90s eye roll
Oh boy, it was really good, saw it again recently. I could do without all that 90s Bart Simpson garbage.
shareIll be honest and say I don't understand peoples' fascination with this film at all. I like the original but this was terrible in comparison. Sure, better effects and a more polished look but aside from that everything else was worse. I'll pass on CGI if it means a better story.
shareI like T2 more than the original. Neither are great films but both are good solid action films, but T2 was bigger in scope, had better chase and action scenes, and Linda Hamilton gave a much more interesting and impressive performance in the second film.
In fact she was SO good that she compensated for the fact that most of the film was about a child! I don't like children or films about children, but this is one that worked.
And I'd like to add one thing:
This is the only time that Linda Hamilton knocked it out of the park! I've seen her in many things, and she's usually been somewhere between okay and good, this was the one time where she was magnetic, terrifying, and totally sympathetic.
Not for nothing, but Arnold WHIPPED her into shape for T2. Otter, I agree with you that this was the performance of her career; but, speaking as a fitness professional, I submit to you that there is a strong link between physical fitness and overall human (cognitive, affective, creative) performance. The Greeks were onto something with their Ideal of “a sound mind in a sound body.” She ROCKED HARD in this movie in no small part because she was CUT and RIPPED. Her physical image, of the ordinary Sarah Conner transformed into into a WARRIOR captured our attention. Her PERFORMANCE as a freaking FORCE OF NATURE bowled us, collectively, over. Best. Terminator. Movie. Ever. And Ever. You know what word comes next, Lord.
shareDid you know that back in the nineties, there were rumors that Hamilton had gotten super-fit for the film by abusing steroids? Truth! Well, it's true that the rumors existed, I have no idea if the rumors were true.
Now leaving aside the ridiculous assertion that spending loads of time at the gym makes you smarter, I have to officially dispute the idea that getting into top physical shape is good for an actor's performance. The cinema of recent decades is littered with actors who got into top physical shape for some role or another, and this is the only example I can think of where that resulted in a performance that's better than the actor's norm. Because dude, John Travolta got hyper-fit for the godawful "Stayin' Alive", and if that isn't the worst performance of his career I don't want to know what is.
Neither are great films? What do you consider to be a great film?
shareOh, I call movies "Casablanca", "Vertigo", "Schindler's List" truly great, films that are deeply affecting, groundbreaking, perfectly done all the way through, which change your life, that sort of thing.
Which is a different thing than being a fun film. "T2" is a top-notch action film, it's totally enjoyable and not profound. I mean I saw "Schindler's List" I thought "I'm wasting my life, I should be doing something that helps others" and that was one of the things that motivated me to enter the helping professions. I saw "T2" and left the theater thinking "Wow, that was the best car chase EVER"!
And that's the difference between a great film and a fun one.
T2 is ranked #41 in the IMDb Top 250, so I'd venture to say that a lot of people consider it a great movie. Fun and great.
shareCome on. Films can be "great" within their own genre. One can debate whether certain genres are naturally inclined to inspire films that achieve greater heights of greatness, but I don't think it's helpful to begin the discussion by excluding certain genres from greatness a priori (e.g. the sci-fi/action genre). You didn't say explicitly that you do that, but your examples of "great" films are all realistic dramas that lean very heavily on character development. Films like that are probably better positioned to probe the full range of human emotions and experiences, but usually they don't tickle certain raw physical sensations that derive from the spectacles of fantasy, horror, or adrenaline pumping action (some great films include them all, like Apocalypse Now). There are plenty of movies that try to tap into these latter sensations and fail miserably. In fact, most fail miserably in my opinion (e.g. compare the great Conan (1982) to its sequel and reboot). James Cameron has managed to make a few truly great films that blend sci-fi, action, and even fairly decent character development. When Siskel & Ebert reviewed The Terminator (1984), the predictably grouchy and difficult to please Siskel stated that the only good thing about it was the love story between Reese and O'Connor, and that he'd have preferred to have seen a film centering on that alone! It sounds like you'd agree with him.
I liken the issue to rock n' roll and classical music. I'm perfectly comfortable attaching the label of "great" to Jumpin' Jack Flash and Beethoven's 9th.
"Films can be "great" within their own genre. One can debate whether certain genres are naturally inclined to inspire films that achieve greater heights of greatness, but I don't think it's helpful to begin the discussion by excluding certain genres from greatness a priori (e.g. the sci-fi/action genre)"
We do agree on that! Not since the invention of the internet has an awards season gone by, without me whining about "genre prejudice" among the people who give out film and TV rewards.
That said, I would still put "T2" as a terrific film, but just a little bit short of a truly great one. Of course it's an absolutely top-notch action film that never EVER lets up, there's thrill packed on top of excitement in a way that just gets better and better as the film goes along, and IMHO Linda Hamilton should have been considered for an Oscar, not that that'd ever happen because of the aforementioned "genre prejudice".
