The film that showed us how sequels should be done!

Rating: 9/10 (6 November 2019)

There's no question about the influence this film has had on the film industry, one of the first films to really infuse cgi into a film and make it an integral part. It's held by many as a sci fi classic, and it is, one of the few sequels that's held in as high regard as the original. That said (and I'm going out on a limb here).....is it really as good as the original, or have some compromises been made?
I'm probably being a little controversial, and if I'd reviewed this film back when it was released it would more than likely been a solid 10/10, but I'm not. I'm reviewing this in 2019 when we've seen many sequels and I'm really reviewing it in the context of the whole saga.
So what does T2 get right? Well most things really, it picks up a few years after the original. John Connor is now an adolescent and his mum has been locked up due to her unwavering belief in judgment day. The story certainly has a lot of new space to play in and feels slightly less claustrophobic than the original.
We get a new Terminator, the T-1000 which is liquid metal, something that in its day was a visual treat as well as a more deadly threat. Robert Patrick really delivered in his role, making this threat less of a slow menacing shadow, and more of an agile, unpredictable and articulate hunter.
So what's my problem? Why 9/10? Well it's down to a couple of things.. firstly the T-800, yes Arnie is back, but he's been reprogrammed to be John Connor's protector in this film. Back when the film came out I know I loved this, a pet Terminator? What kid wouldn't love that? However looking back this was the start of the T-800 becoming child and family friendly. We never got the T-800 from the original back and I think that's a shame.
Secondly Edward Furlong. His acting can't be ignored, it's not good, it's distracting at best. Yes I'm being picky and maybe a little harsh but I feel it's the truth, and these are my main gripes that I'm taking a "point" away for.
So back to the good bits, the story arc and pace are spot on, I personally liked some of the scenes that were cut and feature in the special edition, the Kyle Reese dream sequence and the T-800 cpu scene and moral dilemma, but NOT the smiling scene! The special effects obviously, they were groundbreaking at the time and still hold up OK today.
It's a great fun sci fi action film and certainly lighter in tone that the original. A masterpiece and a classic yes, but when I look back I see that the series was never able to then go back to the darker more menacing roots, and I think that's a shame.