A simply great movie

Rating: Null/10 (7 December 2003)

Terminator 2 is, for my money, one of the greatest films Hollywood
has churned out. Everything in it is top-drawer: the script, acting,
directing, special effects, etc. And you can't mention superlatives
without discussing Brad Fiedel's music!
In this flick you get chases, incredible special effects, cool kid stuff,
twists, paradoxes, and even biting commentary on the sexes. On
top of everything else, the movie also has a lot heart, with some
touching observations about humans and non-humans. And, of
course, it also deals with where we're going as a race and the
possible catastrophes we're headed toward. But far from being a
desultory comment on the end of everything, it also has a ton of
humor--some obvert, and some extremely subtle. And the ending
may just bring tears to your eyes.
Robert Patrick, as the T-1000, is one of the great modern movie
villains. He never lets up, even when knocked down time after
time, or having his head blasted in two. He runs like a human, but
does not take setbacks like one--he gets up and keeps coming
after you.
And that's one of the things that's endearing about the two
Terminators--they are super-strong, but not supernatural. Bullets
don't stop them, but they do slow them down. Thus we're able to
identify with them to a degree.
As far as chilling scenes go, who can forget when Arnold is
walking toward John with the box of roses, only to toss the box
away as he pulls out a shotgun? And the T-1000's many
resurrections, especially the one of him slowly trolling along on the
police motorcycle, surveying the ruins of Dyson's living room?
Some people are undoubtedly put off by the series' titles, thinking
that these are crazed, violent movies with nothing to recommend
them. That couldn't be further from the truth. You'll definitely be
getting your popcorn's worth with T-2, and a lot more.