My Top 15 Favorite Godzilla Movies

 Of all the giant monsters to grace the silver screen, I love me some Godzilla. Ever since I was a child, I’ve been watching his silly, rubber suited monster classics. They're completely cheesy, laughable, and good entertaining fun. Obviously, I prefer movies with more quality, but every once in a while, I’ll feel a pull back to a childhood favorite and take nothing but joy from watching Godzilla. 

No matter how old I get, I’ll always have a reserved sense of fondness for cinematic giant monsters, and Godzilla has had the longest legacy of them all by far. What makes him an interesting character is how he alternates between being a hero and villain, depending on which film or series you watch. As of 2021, Godzilla has had 33 theatrical motion-picture movies, and yes … I’ve seen every one of them. So, to celebrate my all-time favorite movie monster, here’s a quick list of my personal favorite Godzilla movies. Now before I begin, I should note that the Godzilla franchise in one that varies in quality. Granted, monster movies in general are an acquired taste, but even by its own genera standards, the Godzilla films are infamous for their varying levels in quality. Select films in the series are praised as great movies that just happen to have a monster in it, while other films are considered embarrassing even by B-Movie standards. As such, I’m going to split this countdown into two different groups … my top 10 general favorite Godzilla movies … and my top 5 Godzilla guilty pleasures. Yes … I’m one of those fans who’ll even take joy from the really goofy instalments in the series. With all that established, let’s begin with …

 

My Top 5 Biggest Godzilla Guilty Pleasures

 

#5 “Godzilla VS Megalon” (1973) 

In this movie, Godzilla teams up with a colorful, giant robot super-hero called Jet-Jaguar, who alone makes this one of the most memorable films in the series. Together, they battle two of Godzilla’s greatest foes … the space monster called Gigan, and a massive bug with drills for hands called Megalon. Undeniably, this is one of the silliest entries in the series, but it was also the first classic, rubber suited, Japanese Godzilla movie I ever saw, making this a campy, nostalgic treat. In general, it’s always fun to watch Godzilla in a tag-team match, and this is without a doubt one of the most ridiculous battles in the whole series. This film honestly feels the most like an episode of “Power Rangers”, which I also grew-up with, and why this instalment appealed to me at a young age. It may be a stupid film, even by Godzilla standards, but it’s just so bad it’s great, and the movie makes my list just for Godzilla’s slow-motion, “Matrix” style, drop kick. No joke … it’s the funniest thing you’ll ever see in a giant monster movie.

 

#4 “Godzilla VS Space Godzilla” (1994) 

Yeah … it’s hard to take a film seriously when “Space Godzilla” is in the title. As you’d expect, this venture features Godzilla battling an evil doppelganger from space, who’s kidnaped the Big-G’s infant son, and plans to dethrone the King of the Monsters. Now, in order to rescue his baby and defeat his new opponent, Godzilla has to form an alliance of convenience with yet another giant robot called Moguera. While Godzilla’s adversary in this movie has one of the stupidest names ever, it’s still a real treat to see the Big G battle another Godzilla who’s even more powerful than he is. For me, this is a really fun entry from the second series, and features some awesome monster battles. Then there’s also the lead girl named Miki, who’s been a main stay character throughout the second series, and probably one of the most memorable human characters from the franchise. This was the first entry to put her in the lead role, which highlights her character, and demonstrates how useful she can be … especially with her own unique telepathic powers.

 

#3 “Godzilla VS The Sea Monster” (1966) 

For this instalment, an evil organization is using an islands human inhabitance as slaves to build bombs and other weapons. No one can escape because the bad guys control a giant sea monster that guards the island. Now, it’s up to our favorite rubber suited monster to liberate the island people, stomp-out the bad guys, and defeat the monster. Just about every Godzilla movie features giant monsters destroying big cities, which is great, but this movie has a very refreshing setting that feels rather appropriate for Godzilla. Truthfully, I’ve always loved Island-set adventures, so this film fits right into my wheel house. Franchise regular Mothra also joins in on the action, and it's always great to feature her alongside Godzilla. Aside from a refreshingly simple premise, this film actually has a memorable collection of human characters, including a villain with an eye patch, which is reminiscing of the doctor from the first film. There’s also a beautiful island girl, who’s so hot she actually gets Godzilla’s attention. No joke, Godzilla actually displays some King Kong characteristics in this film. While this instalment has never really stood out to fans, and won’t bring any new viewers to the series, it’s still always stuck with me as both a delightful, and memorable entry.  

