Terminator 2: Judgment Day stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in a role absolutely perfect for the Austrian behemoth turned governor: a killer robot.  Terminator 2: Judgment Day was released two days before my eighth birthday in 1991, and I couldn't wait to see it.  My parents didn't oblige – I had to wait for the VHS and, even then, it took a serious amount of negotiations before I was finally allowed to bask in the film's R-Rated glory.  For any kid who loves action movies, Terminator 2: Judgment Day was a dream come true.  It's impossible to quantify the awesomeness of a movie about murderous robots for a young boy; it's like Sex and the City for men.  Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the rare action film that is universally beloved.  No matter how good an action film is, it will usually have some detractors.  Not T2. 

Set ten years after James Cameron's first Terminator film, Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the story of Sarah and John Connor and the terminator sent back in time to protect them.  John Connor, you see, is the leader of the human resistance of the robots in the future.  A deadly terminator has been sent back in time to kill John, so another terminator (Arnold) is sent back in time for protection as Judgment Day (the moment the robot revolution begins) approaches. 

James Cameron has always been an innovator, a champion of new technology, and he really opened some eyes with the effects in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.  Robert Patrick's T-1000 represented a breakthrough in CGI and looks surprisingly good even to this day.  The action is straightforward, but epic, featuring a cavalcade of destruction and gun fights.  It's a two-hour adrenaline rush. 

Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong play Sarah and John Connor, respectively.  Hamilton is an impressive action hero in her own right, a muscular no-nonsense woman.  Furlong, for a child actor, is solid and brings a nice bit of angsty attitude to his role.  And, there's Arnold, who utters iconic line after iconic line while stoically bringing the pain.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of Tri-Star)