Rating: 
Summary: Terminator 2: The ULTIMATE DVD EXPERIENCE!
Review: As I opened my Amazon.com box revealing a shiny outer metal casing for this DVD, I knew I was in for something special. This "Ultimate Edition" impressed me even before opening the plastic wrapping! Soon, I slid off the metal T2 casing revealing a beautiful 2 disc DVD package. The graphics on the outer casing and on the discs themselves are quite creative. The booklet is also impressive....30 pages of photos and interesting facts concerning James Cameron, his crew and the film. It also has a detailed list of the chapters and a list with information on the restored footage. OK...so far I have a huge smile on my face, and I haven't even popped the DVD into my player yet. By the way, if you plan to keep the booklet inside the DVD case, make sure you close it tightly! This booklet is so thick, you'll have problems keeping the package closed! Anyway, I finally pop in Disc 1. The animated graphics are terrific! Disc 1 contains the theatrical release of the film, the special edition with restored footage, and the magic "easter egg" ending. It also gives you an assortment of audio options including Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, DTS 5.1 and Dolby Surround 2.0. You also have the choice of audio commentary by 26 cast and crew members! What I thought was really great about the commentaries was that the name of the person talking is shown on the screen with their credit, so you always know who is talking without getting confused. That was a pleasant surprise. You also have the choice of English subtitles and "Mission Profiles", which are biographies of many cast and crew members. You can also jump to any scene you want with an impressive "timeline" graphic. Being THX certified, this disc also contains a THX set-up. OK...so lets talk about the DVD. I decided to watch the "Special Edition". After a very impressive new THX logo, I sat back and watched the film. Instantly, the sound was top notch. If you have a subwoofer, you may have to make sure that anything hanging on your walls are securely fastened. The remastering job on this film is amazing. The stereo separation, the ambience, vocals and music all sound incredible. This film really set a new standard for sound design when it was first released, and this DVD compliments the sound department to the fullest. You are thrown into a surround sound environment that is addicting and thrilling. Even those with simple 2 speaker set-ups will be happy, but those with advanced surround systems will have some explaining to tell the neighbors. This DVD is a great test for your system. A true audiophonic, stereophonic thrill. OK...enough about the sound...what about the picture? Well, the picture is also superb, with incredible detail and beautiful deep blacks. Color saturation is beautiful with deep blues throughout the film. The transfer is incredibly clean. Can you believe that I can STILL see the wires suspending Arnolds motorcycle as he jumps into the canal!!?? (Chapter 21, I believe.) Anyway, the widescreen presentation of T2 is definitely the "ultimate DVD experience." **By the way, SLOWLY type in 8-2-9-9-7 in the main menu AFTER you choose "Special Edition". This accesses the secret "Extended Special Ediion." (different DVD players may require you to press 'enter' after each number, while others may not.)** OK...let's talk about disc 2 which contains all the supplemental material. The opening graphic animation is really great. This animation brings you to the main menu. The main menu is subdivided into 3 sections...."Information Programs" which has 3 featurettes, "Making of T2", "T2, More then meets the eye", and "The making of T2 3D". The second section, "Visual Campaigns", has a "Teaser Trailer", two "Theatrical Trailers", and a "T2 Special Edition Trailer". The thrid section, The "Data Hub", has all other supplemental material. This includes 574 still frames of the final shooting script, original storyboard sequences, a bunch of video sequences including videos of James Cameron, the co-writer, the effects designer, stunt coordinator, interviews with cast and other crew members and a BUNCH of other stuff that will keep you watching until T3 is released! The "Data Hub" also contains an impressive graphical behind the scenes story of T2, or you can choose a video featurette with behind the scenes footage....both very impressive. For you PC people, you can also watch the film while reading the script and looking at the storyboards. You can also link to online T2 websites. I won't ruin all the surprises of this disc, but I recommend you to experiment with this disc...there are a few other surprises that I won't go into detail about. In conclusion, I want to applaud everyone involved in the making of this DVD, especially the Creative Supervisor Van Ling. It is simply one of the BEST DVD's available and gives everyone a reason to own a DVD player. Much time was spent in producing this package, and it is worth every penny. Full of surprises, top notch audio and video quality with THX certification, and an attractive outer case too! This is what all future "ultimate editions" should be compared to, because "Terminator 2-The Ultimate DVD Edition" is why DVD was created. I recommend this DVD to EVERYONE....especially to those who are DVD fanatics, fans of the Terminator films and/or James Cameron, or you simply want to 'show off' your home entertainment system. Buy this DVD package and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Better than the first Terminator.