 

#2 “King Kong VS Godzilla” (1962) 

After breaking free from an iceberg, Godzilla unleashes his wrath on everything that happens to be within walking distance. Little does he know that another monster is on the approach, and aims to put an end to Godzilla’s destructive rampage … and naturally, it’s none other than the giant ape King Kong. This is it, the two most famous and iconic giant movie monster’s face-off in a cheesy, yet epic battle to the death. Even though it’s nothing truly spectacular, there’s a simple charm that comes from seeing these two titans clash, and the result is one of the most memorable rubber-suited monster battles of all time. This marked the first time that either monsters appeared in color, and it set the campy tone of the series moving forward. Despite being generally favored by fans, “King Kong VS Godzilla” is still undeniably one of the silliest films in the series, with Kong depicted as a drunken underdog, and Godzilla as a straightforward bully who takes joy from his destructive powers. Oh, and there's also this giant octopus thrown into the mix … which is a memorable bonus. Speaking personally again, this was yet another early Godzilla movie for me to view when I was just a little kid, and it also happened to be the very first King Kong movie I ever saw. As such, I’ll always have nostalgic fondness for this one, even if it is really silly.

 

#1 “Godzilla” (1998) 

When a mysterious giant lizard-monster emerges from the ocean, it singles out New York city as a place to begin nesting, and raising a family of hundreds of baby lizard monsters. Now, the only thing stopping this creature from reproducing is the French Secret Service, a failing news reporter, and a scientist who bears a striking resembles to Ferris Bueller. This movie has an infamously bad reputation for being one of the worst disaster movies of all time, and even Godzilla fans seem to hate it. However, I personally can’t help but look back fondly on this film as … the one that started it all. This was my childhood introduction to Godzilla, this is where I became a fan, this is when I was introduced to the classic monster movie formula, and as such … I have a Big … soft … nostalgic spot for this film ... even though it’s obviously not that great. While the creature in this film bears little resemblance to Godzilla, it’s somehow always stuck with me as a memorable creature design. It may not be high-class entertainment, but it’s little more then what I generally want from a movie with a giant monster stomping through a city. Maybe it wasn’t a proper representation of Godzilla, as well as populated with stock characters, and chalk full of goofy sequences … but, I still find this to be a harmlessly derivative monster flick ... and hands-down my biggest guilty pleasure of all the Godzilla movies. With those taken care of, let’s move onto the higher-class films in the series …

 

My Top 10 Favorite Godzilla Movies 

#10 “Godzilla vs King Ghidorah” (1991) 

Of all the giant monsters to regularly battle Godzilla, the three headed dragon named King Ghidorah is his greatest rival by far, and his personal arch nemesis. While this 1991 matchup wasn’t their first meeting, it’s the only film to feature these two giants alone, with no other giant monster’s present, making this their most epic, and personal battle. The story revolves around visitors from the future, who offer the people of Tokyo a means to be rid of Godzilla permanently … the objective … erase Godzilla from history. What follows is a wild time-traveling adventure, complete with betrayals, the revealed origins of Godzilla’s most powerful foe, along with an enhanced Mecha-Gedra, and the emergence of a new Godzilla. It’s without question one of the big G’s most outlandish offerings, but with solid action, a unique premise, and easily the most thrilling showdown between Godzilla and his longest standing adversary King Ghidorah.      

 

#9 “Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla” (1974) 

While King Ghidorah is the big G’s greatest enemy, Mechagodzilla is my personal favorite ... I just have a thing for evil double-gangers. Mechagodzilla combines both the exciting presence and menace that was lacking from the previously mentioned “Space Godzilla”, but he still retains the campy charm of the series, and is all around an icon among Godzilla’s rouges. When a group of aliens invade earth, and secretly pose as humans, they also dispatch their Mechanized menace to pose as the real Godzilla … and have it waist everything in sight, turning the public opinion against Godzilla. Well, the real Godzilla is none to happy with this imposter, and through a riveting battle get’s Mechagodzilla to reveal his true form. Unfortunately, even with it’s identity exposed, Mechagodzilla is more then a match for the giant lizard. Thus, Godzilla’s only hope for beating this robotic doppelganger lies within the prophesy of a mysterious Lion God called King Caesar, who might just even the playing field for our rubber suited hero. While admittedly a campy entry in the series, it still stands out as a high mark, and the last great classic of the original Godzilla series. Also, despite its campy tone, this entry also dabbles into Sci-Fi horror, and I distinctly remember this one scaring me as a little kid. Mechagodzilla again is all around an awesome foe, and his introduction movie will always stand as a treasured entry in the first series.      

