[9]

This is one of those rare sequels that is arguably better than its predecessor. It may not be as raw and moody as The Terminator, but Terminator 2 is a kick-ass action movie — one of the best ever made, frankly. I love how the trio of primary characters become a surrogate family. It’s also interesting to see the Terminator become a protector while Sarah Connor becomes a killer. Linda Hamilton gives a highly underrated performance, balancing strength and determination with a touch of madness. Young Edward Furlong, plucked from the streets by director James Cameron, carries his portions of the movie very admirably. Robert Patrick employs masterful physical control, fluid movement, and careful vocal inflection to develop an eerie, off-kilter performance as the T-1000, a new liquid-metal version of the Terminator. On top of being extremely well-crafted and entertaining, T2 is also a landmark in the evolution of visual effects, one of the earliest films to showcase computer-generated imagery.

Academy Awards: Best Visual Effects, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

Nominations: Film Editing, Cinematography