Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Cameron delivers hard-edged humour and rollercoaster action in a worthy sequel, with standout liquid-metal effects and Hamilton's committed performance adding human depth to the mayhem.

The critic praises the film's spectacular action sequences and groundbreaking visual effects, particularly the liquid metal T-1000 villain. While noting it is less conceptually ambitious than the original, it delivers top-notch entertainment with impressive set pieces.

The review notes that the film builds on the original with more spectacular effects and a good-guy twist for Schwarzenegger's character, but criticizes the sentimentality and a sagging middle section amid strong chase sequences.

The sequel is far less satisfying than the original, with a narrative that is lumbering and monotonous despite spectacular action sequences and dazzling effects. It carries a heavy-handed anti-nuke message.

Cameron has built one hell of a wild ride, a Twilight of the Gods that combines successful elements of the predecessor with new twists to produce a film that takes no prisoners. Most of all, Cameron’s intuitive understanding of the mechanics and psychology of action films makes it come alive.

The critic views Terminator 2 as a spectacular, expensive sequel that redeems the Terminator character in an E.T.-like story while delivering relentless action and effects. It humanizes Schwarzenegger's cyborg amid pyrotechnics and anti-nuclear themes.

The critic praises the film's state-of-the-art special effects, strong pacing that keeps momentum despite some sagging midway, and Cameron's skillful direction that retains verve and imagination from the low-budget original without excessive compromise. Schwarzenegger's shift to a gentler, caring cyborg hero is noted as effective, along with solid performances from Hamilton and Furlong, though the high budget and length are flagged as potential excesses.

The critic praises the film's relentless action, groundbreaking special effects, and strong performances, particularly Schwarzenegger's comic sense and the human elements provided by the young lead and Linda Hamilton, seeing it as a box-office behemoth with an ultimately optimistic vision.

Cameron has made a swift, exciting special-effects epic that justifies its expense and improves on the first film's visual style, broadening the idea with better characters and wit. The film amounts to a pistol-packing plea for peace that suffers from confusion of purpose despite its sincerity and flair.

Cameron has crafted a sequel that is in some ways more impressive than the original by expanding on it rather than remaking it, with a great innovation in the liquid-metal cyborg and Schwarzenegger more comfortable in the role. The script at times gets lost amid the carnage and the narration is heavy-handed, though the budget shows up on screen.

The critic calls T2 one of the best-known films of the 1990s and the best in the franchise, praising its Blu-ray transfer, enduring practical and visual effects, strong performances from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton and Robert Patrick, and the value of the director's cut.

The critic describes the film as a timeless, fun and profoundly moving blockbuster that feels long but never boring, highlighting its groundbreaking practical effects, Sarah Connor as the greatest action heroine, Robert Patrick's T-1000 performance and the emotional impact of the ending.

The critic praises the film's spectacular stunts, amazing effects, and high entertainment value, calling it one of the best action pictures in the sci-fi hall of fame even a decade later. They note it as a carbon copy of the original but elevated by groundbreaking special effects.