 

#8 “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019) 

In this sequel to the 2014 American “Godzilla” reboot, the mighty lizard has succeeded in bringing peace to the planet with his constant dominance over the other titans of the planet. However, many humans still wonder how much trust they can put into a giant monster with a will of its own. Soon, a radical terrorist group aim to take control over Earth’s giant monsters. Too bad, they overstep their bounds by reawakening Godzilla’s arch foe King Ghidorah, who challenges the big-G for the crown to rule over all giant monsters. While this epic monster mash stumbles with a clunky narrative, an overabundance of exposition, and a really cheesy script … it still gives me exactly what I went to the movie for. The sheer spectacle is there, the monsters are awesome, the battles are exciting, and seeing Godzilla tangle with his arch nemesis King Ghidorah on the big screen is absolutely going to satisfy my inner fan boy. While King Ghidorah has always been an awesome presence, he’s never looked as good as he does in this film, as he’s brought to life with state-of-the-art effects, and is given more personality, as his three heads don’t always get along with each-other. It was also very exciting to see such iconic monsters like Rodan and Mothra in an American produced Godzilla picture. While certainly not a movie for everyone, it still gave me just enough that it felt perfectly satisfying, and it left me very happy to see yet another Godzilla movie here in the US.

 

#7 “Godzilla VS Mothra” (1992)

Not all giant monsters are evil, as some like the giant butterfly Mothra just want to maintain peace in nature. However, humans better take good care of the planet, or else Mothra’s enraged brother Battra will be forced to straighten them out through destructive force. Things can only get more destructive with a rouge Godzilla on the loose, who’s view of a perfect world is seeing everything in sight get incinerated. Now, Mothra must find a way to make peace with her wicked brother, and if the two can learn to work together, they may be able to spare the people of Japan from the wrath of Godzilla. While the original 1964 “Mothra vs Godzilla” is often regarded as one of the greatest classic entries in the series, I personally prefer this 1992 remake. The giant butterfly Mothra is undeniably one of Godzilla’s most famous opponents, and this is the movie that introduced me to her. As such, I’ll always have more nostalgia tied to this entry, as opposed to the first. Also, this is the only Mothra film to feature her dark-brother Battra, who I feel adds more flavor to the Mothra mythology. It may not be the original classic, but this is personally where my fondness for Mothra stems from, and it’s definitely a high-mark in Godzilla’s second series.

 

#6 “Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S” (2003) 

Mechagodzilla returns on my countdown once again, but this time he’s the underdog hero, while Godzilla is the ruthless villain. Following after the events of 2002’s “Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla”, the military prove successful in fighting off the Big-G with their new Mecha-soldier. However, Godzilla is still preparing himself for a second lethal attack, and he’s especially enraged that Mechagodzilla was built around the bones of the first original Godzilla. This action also angers the giant butterfly Mothra, who is willing to aid the humans in their battle against Godzilla, but only if Mechagodzilla is shut-down for good. This film is notable for bringing back the original human lead from the 1961 “Mothra” classic, and it also brings back Mothra’s mystical twin fairies … in their attractive new redesigns I might add. While the premise is as simple as they get, the payoff is beyond satisfying, with an epic three-way showdown between Godzilla, Mothra and Mechagodzilla in the heart of Tokyo, and some of the best destructive action of the whole franchise. While this wouldn’t be the last movie to feature Mechagodzilla, I’ve always viewed it as their iconic final battle, and it’s always refreshing to see their hero and villain roles reversed from the first film.       

 

#5 “Godzilla” (Gojira) (1954) 

When a mysterious radioactive monster emerges from the Ocean, it chooses to unleash Hell on the innocent people of Japan. The creature eventually becomes world famous after adoring the name Godzilla. Now, the only hope to vanquish this titan is a reclusive scientist who’s developed a new bio-weapon … one that may be even more dangerous than Godzilla himself.  

