Director James Cameron returns for this ambitious follow-up that was released during the July
Fourth weekend of 1991, where it eventually grossed $520 million worldwide.
Thanks to its at-the-time unprecedented budget of $100 million - this picture is a bigger,
more complicated, and more impressive effort than its predecessor in every way.
In this 137-minute action / sci-fi / thriller, two separate deadly cyborgs are sent back
in time, one to kill, and the other to protect, a future resistance fighter when he's still
a kid living in Los Angeles.
Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as the intimidating title character, but this time he's helping
our heroes, rather than hunting them.
Fortunately, he's also given way more to do... even if most of his dialogue is either technical
exposition or cheesy one-liners.
We rejoin Linda Hamilton ten years later, who has become a tough and hardened pessimist
after being locked away in a mental institution.
Both individuals do an incredible job with this new dynamic, now fighting alongside each
other as uneasy allies.
Edward Furlong plays her young son, who despite being constantly whiny and annoying, manages
to hold his own amid the bloody carnage.
Joe
Morton does great work in a smaller, but critical role as a computer scientist who is horrified
to discover his technology effectively causes the apocalypse.
Even Michael Biehn returns in a single-scene cameo, well, at least in the extended "special
edition".
As the menacing villain, Robert Patrick portrays a liquid-metal robot assassin known as T-1000,
one of the best bad guys in movie history.
His cold and unassuming delivery makes him even more chilling and terrifying than his
counterpart in the first installment.
Fittingly disguised as a cop, his ability to morph into any shape, and run super fast
makes him an unstoppable antagonist.
With this 'Capri-Sun Chameleon' closing in, Schwarzenegger echoes a familiar line when
he sternly advises a traumatized Hamilton, "Come with me if you want to live."
The high-octane moments are flanked by a fascinating story, that effortlessly advances from one
scene to the next without any contrivances.
Like when, Furlong attempts to escape the relentless T-1000 by driving his dirt-bike
down the LA River, in what is perhaps one of the greatest action sequences ever filmed.
It's simple in its progression (with the non-description location keeping things very easy to follow),
but tense and exhilarating with its execution.
Complete with crashes, impromptu convertible conversions, gun shots, and wickedly cool
one-handed shotgun reloading, this centerpiece chase culminates with a breathtaking visual
effects shot; Patrick emerging from a fireball in his liquid-metal state, before rematerializing
into his officer's appearance.
Another fantastic sequence, loaded with impressive model work highlights the horrifying results
of a nuclear blast during Hamilton's nightmare.
This groundbreaking work from ILM was not only revolutionary at the time, it scored
"Judgment Day" one of its four Academy Awards - making this the only sequel in history to
win an award when its predecessor wasn't even nominated.
It also scored trophies for Sound, Sound Editing, and Make Up.
From the inventive liquid-metal THX opening that begins the BluRay to background sparks
during the smelting factory climax, this is a beautifully mixed feature that deserves
to be appreciated on a surround sound system.
Alongside this mix is Brad Fiedel's fantastic score - mixing haunting themes with sharp,
intense pulses.
Framing the actors with cold hues and crisp lighting Adam Greenberg's nominated cinematography
work is excellent as well, with the locked-down anamorphic shots only moving when the action
is motivated.
One of Cameron's trademarks is the slow-motion build-up punctuated by a gun shot, and there's
no better example of that technique than during the robots' first violent encounter, when
Arnold marches down a shopping mall hallway, unloading shell after shell into his enemy.
If memory serves, this was the first R-rated movie I ever watched, and the exciting thrill
ride has been an all-time favorite ever since.
Speaking of rides, this movie also inspired the equally awesome "T2 3-D: Battle Across
Time" attraction at Universal Studios; which contained a unique blend of live action stunts
and a short 3D-film with the original cast.
This picture's lasting legacy also led to an eventual 31-episode TV series on FOX called
"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"... which disregarded the subsequent films in
favor of a direct continuation of this film's events.
"Judgment Day" isn't just exciting and influential though, it also delivers some important themes
regarding the value of human life, and the uncertainty of our future, with the oft repeated
mantra, "There's no fate but what we make."
Some minor mid-act pacing issues aside, this is a surprisingly believable, rewatchable,
quotable, and influential picture from beginning to end.
The crown jewel of Jim Cameron's extraordinarily successful career, "Terminator 2: Judgment
Day" is a masterpiece of sci-fi and action, and one of my all-time favorite films.
Here's what you had to say in the YouTube comments.
In what was probably the most lopsided vote in the history of this program - your praise
for T2 was overwhelming, with most mentioning the incredible visuals and action scenes.
You scored this a ten out of ten.
One of the best sequels ever crafted, "Judgment Day" was well ahead its time, and is clearly
an AMAZING film.