Jen Gets Terminated, Day 2: Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Summary
When James Cameron debuted his first real feature film in 1984 -- directing Piranha II: The Spawning for hire didn't really count -- he turned out a $6.5 million science fiction horror flick called The Terminator that became a commercial and critical hit. (It remains at 100 percent on the Tomatometer to this day.) Ten years later, Cameron returned to the Terminator saga with Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a $100 million spectacle that made landmark advances in special effects technology and earned the title of most expensive movie ever made, a gamble that paid off in spades. But is Terminator 2: Judgment Day also the best movie sequel of all time? Back to Article
When James Cameron debuted his first real feature film in 1984 -- directing Piranha II: The Spawning for hire didn't really count -- he turned out a $6.5 million science fiction horror flick called The Terminator that became a commercial and critical hit. (It remains at 100 percent on the Tomatometer to this day.) Ten years later, Cameron returned to the Terminator saga with Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a $100 million spectacle that made landmark advances in special effects technology and earned the title of most expensive movie ever made, a gamble that paid off in spades. But is Terminator 2: Judgment Day also the best movie sequel of all time? Back to Article
(1-65 of 65 posts) | Reply
on May 19 2009 06:17 PM Terminator 2 . . . my favorite movie of all time. I never get tired of watching it. (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 06:21 PM I too was ten when this film hit theaters and loved it then for its robots and explosions. It wasn't until I watched it years later I fell in love again, this time for its complexity and heart as well as its robots and explosions. Classic. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 06:29 PM T2 is one of the best films ever put on celluloid. I remember seeing it the theater. What an experience. There was an argument on an earlier article about whether or not Terminator has "depth". I think you hit the nail on the head Jen when you say that its more than an action film. Regardless of how bad T3 is and T4 will be, we will always have this gem. Thumbs up as I'm lowered into molten metal. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 06:45 PM --== Cougarster.Com ==-- Best Cougar dating site in the world! For Cougars, dating a younger man can be exciting and feel younger. And also you may find yourself more compatible with young men. For younger men, dating an older woman has numerous advantages. You can sometimes learn valuable advice from her on how to conduct himself in a difficult situation. She is your best listener and supporter. Join us and contact tens of thousands of cougars and cougar admirers! (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 06:51 PM T2 is amazing. I'm not sure if I would say anything is dated other than clothing in this film, though. Yeah, GNR don't really exist, but the special effects were massively ahead of their time (thanks in part to Tool guitarist Adam Jones). (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 06:55 PM Everyone loves T2, me included. Again, i love how you just can't stop the T1000, ever. Oh, sorry, forgot to mention, if you have a boiling pit of molten metal then you can, no worries!!! (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 07:02 PM In reply to this comment (#2486366) Nice mention of Adam Jones. What exactly did he do for the movie? I knew he worked on special effects but I'm not sure where. Definitely make-up or model effects, eh. (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 07:03 PM It's one of those rare movies that's perfect all around. Between being a good movie, good sequel, and good special effects. It's done so much. "Ultimately, the brilliance of Terminator 2: Judgment Day is that it's a sequel which not only continues its original story, but also builds upon and expands it in terms of storytelling, theme, and scope. T2 is the rare case where a sequel is better than the original, though it never forgets its debt to the first film; it would be nothing without, and yet is much more than, the first Terminator." My sentiments exactly. Truly one of the best sequels ever. Especially difficult considering just how good the first one is. And the special effects can easily stand up against anything coming out today. I first saw this on TV when I was six years old. I loved watching it then and every single time since. I never once got bored watching it. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 07:39 PM Great review Jen! I am awaiting your take on Terminator Salvation...but I am steadily losing hope....if MCG screwed this up, then I will be very very dissapointed! This is one of my favorite movie franchises of all time...I even somewhat enjoyed parts of T3... (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 07:58 PM I don't have much time, so I'll read this tomorrow. But, this is one of the best sci-fi's evah! 10/10. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 07:59 PM This,The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight, and Godfather Part II represent a very small league of sequels that "not only continues its original story, but also builds upon and expands it in terms of storytelling, theme, and scope." (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 08:03 PM Inside Terminator 2 was something I never expected , a movie that equaled the original and more so. Of course bigger is better in Hollywood when it comes to movies , in this case it actually worked. The only thing that was missing from the second that we have today is the movie was never presented in IMAX... now that would have Rocked! I was in my teens and the message in the film was as strong then as it is today . I was not a fan on the third installment and I%u2019m hopeful that Salvation will be just that, redeeming the franchise that is as much a part of the American history. (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 08:51 PM T2 was the best of the 3 the third one ruined it but i hope the new one will be better! (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 08:53 PM Well done, Jen. T2 was T1 all over again but with better dialogue, better humour, much improved special effects (incredible) and a perfect villian. Sarah Conner was the only weak spot having suddenly become a superwoman with fighting skills to die for! But thanks most likely thanks to the North American political correctness dudes (& dudesses)invading Hollywood. It's the wonderful special effects that make it what it is though, and Arnold is superb in it. T3 was ok, but not one for the memory banks. I hold no hope at all for T4. Christian Bale? No way - too intense and one dimensional. Fans would prefer to see a old age grandad Arnold instead. T4 will just be explosions, a weak script, explosions again, dark, more explosions... just think Alien 3 (how dull and grey was that?). Anyway, T2 rules! (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 09:00 PM It's funny how many of us saw this as young kids when rated-R movies were supposed to be "bad" for us yet parents didn't seem to bother too much. It's not the same these days. They don't market rated-R movies these to kids anymore. My life changed when I saw T1 and T2. Step aside Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Batman. The Terminator was and still is something else. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 09:01 PM I think T2 is an *awesome* film and one of the best sequels ever. However, I think the film James Cameron directed immediately before this one is actually *the* best sequel ever: Aliens. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 09:33 PM Easily the best Terminator film. I also saw & fell in love with T2 as a kid. (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 09:57 PM In reply to this comment (#2486624) I agree, Gavin D. I actually like all 3 of the franchise, including the third one. This one is of course the best. Warheart1188, it is funny that you say that about it not bothering you. I too saw this at a very young age, when sleeping over at a friend's house. I was probably 7 or 8, and I was pretty much scarred for life from that nuclear holocaust playground scene! But I still liked the movie a LOT! And I still do. (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 10:11 PM T2 was a great film even though at the time it came out I wished for more future war well now we get it the envelope pushing liquid metal efx for the time amazing you cant knock the film at all but I will say this. They ruined a perfectley good oppertunity for mass carnage in the mini gun scean with all the cops.Yes he was a good guy i guess but seeing dudes torn apart by a mini gun would have been epic. I saw the first one when I was in my early teens so I was expecing more carnage but alas to each his own. Oh and the thumbs up at the end was way to corny for me but now at 37 I have softend up a bit and it kinda can draw a tear. But when it came out..trash.( i think i was 21 i cant remember) they have all been good we will see what they do here they seem to have a budget again.(T3 was cool enough to keep it alive plus I thought the ending was perfect it shut the door on anymore pre skynet crap not that it was bad they can still show a lot of back story if they want) Anyway you a cool Chick keep it up at RT :) (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 10:21 PM "I hold no hope at all for T4. Christian Bale? No way - too intense and one dimensional. Fans would prefer to see a old age grandad Arnold instead." This is a generally incorrect comment, especially as it pertains to this ardent Terminator fan. Christian Bale's intensity (and the fact that he isn't one-dimensional) is what makes him perfect for the role. Just like he's perfect as Bruce Wayne. And the Terminator TV show proved to me beyond any doubt that this franchise can indeed be enjoyable without Arnold. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 10:24 PM "Oh and the thumbs up at the end was way to corny for me but now at 37 I have softend up a bit and it kinda can draw a tear. But when it came out..trash.( i think i was 21 i cant remember)" I always loved that thumbs up at the end . . . even at the age of 20 when I first saw it. Now at 37, it still tugs at my heartstrings. :-) (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 10:28 PM "Oh and the thumbs up at the end was way to corny for me but now at 37 I have softend up a bit and it kinda can draw a tear. But when it came out..trash.( i think i was 21 i cant remember)" I always loved that thumbs up at the end . . . even at the age of 20 when I first saw it. Now at 37, it still tugs at my heartstrings. :-) (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 10:30 PM "Oh and the thumbs up at the end was way to corny for me but now at 37 I have softend up a bit and it kinda can draw a tear. But when it came out..trash.