Despite the outdated effects, and straightforward monster movie premise … you just can’t beat the atmosphere, characters, tone, and subtext of the original. While a dark and exciting creature feature, it also offers a surprisingly human touch, with a potent, even sobering postwar commentary. After all, it’s based on the real horrors of the atomic age, making this an effective time capsule of a film, and one that still holds-up over the years. Objectively, this is the best of Godzilla’s movies by far … but I personally wouldn’t call it my absolute favorite either. There are other entries that appeal to me for different reasons, but regardless, this is the exceptional entry in the series that I’d absolutely recommend to viewers not familiar with the character. Godzilla will always be one of the great movie monsters, and his 1954 picture is absolutely a terrific classic in its own right. Obviously, rubber suited monster movies will always be an acquired taste for different views, but I still regard this film as a step above typical B-movie fluff, and would encourage anyone to see it at least once, as it may just give you more then what you’d expect from the genera. It’s surprisingly human, it’s consistently engaging, it’s genuinely exciting, it’s effectively atmospheric, and it’s even tragic without relying on bland soap-opera clichés.

 

#4 “Godzilla: Final Wars” (2004) 

A sinister race of aliens once again invade Earth, and unleash all the giant monsters across the planet … with the ever-imposing Space-foe Gigan leading the charge, and a mysterious new Monster X on the approach. With Mothra outnumbered, Earths only hope lies with its greatest threat … Godzilla. Without a doubt, the most straightforward, and consistently entertaining of all Godzilla's movies is this epic monster mash, appropriately titled "Final Wars". For twelve years, this movie stood as the very last Godzilla movie released from Japan … and it’s an absolute blast. While completely devoid of things like a compelling plot, substance, or layered humans … this film makes-up for it with an unhinged sense of fun and non-stop action. At the end of the day, I generally just go to a Godzilla movie for fun … and this film supplies it in gallons. For us longtime fans of the series, we’re treated to a rock-solid, action packed thrill ride, that matches its monster brawls with spaceship battles, kung fu martial art fights, car chases, and just about every classic Godzilla adversary is featured in one film. This includes the long-awaited return of Gigan, who’s never looked cooler, along with the inevitable return of the three headed Dragon King Ghidorah, Godzilla’s son Minia, the giant butterfly Mothera, the winged terror Rodan, The Sea Monster, the Big G’s very first rival Anguirus, and even the first American Godzilla is present. It’s just an all-out monster mash, with lots of destruction, a colorful cast of comic-book style human characters, and lots of cheesy, yet exciting monster battles. It’s simply the ideal Godzilla movie that I still enjoy watching … just for simple escapist fun.

 

#3 “Godzilla VS Destroyah” (1995) 

Godzilla emerges once again from the ocean … but something’s different about him this time. He’s suddenly glowing read, and seems to be falling apart. Sense he was born from Nuclear radiation, it seems that now he’s melting down like a Nuclear reactor. Bad timing, because a new threat, colorfully referred to as “The Destroyer”, has also emerged, and seems to have originated from Godzilla’s DNA. This movie marked the final entry of the second series, which means that the Big-G finally meets his match … and yes, even dies … making this, perhaps, the most tragic monster movie ever. It’s cheesy like any rubber suited monster movie, but it’s done with so much flair, excitement, intensity, and admiration toured this iconic monster. In his final battle, Godzilla teams up with his son to battle the lethal new Destroyah monster, who’s undeniably one of the most spectacular foes to challenge Godzilla head on. He’s also a menace that ties directly into the events of the original first movie, which makes it feel like a story that’s come full circle. It’s a campy, yet epic send-off for the mighty beast, and one that I highly recommend to any fans of the series. 

  

#2 “Godzilla vs Kong” (2021) 

After saving the Earth from a number of deadly monsters, Godzilla seems to have finally snapped, and is going on a rampage. Meanwhile, the giant ape King Kong fears that he’s being hunted, goes off on a journey to find a new home, and maybe discover the place of his origins. However, no-matter how deep Kong travels, all roads will lead to a matchup with his long-standing cinematic rival Godzilla. As stated above, I’ll always have fondness reserved for that goofy 1960’s “King Kong vs Godzilla”, and yet … ever sense I was about seven years old, I always dreamt of seeing a modern-day blockbuster with the two most iconic giant monsters. Well, my childhood dream finally came true … this crossover gave me everything I wanted … then it gave me more … and then it gave me things I wasn’t even expecting. Needless to say, that seven-year-old boy that still resides inside me was giddy from head to toe. Not only do the monster battles thrill, as well as shot beautifully, but the film also delivers an enjoyably outlandish premise involving a journey to a hidden world, with all kinds of imaginative wonders, atmospheres, and designs to behold. 

