extensive use of CGI and terrific action sequences make the film visually dazzling. This film still stands out today, even twenty years after release, for its eye-popping special effects and for the impact it left on English cinema, along with The Terminator.
My Rating: 3.5/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92%
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