Well obviously I am referring to the famous line from part one. I know many of you have watched this movie already, however I don?t think any of you is as big a fan of this movie as I am, and this is precisely the reason why I am writing this movie ? I simply LOVE this movie.
A compelling storyline : This is a storyline that is as interesting today as it was when it was released in 1991. The concept of sending someone (let alone a cybernetic machine) back through time for a specific mission (not by accident or an experiment as in ?Back to the future?) is definitely innovative thinking and will stand as one of the better storylines Hollywood movies have ever produced. So here goes the story:
In the future there is a war happening between the machines and humans. In part I a terminator is sent back to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor who leads the human resistance against the machines, even before he is born. The resistance sends a human soldier to protect her. The mission fails i.e. Sarah survives. In part II a more advanced terminator the T1000 (the earlier one was T101) is sent back, this time to kill John when he is still only a child. The resistance this time captures a T101, reprograms it to protect John and sends it back through time. Then begins a series of edge of the seat clashes between the two with excellent special effects and in the end not only is the T1000 killed (?Terminated? as the T101 says) but also the terminator helps Sarah actually prevent the nuclear holocaust by destroying all the things that could lead to it. The movie ends with a message about the need to realize the importance of human life.
Special effects: Now we?re talking! When it was released in 1991, this movie?s special effects were ground breaking. Ground breaking special effects in movies was started by George Lucas in Star Wars and then I think this was the film that upped the ante. Recent movies like Independence day, Matrix, Lord of the Rings etc. leave the Terminator 2 far behind but it cannot be denied that the special effects hold ground even today. Here are some of the best scenes in the movie made possible by special effects:
1. The scene when the T-1000 suddenly disappears and then rises from the floor (my God! I was simply awestruck by this scene, and I?m sure it is many others? favorite too).
2. The scene where the T-101 (the hero) punches the T-1000 in the face: his hand is stuck ? the T1000 begins to morph ? the head becomes two hands clasping the T-101 and the head emerges from the shoulder!! A great scene.
3. The scene where Sarah Connor is dreaming about the future and there is a nuclear explosion ? Everything is destroyed and Sarah who is standing at a mesh-fence trying to warn other people is burnt completely and only the skeleton remains!!
4. The scene where T101 hits the T1000 with a rod on the shoulder and the T1000?s torso is torn into two! He simply joins together again and ?slides? the rod away. (See the movie, you?ll understand what I am talking about).
5. The scene he uses the motorcycle to jump off a floor in the Cyberdyne systems building and catches the helicopter. He then goes inside the chopper through the canopy, melts, goes into the chopper to get ?back into shape? again.
6. The scene in which a SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team is trying to stop the inexorable advance of the terminator (T101) when he tries to get out of the Cyberdyne building: the team unleashes its full firepower on him but he simply keeps advancing.
Masterful directing: Well, what else could one expect from a master? His mastery lies in the fact that in spite of figuring in the favorites? list of hardcore action fans across the world (which is quite an achievement in itself) this movie successfully passes a message through to its viewers, a human message ? that of peace and the need for it in this world. The director James Cameron has many other super-hit movies to his name which include Titanic, Aliens, The abyss etc.
Excellent dialogues: Sample some of its dialogues:
John Connor: We can never make it, can we? Humans I mean.
Terminator: Its in your nature to destroy yourselves.
Or (this is my favorite)
Sarah Connor: [narrating] After a long time I look forward to future with hope. Because if a machine, a terminator, can understand the value of human life, maybe someday we can too.
Or
Sarah Connor: [narrating] Dyson listened while the Terminator laid it all down: Skynet, Judgment Day, the history of things to come(interesting way of putting it, don?t you think. It’s not everyday you hear that you’re responsible for 3 billion deaths. He took it pretty well.
Miles Dyson : I feel like I’m gonna throw up.
Or
[Dyson’s personal code fails to access the computer room]
The Terminator : Let me try mine.
[Blasts door open]
Or
The Terminator : Why do you cry?
John Connor : You mean people?
The Terminator : Yes.
John Connor : I don?t know. We just cry. You know, when it hurts.
The Terminator : Pain causes it?
John Connor : No, it’s when there’s nothing wrong with you, but you cry anyway. You get it?
The Terminator : No.
Well, a lot said already I guess, so I won?t stretch the review any longer. James Cameron is a superb director and all of his work is top of the line - and T2 is one of his best. The story is very good and well executed ? If the idea wasn’t as well executed, the film may not have been so good. Overall, a true masterpiece by anyone’s standards; Young and old alike should enjoy this film.
PS: Please rate this review and leave some comments because I want to know how well (or how badly) this is written. This is because I am planning to write a review on ?The Lion King? (another of my favorites) soon and I need to know if I should continue with my plan or if it would be better to bury it.