Time travel is such a tough subject for movies. No matter how much you think through it, there will always be a problem somewhere you couldn't possibly have considered and the film instantly loses credibility. "Terminator 2," even with some of the usual issues, remains strong with brilliantly designed action sequences and great continuity from the original film.
Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), now in a mental institution due to her insistence that a cyborg from the future tried to kill her, is unable to care for her son, John Connor (Edward Furlong). In a foster home, the rebellious teen who will someday lead the humans against the machines is being tracked by a new version of the of the human/machine hybrids, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick). His only hope to survive is another T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger), sent into current times with sole purpose of protecting John.
Even without some of the best action sequences ever put on film, "T2" would still succeed. Characters are formed with great back-stories, the performances are strong, and Robert Patrick steals the show as the cold killing machine. It's amazing to think someone could rebound their career after starring in "King Kong Lives," but Linda Hamilton plays her over-stressed and paranoid role flawlessly. Arnold now on the other side of the good versus evil fight is a little cheesy, but it gives the film some much needed comic relief.
Oh, and those action scenes? Unbelievable. The canal run is easily one of the most memorable chase sequences in the history of motion pictures and the liquid nitrogen truck crash is spectacular to behold. The special effects set a new standard, holding up perfectly 12-years later. The morphing T-1000 is ingenious and numerous documentaries detail how this process was completed (including a few practical effects).
This DVD features the extended directors cut of "T2." Adding in 16 minutes of character development related sequences, this puts the film at two and a half hours, a bit much for any movie. The scenes serve a purpose, but the original mix is likely a better choice (which is available on disc 2; more on that later). Anyway you watch it however, you're getting one of the best sci-fi action films ever conceived. (***** out of *****)
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