Review: James Cameron's Terminator 2-Judgement Day is an excellent sequal,even better than the first Terminator.The plot is basically the same,one terminator(called a T1000)and one protector,a cyberdine model 101 terminator,(just like the terminator in the first film)played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.This time the T1000 wants to kill John Connor after the first terminator failed to kill his mother Sarah Connor(who is in a mental hospital at the beginning of this one)in the first film.The T1000 can take on almost any shape,which makes it nearly impossible to destroy.Of course Schwarzenegger is great as is Robert Patrick as the T1000.Linda Hamilton is back as Sarah Connor,(much tougher this time,though)and Edward Furlong plays John.The special effects are fantastic in this film,especially the T1000.(the budget was somewhere around 100 million,which is about 15 or 20 times as much as the first film,I think.)It is an excellent movie.
Rating:
Summary: T2
Review: This is a fantastic movie if you have a big screen TV and a DTS set up. I am lucky to have a 22 year old son to set these things up for me and they sound really great with very clear shot gun shells hitting the ground and bullets bouncing off police cars, and my favorite was the helicopter chasing a truck under a freeway. The sound there was extremely real! Being able to look at how the movie was made, and the tricks used to make it all happen, will keep me busy for a long time. If you like "blow 'em up" movies (I do) this is perfect! The metal case is very cool too!
Rating:
Summary: I'm sorry, but it doesn't get any better than this!
Review: The first time I saw this movie was long ago in 1991 0r 1992, when it was first released onto video. I was about 7 or 8 at the time of this release, so I didn't really understand the movie, let alone the fact that I had never seen the first one before. But about 3 months ago, I was watching TV and the first Terminator was on, I was like "OK, I'll watch it." And I'm glad I did, cuz it opened the door to what would become one of my favorite movies: Terminator 2. Watching the first Terminator on TV, I remembered bits and pieces of this movie, and figured, I gotta see this again. So I went on down to the video store and rented it. Wow. I was amazed. The special effects in this movie are ahead of their time, the script is well written, plenty of plot twists, good actors, etc. I have never been an Arnold fan myself, but soon after viewing this, I obviously bought it, and I have probably watched it over 20 times already. The story is very interesting, basically picks up 10 years after the original. Sarah Connor is in a mental institution and no one believes her story about the Terminator, and meanwhile her son, John Connor (the future leader) is 10 years old and is living with some foster parents. Two terminators are sent down, one, an advanced machine called the T-1000, made out of liquid metal, is sent to destroy John Connor while he's alive, therefore, preventing the resistance against the machines, and the other, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is the original Terminator, reprogrammed by John Connor 35 years from now to protect him from the other terminator. (You following?) All in all a very thrilling and touching movie. Hey, it may be Hollywood material, but it sure is damn good.
Rating:
Summary: "Ultimate" is not an overstatement
Review: This DVD certainly sets the standard for which all other future releases should strive for. This is perhaps the first movie release to actually utilize the full potential of the DVD format. Right from the intro to the menu, it becomes apparent to the viewer just how much effort went into the making of this DVD. it's got more options and settings than you can shake a stick at. If you're a sound buff like myself, you can't afford to pass on this one. i even pulled out one of my retired Pro Logic receiver to help decode the extra surround channel in DTS 5.1 ES. That extra surround channel surprisingly adds more depth to the already impressive sound effects. unfortunately, those effects are sparse. Now all we need is for George Lucas to come around and release The Phantom Menace on DVD. Afterall, the extra surround channel in 5.1 ES was poineered in that movie. Final thoughts: Get the movie and enjoy. It's got something extra for everyone, whether you are a sound buff or a behind the scene fanatic.
