Terminator 2: Judgement Day ( * * * * )
After seeing Arnold campaigning for Bush last week, it occurred to me that maybe Skynet was a codename for Haliburton.
The Acting: This movie has the best acting by everyone who's in it. Joe Morton's dying mouth-breathing is kick-ass. Linda Hamilton is oddly buff and strangely hot. Edward Furlong, whose name is forever ruined by that one time Rosie Perez pronounced it "EH-WAW FUH-WAW" at some awards show--was an unknown non-actor whose career was launched and peaked with the role of future resistance leader John Conner, later played by Michael "The Man From Another Place" Anderson from Twin Peaks. Robert Patrick, a Roger Corman find, is excellent as the insanely focused and wryly evil T-1000.
The Story: I loved the first Terminator. But this follow-up matches and even exceeds the original in scope, if not in originality. Mostly car chases and shootouts, there are touching scenes of familial bonding and chilling nightmares of nuclear annihilation.
The Direction: Maybe I'm a sucker, but Cameron had me hooked when I saw the T-800's leering skull-like face coming out of the flames during the opening credits. His stunts are awesome, his gags work, his actors went through hell and it shows on screen. But with a T-800 on the good guy's side, some of the edge is taken off of the suspense of the original.
Overall: Best Beihn-less movie ever.
Tredekka Rules:
The Acting: This movie has the best acting by everyone who's in it. Joe Morton's dying mouth-breathing is kick-ass. Linda Hamilton is oddly buff and strangely hot. Edward Furlong, whose name is forever ruined by that one time Rosie Perez pronounced it "EH-WAW FUH-WAW" at some awards show--was an unknown non-actor whose career was launched and peaked with the role of future resistance leader John Conner, later played by Michael "The Man From Another Place" Anderson from Twin Peaks. Robert Patrick, a Roger Corman find, is excellent as the insanely focused and wryly evil T-1000.
The Story: I loved the first Terminator. But this follow-up matches and even exceeds the original in scope, if not in originality. Mostly car chases and shootouts, there are touching scenes of familial bonding and chilling nightmares of nuclear annihilation.
The Direction: Maybe I'm a sucker, but Cameron had me hooked when I saw the T-800's leering skull-like face coming out of the flames during the opening credits. His stunts are awesome, his gags work, his actors went through hell and it shows on screen. But with a T-800 on the good guy's side, some of the edge is taken off of the suspense of the original.
Overall: Best Beihn-less movie ever.
Tredekka Rules:
- Rule 6: Over The Top Acting Award--goes to Robert Patrick/T-1000. Who knew liquid metal could be so cool? +1 star.
- Rule 14: Cool Gun Award--Only Schwarzenegger could weild a mini-gun by hand and make it seem remotely plausible. +1 star.
- Rule 22: The Great Entrance Award--goes to, "Give me your clothes, your boots, and your motorcycle." +1 star.
- Rule 24: Exploding Buildings Are Good, +1 star.
Tredekka Score: ( * * * * )
posted by Tredekka at 7:44 AM
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