He came back

Rating: Null/10 (10 August 2003)

* * * * (4 out of 5)

Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Directed by: James Cameron, 1991
Entertaining and technically fascinating $100m grand action movie does go 'soft' a few times, but is otherwise both a satisfying and refreshing sequel.
Rich on impressive special effects wizardry  the liquid-metal villain T1000 is a gawking sight  and pretty much loaded with the same heavy action and raw drive that writer/director Cameron injected into the first one, even though a careful eye will reveal that it goes along in almost complete symmetry to the original too. Put simply: there's an arrival, a first encounter and establishment of the human characters, an escape and re-evaluation scene, a major car chase (featuring a truck) and a final confrontation at a metalworks factory. Sound familiar?
Arnold Schwarzenegger returns  of course  and he's equipped with a nice story-twist that he makes the most of. Beefed up Linda Hamilton is completely sensational as Sarah Connor. There's a fitting and rugged growth not only in her biceps but in her character due to her many tribulations from the first encounter with these mechanical assassins.
Robert Patrick is a stand-out as the metal-organic terminator and not only in terms of effects. His rendition of a cold-blooded robot is simple and relentless  the T1000 never gets discouraged no matter the opposition or damage factor  thus lending a very scary edge to the suspense.
However, more story and continuity paradoxes emerge than need be. Maybe time-travel logic was never one to be thoroughly divulged into but how can the T1000 re-generate clothing and human skin? Hm. Not important  it's never a hindrance to Cameron's energetic flow and slam-bam visuals.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day, or "T2" as it was billed in marketing ads, is a lean, mean and terrific effects bonanza. Featuring Guns N' Roses' rousing song "You Could Be Mine" and James Cameron both co-wrote and produced.