Rating:
Summary: This why DVD was made!
Review: I've always felt that a DVD was never worth getting over VHS based soley on quality. I get DVDs for the extra stuff, and i have never seen so much extra stuff in my life! This is why DVD was invented! I love all the other things in there that make the movie that much more interesting. I have the first Terminator on VHS and i hope that do the same with that one. i would definately buy it, but i doubt that will happen unfortunately. As for the person who said that the Easter Egg code was 82297, I'm sure that was a mis-print. The correct code is 82997 (8-29-97: Judgment Day). Buy this even if you have it on VHS. Hell, get it if you have it on original DVD release. This one is much better!
Rating:
Summary: SWEET
Review: This is an awsome movie and with all the extras that are included with the Ultimate Edition the movie is even better. SWEET. Buy it. It is awsome.
Rating:
Summary: A special edition DVD review
Review: The special edition DVD is simply a must have in anyone's collection. Three featurettes are included; one for the original version, one for the special edition and one for the Universal Studios 3D show. It would have been nice to see the whole 3D show, but I guess you have to go to Universal Studios to see it. A 50-chapter supplement composed of text notes inter-cut with interviews and special features. Design, pre-production, locations, training, weapons, sound, editing, publicity only touches the information given. You name it they covered it. I especially liked the sound chapter where they broke down the various sound elements so you can hear them isolated from each other. The audio commentary is very good coming from just about every cast and crew member involved. Subtitles are given so you know who is talking. Some of the material is reused though. For example, some of the audio commentary is from interviews used in the featurettes. Sixteen deleted scenes are added in the special version, 18 for the extended special version. To get the extended version enter the roman numbers seen to the right of the main menu; they look odd, but trust me they are roman numerals. I already had T2 on DVD, but the special edition, just for the delete scenes alone, makes it more than worth replacing it if you already have it. The extra scenes give extra depth to the story and the characters. Most bonus features become boring an initial viewing, but I think the ones on this DVD can easily be seen again and again. Overall, if you were stuck on a desert isle, this would be the DVD to have.
Rating:
Summary: DTS is incredible!
Review: Anyone that thinks it's hard to distinguish between Dolby Digital and DTS is in need of a hearing check and this DVD proves it! I've owned and enjoyed the previous DD release but it never came close in terms of accuracy and punch that the DTS edition provides. If you have the right equipment, compare the beginning battle scene when a terminator is walking into the picture from the right, blasting away at everything in sight and suddenly turns to fire at the audience. It's good with DD but you'll want to duck and avoid serious head trauma with the DTS version! And that's just one example of countless kidney-jarring scenes. I personally can't wait until more Sci-fi films are released in DTS! Incredible!
Rating:
Summary: The Future is not set!
Review: This DVD is awesome! The sound and picture is phenomenal and it's worth every penny. My one drawback (and I'm hoping someone can contact me at jusjams@home.com for a little help) is that the audio comes in 3 versions: Dolby Digital EX 5.1, Dolby Stereo 2 channel and finally DTS-ES which requires the decoder for the 3rd surround channel making it 6.1 channels. I am unable to get my DVD player to play this version even though I don't have the latest set-up of 6.1 channels. I'm told that this new format is backwards compatible with the 5.1 set-ups but it doesn't seem so with mine. Just the intro with the THX logo is enough to sell this DVD delight where you see Arnie blowing the T2 title apart and the metal starts to melt like the t-1000 and forms together as the THX logo!, but I wish I could run the DTS-ES version where the DTS logo and the CD explodes into a zillion pieces (like in the theatre runs)Mine only shows with no volume. I still would recommend this DVD very much for all the extras and the mere fact that it's still one of the very best friggin' movies out there to date. (same level as Matrix) No regrets! Drew
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