( i think i was 21 i cant remember)" I always loved that thumbs up at the end . . . even at the age of 20 when I first saw it. Now at 37, it still tugs at my heartstrings. :-) (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 10:32 PM Oh, HECK!!! Sorry about all those duplicates! I didn't realize we were already on page 2 and kept wondering why it wasn't showing up on the first page. Again, sorry about that!!! I'd delete the duplicates if I could. (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 10:34 PM 10/10 one of the best movies ever. But I'm pretty sure Ahnold is a T-101 not 800. By far the best of the series. I found Bale pretty stiff and 1-D in TDK, Ledger totally made that. It'll probably be another supposed-to-be lead acting role but really a secondary. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 10:52 PM CynDaVaz - the tv show has not been renewed for a third season due to lack of interest. Bale stiff & one-dimensional in the average, yet over long TDK Ninja13? Give yourself an A , totally right. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 10:55 PM Iīve always been impressed not only by T2s awesome action scenes and effects, but also by its deeply gloomy atmosphere. Itīs such a desperate and hopeless journey into the night. The whole plot feels like pure Greek drama. The characters face true existential dilemmas. Not less than the future of mankind is tied to their decisions and deeds, and ironically, all of this takes place in an everyday Los Angeles setting, a truly cynical, degenerated sinkhole thatīs just not worth it. What a tragic scenario this is! (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 10:55 PM I effing love T2, it's one of the best films ever made. (Reply to this) |
on May 19 2009 11:14 PM In reply to this comment (#2486698) Ninja13 - just a quick note, Googled to make sure (so you know it's true): "The current, most widely-accepted nomenclature seems to indicate that the Terminator from the first two films is a T-800 series, model 101" (Reply to this) |
|
on May 19 2009 11:33 PM Great article. I am glad that there are others like myself who appreciate how far ahead of it's time T2 was. It's sad many people like to dis Arnold's movies because of his political track record as The Gov. He had some duds but a few good one's too like Predator. (Reply to this) |
on May 20 2009 02:10 AM That's some great analysis, Jen. It makes me wish they had never made T4 more than I already do now. One probably will not enjoy T4 if they grew up on the originals. I'd be surprised if T4's T-meter makes it into the 40's at this point. Every concern seems to be echoed by those reviewers. But yeah, I loved this movie as a kid. It still holds my attention and keeps me on the edge, unlike most of today's films. It's an amazing piece of cinema. James Cameron is one of the most bankable around. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 02:33 AM T2 is pretty impossible to top. I hope Salvation gets close! (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 03:05 AM As I've gotten older I've come to greatly prefer the first film for it's more intimate focus, tighter pacing and Arnie's career best perfomance. He really is quite chilling and 100% believable where as in the sequels he would break character from time to time and sound too human. Obviously T3 was rife with that stuff but there were little slips in T2 as well. That said T2 is still a fantastic film and one of the best sequels ever made. The set pieces are still spectacular and the jokes still make me laugh even though I must have heard them 20 times by now! And I'm sorry Jen but I must say though that this series is by far the worst you guys have done. It's pretty much just a blow by blow account of the films with very little in the way of interesting discourse. The references to what seems 'dated' are completely off base. None of these 'dated' details do anything more than place the film exactly in the time that it is set. I can understand people having issues with what was meant to be high-tech device looking rather daft now, eg like in some of the old Bond films, but the so called dated elements, (hair-styles, pop-culture references etc) in T1 and T2 do nothing more than place the film exactly in the time that it is set, althought the first films score could be an exception. Surely we are all mature enough now to watch a film more than 10 years old without saying this and that is dated? I mean I don't watch 'Taxi Driver' and chuckle at Albert Brooks's hair style. It it fits within the context of when the film was set it isn't necessarily dated. (Reply to this) |
on May 20 2009 05:38 AM I don't have much to add to the love fest here-- mostly because I, too, love this movie--but I will add this observation: 'Terminator' is James Cameron. James Cameron is 'Terminator.' It was his brainchild, his [real]coming-out party, and his opus (FAR better display of his mastery than the technically brilliant but heavy-handed and soapy 'Titanic'). I don't want to be too cultish, but I just don't think anyone else can match his vision. I like some of the flourishes of director John Mostow on T3, and I thought he was proficient but not inventive. He essentially built a Terminator movie from the official 'build your own Terminator movie' kit presented to him by Stan Winston. The TV series showed some promise, early on, but lacked the cohesiveness of a concise story. They were stretching themselves Waaay too thin. Ballsy move, though, making the Barbie Terminator. They almost sold it, too. I don't know what I'll make of this new movie, but I confess I'm already expecting to be a little disappointed- I think there's something to the Terminator Mythology that requires the disconnect of time and technology; the whole cautionary tale of Terminator is the Sorceror's Apprentice-- 'Don't let your broom/killer robot/technology get away from you or you lose control' ...ACT NOW to SAVE your world. But this movie takes place in the future, when the demon has already been unleashed, and the world is already almost destroyed. It will essentially be just a war movie. Not sure how that fits in the Terminator Canon. Hey, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. I still respect the (*&^)(& out of Bale. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 05:43 AM In reply to this comment (#2486340) Oh, and for those at RT not paying attention, 'Cougar D' is a spambot, wasting the rest of our valuable nerd-venting time and space. PLEASE DESTROY WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE. (Reply to this) |
