Action and confused thinking

Rating: 5/10 (9 February 1999)

The sequel is slicker, but not noticeably smarter than the original. At least Cameron found a co-screenwriter who writes slightly less torturing dialogue than the first one; that's a relief. And I can't deny that the ending provides an emotional high.
The bizarre mix of sentimentality and brutality is even more evident than in Part 1. The one interesting idea is Hamilton's supposed conversion to non-violence, but this, like every other idea in the movie, is not thought through to its consequences. Indeed, there is a wholehearted enjoyment of explosive, slamming special effects which flatly contradicts this claim of turning away from violence, and makes the insistence that no humans be hurt seem, if not hypocritical, at least delusional. Certainly this movie will not prevent its many fans from gleefully watching other action films where humans are blown apart and chopped to pieces.
Probably the scariest aspect of the whole movie is that Terminator 2 is actually one of the best action blockbusters of the last couple of decades.