The humans obviously aren’t very interesting, but I was still able to cost on committed performances, as well as a genuinely heartfelt connection between Kong and a little girl. Throw in a deeply satisfying final battle with Godzilla, King Kong, and even a surprise return of my favorite of the big-G’s foes Mechagodzilla … and what more could a long-time viewer of both character franchises ask for. It’s obviously nothing deep, meaningful, and it’s admittedly ridiculous on every level … but that’s always been the appeal of the franchise, and I found this to be the most fun entry of the franchise to date.

Before I reveal my personal #1 favorite, here are some quick Honorable Mentions …

“Godzilla vs Monster Zero” (1965)

“Shin Godzilla” (2016)

“Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla” (2002)

“Godzilla vs Gigan” (1972)

“Mothra vs Godzilla” (1964)

"Godzilla" (2014)

#1 “Godzilla: Minus One” (2023) 

Following after the events of World War II, a disgraced kamikaze piolet returns home, only to find that his whole family was incinerated during an air raid. Yet, amidst the ashes, he meets a lonely young woman and an orphaned girl, who gradually take the role of his new family. 

Just as they try to subtle in rebuilding their lives, a new threat emerges from the oceans ... it's big, loud, has a fiery temper ... and is just as harmful to this new family as another war. When it comes to long running franchises, there's always that special one that takes me by surprise, and stands as a high-mark, and for Godzilla ... none surprised me more then this! I’ve loved Godzilla movies ever sense I was a little kid, I’ve enjoyed all the recent monster-verse films as easy comfort food … but after over thirty films, I feel the giant king of the monsters has never stood taller than in this movie. Actually … the more appropriate thing to say is that the human story anchoring Godzilla has never been stronger then in this movie. 

Focusing on themes of living with regret after enduring horrible consequences, rebuilding after a great loss, personal sacrifices, family ties, and the strength of the human spirit … it makes this a genuinely great film in its own right … and just happens to have a giant monster. Similar to my feelings for the "Batman" franchise, I love that Godzilla can cross different styles, tones and even sub-genera's. While both these blockbuster-franchises have their places as great entertainment at the movies, it makes for a special event when one steps out of those barriers, and can stand as a great movie on its own … and this unassuming Godzilla film did just that ... and for me, it's my personal favorite movie in this long running series.  

Thanks for reading my countdown, hope you enjoyed it, and if your new to Godzilla, and curious to view some of his films for yourself, then I hope my list gave you an idea on where to start.

As always … continue to enjoy whatever movies you love.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) (Movie Review)

  Writer, producer, and director James Cameron is one of those special filmmakers who’ll forever have their name edged in the Hollywood hall of fame. He breathed new life into the Sci-Fi genera with the 1984 classic “The Terminator”. He then proved that a sequel could be on par, or perhaps even better than the original with the 1986 Sci-Fi classic “Aliens”. Finally, he proved that a Romance picture could dominate the Box Office with the 1997 classic “Titanic”. Yes, his movies continue to be an influence on young filmmakers, and movie lovers all these years later. For me personally, my absolute favorite of his collective works, and one of my all-time favorite movies, is his classic 1991 Sci-Fi sequel “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” … which is long overdue for a review on my sight. 2021 will mark this movie’s thirty-year anniversary, making it the perfect time to look back, and celebrate why this film hardly even feels dated after all these years. In general, Sci-Fi and action are my two favorite genera’s … and I honestly believe that “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” is the absolute greatest blending of the two … with “The Matrix” being a close second. However, where “The Matrix” had a closer lean-to Science Fiction, T2 delivers more on action … but still gives us more then what the genera would typically deliver, including reverent morals, deep character arc’s, and compelling themes, resulting in one of cinemas most decorated action movie achievements.

  The movie begins with a top-tier opening title sequence, in which we see a glimpse of the future war with human kind battling the machines. Even though it’s only a short glimpse, it’s always stuck with me as a memorable battle sequence in the Sci-Fi genera. While the flashbacks in the original were also effective, this one takes it up a notch … not just with better effects, and a large variety of different killer robots on display, but there’s also more disturbing imagery of the innocents that perished along the way. The ground is covered in human skulls, playgrounds are ingulfed in flames, and Brad Fiedel’s iconic music score enhances the mood. It’s one of those perfect scores that weaves different emotional ques into one offering. It’s a score that’s ominous and foreboding, as well as somber and touching in tone. Finally, this score gets me hyped as hell with those final notes, paired with the imposing image of an angry robot terminator standing amidst the flames. It’s simply one of those openings that pulls me right into the experience and says … “You’re not doing anything else right now, it’s movie time”.    

