The definitive early 90's movie

Rating: 9/10 (17 December 2000)

James Cameron seems incapable of directing out of his decade. The Terminator looks VERY 80's, Titanic (despite being set almost a century ago) looks and feels VERY late 90's. And Terminator 2 is the definitive early 90's movie, complete with it's soundtrack featuring Guns and Roses. T2 is a also a multi-faceted action epic touching on issues such as one's fate, advances in computer technology (done much better than it, say, The Matrix), and John Connor's search for a father. There are some truly great moments in the movie such as when Sarah Connor says "come here" to her son after surviving an attempt on their lives by the sinister T-1000 (portrayed by a fabulous Robert Patrick). John thinks this an invitation for a hug and a chance at some of the mother-son relationship that they've missed with her being in an institution. But when he wraps his arms around her, he realizes she's checking for bullet wounds. "I'm fine!" he protests. "John!" she snaps back, "You're too important!" She thinks of him less as a son and more as an icon for the future. The movie has very extreme action sequences and very subtle bits of sentimentality and criticism of the 90's lifestyle. T2 is truly one of the greatest action movies of all time, as well as one of the greatest sequels of all time, as it surpasses the mood and action of the first while touching of issues that The Terminator never even considered.