In a move guaranteed to end with disappointment, I've rewatched the first two Terminators in advance of Dark Fate. I'm not sure if you heard this in the last two decades but Terminator 2 is really very good.
I always thought I preferred the first but honestly this time round the thing which gave me the most joy was the eighties fashion. Fuck me, I'd love to go for a night out in Tech Noir.
T2 is relentless. There's this constant perfect choreographed and structured sense of momentum to it. The ultimate chase movie.
It's surprisingly funny. You forget how many satisfying action gags it has - from the reaction of the psychiatrist to the T-1000, to the 'get out' moment.
Then the design. From Linda Hamilton's sunglasses, to Arnie doing the swirly reload with the shotgun, to the Terminator rising from the floor. It is all so outstandingly, lastingly cool.
And fuck me: Sarah Conner. We really do not give enough love to that character. The way you see her change over two films, but that even when she goes full military she's still vulnerable and emotionally interesting.
Honestly I must have watched that film over 20 times in my life and I doubt I'll ever stop. It really is pretty much perfect.