  In many respects, this movie follows the same formula as the original, and yet, it somehow feels like its own unique experience separate from the first. In this film, a robot assassin is sent through time to kill a young boy named John Conner, who in the future will lead a human revolt against an organized army of killer robots called Skynet, and come out victorious. 

A second robot assassin is then sent through time to protect him … and in a refreshing twist, this terminator bears a resemblance to the original evil robot killer from the first movie, who was sent to kill John’s mother Sara Conner before the boy was even born. In the present day, Sara is the only person with knowledge of this horrible future, in which machines ruled the planet, and it’s turned her into a paranoid mental nutcase. Now, in order to protect her son, she finds herself in a frustrating position to trust the very same killer robot she fled from years earlier, which is a thrilling dynamic on its own. However, protecting her son isn’t good enough, as she sets off on a mission to prevent Skynet from ever coming into existence. This leads us to an engineer named Miles Dyson, who’s just a humble family man, and completely unaware that his breakthrough in machines will bring about man-kinds doom. This makes him a target for Sara, who’s subsequently become a figurative terminator of her own making, as she’s willing to kill an innocent man for a crime that he’ll be oblivious to making. While Sara is becoming more of a rouge killer, Johns Terminator guardian is gradually booming more human, is taking the place of a father figure the boy never had, and slowly becoming aware of the value of when it’s important to kill and when not to.

   In essence, the main reason this sequel feels distant from the first movie is for the journey of our four-principal hero’s, and how each one changes from where they started. 

John Conner begins as a street-wise, smart mouthed little punk, who’s only looking out for himself, but gradually he has to mentally grow-up, not just to survive, but also to be a moral-compass for both his mother, and his terminator protector. Edward Furlong’s portrayal of John is still one of the greatest child performances, with a wide range of effective emotions and witty remarks. Sara Conner probably goes through the most changes of any character, starting as a mental-case, to hardened soldier, to someone re-discovering hope in the face of a dark and unknown future. Linda Hamilton reprised her role as Sara from the first film, and set a new templet for bad-ass female leads in an action movie. For whatever it’s worth, no-one else makes pumping a shot-gun look as hard core as Sara Conner in this film. Despite coming latter in the film, Miles Dyson’s journey also shouldn’t be overlooked, as he goes from passionate inventor, to someone willing to sacrifice all his work, his dreams, and even his life for the good of man-kinds future. Joe Morton’s portrayal of Miles Dyson feels as human as they get, and his big sacrifice scene leaves a powerful impact every time I watch this movie.    

  Naturally, the big star one who steals the show is Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role as the T-800 terminator, now turned hero. 

While Arnold was already a hit action-movie star, and his terminator a pop-culture icon, this is the movie that launched both his career, and his character into the realms of absolute greatness. His introduction scene alone is one of the greatest of any action star, as he picks a fight in a bar, leaves with his signature leather jacket and shades, all while set to George Thorogood & The Destroyers song “Bad to the Bone”. Beyond being a plain awesome presence, his journey is one of my favorites of any action hero. He goes from being a senseless killer robot, to someone who learns the value of human life, and the way we see him evolve through the film is brilliant. Even Arnolds performance is better then what you’d expect from an emotionless robot. Despite being devoid of human feelings, Arnold manages to infuses the character with a subtle personality, and even a reserved sense of hummer. After getting knocked around senselessly, he’ll wittingly remark ... “I need a vacation”. I also love when John uses a pay-phone, and askes if his terminator has any change, to which he responds by punching-in the coin box and giving John a quarter ... it’s great. Something this movie doesn’t get enough credit for is a refreshing amount of levity amidst all the action and dread. The funniest scene of all follows after the terminator swears not to kill anyone, then shoots the legs out of a security guard, and casually follows-up with … “He’ll live”.  

  Of course, for as great as the heroes are, I can’t dismiss the liquid metal T-1000 … who’s absolutely one of my favorite movie villains. 

