Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (Skynet Edition) [1991] [Blu-ray]

Terminator 2 is one of those films that always gets brought up when considered for one of the best movies of all time, or at least best action movie of all time. The impressive attention and skill that went into the film is without any doubts impressive and it's aged quite nicely. But I would say the argument is up for debate, all depending on which version of the film we're talking about.As a kid growing up, I always loved The Terminator. It was the perfect blend of science fiction and horror. The idea of there being a stalker robot out for your head and you would never know he was there, it's a thing of genius. The sequel however, took away that subtlety and replaced it with balls to the wall action. Two machines going head to head with a future resistance leader in the middle. It was and still is quite thrilling stuff. Top it off with some of the finest uses of digital FX to date and an incredible score, T2 took the original concept and took it to the next level.Now, there are two versions of the movie presented here. One is the theatrical cut, the version of the movie that I consider to be a stone cold classic. It is perfect in every way from the acting, the music, all the way down to the pacing. Then there is the extended cut. A version of the movie that has an extra 20 or so minutes of scenes. This version of the movie (whilst having some cool scenes) has one of the worst pacing issues of any blockbuster movie. I hate it and always have. This is the version of the film that everyone loves.Both versions of the movie are here on bluray and they both look really nice for the most part. It isn't as sharp as the latest bluray release but it hasn't been butchered by James Cameron with all the colour changes and film grain being completely annihilated. It's not the perfect picture quality but it is the Terminator 2 I remember growing up and the way it should always look in terms of colour.If you're picking this movie up, mostly for the reasons above. It's cheap, easy to find and is a stone cold classic.

The Terminator 2 - Skynet Special Edition - Blu Ray.Forget Avatar...when James Cameron made this seminal sequel to The Terminator he was at the top of his game. With Aliens he'd already made possibly the greatest action movie sequel of all time and with this one he proved that it was no fluke. This cemented his reputation as one of the best action director's in cinema history. He upped-the-ante on his original classic Terminator movie on pretty much every level here. The story, acting, plot, camera work and special effects are all bigger, better and badder. And with a much bigger budget he was also able to up the ante on his overall ambition. However, the stakes were also now much higher and with fan expectation levels through the roof it could have been a risky business turning Arnie into a 'HEROBOT'. But by turning the Austrian oak into the guy you cheer for Cameron also proved he had his finger right on the pulse. Arnie originally baulked at being the robot who says "I promise I will not kill anyone!" but he needn't have worried as he was never in safer hands than when James Cameron was on the other side of the lens. The movie wasn't short on killers either as Cameron cleverly constructs a plot that sees Sarah Conner turn into this movies 'Terminatrix' and with a liquid-metal antagonist that pretty much seemed unstoppable for 99.9% of the movie there was plenty of death, violence and destruction on offer here too. Arnie had to settle for kneecapping a few SWAT guys and standing on one leg, but he still came out on top!As for the quality of this blu ray disc itself...?Well the picture is the best I've seen of this movie (and I've seen, had, bought them all!) There are better transfers out there on blu ray from this early 90's era, but for this movie this is as good as you'll find...so far. The commentary is interesting, but don't expect co-writer William Wisher to offer much insight. He tries and is usually interrupted by the control-freaky Cameron, but then I guess it was 'his' movie!They'll no doubt re-release it again at some later date with improved 'this & that'...(if only it were possible to jump forward in time and know exactly which year this cynical marketing by money grabbing big studios will...finally...ever...stop?)However...at this moment in time we'll have to settle for the best version currently on offer to us mere mortals in the year 2012...and relax,,,you've found it...this version is it.