New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

Still, a movie needs more than cutting edge effects and non-stop action to qualify as an awards contender. It certainly helps that Cameron's movie is expertly edited, with tight pacing that never leads to any real lulls in action, and when the film does take breathers, it is only to to properly move the plot and expand on character relationships. Like many of Cameron's other movies, he certainly looked to make more than just a basic action flick. Cameron takes time for some commentary on humanity, and clearly makes a distinction between Connor and the Terminator, as well as the Terminator and the T-1000. The Terminator becomes more than just a machine. He's also a surrogate father figure, friend and protector of Connor. The importance of family is stressed by the angst-ridden Connor, but also by Miles Dyson's willingness to cast family aside for scientific glory.

Cameron is also concerned with mankind's obsession to create and destroy, and humanity's arrogance that is born of that creation. One gets the sense Cameron believes the industrial and technical age has been a bad thing, that even though it has made him millions of dollars and the King of the World, it seems to be wearing a little on him. Regardless, this running commentary and the small character moments help to provide a stake in the proceedings, something missing in The Matrix sequels and other high octane action movies.

Judgment Day isn't without its share of flaws, most notably is the cheesy Cameron dialogue, including Schwarzenegger's thumbs up as he is lowered into molten steel. Schwarzenegger's coldness worked so well in the first Terminator, but his acting is still passable given the nature of his warmer role. Linda Hamilton plays a protective mother well, but her acting in certain scenes seems forced. Edward Furlong, on the other hand, suffers from the problems of many child actors by not being totally convincing. On the other hand, Robert Patrick coldly played the T-1000 with a quiet but fierce ruthlessness. The scenes in the mental hospital don't seem all too realistic and Joe Morton's wife is relatively annoying. Yet, these flaws aren't fatal and even add to some of the movie's charm.

Given the slate of 1991's nominees it seems a little silly not have to this action classic considered on the year's five best movies, and at the very least to have included Cameron in the directing field. T2 could have easily replaced Bugsy, The Prince of Tides or Beauty and the Beast in the Picture field. Cameron could have replaced Barry Levinson or Ridley Scott in the directing field. I'm not going to argue that it should have beaten out The Silence of the Lambs, which has become one of the most iconic films of the last two decades, but T2 has become just as iconic in pop culture and should be recognized for what is, a great, character-centered action movie.

Continued:       1       2