Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

VHS CASE/ SIDE

Length of film:  137 Minutes (Special Edition : 153 Minutes) (Ultimate Cut: 156 Minutes)

Rated: 15

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton,Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick, Earl Boen, Joe Morton, S. Epatha Merkerson, Castulo Guerra

IMDB Rank: 8.6 /10

Part 1 Time:   80 Minutes (Special Edition : 93 Minutes) (Ultimate Cut: N/A Minutes)

Part 2 Time:   57 Minutes (Special Edition : 60 Minutes) (Ultimate Cut: N/AMinutes)

Where does the first part end?  John Connor (Edward Furlong) watches his mom Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) drive off. He cases after the car.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: John shouts, “Mom, wait!”

First line of dialogue on the second part: “No fate, no fate but what we make,” John states to the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) as he pulls out his mom’s combat knife from a picnic table.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Somewhat, Sarah decides to take matters into her own hands following her doomsday dream. She plans to assassinate Miles Dyson (Joe Morton) a high-ranking employee at Cyberdyne Systems who will soon invent a new microprocessor, which will ultimately become the Skynet program.

Which part is better? Considered one of the best film sequels of all time, Terminator 2: Judgement Day has the Terminator (antagonist in the first film) fighting alongside the protagonists. This heel turn provides an emotional pull, as the Terminator learns what it means to be human (i.e., emotions). The special effects are way ahead of its time and are on full display during the final battle between the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) and the protagonists. The action packed second part, is given a slight advantage due to the final confrontation between the T-1000 and the protagonists, resulting in a bittersweet end for the Terminator.

Academy Awards: 1992- Best Cinematography (Nominated), Best Sound (Winner), Best Film Editing (Nominated), Best Effects Sound Effects Editing (Winner), Best Effects Visual Effects (Winner), Best Makeup (Winner)

Other Awards: 1992 BAFTA- Best Production Design (Nominated), Best Sound (Winner), Best Special Visual Effects (Winner)