Year: 1991Film: Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Box Office Gross: $204,843,350
Awards: Won 4 Academy Awards for effects, make-up and sound
Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
This movie is iconic in so many ways, at least in my mind. "Hasta la vista, baby" was so common when I was in middle school. And Linda Hamilton's totally ripped arms paved the way for all skinny, muscular women. Also, if I remember correctly the CGI technology was really cutting edge at the time, and for the most part still stands up as unique and innovative. The liquid metal bad guy was a wholly new character that has been mocked, repeated, and parodied many times. Anyway, Terminator 2 is more of the story of John Connor and the Terminator series from the future. It's a battle between humans and technology, but trying to alter the future by changing the past. John Connor sends back in time a Terminator (Schwarzenegger) to protect his teenage self. Sarah Connor has been locked up in a mental hospital because she kept telling people about the first Terminator (who tried to kill John) and the future of computers taking over the world. The new Terminator returns and he meets up with John (Furlong, in the only terrific role he ever played) and vows to protect him. They break Sarah out of the hospital and try to change the future by stopping the computer guy who invents all the bad computers. I'm sure there's some sort of time-travel paradox going on, but they don't explain it, and those problems make my head hurt. They spend a lot of time being chased by the bad Terminator 1000 (Patrick), the liquid mental guy. The chase scenes are pretty standard for an action movie, but the little nuances are pretty great - like the hubcap-like injuries the T-1000 gets, and the fact that they use mack trucks to chase each other as if they're sports cars. The final scene in the factory with lots of molten metal and sparks and such is very Die Hard-esque. I still like this movie, and even like the TV version of The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The acting is not terrific throughout, but it's definitely perfect for the movie it's trying to create.
4 comments:
I can still clearly remember seeing this in the theater. I was 10 and we were in Oklahoma City for my Mom's 15th high school reunion. It was the first time I'd ever been in a stadium seating theater. Oh, and the movie's awesomeness blew my fragile 10-year-old mind. And then I developed a crush on Edward Furlong for awhile, not that I really saw him in much after that.
I still love this movie, and more than the first. I didn't bother with the 3rd: I didn't see the point. I'm unsure about this 4th installment, even with Christian Bale on board. To me, they'll never beat the second one, no matter what they try.
Rachel, I totally agree - the first one just doesn't match up. I wonder how long that list might be, of sequels that outweighed their original? Hmmm....
I like the Sarah Conner Chronicles. At first, I was only watching for Summer Glau, but then I ended up really liking it. I'm glad they're bringing it back for another season.
I'm skeptical of Terminator Salvation, but I look forward to it. In any case, I know I'll see it no matter what the reviews say.
Ny favorite line: "I know now why you cry, but it is something I can never do."
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