on May 20 2009 08:02 AM This film will never be touched. It's been my all-time favorite film as a child when I first saw it in theatres. Ever since, no other movie has topped it. I still believe the franchise should have stopped after the second one because the story was completely told. The stories that have come out (T3, Sarah Connor Chronicles, and now T4 and beyond) are entertaining, and enjoying I'm sure, but I don't count them as part of the franchise and I never will. I understand some people saying the films are not the same without Arnold, but that's not true. We've already had a film with Arnold in T3, and that was a letdown. The films are not the same without James Cameron. He'll never do another one, so I'm not bothered by any installments after the fact. If T4 is great, which I'll assume is decent or good at this point, I'll consider it an entertaining flick but no way will I consider it as part of the franchise. Terminator 2 is just too rock solid, and an overall masterpiece for me to let the other "sequels" ruin it for me. (Reply to this) |
on May 20 2009 08:59 AM In reply to this comment (#2486403) Yes Make-Up or model effects. He did a great job working with Stan Winston on multiple movies. Tool is a great ****ing band too. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 09:16 AM I saw this movie when I was six, I begged my parents to take me when they went to see it on the big screen. The wouldn't. I borrowed it from my uncle when it came out on VHS and never gave it back to him. I still have that copy and it is worn the **** out. I got T1 and T2 for Christmas a couple years later and T2 was also the first DVD I ever got. The first is my favorite movie, but T2 is an extremely close second. I never get tired of watching it and I brought it to work with me today to watch on my laptop. (Reply to this) |
on May 20 2009 09:25 AM In reply to this comment (#2486526) Yeah, bigger is better in Hollywood, but it's very rare that you also get bigger and better plot and character development as we get here. Cameron really did do a bang up job and this is probably my second favorite sci-fi film after the director's cut of Blade Runner. It would have been my favorite, but I have two problems with this movie. 1) Some of Sarah Connor's narration is too "on the nose" especially in descibing John's relationship to the Terminator. Stuff like that I wish would have just been left unsaid and described in John's talk about father-figures lost and his growing adoration of the Terminator. 2) It still feels to me like they changed the rules of the game with this movie. While there was talk in the first movie that you can change fate, it still seemed to say that you can't change fate. I felt like that was the whole point of Kyle fathering John, that was going to happen no matter what, it was fate. But I also feel that if your past is the future, if you change the future then your past changes as well. If Judgement Day never happens, then Kyle wouldn't have a reason to go back, if Kyle doesn't go back then John would never be born. I know some people don't want to think about it too much, but I still feel this is a major plot hole in the logic of Terminator 2. These are the only two things that detract from the movie for me though. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 09:48 AM I just watched T2 last week. My conclusion is Arnold made Terminator the franchise it turned into. Without him, it's just another SciFi flick with great potential. James Cameron would have probably done a fantastic job with Salvation. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 09:51 AM OK Runtun, I'll humor you; what do you want out of this series? Whitey: I hear you on the fate issue. It's the one thing I still fret over with T2, sort of addressed in T3, and in T4...well, you'll have to wait and see what they do. Thanks all for the great comments! Hope you stick around for today's T3 installment. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 10:09 AM In reply to this comment (#2487217) I admit I've thought about that plothole quite a bit myself, especially before the 3rd movie came out. Theoretically, John wouldn't exist if Judgment Day never happened, but it occurred to me that his continued existence suggested that Judgment Day would eventually happen, as explained in the 3rd movie. One has to wonder if that ever occurred to Sarah or John following the events of T2, but I guess that's the last thing they would think about. Another plothole about T2 bothered me for years, and somewhat still confuses me. John is born in 1984, and we assume he's about 12 or 13 in T2. Ahhnold tells John that he was reprogrammed and sent back through time 35 years. Assuming he was sent back in 2029 (the same year as the first terminator was sent), that would make it 1994, and John would only be 10. One might figure that the 2nd terminator could