Film of the Week #63 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Karl Hungus

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103064/

Incredible film, and for many years it was my favourite. Definitely a perfect example of how to do a sequel.

Discuss.

My name is Todd

At last! I am so happy this film made FOTW. Perhaps my favourite film of all time, the first $100 million blockbuster - I owned the extended edition on video!

This was Arnold's finest moment by far - he was born to play a robot. But every main character gives a star turn - Edward Norton, Linda Hamilton and Robert Patrick especially.
He played the relentless T1000 superbly, thin and lithe yet completely relentless and unstoppable.

The direction was amazing - from the opening scene, to the canal chase, from the tense first Terminator fight, to the futuristic battle scenes.
Not to mention the apocalyptic dream sequences (which apparently gave a really accurate depiction of what the impact of a nuclear bomb would look like).

The graphic violence (John's foster Dad knifed through the mouth) and oscar-winning cgi were simply way ahead of their time.
The pounding music and general sound effects were amazing (think it won an oscar for sound effects).

I loved this film from the very first time I saw it, there's so many iconic images: Terminator reloading the shotgun while riding the motorcycle, the T1000 emerging from the wreckage of the burnt out truck, Terminator ripping the skin off it's arm, T1000 sprinitng after John and, of course, Terminators facial skin ripped off exposing the endoskeleton.

I know there are arguments about the time travel paradox, but I do feel this film is as close to perfection as it gets.
Everyone and everything is memorable - Dr. Silverman, Lewis, the abusive guards in the pyschiatric hospital, John's mate rocking the mullet...Guns and Roses theme tune...

Several nods to the first Terminator film too - dogs detecting Terminators, the crushing imagery (with Terminators crushing skulls, flowers, sun glasses), and Kyle making an appearance in the extended edition.

One thing that sets the film apart from the first is the emotional attachment that develops between John and the Terminator, something that was totally unexpected at the time.

Classic lines:
"I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle."

"You were gonna kill that guy!" "Of course I'm a Terminator."

"You can't just go around killing people!" "Why?"

I think this was James Cameron's finest ever moment, from script to direction.

Mr E

My name is Todd wrote: »

But every main character gives a star turn - Edward Norton, Linda Hamilton and Robert Patrick especially.

Edward Furlong, maybe?

I always thought he was the weak link, to be honest. Really whiny and annoying. Love the movie though. There was something really menacing about Robert Patrick's T-1000.

Galvasean

One of the rare films where the sequel is in fact better than the original (IMO).
Robert Patrick played one of the most menacing villains ever commited to screen. The action scenes were outstanding and CG was only used when required (its a bit dated now but serves its purpose). The casting of twins for stunts and duplicates was a stroke of genius in its simplicity. James Cameron, i salute you!


So glad T2 made it in before the cut. Is it ironic that the last film we vote in is called Judgement Day?

Alas poor FotW, we barely knew ye...

Pride Fighter

What a film. The bit with the minigun is one of my favourite action scenes ever.

partholon

i was re watching this recently.

it really does hold up well for a film thats about 17yrs old. yes the cgi looks a little ropey in places now but nowhere NEAR as bad as it should which is testement to how well it was done.

as mentioned the blade arm effects STILL looks flawless and theres some astounding visuals, im thinking of the morphing "pool" in the mental hospital that the guard walks through that then takes his shape. seeing those tiles all morph up was lovely.

and thats before you get to the story. simply very very good with some dead pan black humour and genuine philosophy about the nature of man. the cast did a great job and while i agreee furlong is a bit whiny patrick was a revelation. bloody hell they way he'd just LOOK at people oozed detached menace.

i'll admit it was the new TV series that got me to look back at this again but im glad i did.

like camerons other "sequel" aliens this is probably the best example of a sequel out doing the first in decades. class film

senordingdong

I can't say anything that hasn't been said before.

Amazing film.

CrazyTalk

This the kind of film that could be on some night, and you'd say 'I'll watch a few minutes of this for the laugh', and end up watching the entire thing.

Aliens would be my favourite film (which is also by Cameron), but this is definitely up there

seaner

this is one of a few number of films that i can say really influenced me growing up. it was one of those films we managed to get on VHS. So everytime nothing was on telly, we'd stick in it and watch it. Never growing tired of it.

And while I probably didn't understand everything that was going on, all the underlying themes etc, it by far would be one of my top 5 films of all time.

I'll use lines from this film probably every couple of days....without even realising it.
E.G. whenevr I'm dropping someone somewhere in my car, we pull up and I'll always say in a terminator voice "Get out".

Or whenever I hear a dog barking i'll say "Hey Janelle, what's wrong with Wolfie?"
It never gets old...but I think some people think i'm a little crazy..

Odd that I finially get the soundtrack and it's voted in, even though I choose a different film. One of the defining films of my childhood, which shaped my cinematic outlook.

It's hard to discuss T2 without one word coming to mind, Perfection. Every aspect of the film is perfect, and still stands up to this day. The use of at the time, ground breaking CGI is used sparingly and doesn'y overwhelme the film. It's there to serve the film, not define it unlike so many early 90s sci fi pieces. I'm looking at you Lawnmower Man.

I'm going to stop now, as I have a habit of going on and on about both Termiantor and T2 and usually end up arguing with myself over which is the better film.

Necronomicon

Incredible film, thoroughly deserving. It's amazing that 17 years on, it doesn't look dated in the least.

