Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) Movie Review

The terminator is back! This time, to protect Sarah Connor's son against a highly improved T-1000.

Review:

Damn, there's a lot of drama in this film. And I never anticipated that. It's not just anything that will pump up your blood for action. It's something that will make you feel and sympathize with the characters. What other action movies lack that this one has is the substance of emotions. It's like there are two fundamental things in this film- Arnold Schwarzenneger as the Terminator and emotions.

From this film, it's easy to tell where some people drew their inspirations from.

I find this movie really funny. For one, The Terminator. Two: Zero casualty for the SWAT but they went limping upon exit after The Terminator shot them on a knee or two. Now tell me, in which films have you first seen SWAT teams look so smart and snappy? Where have you first seen them in action in such a systematic maneuver (specifically of cinematography)? I mean the filming style. James Cameron has his signature there. I never thought I could really appreciate this director (I always thought that he's just overrated even with Titanic).

Looking at the list of cast of characters, I find it fascinating that instead of using mirrors in effect of making double of a person, the filmmakers actually made use of the actor's twin. As in twin sibling in real life. It just goes to say that James Cameron anticipated the use of actual twin of an actor instead of body double or CGI (since they weren't much capable at that time of filming) shall the scene arise that T-1000 will be imitating a character i.e. Sarah, and the guard.

Not only that, we could see Cameron's both canny and uncanny habit of having patience when making a film, as if he never expect to die any time sooner. What I mean with this? The first movie was made in 1984, the next was after 7 years. He still used the same actors for specific roles in the film like actress Linda Hamilton as the mother until 1991, growing old with her character. If only Ridley Scott followed his example for Jodie Foster in Hannibal the Cannibal franchise.

But wait, there's more! For the release of the movie in format for home viewing, the filmmakers made some changes for the special edition restoration of 1993. One example is the comeback of Michael Biehn as Sergeant Kyle Reese in one scene to console his lover, Sarah Connor inside a room of a mental institute. I find that scene both heart-wrenching and sweet that just adds up more emotions for the film. And I was able to easily emphatize with Sarah- the longing for a lover, the happiness for having felt his warmth again as you held him close within your arms. And this despite not experiencing such. Ever. I never had romantic love.

image courtesy: Carolco Pictures

That scene might be prophetic (like Hachiko the dog towards his master as he dies), but still gratifying. This reminds me of George Lucas' changing the appearance of Anakin Skywalker in episode 6 that came out in 1982 with actor Hayden Christensen's come 2005 for the new DVD release. Lucas must have followed Cameron's example.

The thing about that psycho mother having her young child trained at being an effective soldier to be used one day? Now I kind of know where Susan Ee (author of Angelfall) drew her inspiration from (if she got it in her head from here). And that's from Sophia Stewart, the original author of the story of this franchise.

And now I know where Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory american tv series) got his smile. Look for that smile.

There are lots of morals to draw from this film. These dialogues will show you:

In retroactive abortion:

You're judging me on things I haven't even done yet.

As a killing machine:

"Listen, you know what you are doing?"
"I have detailed files on human anatomy."
"I bet. Makes you a more efficient killer, right?"
"Correct."

As a chosen one:

Look mom, if I'm ever supposed to be this great military leader, maybe you should start listening to my leadership ideas once in a while. 'Cause if my own mother won't, how do you expect anyone else to?

Recommendations:

Shall they make a reboot of this film like right now, they should choose Joseph Gordon-Levitt as T-1000.