90s Movie Review - Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action/ Science-Fiction
Runtime: 137 minutes
Year: 1991
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick

Description: A cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger), identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), must now protect her young son, John Connor (Edward Furlong), from a more advanced cyborg, made out of liquid metal.

Review: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is the proof that sequels can be better than the original. Where “Terminator” was already an amazing movie, this movie manages to top that. Because many sequels have repetition, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is new and original and one of the best movies in the genre.

This is partly because of the script by James Cameron, who also directed the film. He gives enough new insights to keep the movie fresh and spectacular.

Arnold Scharzenegger and Linda Hamilton both return, but their roles are different this time. Arnie plays a good Terminator. He was send back in time to protect John Connor. Sarah Connor is admitted in a mental institution, because she keeps telling everyone that machines will kill everyone. This so called judgment day will wipe out all of humanity. Another, more advanced, Terminator was also send back in time. His task is to kill John Connor.

This is definitely the highlight of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career. This guy breaths action and his one-liners are classic and quotable. Linda Hamilton portrays one of the most memorable female ass-kickers and Robert Patrick as the evil Terminator, does a fantastic job to portray him as cold as steel.

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is the best movie of that year and probably even the best science fiction/ action movie ever made.

Rating: 5/ 5

80s Movie Review - The Terminator

Director: James Cameron

Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Thriller

Runtime: 108 minutes

Year: 1984

Starring: Arnold Schwarzengger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Lance Henriksen, Paul Winfield, Bess Motta, Earl Boen, Rick Rossovish, Dick Miller, Shawn Schepps, Bruce M. Kerner, Franco Columbu, Bill Paxton, Brad Rearden, Brian Thompson

Description: A human soldier (Michael Biehn) is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine (Arnold Schwarzenegger), sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman (Linda Hamilton) whose unborn son is the key to humanity’s future salvation.

Review: Who would have dared to think that “The Terminator” would be a successful classic that still has a huge fan base to this day. The film directed by James Cameron was launched in the 80s as a B-movie, but the success was unprecedented. I am also a huge fan of the film, partly thanks to the special effects that were amazing at the time. And of course the way Arnold Schwarzenegger portrays the murderous cyborg, what eventually became his most iconic role.

Young Sarah Connor becomes the target of a maniacal cyborg who was sent to the past to murder the mother of the future resistance leader John Connor. In the future mankind will fight against murderous machines that seized power after a nuclear war. The resistance sends soldier Kyle Reese to the past to protect the unsuspecting Sarah and eliminate the ruthless cybernetic organism.

It was Schwarzenegger’s breakthrough role and since then it’s hard to picture anyone else in the role. Because he wasn’t director James Cameron’s first choice. Not, everyone knows Schwarzenegger and his most memorable role, even if they never saw any of the Terminator films.

The film is over 30 years old and the action film still impresses. Especially the scene in the dance club is very iconic and well-crafted. “The Terminator” is a dark and exciting film that contains a depressing atmosphere and bombastic action. It’s a great film that entertains from start to finish. I still think the sequel from 1991 is better, but “The Terminator” is, without a doubt, one of the best sci-fi action films out there.

Rating: 4,5 / 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Moms

Sunday is Mother’s Day and I thought it would be fun to share the best movie moms with you. Here are my favorite mothers in movies (not necessarily good moms, but very iconic).

5. Jules & Nic (Julianne Moore and Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”)
Two moms, lesbian moms, who have two kids together. Super cool. One relaxed and a younger soul, the other serious and strict.

4. Mom (Kathleen Turner in “Serial Mom”)
Probably the worst mom to have, because whenever you do something to her kids or family, she will kill you. Literally!

3. Rosemary Penderghast (Patricia Clarkson in “Easy A”)
For me, Rosemary Pendergast is iconic, because of her parenting style. She is modern, hip, sometimes a bit awkward yet a chill mom to have.

2. The Bride/ Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill Vol.2”)
Thinking her daughter has died, after she was in a coma for four years, motherhood eventually comes natural to her when Bride first meets her daughter Bebe.

1. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”)
Sarah Connor is traumatized by something nobody believes really happened. She is estranged from her son John, who brings her right back into that nightmare she once fled. But this time the Terminator is here to help Sarah. And Sarah does everything to save her son.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Betty Mahmoody (Sally Field in “Not Without My Daughter”), Helen Parr/ Elastigirl (Holly Hunter in “The Incredibles”), Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton in “We Need to Talk About Kevin”), Sophie (Meryl Streep in “Sophie’s Choice”)

Top 5 Thursday: Badass Female Movie Characters

I always love a strong female character, especially when they are really badass. Here I will be counting down the most badass female movie characters.

5. Black Widow (“Iron Man 2”, “The Avengers”, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”)

Black Widow, aka Natasha Romanoff, is a woman who stands strong in a man’s world. And she is very badass, who can easily keep up with her male co-workers.

 

 

4. Katniss Everdeen (“The Hunger Games”, “Catching Fire: The Hunger Games”, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1”)

Katniss is forced into a world of violence, but no one thought she would fight back. Katniss is a force to be reckoned with and someone who would do everything for the people she loves.

 

 

3. Sarah Connor (“The Terminator”, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”)

From a student wanting to make it through college, to a strong woman fighting for survival. That’s the story of Sarah Connor’s life. She has seen it all, the good and the bad. One thing is sure, you don’t want to be on Sarah Connor’s bad side.

 

 

2. Ellen Ripley (“Alien”, “Aliens”, “Alien 3”)

Ripley is one of the best heroes in movie history and she helped transform the identity of an entire genre of film. Ripley expresses no fear in times of chaos.

 

 

1. The Bride (“Kill Bill: Vol. 1”, “Kill Bill: Vol. 2”)

Revenge is always personal. This is also the case with Beatrice Kiddo, aka The Bride. When everyone is killed at her wedding and she ends up in a four year coma, all she wants is revenge when she wakes up. The Bride is a woman you really don’t want to mess with.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Rita Vratanski (“Edge of Tomorrow”), Hit Girl (“Kick-Ass”)

Quotables: Terminator 2: Judgment Day

It is my brother’s favorite movie and also one of mine. So, why not share the best quotes from that movie with you. Here we go…

The Terminator: Why do you cry?

John Connor: You mean people?

The Terminator: Yes.

John Connor: I don't know. We just cry. You know, when it hurts.

The Terminator: Pain causes it?

John Connor: No, it's when there's nothing wrong with you, but you hurt anyway. You get it?

The Terminator: No.

The Terminator: I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.

Cigar Biker: You forgot to say please...

 

 

Sarah Connor: [voiceover] Watching John with the machine, it was suddenly so clear. The terminator, would never stop. It would never leave him, and it would never hurt him, never shout at him, or get drunk and hit him, or say it was too busy to spend time with him. It would always be there. And it would die, to protect him. Of all the would-be fathers who came and went over the years, this thing, this machine, was the only one who measured up. In an insane world, it was the sanest choice.

Dr. Silberman: You broke my arm!

Sarah Connor: There's 215 bones in the human body. That's one.

The Terminator: [John starts to cry] What's wrong with your eyes?

[the T-1000 has fallen into a vat of molten steel]

John Connor: Is it dead?

The Terminator: Terminated.

John Connor: You just can't go around killing people.

The Terminator: Why?

John Connor: What do you mean why? 'Cause you can't.

The Terminator: Why?

John Connor: Because you just can't, OK? Trust me on this.

[the Terminator has promised not to kill anybody, but to get into the hospital he shoots the guard in the legs]

The Terminator: He'll live.

 

 

John Connor: Jesus, you were gonna kill that guy.

The Terminator: Of course; I'm a terminator.

John Connor: We got Skynet by the balls now, don't we?

Sarah Connor: [to The Terminator] So, what's your story?

John Connor: You're not here to kill me - I figured out that for myself. So what's the deal?

The Terminator: My mission is to protect you.

John Connor: Yeah? Who sent you?

The Terminator: You did. Thirty-five years from now you reprogrammed me to be your protector here - in this time.

John Connor: This is deep...