be sent back a few years later, but Reese tells the cops in the 1st film that the time displacement machine was blown up shortly after he was sent. Maybe I'm missing something completely or just overanalyzing. It doesn't really bother me. It just gave me something to think about. It was my 9th birthday, and my mom took me to my first R-rated movie in theatres, and it was this masterpiece. I've made several top 10 lists over the years for my favorite films, and T2 always shows up in my top 3. Brilliant film! (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 10:35 AM I always hated Terminator 2. It was well-made with great special effects, but the plot was full of holes, and I couldn't watch it and turn my brain off. My brain kept screaming, "Just kill the damn kid and it'll all be over!" This is why time travel movies never work... (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 11:05 AM Darth Wonka Said "This,The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight, and Godfather Part II represent a very small league of sequels that "not only continues its original story, but also builds upon and expands it in terms of storytelling, theme, and scope." You forgot to include ALIENS in that list dude. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 11:15 AM In reply to this comment (#2487376) I wouldn't say Aliens is better than the original, I put that in the category of just as good. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 11:30 AM In reply to this comment (#2487294) Well, with the advent of T3 (a grab to keep the franchise open and show that Judgement Day is still going to happen) there's proof that they didn't prevent it. But hardly anyone looks at T3 as "cannon", so to speak, and Cameron has said that he was trying to end the series and say that they prevented Judgement Day. In reality, when Kyle Reese jumped into the past, the future also became the past and there's no way to change that. That's a huge plot whole in Judgement Day. Other than that I don't know what plot holes quietus28 is talking about. I don't really think the age thing is a plot hole. I have to go back and watch the movie, but if you're assuming he was sent back from 2029, then he might have been sent back from a later date making this point moot. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 11:54 AM In reply to this comment (#2486403) I believe Adam Jones did the modeling and some of the CGI. It's never really been told on any of the special features, unless I just forgot about it. I'll have to dig up more on that. (Reply to this) |
on May 20 2009 12:52 PM The Terminator is the better film. You are everything that is wrong with the world, Jen. (Reply to this) |
on May 20 2009 01:22 PM best action movie ever. sick. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 01:23 PM In reply to this comment (#2486698) Arnold is a T-800 series, model 101. I think the 101s all look like Arnold. Am I the only guy around here who likes T1 the best? (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 01:26 PM In reply to this comment (#2486698) Oh, Runtun. Okay. I agree--T2 has too many jokes for it to totally immerse me in the movie. I think T2 is more about the great characters. But T1 is perfect. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 01:30 PM And willpower! I don't second your hostility towards Jen though. Or Runtun's. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 01:41 PM In reply to this comment (#2486520) Darthwonka, I'd add "Aliens" to that list of sequels that expand on the mythology. I'll never forget the "wow" moment of anticipation when Ripley asked "So who's laying these eggs?" (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 01:47 PM Oh, willpower. You cad, you. Don't go changing! Love, Jen (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 02:26 PM Hey Jen, blast from the past but I had to chime in on T2, quite possibly the best action film ever made and one of my Top 10 Favorite Movies. I can seriously watch this movie every day for a week (I once did in college) and not get tired of it. The snappy one-liners, the top-notch action and effects that still hold up and the epic score all work to make T2 a modern classic. It is the first R Rated film I ever saw and it really set a standard to which all other sci-fi and action pictures would be measured. One thing that i will say about the first two movies is that they are technically period films. The first one happened to be set in the year it was made, but T2 takes place two years later than when it was released. This means that Cameron was using the music and technology of those specific times to immerse us in them, not simply making a film that we assume takes place in present day. That's my only problem with what you said yesterday with T1 about the 80's tech dating the film; you said it like it was a bad thing. Yes, these elements date the films and they're supposed to. We need to know that the stories take place in 84 and 94, leading up to John being the Gruff 45 year-old we see in 2029. I really wanted T4 to be good, even though I had bemoaned its existence when it was first announced as a McG project a couple years ago. Just like 'Wolverine," i knew deep down that it couldn't not suck, but I wanted it to be great anyways. I think I'll just go into the theater this weekend, having just watched T2 a couple times this week to remember when, expecting cool action and little else. It's not gonna blow me away, but when compared with T2, few action films ever do. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 05:04 PM This movie came out when I was about 7, I think, and I saw it probably the following year when it came out on VHS. In fact, if I recall correctly, it was only the second R-rated movie I ever saw (After Alien, of course!). While it's definitely one of my all-time favorite movies, I was more into it from a purely action-based perspective as a kid, and, like so many people my age, I don't think I truly appreciated it as a movie until many years later. My only regret is that I couldn't have seen it for the first time as an adult (And indeed, as a follow-up to the original, since I saw T2 first... after all... THAT was the one they were selling toys for!). I think one of my favorite things, looking back at it, is that, assuming you HAD seen the first movie before the second, the whole opening 20-30 minutes of the movie... they don't really make it explicitly clear WHICH terminator is the bad one and which is the good one. Indeed, until the scene where they come face-to-face and Arnold says "Get down," it would be logical to assume HE'S the bad one, since he was the first time (and, while still fairly robotic, the T-1000 has significantly more personality than Arnold... well... if smarminess counts.) Again, something I didn't appreciate until much later... and it might have been nice to go through that semi-disbelief that Sarah Connor herself goes through when he shows up at the hospital and she freaks out. (It's worth noting however, that I have zero memory of the trailers for the movie, so I have no idea if they completely spoiled that aspect of the movie. Would have been cool if they did a Kevin Spacey in "Seven" thing and made it a total surprise.) On a related topic: When I was a kid... it seemed like all the toys I owned were either Ninja Turtles, or from some R-Rated movie... do they still make toys for kids based on adult-oriented movies? (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 05:10 PM In reply to this comment (#2487294) John is 10 in T2 (even though he really doesn't seem like it, and Furlong obviously wasn't that young at the time). As I recall, when the T-1000 looks up his profile on the computer in the police cruiser he takes, his age is stated as 10 amongst the other information. So it's not a plot hole or a logic flaw in the traditional sense, but definitely a slip-up in the writing, because John definitely didn't seem much like a 10 year old in my mind. I would say it was a casting error, but I think Furlong was what Cameron was looking for; I'm just guessing Cameron had no sweet clue what a 10 year old behaves like. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 07:29 PM In reply to this comment (#2488088) See, that's what I was thinking too. I also take notice of the fact that it is possible that the 2nd terminator could've been sent several years after 2029, but that would make the date of T2 close to 1997, the year of Judgment Day. The terminator explains to Sarah that it would be several years before Miles Dyson developed the super processor that would eventually become Skynet. So, we have to assume that the events of T2 had to occur at least 2 to 3 years before 1997, which gives us our plothole. Maybe you're right about the casting of John. It would've been nearly impossible to find a 10-year-old who would've fit the plot as well as Eddie did. I guess James Cameron was hoping no one would take notice. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 07:54 PM "CynDaVaz - the tv show has not been renewed for a third season due to lack of interest." I'm aware the TV show has not been renewed - that doesn't change the fact that I discovered I was able to enjoy something Terminator-related even without Arnold's presence. So what's your point? (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 09:05 PM In reply to this comment (#2488379) Wait, 35 years before 2029 is 1994 which puts it perfectly in the timeline. I know I've seen people who look older than their actual age (my daughter looked 5 when she was 3, and had the smarts of a 5 or 6 year old). So where is the plothole again? (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 09:09 PM In reply to this comment (#2488379) Nevermind, I get it. Here's the thing, how would Kyle know that it was really blown up after he went back in time? John probably told him that when he sent him back in time, but new he would need it again to send a Terminator back to save himself because it happened. He probably knew that Kyle was in love with Sarah, and wanted to assure him that she was going to be safe. Kind of like the fact that he hid the fact that Kyle was his father. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 20 2009 09:28 PM In reply to this comment (#2488553) Well if he's really 10, that sure is an early puberty. Hell, if I caught my 10-year-old son riding through LA on a dirtbike, I'd kick the crap out of him (and I wouldn't care if he's the savior of the freakin' world). (Reply to this) |
|
on May 21 2009 08:17 AM Furlong is the same age as my brother, and he was 13 or 14 when the movie was out. I remember us watching T2 as teenagers. I didn't think much about John Connor as a 10 year old. It still works for me despite the slight age difference. I'm going to see Salvation, no matter what the T-meter says. For me, its about escapism anyways. I'm just going in with lowered expectations. (Reply to this) |
|
on May 25 2009 07:42 AM This sequal simply completed the one before - not that T1 needed it, simply because it made everything seem more real. No fake Ahnold face, no stop motion, just seamless, everything I wanted the first one to be. For me T2 was closure! As for T3, well i remember falling asleep watching it,I will try to watch it again, just because I have to (and because Ahnold is actually in it!) (Reply to this) |
