Plot
In 2029 – Skynet, now controlled by AI, sends a T-1000 Terminator made of liquid metal to 1995 in order to assassinate John Connor.
The Resistance have reprogrammed a T-800, and sent it back as his protector, however due to it being a copy of the T-800 sent to kill Sarah back in 1984, the Connor’s are skeptical of its mission.
Only after saving Sarah’s life, and agreeing that destroying Skynet before ‘Judgement Day’ occurs does she agree to assist in destroying the company once and for all.
Direction
Directed by James Cameron, who is the master of action films and action sequences.
How is a film that is 35 years old so much better than those made today?
Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger returns, as the T-800 – now the hero of the story. He is fun, robotic and even manages to add some humour within the film following his ‘training’ of being human by the young John Connor.
Linda Hamilton is also back, with Sarah Connor now a hardened warrior – having trained herself following her first outing against The Terminator.
Edward Furlong plays John Connor, who will eventually become the leader of The Resistance.
Joe Morton plays Miles Dyson, the CEO of Skynet – who discovers what his company will eventually become, and assists in its demise.
Robert Patrick plays The T-1000, who is equally (if not grander) robotic in his performance as the antagonist Terminator – who will stop and nothing, and kill who ever he can to get to his end goal… kill John Connor!
Breakdown
This review will be in regards to the extended cut, that runs at 145m.
Starting with the wasteland that is LA in 2029 – the attention to detail in this sequence, and the way it is shot is just simply incredible. If the world isn’t careful, this could almost come to be true, especially with AI becoming so much better now, and… um… other things that are going on in the world… 2029 is only 3 years away!!!
While we know now that the T-800 is on the side of John Connor, this would have been an incredible twist to those going in blind to watch this sequel almost a decade after the original!
While the plot is quite ‘basic’ in theory, The Terminator’s are out to either kill or protect John Connor (like the first), and now they decide to stop SkyNet from going further in their research – which will lead to Judgement Day, the day the machines take over.
But the added backstory, of John and Sarah being separated for many years. She has never let go of the past, which has seen her committed to an insane asylum, and John being placed in a Foster home. All these little extra narratives work well, and have given the world some great cinematic moments (Wolfie’s fine… You’re step parents are dead etc.)
The pacing is incredible as well, with the first sequence of Terminator vs Terminator coming at just the half hour mark, which follows with the best “car” chase sequence with the T-1000 turning a semi truck into a convertible!!! What a cinematic masterpiece! When the two Terminators do go at it (and they do many times) they don’t hold back, and they are brutal!
My only gripe with the pacing, and I wish it occurred sooner to give it more time to ‘baste’ is the T-1000 being frozen, which then in turn causes it to start to faulter – I would have liked to see just a little more of this. The liquid nitrogen sequence is still so impressive to witness all these years later.
There are so many action sequences throughout the film, and it never feels ‘overdone’ – moments like; breaking Sarah out of the institute, the attack on Cybernet, and the helicopter chase sequence – I don’t think any other director could have really pulled this all off in one movie. I wasn’t even upset by some of the clearly visible stunt performers, or obvious green screen.
There is also significant ‘heart’ as well, as John has never really had a father figure, so the T-800 becomes a surrogate father in some respects. There is also some fun moments between them, such as John trying to teach it to become human, using human phrases, not to kill, and to smile more…
This makes its sacrifice at the end even more heartbreaking, that John loses a father figure again.
The behind the scenes use of make up and special effects by Stan Winston, the score by Brad Fiedel, and even actors who have twins ‘standing in’ for when the T-1000 is mimicking them (Linda Hamilton and Don and Dan Stanton).
Overall
From the start showing the dread of the future to come (?) to the heartbreaking finale that could make a grown man cry, this is the epitome of how to do a sequel.
Cameron delivers a perfect action adventure, with breathtaking visuals, and stellar performances. A sequel better than the original.
5/5 (can’t give higher)
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