But to me at least, "T2" is a bit short on emotional impact. It just doesn't get me in the heart, the way the very best films do. And films in any genre can have great depth of feeling, the best sci-fi films, animated films, rom-coms, or horror films can break your heart or turn it into a puddle of sentimental goo, and that's the one thing T2 doesn't do. At least for me.
I agree with some of your assessments of T2. For the record, I think T1 is the superior film in almost every way, including the element of emotional impact that you cite. I don't know whether it was Edward Furlong's acting or the way John Connor's character was written, but I just didn't buy his emotional connection to his mother. I thought Michael Biehn was much more convincing, and when he died at the end of T1 I thought the emotional impact was much more effective than Arnie melting himself to John's dismay in T2 (I didn't think it bad or cheesy, just not as convincing).
shareI prefer T2 to T1 myself, I think it's one of those rare films where the sequel is better than the original. But that's a personal preference and not something I will insist that anyone else agree with. I don't find the ordinary romance of "The Terminator" all that interesting, if I like T2 more it's because it's a bigger film with more action... and because Linda Hamilton was absolutely amazing for once in her career. I find the relationship between the batshit crazy mother and the son a bit more interesting than T1's relationship between two heterosexuals.
Quite a lot of people prefer T1 to T2, you're not alone in this. I haven't even seen any of the later Terminator films all the way through.
Lol pretentious much?
shareNeither were great films? The fuck?
T2 just might be THE greatest action movie of all time. There are a few competitors but there aren't many.
See above re "great films".
I dont insist that anyone agree with ny definition of the term.
I'm not sure why Casablanca or Vertigo would be any "greater" than T2. Casablanca, while indeed a great film, isn't especially deep or revolutionary. And Vertigo, while a good film, runs rather slow at times and requires some patience to get through.
You gave as your definition "films that are deeply affecting, groundbreaking, perfectly done all the way through, which change your life, that sort of thing."
I think T2 qualifies. It's one of the few films that I can sit down and watch and, even though I've seen it multiple times, I am still riveted and don't have to fight the urge to check the time or play on my phone. It's funny you mention "perfectly done all the way through," because I JUST got done watching the film again, and as I was watching it I was questioning whether or not I could come up with a single criticism. I still have not come up with one.
Personally I think if a movie changed your life that there is seriously something wrong with you. Cause neither me or anyone I know watches movies for any other reason than to just be entertained.
shareI also wondered exactly what the poster meant by that, but I definitely think movies can be life-changing on certain levels.
Here's an example: In the summer of '86 when Top Gun was released, Navy recruiting went through the roof. They even had recruiters sitting in the lobbies of movie theaters just waiting to lure in prospective young men while they were walking out of the movie. For the guys who joined the Navy because of Top Gun, the movie definitely changed their lives!
This is so funny because back in the 80's when T1 first came out on VHS, my husband managed a men's softball team and I didn't want to go so I was home alone and watched it 3 times in a row. - I popped some corn and had a great relaxing evening.
I agree with the just wanting to be entertained comment and there are very few movies that do that better than T1 and T2. I've never had an epiphany by watching a movie.
In your opinion what Action Sci-fi films from recent are better? Transformers?
Teminator 2 is a tight film with barely any fat, story beats all move the story, character development forward with call backs later on, action beats solid, some of the best action out there even today, clear and concise directing and editing. You know where people are at all times, no confusion, no choppy editing and camera shaking, total spatial awareness. Action moves the plot along and reveals things in the story.
Thats why people love it. Because its one of the best action films of all time. Keep your Die Hard 5, i'll stick with Terminator 2.
Wow. I see we have a reading problem here: "I'll pass on CGI if it means a better story."
But go on, keep insulting me. It proves you're a jackass.
Alien, Dune and the original Terminator beat this with ease. The stories are better and more honest. Plus they lack that kid whining through the whole film.
Idk if they're better or simply a different type but I loved these post 00s action films:
The Raid
IP Man
Baby Driver
John Wick
Run All Night
The Captain America films
Kingsman
Edge of Tomorrow
Brawl in Cell 99
Apocalypto
Not that I was looking for people with the same opinion about T2 but it's sure a pleasant surprise to finally find someone.
shareSaw T1 in the theater back in the day and loved it, and part of that was her adorkable personality. I understand the need for her to change and grow somewhat with the story for T2, but at the end of the day, they turned her into a dyke feminist and the whole film was nothing more than a glitzy 90s version of Woke Garbage - right down her part as the single mother with a snot nosed thug child, and the the black scientist. For me, T1 is the only Terminator movie.
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