I found this while reading a few pages back, and I have to dispute. I know the love runs deep with T2 for the both of us.
Scullibundo said:
As for Terminator 2:
I loved the Kyle dream sequence. It really showed how deep of a hole Sarah was in and it was a nice continuation of that love from the first film. Great to see him exactly as he had died.
The scene where they remove the chip from the T800 is great. First because the explanation in theatrical cut for how it might learn is very broad, and secondly because it shows Sarah's rightfully placed mistrust of the Terminator still exists.
The smiling scene is absolutely worth it. Not only is it funny, but it makes the moment where the T800 picks up his minigun and smiles (and John commenting about both the gun and the smile: 'It's definitely you', all the more awesome.
Also you get the T1000 glitching at the end which was just undeniably cool.
I just don't see it as the better cut than the theatrical. While it may be great to see Kyle come back, I prefer how fucked up Sarah looks to be towards the start of T2 - like she may be completely lost for good. Considering how crazy the entire experience of the first film actually is, understandably so. And I'd rather her be alienated from the audience, that for us to sympathize with her that early. Part of the joy watching her character in the movie for me, is seeing how she comes back to belonging to something, reclaiming her role as mother and savior. For me it's just more effective coming from a complete lack of respect, and maybe the possibility that the events of T1 may have made her too far gone crazy, than a sympathetic note that early. I like being a bit scared at how intimidating she is. The one moment of breaking down at Miles house I would argue, is weakened, by showing signs of weakness earlier in the film for her. Being a real bitch up until that point. It's just off in tone for me in general for some reason.
The chip scene, I don't mind, it's likely the best on its own from the extended scenes. My disenchantment is how it integrates into the rest of the film. The learning ability thing, it goes from broad/vague, to the simplest explanation as to why a Terminator might learn. When it's trying to be a more spiritual thing later, through Sarah's eyes, the fact that they are bonding - I'd rather just not think about the logistics of it. It doesn't matter. I think it's stronger leaving that out, and simply letting the audience experience the affects of a Terminator learning, than trying to solve it in a literal sense. It also slows things down, but it is cool.
The smiling scene meanwhile, is out of place for me. An odd spot to choose for a scene like that, since it becomes the real point at which their bonding is observed by Sarah. Which is a very melancholy center to the film. It doesn't really ruin that, just turns down the dial a bit when it's ramping up. It sticks out as a bit too cheese and self aware. I prefer to see Arnold smiling the first time without being aware of it, like at the mini-gun scene.
And the T1000 scene, cool, but it telegraphs his destruction too much. His shattering and subsequent regenerating was just
such a terrifying scene. I think it plays stronger as a single note, than to suggest anything else going on in the scene. (i.e. his glitching)
Of course all this is probably swayed in some manner from personal attachment to the theatrical version, but eh...
;