Robert Patrick was amazing as T1000 - best villain ever?

Sherifu

This one stands the test of time. Saw a making of program on this film once where they said they got the truck off the bridge scene on their last take because their shooting permit was about to expire. The chases and effects are top notch and the story isn't bad either. Good choice for fotw.

lizann

Brillant movie

Xavi6

This was on tv here the other week and I stayed in to watch it even though it was a Friday night. What an absolutely brilliant flick. Robert Patrick is the perfect villain in it.

guinnessdrinker

I liked T2 but I think I'm in the minority as in I preferred the first film by far.

Nordwind

I prefered the first one as well but I'll have to pick up both on dvd at some point.

BopNiblets

I just noticed watching it again that Arnie left one of his robo-arms stuck in a machine again (the big gear broke it off), you'd think he'd learn!

TheDoc

yeah ive been engrossed in the new tv show which i thought at first would be rubbish but im loving it, it divulges so much into the terminator universe its great. And has some very good acting.


Terminator was my growing up film, i watched T1 when i was probably about 5 and now, 15 years later, i still manage to watch T1,2,3 one a month or two, they will never get old.

all has already being said, its a perfect film... there is not one slight flaw, and not one moment of bordom

james cameron is a great director no doubt

aliens, and the terminators being 3 of my favourites films

SirLemonhead

guinnessdrinker wrote: »

I liked T2 but I think I'm in the minority as in I preferred the first film by far.

I prefer the first one too, but 2 is classic

cabrwab

Have you noticed that T1 and T2 have alot of similarities? I do love these movies i really do T2 blew my mind. Its still cheesey and classic action. Think ill have to watch it this weekend just to remind myself. But i have to stick in this link to youtube. I know i may insult some people but as a fan i thought this was funny. Because when you think about it T2 was a wee bit!
Ed furlong was the only moany weak link in the movie.


http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=myIBH49DYO0

bullvine

I'll always remember the quote from the trailer "If you've think you've seen it all, look again", pretty much sums it up for me as a film.

PullMyFinger!

Watched the SE of this recently and I couldnt believe how modern the film still looks. Unlike what said above I thought Furlong was actually an excellent kid actor in this.

I cant ever see this movie getting old.

FionnMatthew

This for me is the exemplar of an action film well made.

It takes the first while to establish its premises, keeping you in the dark, and toying with your expectations from the first film. You are kept in suspense, right up until that slow motion "Get Down!" sequence.

Thereafter, having set out its premises, it carries through on them with ruthless logic. The movie is a behemoth just like its antagonists. It's inexorable.

The premises: one unstoppable Terminator is sent back with one mission: Kill John Connor. The other Terminator is sent back with one mission: Protect him.

It's still shocking cinema, to see Arnie, just completely deadpan, walk up the front of a moving vehicle with a shotgun to divert the T1000. The sheer logical, terrifying matter of factness of these unstoppable machines just doing the obvious thing to complete their objective, without regard for risk or danger. I don't think I've ever seen that matched.

And then there's the fact that the action scenes unfold logically, as part of the story, without seeming contrived, without seeming as if we're taking a diversion just to get a cool set piece, and yet are still so impressive and "set piece-like". The scenario itself makes of pretty normal car chase fare something superlative. What if the guy chasing you was an invincible cybernetic organism with no fear of getting harmed? Who'd just completely destroy his vehicle and yours to get at you? Who doesn't mind driving off bridges, and into buildings? With that scenario in mind, and those premises followed through to produce a logical scenario, the action is compelling, because you watch it, and initially you think it's just a normal chase scene, and then gradually it dawns on you that you really wouldn't know what to do in that situation, and that there isn't a contrived "narrowness" to the suspense, and that the pursuant really doesn't seem to be shakeable, and there aren't any options. And that's when you really start appreciating Arnie's character. He's no superfluous action hero, just there to impress you with moves and guns. He's the only thing standing between Connor and death. It's so uncompromising.

I also love that each action sequence is just iconic. There's nothing generic about anything in it. The film seers these indelible images into your mind - which become symbolic archetypes within the film's mythology: the two Terminators approaching John from opposite directions at the arcade, Arnie on the Juggernaut shooting straight in the windscreen, Arnie using the minigun (wow!), Sarah Connor desperately trying to escape in slow motion from Arnie, the doomsday event at the playground, the blade in the face through the milk carton, Arnie picking John up off his scrambler, the way Arnie reloads his shotgun during that chase scene, Arnie sinking into the liquid metal.

When you compare it to T3, where action scenes are just monotonous diversions from a superlite plot, which throw just about every flat idea into the mix, without any proper logical progression from action-film premises, where the ideas just aren't grounded in what you think might happen, films like T2 just stand out.

A fantastic movie.

Dirk_Diggler

Might pick this up on blu ray.

Mossy Monk

I prefer the first one too. But the 2nd one is fantastic.

m83

I don't know why people prefer the first one but each to their own

A fantastic movie, one I'm sure a lot of us here grew up with being their favourite movie when they got tired of The Goonies, lolz

KrazeeEyezKilla

m83 wrote: »

A fantastic movie, one I'm sure a lot of us here grew up with being their favourite movie when they got tired of The Goonies, lolz

Yep, that's exactly how it was with me. As a child I was genuinely crying at the ending. Even today it still seems sad. Not bad for a robot character in an action film played by Arnie.