Terminator 2: Judgment Day: 8/10

Rating: 8/10 (6 July 2003)

Arnold never lies. In The Terminator, he said he'd be back, and he's back in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the sequel that is a little superior to the original, but not much. It boasts a little more action, a little more suspense, a better story, and better acting. In this edition, released seven years after the first one, but taking place ten years after, a new T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) comes to protect John Connor (Edward Furlong, in his debut), who will be the leader of the humans in a war against machines. However, a T-1000 cyborg (Robert Patrick) has also come from the future, but to kill John.
The Terminator was a movie that actually needed a sequel. Maybe James Cameron just felt like leaving a cliffhanger, but I think that the first movie wouldn't have worked that well if a sequel wasn't existent. T2 went further into the story, and made the utterly unbelievable from the first one seem more likely to happen. Of course, it's hard to believe that five years ago, a nuclear war was to break out, but when have James Cameron films been believable?
Arnold was given more lines in this film, and, although he isn't a great actor, he was very cool in this role. Of course, he has been typecast by now, but whenever he was destroying whatever and causing mayhem, it was great. He's the epitome of an action star. Furlong was pretty good in his debut, but the real standout is Linda Hamilton, John's mother. She had more of a chance to actually act, even though she wasn't the star, and she's a good actress.
The special effects were greatly improved from the first film. Instead of having robots that would have Ray Harryhausen rolling in his grave, they're seamless. The T-1000s can shift shape, and, being a child of the `good special effects or none at all' era, I was very impressed. His healing powers were very cool, and anytime he was shot or hit, etc., his body bent and it was awesome to look at. I'm surprised that it was only seven years after robots than jauntily move. I hope to be this impressed when I see T3.
Overall, I have to thank Cameron for bringing us a sequel that lives up to the series (how many Alien movies have there been now, James?) and doesn't lack on the thrills nor the special FX.
My rating: 8/10
Rated R for sci-fi violence and language.