Terminator II: Judgment Day (1991)

Wow, that is the gist of this film. There have been maybe a handful of sequels that turn out to be as good if not better than their original films(Aliens, Bride of Frankenstein, Psycho II, etc)this is definitely one of them.
Don't get me wrong, there are moments that were a bit better in the first film, mainly due to the difference in the atmosphere of the two films. Arnold's portrayal of the T-101, is still done with perfection, but now he is a reprogrammed machine who acts a bit differently, but I'll continue that analysis a little bit later.
James Cameron is back in the writer and director chair and it shows. The story is still told extremely well, confined into its own film, while still making room to make you want to see the original, if you haven't. I was fortunate enough to see this in the theaters and man was it an experience. The special effects were awesome and with it being new stuff it made it even more awe-inspiring. Everything is taken up a notch from the first film, but that is also thanks to a bigger budget and a more experienced director. This film in my opinion is one of my top 10 favorite action films of all time.
First off, I must comment on the continuing score by Brad Fiedel, he continues to amaze, as he uses the same music, plus some new.
I forgot to mention in my review of the first film, the awesome soundtrack that accompanied the film, with music by Tahnee Cain and the Tryanglz(Burnin' in the Third Degree, Photoplay and You Can't Do It)and more. This film has an equally amazing soundtrack, topped off with Guns N Roses rockin' hit "You Could Be Mine, " which does have a music video with Schwarzenneger as the T-101 looking to terminate Axel Rose. Sadley the video is on none of the DVD/LaserDisc/Blu-Ray releases, due to a copyright issue with Geffen and Artisan.
The performances are notched up a bit as well and it shows. Arnold Schwarzenneger, like I said above does an awesome job. This time around his character manages to get an upgrade in a ways, when he is reprogrammed to learn and is able to evolve his character. This helps seperates Arnold's potrayal from the first film to his portrayal in this film. Several scenes were cut and eventually added back in to show this evolution with explanation and in a ways I'm glad, it makes the film longer, but the film is so good, I don't mind at all. We get to see one of Arnold's most famous catchphrases aside from "I'll Be Back" spoken in the first film and this one; "Hasta La Vista, Baby"and its still a kicker to hear.
Linda Hamilton returns in a much evolved portrayal of her meak and mild character from the first film. Having gone through so much since the end of the first film. We find her in a mental institution being doctored by the fame searching Dr. Silberman(played wonderfully by Earl Boen in a return role from the film). She helps you feel Sarah's confusion and frustration in knowing what no one will believe you know will happen. Not even her son John, who is destined to save humanity believes her. Her character in this film also seems to go through an evolution as she is very closed minded to Arnold's T-101 and slowly begins to realize that just like humans, you can't judge a whole race based on the actions of one. A very important message that is often not seen, unless through multiple viewings.
In the extended version several scene were added back in to kind of clarify on scenes that only briefly were seen in the theatrical cut. One scene involved Sarah and John reprogramming the T-101 and in this scene we have a mirror effects involving Linda's twin sister Leslie playing her reflection. Also in the extended cut is a scene that harks back to the original film and certainly deserved to stay in the theatrical cut, but didn't and this had Michael Biehn returning as Kyle Reese in a dream of Sarah's after she gets drugged, it's a very brief scene that last maybe 5 minutes, but it holds a long time in your memory and leaves an impression. It was nice to see that love Sarah has for Kyle even after 13 years of him being dead.
Edward Furlong comes into the film as a newcomer to the film business, but watching this film you would think he was a pro, he plays the role of a smart ass 90's teenager very well. When you first meet him he has no respect for nothing and nobody, not even his mother and foster parents. But as the film goes on we see him slowly evolve into what may one day be our salvation(hint, hint). The scene I mentioned before that was where they are reprogramming the T-101 is a perfect example of his evolution. We see him stand up to his mother, who at this point has been making all the decisions and tells her that they need him and not too destroy him. Great scene, which really was a mistake to cut. Edward hasn't done much in his career, maybe because he doesn't really have a range of acting talent outside this film. I mean Pet Semetary II he gave a bland performance and Crow: Wicked Prayer just completely bored the shit out of me. The only other thing he's done I did enjoy was in Aerosmith's music video for "Livin' On the Edge"(which also had a cameo by Johnny Depp). Anyway back to this review
Robert Patrick comes in as the new and improved T-1000, a terminator that is made from Liquid metal and can take the form of anybody it touches(which he mainly kills). If anyone can portrayal a terminator with no emotion as good or even better than Schwarazenneger's portrayal in the first film, it's him. I was and still am flabbergasted at his portrayal of this character. A role he would repeat at least 3 times(in T2 in 3-D:Battle Across Time, Wayne's World and Last Action Hero). He plays the role and makes it look easy, he's weak looking and even kind of gentle looking at times, but that is what really gives him the advantage. In Terminator 5 or 6(they are making them)I would really like to see him come back as a current T-1000 in the post-apocalyptic future or maybe just as the human that is modeled from him. I know Schwarzenneger expressed interest in returning when his run is over, so a fight between the two would be awesome.
Joe Morton comes in the film as Myles Dyson, a computer programmer/engineer who will become responsible for creating Skynet. Apparently the extended ending of the first film that showed workers from Cyberdyne finding the T-101 in the compressor was covered up and now they are researching the technology to help make it work and he is the main guy in charge. He is portrayed as a very smart and gentle family who is unaware of the appending danger he will cause. By the end he rectifies it in the ultimate way and you feel extremely sad for the loss, he's an awesome character I would have liked to see more of him.
All in all this film better in a lot of ways to the first film. This is basically due to bigger budget and more action sequences. The story is well written, but like any other time travel film, there is a few plot holes, but nothing you can't just brush off.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars.
There are also several DVD releases. I myself have two of them. The ones I own are the Ultimate Edition, which is two disc and features 3 versions of the film and a 2nd disc that is like a film school on a disc. The Extreme Edition I have features two versions of the film, with brand new commentary(as opposed to the spliced commentary in the UE release, making this worth double dipping for)and a HD transfer for your DVD player. It doesn't feature many special features on the 2nd disc, but a few are new.
I've never seen T2-3D: Battle Across Time, but I do know its a continuation taking place in the future with Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick and I believe Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenneger returing. Why this hasn't been released on DVD, I don' why, but a making of has been released on the UE release.