on May 29 2009 11:40 PM Nice article, you are a pretty cool chick as well...hot damn, I have to give u credit on (Jenette Goldstein AKA Vasquez from Aliens as John's foster mom!) Dayyummmm, good observation! LOL...I would of never thought that! Vasquez!!! Aliens!! Hahaha, wow...Genelle and Todd..(your not my father..TODD!) Wow, that seriously was awesome, now I got to watch Aliens just for that...Its all about Vasquez...Anyway Terminator 2 was good, and is a classic, one of the best films ever created, but people get to hard headed when they say this is all that terminator has to offer...it had to go in the direction that is now..Lets face it, this was when Schwarzenegger was blowing up, and honestly after this sequel it was starting to feel toooo hollywoodish...The first terminator will always be a true masterpiece! It was a combination of Sci Fi/Horror, which in Terminator 2, I feel they made the sci fi a lil mushy, but still kept it at a even keel with the T1000...Tho I favored Terminator 1's uniqueness and cmon everyone loves the 80's...it was also a bit of fantasy, plus Reeses flashbacks and the soundtrack, always have this jarring effect that i feel all the other films cant compare too...Great movie tho, I believe I was around 10 or 11 when this first hit the theatres...Oh, I just recently bought the Extreme edition, and watched it about a few weeks before Salvation came out...WOW..I was just blown away at the Sarah Connor/Reese reunion/dream that was a deleted scene from the film...Michael Biehn is the man! I believe the dvd alone is worth buying again just to see that scene that never made it to the theatrical release...good stuff....Oh and one more thing, which i will geek out on...is the hidden bonus material/commentary from james cameron where u can see the whole movie and hear the commentary or concepts on selected scenes with the cyberdyne logo...There was one in the very begininng of T2, during the man vs machine future resistence war in the begining sequence, where I heard camerons' concept that he wanted to have a scene with reese going into the skynets time machine as well as the t101 terminator chamber that I thought were very interesting, hopefully we will see this in the near future on a terminator salvation sequel...maybe 5 or 6? (Reply to this) |
| You must be registered to post comments. Login or Register. |
Related Articles
- RT on DVD: The War Begins in Terminator Salvation (1)
-
McG Has Plans for Fifth and Sixth Terminator Movies
(70)
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Terminator Salvation and a Smithsonian Battle (22)
-
Terminator Franchise Headed for Auction
(22)
-
Sam Worthington Talks Terminator Salvation, Avatar Teaser Reactions
(56)
-
McG Talks Next Terminator Sequel
(84)
- Box-office: Terminator Hungover (3)
-
Terminator Finds Salvation With International Audiences
(28)
- Top 10 Terminator Moments (8)
-
Why Terminator Salvation Isn't a Terminator Film
(38)
Most Discussed
- Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype? (236)
- Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here! (114)
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1 (70)
- Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms (42)
- Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO! (38)
- The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1 (37)
- Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage (33)
- The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are (30)
- Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview (21)
- Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh (21)
Latest News
- Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here! (114)
- What We're Watching on Blu-ray from Paramount Pictures! (4)
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Inglourious Basterds and a Hangover (9)
- Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO! (38)
- Awards Tour 2009: The Hurt Locker Wins New York Film Critics Circle! (6)
- Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms (42)
- Awards Tour 2009: LAFCA: The Hurt Locker Tops List (12)
- Awards Tour 2009: The Hurt Locker Dominates Boston Society of Film Critics (18)
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1 (70)
- Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage (33)
Latest Interviews
- Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview (21)
- Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland (2)
- "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist (17)
- Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview (12)
- Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary (23)
- James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview (8)
- John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview (15)
- Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus (23)
- Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview (9)
- Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film (28)
Latest Features
- The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are (30)
- The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 2 (7)
- The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1 (37)
- Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington (55)
- Exclusive: The World of Where the Wild Things Are (10)
- Sundance 2010: RT's 10 Most Anticipated Movies (42)
- 10 Horrifically Profitable Films (46)
- Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies (106)
- 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (107)
- Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer (25)
IGN RSS Feeds