Fathom Entertainment brings Terminator 2: Judgment Day back to theaters for its 35th anniversary, complete with a retrospective and the big-screen experience this classic deserves.
Can anyone really predict the future? I'm sure over four decades ago, when writer/director James Cameron (Avatar franchise) made a movie about the future where machines take over the world, he thought it was, at best, an entertaining fantasy and, at worst, an extremely distant hypothesis. However, with the advancements in Artificial Intelligence, that future doesn't seem quite as distant anymore. With six total films in The Terminator franchise to date, Cameron has taken some of our greatest fears and brought them to life. As the second installment in the series, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, Fathom Entertainment has brought the classic film to theaters so we can once again enjoy it how it was meant to be or share it with a whole new group of fans.
For those who are unfamiliar with the plot of the film, here is a summary:
Over ten years have passed since the first machine called The Terminator tried to kill Sarah Connor and her unborn son, John. The man who will become the future leader of the human resistance against the machines is now a healthy young boy. However, another Terminator, called the T-1000, is sent back through time by the self-aware computer system, Skynet. This new Terminator is more advanced and more powerful than its predecessor, and its mission is to kill John Connor when he's still a child. However, Sarah and John do not have to face the threat of the T-1000 alone. Another Terminator (identical to the same model that tried and failed to kill Sarah Connor in 1984) is also sent back through time to protect them. While John teaches the Terminator about humanity, Sarah tries to prevent the creation of Skynet and the machines.
Returning for this second installment are both Arnold Schwarzenegger (Last Action Hero) and Linda Hamilton (Stranger Things), reprising their roles as The Terminator and Sarah Connor, respectively. Joining them on this journey are newcomer Edward Furlong (Detroit Rock City) and Robert Patrick (The Faculty). The four bring their own type of intensity to the roles: Patrick is stealthy like a cat, Hamilton has anger boiling barely below the surface, Schwarzenegger is stoic and, as expected, rather robotic, and Furlong tries to play it cool as he is relentlessly being pursued by a killing machine from the future.
Cameron utilizes every bit of technology that was available to him at the time. From molten endoskeletons to tactical fighting guns, he takes risks and pushes the limits to bring the best action sequences to viewers. His pacing and editing are excellent here, unlike some of his more recent projects, and his practical effects are some of the best for the time and showcase his creativity and imagination that have made him a trailblazing director throughout his career.
With the advances in technology over the past 35 years, the film does suffer from some cheesy graphics. It is obvious at times which explosions were done practically by using miniature figures. However, other effects were created using technologies that are still used today, so they look as good today as they did three decades ago.
Bringing this classic film back to theaters is a treat in and of itself, but to sweeten the pot, Fathom Entertainment adds an opening segment that is a retrospective featuring Cameron, Patrick, and Furlong. They talk about the effects, working with Schwarzenegger and Hamilton, and how progressive the film was for its time.
I love that Fathom brings classic films back to the big screen, and their choices are usually spot on, as is the case with Terminator 2: Judgment Day. With the 35th anniversary engagement continuing in theaters through September 2, you owe it to yourself to see this movie on the big screen while you still can.
Grade: A