Unlike the other characters, the sinister T-1000 is admittedly kind of one-note, as he’s an assassin with one direct task to kill our young hero John Conner. Yet, even though he doesn’t have the same depth and layers of the other characters, he still shines as one of cinema’s great villains … simply through the level of menace and excitement he brings to the screen. He doesn’t even look as tough as Arnold at face value, which makes him unpredictable, and subsequently even more terrifying. Contrasting Arnold’s Terminator, who has to learn about human personality’s, the T-1000 has a perfect poker-face, knows how to imitate the people around him, and easily blends into the crowd. Robert Patrick shines with a dual performance, that’s charming and unassuming at one moment … then cold-faced and sinister the next. The icing on the cake are his liquid metal shapeshifting abilities that visually knock my socks-off every time I watch this film. Not only were the effects ground breaking for the time, but they also come in a wide variety of different designs, shapes, abilities, and weapons. It never once feels repetitive, as the visuals are utilized in just the right doses without becoming overkill.

  Actually, despite the breakthrough CGI on display, they never once overshadow the stunning practical effects, explosions, and stunts on display. 

Everything ranging from motorcycles leaping off-of ledges, or crashing through windows onto a helicopter, to driving a truck off a ledge, to flying a helicopter across a freeway and under a bridge … they’re all practical, in-camera effects, that if released today would probably be digital effects. This is why the action holds-up after all these years … it feels as real, as dangerous, and as white knuckled as they get. The car chase through the aqueduct, with Arnold twirling his shot-gun while on motorcycle … it’s still one of the great action movie chase scenes. Both the battles and chases come in the right variety, and are spaced out properly, to the point where it never feels like too much of a good thing at once. Also, for an R ratted action movie, it never once glorifies violence the same way other films in the genera do. In fact, there’s a riveting shootout in which the terminator is determined not to kill a single person, and it highlights how an action scene can be exhilarating without mangled bodies, or a repetitively high body count. The film even has the curtesy to go a step further by examining the disturbing nature and terror of human violence. In fact, it’s all summed-up in one disturbing visual of two kids pretending to kill each-other with toy guns, to which Arnolds Terminator cryptically remarks … “It’s man kinds destiny to destroy themselves”.    

  Rarely can a rock-solid action movie balance spectacle with substance, but “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” finds that perfect middle ground between insane levels of entertainment, with just enough moral intelligence to make it something special. The overarching theme of the movie is about finding hope, and how hope for the best in human nature can make a bright future. In fact, the movie sums everything up in one meaningful statement, that there’s … “No Fate … but what we make for ourselves!”. I especially love that the time travel elements of the film aren’t just a plot devise to get two characters from point A, to point B. Instead, it’s also used as a means for starting discussions, and implications on how one should move-forward with knowledge of a possible future. Usually, in time-travel movies of this sort, there’s someone stating that you shouldn’t mess with time, but in this case, the visitor from the future actually suggests that killing someone might be acceptable, if it means saving lives. However, the film wisely counters with wisdom being our greatest strength before violent actions. This leads to one of my favorite individual moments in all of Science Fiction cinema … when Arnolds Terminator approaches Myles Dyson for the first time, pulls out a knife, and cuts the flesh off his robotic arm, revealing his mechanical hand to the very person who’s working on the technology, and follows-up by saying … “Listen to me very carefully”. I can’t even count how many times I’ve watched this, but every time, this scene leaves me with chills from head to toe.              

  As if it weren’t obvious at this point, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is one of those movies that’s packed wall-to-wall with memorable scenes that have always stuck with me. I love when John meets both Terminators for the first time, is caught in their cross fire, and we discover which robot is the killer, and which is the protector. Also, I always loved Arnold concealing his shot-gun in a box of roses … fitting sense John was listening to a “Guns N’ Roses” album earlier in the film. Of course, I have to mention what could well be the most haunting and disturbed nightmare sequence ever put to film. With Sara Conner fearful of mankind’s unknown future, she drifts off to sleep, and imagines seeing the collapse of human kind, with everything falling victim to a massive nuclear bombing. Speaking personally for a moment, one of my biggest fears is that of a nuclear holocaust. This whole sequence feels as real, and as terrifying as a first-person perspective of civilization being nuked can possibly be. The images are intense, the tone is ominous, and once again, it focuses on the innocents that get caught in the blast. It’s a chilling moment that leaves me terrified every time, and it still stands as one of the most unforgettable dream sequences ever put to film.

