Looking Back: TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY

This is not to be confused with a movie review. It's sort of like, if my life was a book, this is one of the chapters. after reading this, you will all understand as to why T2 will forever live in my mind as the greatest movie of all time!

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TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY

While this show was not my first fond memorable movie, it has still lasted the test of time as STILL being my favourite movie...OF ALL TIME!

It was 1991. I had just finished grade 5. I was watching TV one day and I seen this movie commercial (because at that age I had never heard the term trailer before, so I just called them commercials). Anyways, this commercial comes on for a movie called Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Now, I've heard of The Terminator. Everyone did. But that movie came out in 1984. I WOULD'VE BEEN 5!! Needless to say I didn't watch it when it came out. I grew up in a household that didn't really allow much swearing on TV (heck, we weren't even allowed to watch The Simpsons), so when T2 hit, I STILL had not seen the first one. But at least I knew that Arnold was the baddie. I remember the commercial distinctly as the final tagline was "...this time there are 2." Two Terminators after the boy, HE'S SCREWED! AWESOME! Now, topped off with badass explosions and CGI, this commercial practically made me weep with excitement. I HAD TO SEE IT!! A few nights later, while watching the Arsenio Hall Show (yup, I watched it), Arnold Schwarzenegger was the guest. They talked about T2 and repeatedly flashed across the screen "THE BIGGEST MOVIE OF THE SUMMER!". They even showed a good 2 minute clip of the beginning bar scene.
OK, so I couldn't contain it much longer! One way or another I WAS THERE! So, later that summer my sister, her friend Diane (yup, if you are reading this, I mean you), my friend, and I finally made the decision to go. So off to Place Riel Theatre at the University of Saskatchewan campus we went!!
A glorious 2 hours and spare change went by. All we did was talk about it after. I even had bought a collectible magazine with pictures and behind the scenes stuff, etc. Guns N' Roses aided the situation by putting out a track that would forever be known as that song from T2 ("You Could Be Mine"). I had already liked Guns N' Roses, having heard Appetite For Destruction back in the late 80's. But when I found out they had not one but TWO albums coming out, a sort of double shot of awesomeness if you will, I was elated! And, thanks again to my ever incredible sister, Christmas came and guess what was under the tree. Guns N' Roses: Use Your Illusions I & II!! Meanwhile, in that gap between late August (when we seen the flick) and Christmas, my friend and I NEVER STOPPED TALKING ABOUT THIS MOVIE. The phrase "Hasta la vista, baby" was forever used in our daily conversations. And the recently released music video for GNR's "You Could Be Mine" was recorded on our awesome VCR, and watched to death!
Finally 1992 hit. Grunge music was taking over the radio. The Kurt Cobain era was half way done while the Pearl Jam and Soundgarden era were just getting started. Guns N' Roses and Metallica represented all that was rock that year. Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Trisha Yearwood were the biggest names in country music (and for the most part I still didn't care).
I was finishing my rough stint in grade 6 (I hated A LOT of people in elementary, and I never got along well with my grade 6 teacher). But still, Terminator 2 was all I could talk about. In fact, Superchannel was finally getting it! Luckily I had the channel, too! One day, I finally got my handy-dandy blank VHS tape, popped it in and pushed record. IT WAS MINE!
Around this time, my brother (who was only 2 at the time) and I were at home alone (I babysat him A LOT), and I figured: brother, it's time to introduce you to an AWESOME movie. Into the VCR went T2. So, after watching it and the GNR "You Could Be Mine" video that day (and many, many times other days), I was now the proud big brother of a little boy who had committed an R-rated show to memory. I know, awesome, right? In fact, anytime the movie, the video, or even a shot of Arnold himself came on the TV, Johnathan (in the cutest 2 year old voice piossible) would always be excited and just kept saying "Mine" (his referencing to the song). I was so happy with myself. Though, in retrospect, I wonder if his attitude now was caused by watching a swear-laden show at the age of 2? Hmmmmm......
Either way, eventually the taped VHS was replaced by the actual VHS. The VHS by the DVD (only after I found out there were additional scenes in the DVD), and, as of last year, the DVD by the Blu Ray (yup, with EVEN MORE additional scenes!).

So, in conclusion, not only did Terminator 2 play a pivotal part of my childhood...it also may have destroyed my brothers!

Wait...