Better than the prequel, though not as good

Rating: Null/10 (6 August 1999)

OK, it doesn't really need to be said, but the first film was better even though it was eclipsed in almost every way by this one.

The stunts were bigger, the dramatics improved upon, the music used to more effect, but it still had the feel of a sequel which can't be good. An original will almost always be better than its sequel.

The special effects and action scenes were greatly improved in content and in execution. The chase scene with the lorry is quite remarkable and is a good way of introducing the main players in the film. Some great scenes in the mental asylum and a good (though repeated) end location really manages to give a good feel to the film. However, special effects aside, we do get the feeling that it is just a makeover of the first film with a bigger budget, though that isn't a particularly bad thing.
Though the original terminator never betrayed his mechanical instincts and thorough programming and ruthlessly killed anyone claiming to be Sarah Conner, the return of the terminator sees models that have inconsistent (and less ruthless) characters. T101 compromises tries to learn humanistic character traits, loosely veiled under the guise of fitting in (and encouraged by his young master) which could be excused, but the failure of T1000 to successfully complete his mission could not. Though he killed John's foster parents and dog with extreme prejudice near the beginning of the film, he failed to pull off a similar stunt with Sarah near the end. He seemed to be exhibiting some very bad human traits in wanting to see her suffer. Flaws like this simply weren't present in the original film. The original model showed himself to be so inhuman at the end that he was stripped of all flesh, while the return sees a terminator that is willing to make a joke at the end. Add this to the fact that T1000 had no reason to look like Robert Patrick at the end when his cover had been blown, meaning that he could take on a different and more effective shape (like a long serrated blade with barbed ends), and several more plot flaws are revealed.

Despite this, Patrick does play a far more effective and menacing terminator in practice, and without having to dress up like a thug or have big bulging muscles. As far as playing an artificial human is concerned, he fulfils the role far more convincingly than Arnie. His face changes from being expressionless to conveying some kind of empathy, and back, in a mere moment. He isn't built up, which is probably because the people that he emulates weren't big, but it seems more realistic than Arnie's Herculean body structure. Let's face it; in a post apocalyptic earth Mr. Universes are not going to blend in too well. Something else that was (naturally) missing was the feeling of innocence that was being violated. Here we see a beefed up Sarah and a well keyed up John teaming up with the Terminator as if he was an old friend.
Aside from this, the suspense, effects and amusing scenes make this well worth watching even if it isn't as dark and moody as the original. A very enjoyable film that improves upon many elements of the original but suffers from the sequel-plot syndrome.