  The climax of the movie takes place in a Steel Mill, in which we’re treated to one of the most riveting hero versus villain showdowns ever. Sense both Arnolds Terminator, and the sinister T-1000 are both robots, they can get away with a number of abilities, stunts, and battle damage that you just couldn’t get away with in a normal action movie. It’s a feast for the eyes, as well as very suspenseful. Usually, an action movie hero is overly glorified as someone who can leap though fire, and stand firm against any opposition without even flinching ... which is especially true for most of Arnolds action movies. In this movie however, despite being a tough as nails robot, Arnolds heroic terminator gets his butt kicked several times, and is squarely in the position of underdog. He gets impaled through the back, his face gets pulverized, he even loses an arm, yet he still keeps rising up to his more powerful adversary, and it’s what makes this such a riveting final showdown. 

   As if there weren’t enough great things going for this movie … it all comes to a close with an ending that reportedly brings out tears to us hardened action movie fans. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s terminator has finally found the value of human life, and chooses to sacrifice his own existence for the good of man kind’s future. While the character was consistently a bad ass, this is the moment that really characterized him as one of the genera’s great heroes. The real strength of this scene lies in its simplicity. There’s no overly-long sympathetic speech, as his touching goodbye to John is summed up in one simple, yet humble statement, as he quietly says … “I know now why you cry ... and it's something that I cannot do”. The music is subtle yet effective, the select words are genuine without being preachy, and it just leaves me with chills all over. When the credits start rolling, I’m always left in a little trance, like ... wow, what a perfect ending to a great movie.

  Honestly, if action movies like “Raiders of the Lost Arc”, “Black Panther”, “Avatar”, and “Mad Max: Fury Road” can get nominated at the Oscars for Best Picture … then why not this movie too? Being realistic, it’s not in the same caliber as other meaningful cinematic achievements, but as far as action movie entertainment is concerned … this movie is perfect, and goes that extra mile beyond other disposable films of the genera. There’s a reason it continues to appear on countdowns of greatest movie sequels … because it stands as a great movie on its own without the first, and is debatably superior. 

While the original is of course worth watching, it also isn’t required to watch in order to follow, and enjoy this one on its own. While it wasn’t nominated for best picture, it did receive two Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. On top of that, it also won four Academy Awards for Best Make-Up, Best Sound Design, Best Sound Mixing, and obviously it won the Oscar for Best Special Effects. I should also note the extended-cut of “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” that’s well worth checking out if you’re a fan. It gives Miles Dyson more scenes to get developed as a main character, as we see more of his family ties. There’s also a terrific vision scene in which Sara is visited by Kyle Reese from the first film, and played again by Michael Biehn. While some of the added fluff with Arnolds Terminator is kid of cringe, I’d say that the extended-cut overall is well worth seeking out. Also, despite it’s lengthy run-time of 152 minutes, the movie just flies by, even on repeat viewings. Seriously, I never once feel the length of this film, and am always stunned that 152 minutes can feel like a short hour.   

   In the end, if I were to call myself a Terminator fan, I’m mainly referring to this film alone, and not the franchise as a whole. That’s not to slam the original 1984 movie “The Terminator”, as I’ve always respected it as a classic, it’s engaging to watch, and it’s an important benchmark for the Sci-Fi genera. Having said that, it’s never stuck with me as any kid of personal favorite either, and I’ve never really felt any need to re-watch it the way I do with other films I enjoy. The following sequel “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” is admittedly something of a guilty pleasure, as it is a movie I occasionally enjoy repeat viewings of in the span of a decade, but only as straight-forward pop-corn entertainment, and not as any kid of masterpiece. 

Every Terminator movie that’s followed after T3 has been disposable, unnecessary, and completely purged from my memory. “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is the one exception of the franchise that I happily re-watch in a span of three years, and it has a secure placement as one of my all-time favorite movies … like top 10 for sure. It’s a film that simply gets better with age, and hardly feels dated. Even after thirty years, it’s simply the gift that keeps on giving. It’s also an important example of how a highly entertaining merger of both Sci-Fi and action can also have substance and emotional strength at its center, which goes hand in hand with all its spectacle. The characters have depth, the morals have substance, the effects are still eye-popping, the action riveting, and even if you’re not a fan of the genera, I’d still say this movie is worth watching at least once. If you’re either a fan of action or Science Fiction, then “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is mandatory viewing, as it still stands as one of the greatest … and personal favorite of what both genera’s have to offer.    

Thanks for reading my review of the classic 1991 sequel “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” … and continue to enjoy the movies you love.