Movie #38 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day

"It's nothing personal."

If I were to think back over all of the movies I have seen in my 27 years, I would like to think that Terminator 2: Judgement Day ranks high on influential films that I have seen. This thought stems from a variety of factors:

1991 - This year marks the period in which I became a big fan of the hobbies that I still enjoy today. I started collecting sports cards in 1991 and I was given the freedom to enjoy my love for movies with access to local video stores such as Streetsville, Ontario's Queen Video, in which I had access to over 10,000+ VHS films for a tremendous price point of 5 movie rentals for 5 days for $5.

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Surprisingly, this was the jump start of the persona that is the Governator. Not that his previous films such as Conan, Terminator, or Total Recall didn't do that already, Terminator 2 was the culmination of all of his efforts rolled into one of biggest blockbusters of the decade.

T-1000 - Awesome. At age 11, I honestly thought the concept of a liquid metal killing machine was fantastic and got my imagination going. It didn't motivate me to become an engineer or develop anything with computers, but it gave me the chance to appreciate that CGI was here to stay and that anything could be made to look and feel "real" on the screen with just a simple click of a few buttons. Computers were here to stay and T2 represented the virtual boom of the computer age, something I grew up in.

These 3 factors alone make this movie an important pillar in my hobby and obsession with the movies I like. Whenever I see this film, I always watch it in its entirety... the movie itself is well written, perfectly cast, and still provides a sense of suspense in the pursuit of John Connor. I have especially liked the parodies of this film done by the Simpsons, since it is one of my favourite movies.

What makes this movie work is the casting of Robert Patrick (T-1000) and Edward Furlong (John Connor). Without a strong Connor in the role, you don't feel the importance of his life or his character. Without a strong villain, who in this case is also a shape shifter and 10x stronger and faster than Arnold, you really don't have a movie. I always vouch that the villain makes the movie and what this villain is able to do really puts you in your seat.

If you have not yet seen T2: Judgement Day after 17 years, pick it up. It is definitely one to enjoy even now after so many years. A big screen, HD television viewing for the first time would be ideal as it would truly capture the essence of what was intended for the audience.

Movie #28 - Firewall

"They will make him steal... but he will make them pay."

That is the clever tag-line to this poorly done film. Its actually a little sad seeing Harrison Ford's illustrious career continue to spiral down into oblivion. If this film had been done a few years ago, I would think it would draw more fans and more support in Hollywood, however, Ford's been swinging at air when it comes to blockbusters and he hasn't had one in quite some time.
I don't remember when it first started to happen. My wife and I have debated this topic a couple of times... she claims it started with Hollywood Homicide, I claimed it started with What Lies Beneath.

Here's the theory. Harrison Ford has always played the quintessential good guy. He's always the protagonist and the one we root for as our heroic character. Even when the chips are down and he's down and out, Ford's long list of successful characters win out in the end. With What Lies Beneath - (*spoiler for those who haven't seen it*) Ford is revealed as the antagonist and a murderer. This is a complete 180 degree spin on what we are used to seeing... although a welcome change in my opinion from his stereotypical roles, it destroys a wonderful streak of strong roles as the good guy.

This is where the demise of Ford's career first started to appear. Follow that up with such poorly done films such as K-19 The Widowmaker or Hollywood Homicide... and you got exactly what your film's title proclaims... the death of your career.

Back to Firewall. The movie is a complete flop from beginning to end. It has some strong character actors cast in a movie with little to no script or plot. Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen, and Robert Patrick provide support in this film, but it just seems very unrealistic.
Shedding his typical Indiana Jones / President of the U.S. / CIA agent / lawyer / doctor persona (please take your pick), Ford is poorly cast as a firewall expert for a major banking institution.

This seems to be quite a stretch at first because most IT experts don't look like Ford - no offense to those that do. Also, when Bettany does steal the money holding Ford and family hostage... Harrison's character suddenly drinks some Jack Ryan juice and kicks some ass. I'd like to see our IT specialists do that at my work.

Either way... I do not recommend seeing this film for it taints the success of previous Ford films. I hope that his current production of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will breathe some life in this actor's career.

Reference: I originally published this article on Helium.com.