Terminator 2: Judgement Day is obviously the follow up to The Terminator. So, really, I should be writing an opinion on Terminator first, but I liked Terminator II better, so that’s why I’m writing this! Did you know that Terminator II was actually made back in 1991. Seems ages ago doesn’t it. I can remember it being released, oh how time does fly!
The film won no less than 8 awards in 1992, including an Oscar (best sound effects, visual effects, makeup), A BAFTA (best sound effects and best special effects) as well as an MTV movies award (best movie, best action sequence, best breakthrough performance). So judging from that you know that the film is a brilliant film in it’s own right.
The film also did very well at the cinema too! The film was made with a budget of $100m, a lot of money, but after the success of The Terminator, they had some cash to spare! In its opening weekend (3rd July, 1991) it took $52m. Overall it took a whopping $514m worldwide, and that was just in the cinema. Were not talking about the $112.5m and £18m it took in rentals! Worth making the film? I think so!
So, now I’ve told you a bit about what happened after the film, lets tell you a little bit about what happens when you actually watch the film, I suppose it would help really wouldn’t it! First though, I have to tell you (for those who haven’t seen it) that a Terminator is a machine and they are taking over the world basically. These terminators are sent from the future to destroy the leader of human existence.
10 years have passed since the first terminator where we saw Sarah Conor being pursued by a terminator. She now has a son called John (Edward Furlong) who is the leader of human existence as we know it. This time, the terminator is after John, but again, there is a protector sent to try and save them. The protector this time is Arnold Schwarzenegger who played the bad guy in the prequel. More advanced and more intelligent, the terminators are now harder to beat and harder for the protector to fight off aswell.
Sarah Conor (Linda Hamilton) is now in a mental hospital. She is the only one that knows of the existence of the terminators and she has tried to tell people, but they think she’s mad, so behind bars she goes. However, that’s about to change as the protector has to get her out of there.
The Terminator in Terminator 2 is so much more advanced, that it is made out of a metal that will join together in liquid form and also, will melt down so that the terminator can get under doors and such. He is covered with a face and clothes and can morph into different people if he wishes to do so. He’s indestructible, or is he? Shooting him will do no good no matter how big your gun is, he’ll just re-join himself! The T-1000 as it is known is played by Robert Patrick who does make an excellent terminator. He just had the right facial expressions for it if you ask me!
Will John make it? Will the protector be able to fend off the new, indestructible terminator? Well you’ll have to watch it to find out, because I’m not going to tell you anymore!
So what’s the film like I here you cry (well I don’t actually as most of you have watched it im sure!). The film is top notch, brilliant, fantastic, superb, mind blowing orgasmic (ok, well maybe not).
Let’s start with the special effects. This film has the most awesome special effects (well, for 1991 anyway) that I had seen in a film. Right from the opening shot’s you’ll be presented with special effects that will instantly make you look forward to what you are about to see. In fact, I love the opening scene and is one I would have loved to have watched in the cinema. I haven’t seen one like that in a while now. The main special effects I should think are used in the new terminator and the liquid metal. The way the terminator is damaged and then puts himself back together again, all in smooth motion is brilliant and even at the age of 13 I was highly impressed with it. Theres one part when a huge bullet goes straight through the terminators head and were left with this hole, and then his face on either side of this hole. This was probably the most memorable of the special effects in the film, however, there are so many that if I were describing them to you I could be here all day.
To go with the special effects is some great sound effects (no I’m not on about the soundtrack, the actual sound effects). Now I can’t remember if this film was produced in Dolby Surround or not. The DVD probably is and I would love to hear some of the sound effects from the movie played on a decent home cinema system. I can imagine that they would be pretty damn awesome! So what sound effects am I going on about? I’m going on about the guns, the surrounding effects, the way the motorbike sounds when he’s going up the stairs on it. All of the sound effects are there and they are all crystal clear. Like I have already said, this is one I missed out on at the cinema, I would have been too young to get in anyway, but I would love to see it on a home cinema kit (any offers!?)
Now onto the soundtrack itself. Another superb part of the film. Hang on though, there wasn’t much of a soundtrack played, but what there was of it did the film so much justice! The opening scene and the music used with that really set you up for the film with the pulsating beat, but also, kind of sad music used behind them which indicates that something’s not quite right here. One song I did notice was ‘bad to the bone’ and others like this, so it does give you a good feeling when the songs are being played while loads of stuff is going on on your screen! Now, the actual soundtrack is a weird one. There are no songs played by bands and the names of the tracks are all named after parts of the film. I’ll list a few for you, from the main parts of the film:
So, if theres a part of the film where you really like the background music, then this is the track for you as it has 20 tracks all with music used in the film.
So, what more to say about the film, apart from what’s it like? Well, this film will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It’s a tense thriller/horror/chiller/action/sci-fi movie, infact, it has everything! It will put funny feelings in your stomach as you hope for Johns survival and will also make you nervous in many parts when the action takes place. The action scenes are full of suspense and are in no way over quickly, that’s not to say that they are dragged out because even if they are, you don’t feel it as your filled with suspense.
This film is brilliant, pure genius and should have a proud place in anyone’s collection. I plan to get the DVD one day, but I plan to get so many DVD’s and I don’t own one single one yet, so Gem Gem’s, buy me it for Christmas!? :o)
Go watch it, if you haven’t got it, go rent it, if you can’t rent it, go buy it for a fiver, it’s worth it, believe me!