One of the finest sequels ever made.

Rating: 10/10 (27 October 2003)

From beginning to end this is a fantastic film, a sequel that truly betters what was really considered to be a film that couldn't be bettered. James Cameron has really increased everything here. Budget, special effects as well as the stakes in his fictional universe. Whereas Sarah, the mother, was the target, now it's John himself and the story that takes place is superb showing that Cameron truly is the master of the Hollywood blockbuster, a writer/director who can mix big budget thrills and spills with brilliant character drama, which he does so exceedingly well here and this is not seen better than when we see the character development of the Terminator itself which stands as the best part of the film, apart from the action sequences that is.
It may not be saying much, but this is undeniably Arnold Schwarzenegger's best performance and I mean that really. Okay, so he plays a killing machine that cannot experience emotion and who basically talks with the same tone of voice throughout the entire film, but the development of the machine as he learns more about human pattern and behavior is fantastic. Watching the father/son bond develop between John and his protector is superb drama and big Arnie responds well to it. From learning to smile, to learning catchphrases such as 'hasta la vista baby' right down to his realization why human beings cry, Arnie has never been better than he is here, and in those final moments when he tells John he knows now why humans cry before having Sarah terminate him, Arnie has never been better. Cameron can really get a great performance out of the Oak and it's never been seen better until you see it here. In saying that the rest of the cast is pretty darn good too. Linda Hamilton puts in a career best performance too while Robert Patrick has star quality and quality actor written all over him (the utterance of the phrase "get out" has never been more creepy, trust me"), while Edward Furlong is a revelation as John, and along with Arnie he nails those final moments with great aplomb.
Coupled with all of this, the action sequences twelve years on are still superb, as are the special effects which have not dated too much over the years. The truck chase and the helicopter pursuit are still fantastic staples of the action genre and truly set Cameron out as the best action film director working today. All of the elements of this film make this a truly magical film and goes to show that great special effects and a great story that always make a great film.
Take notice George Lucas.