Terminator 2: Judgment Day Review: The Sequel That Outdid the Original
9/10 — Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Pros
- Groundbreaking effects
- Brilliant action set pieces
- Linda Hamilton's tough Sarah Connor
Cons
- Annoying young John
- Slight mid-film sag
A reprogrammed Terminator is sent back in time to protect the young John Connor from a more advanced, shape-shifting machine, the T-1000. James Cameron’s sequel flips the original’s villain into a hero.
What works
The liquid-metal T-1000, played with chilling calm by Robert Patrick, was groundbreaking, and the action, from the canal chase to the steel mill climax, is breathtaking. Linda Hamilton’s hardened Sarah Connor is a great action heroine, and there’s a real heart to the unlikely bond between Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator and John.
Where it falters
Edward Furlong’s John can be irritating, and the pacing sags slightly in the middle.
Verdict
A thrilling and surprisingly emotional blockbuster that still looks fantastic.
