Terminator 2: Judgment Day

What’s the Story?

Continuing the story of the first film, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY finds The Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, sent back in time from the future again, but this time switching sides to become the protector of the human race's future hope, John Connor. Meanwhile, Connor's mother Sarah (Linda Hamilton), who tries to spread the knowledge of an apocalyptic future that she acquires in the first film, is deemed insane and confined to an institution. The action is almost nonstop with shopping mall shootouts, truck/motorcycle chases, and various other action set pieces saturating the film.

Is It Any Good?

This is the film that made CGI effects seem palatable and as such, can be considered a promulgator of all subsequent big budget action effects movies. Its greatest technical achievement is the shape-shifting T1000 character who pursues John Connor and makes it necessary for The Terminator to act as protector. The film continually ratchets up the tension as the T1000 comes closer and closer to destroying young John, making TERMINATOR 2 a thoroughly exciting thrill ride.

While playing the character with the same steely stoicism as in the original, Arnold obviously relishes the chance to be the "good guy" in this one, and the script provides him with plenty of silly one-liners to provide the otherwise dark film some levity. Linda Hamilton turns in a frantic performance as a desperate mother locked away because everyone thinks she's insane.