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[EatChildren]

I do still really like T2, but it doesn't have that relentless, oppressive stalker theme paced across the entire movie like T1 does. In T1 you've basically got the build-up of the T800 trying to find the right Sarah at any and every cost, and then once he's got the target it's just non-stop cyber stalking terror.

The T1000 does break that mould (lololol) of limitations we'd apply to a big machine, and I think that was smart. You really get the vibe he's so much more efficient and deadly. Truly the better model. But the film also deliberately has a lot more down time to explore other plots. The trio's tangent out to Mexico to stock up on weapons, Sarah going to kill Dyson, then all of them banding together to take down Cyberdyne make for a lot of screen time that more or less completely forget the T1000 even exists. You never get the sensation he is oppressively hunting them across the countryside because he never does. They escape, and then he shows up again at the most convenient moment in the plot.

And I don't necessarily think that makes for a bad story, but it's really not on the same level of the unstoppable, relentless killing machine the first movie.

 

[inm8num2]

I personally like T1 a bit more, mostly out of nostalgia.

The Terminator is just pure 80s. Dark and gritty. T2 is probably a better overall movie, or at least a better action movie, but the original's atmosphere wins me over.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

T1000's pretty lucky they decided to ride back into LA, because they looked pretty comfortable down there in Mexico.

 

[happypup]

T1000's pretty lucky they decided to ride back into LA, because they looked pretty comfortable down there in Mexico.

little known fact the t-1000 was not allowed to cross international borders.

 

[catashtrophe]

I grew up with the Terminator movies and prefer T1 to part 2. Its just a more gritty and on your edge of the seat movie which never slowed down.

I love Terminator 2 as well but the desert part of the movie slowed things to a crawl for me and there was 15 or so minutes of no T1000.

Two classics though

 

[BloodMoney]

They are two very different, and excellent films.
Its like trying to pick a favorite between Alien, and Aliens... I can't do it.

 

[mxgt]

T1 is superior. Better atmosphere, Arnie as a villain, Biehn and no kids, better soundtrack

Plus Sarah Connor isn't an insufferable cunt in T1

Also, the Tech Noir scene is better than anything in T2. That's the first time you realise shit has well and truly gotten real along with seeing Arnie's indestructible nature

 

[TheWarrior]

I think they are completely different movies that tell a complete story, it's a great duology in filmaking and story telling. It's a shame they never made any more Terminator movies, but the 2 films are so perfect together.

 

[The Albatross]

You can like it more. But I can like you less for it.

I think they are completely different movies that tell a complete story, it's a great duology in filmaking and story telling. It's a shame they never made any more Terminator movies, but the 2 films are so perfect together.

Agreed.

 

[Jarmel]

Yep, I completely agree. The atmosphere in the first one is palpable with this horror feeling.

 

[bro1]

T2 to me has too much humor and self awarness in it. T1 is the best of the bunch.

 

[MegalonJJ]

T1 all day every day since I was 7. T2 is good, the future war sequence is the only scene that comes close to T1 but yeah, when you take a Godtier villain from T1 and then make him say stuff like, "Why do you cry?" it's just not cricket anymore. The chap who said his balls had been cut off is spot on. Also, in T2, the T-800 kills not one person and the T-1000 has a much smaller body count compared to the T1 T-800. That's not to say I'm for the bodycount, but it adds to the impending menace.

T1 has to have one of the most unwanted sex scenes ever. I've never heard someone excited about that scene.

That scene is very important. Obviously because it's the creation of John Conner, but more importantly prior to that scene Reese is on edge, sharp and alert at all times. After that scene his hair becomes fluffy and clean and he's more chilled out...to his detriment

 

[inm8num2]

It's a shame they never made any more Terminator movies,

 

[Raistlin]

I've been arguing this for well over a decade

 

[VeryGooster]

I personally like T1 a bit more, mostly out of nostalgia.

The Terminator is just pure 80s. Dark and gritty. T2 is probably a better overall movie, or at least a better action movie, but the original's atmosphere wins me over.

I think Cameron sought out to make a great movie in T2, definitely with passion. Watching The Terminator, to me, is like watching Cameron making something great with less tools, like he had something to prove, and he made it work.

 

[News Bot]

I like The Terminator better overall.

Judgement Day's script is cringe-worthy at times. Still a great movie, but in a different league from T1.

 

[D4Danger]

I think they are completely different movies that tell a complete story, it's a great duology in filmaking and story telling. It's a shame they never made any more Terminator movies, but the 2 films are so perfect together.

I get that the first 2 probably stand on their own for most people but the second half of T3 is pretty good.

also, T2 is the best Terminator.

 

[J2 Cool]

But the film also deliberately has a lot more down time to explore other plots. The trio's tangent out to Mexico to stock up on weapons, Sarah going to kill Dyson, then all of them banding together to take down Cyberdyne make for a lot of screen time that more or less completely forget the T1000 even exists. You never get the sensation he is oppressively hunting them across the countryside because he never does. They escape, and then he shows up again at the most convenient moment in the plot.

As a kid I needed this, mexico was when I could consider where the relationships were, and nuclear nightmare Sarah has is pretty good to shock people out of complacency of hiding (which I really wanted them to do). T1 is all ramping up, you have a little downtime once she's in jail, but then you realize jail is not beyond Terminator's limits at all, when for a second you think he's relenting strategically. And their love retreat.

Also, the Tech Noir scene is better than anything in T2. That's the first time you realise shit has well and truly gotten real along with seeing Arnie's indestructible nature

Total terror, one of the couple moments in that film that the Terminator's audacity (whipping a shotgun out in public) frightens us. That and the police station were enough to just let you know to be on edge, you're never safe.

 

[Mumei]

I saw both for the first time not long ago, but I preferred T2 over T1. I'm not much of a horror fan, though, so that might explain it.

 

[Bucket Mouse]

I do still really like T2, but it doesn't have that relentless, oppressive stalker theme paced across the entire movie like T1 does. In T1 you've basically got the build-up of the T800 trying to find the right Sarah at any and every cost, and then once he's got the target it's just non-stop cyber stalking terror.

The T1000 does break that mould (lololol) of limitations we'd apply to a big machine, and I think that was smart. You really get the vibe he's so much more efficient and deadly. Truly the better model. But the film also deliberately has a lot more down time to explore other plots. The trio's tangent out to Mexico to stock up on weapons, Sarah going to kill Dyson, then all of them banding together to take down Cyberdyne make for a lot of screen time that more or less completely forget the T1000 even exists. You never get the sensation he is oppressively hunting them across the countryside because he never does. They escape, and then he shows up again at the most convenient moment in the plot.

And I don't necessarily think that makes for a bad story, but it's really not on the same level of the unstoppable, relentless killing machine the first movie.

I think it's that downtime that makes the second film more epic in scope, more exploratory, more contemplative. Not necessarily better, but richly iterative. The character inversions in particular are great. Sarah's experiences in the first film have ironically made her more like a ruthless Terminator, while the T-800 gradually learns what it is to be human and perversely becomes a sort of father figure to John. Teaming up with a former enemy? Come on, that's a classic inversion. It's still intelligent sci fi, even if it loses some of the tension that makes the first film so great.

I love The Terminator and T2 almost equally; they just offer different experiences.

 

[Lucky Forward]

One of the cool aspects of the T1 story is how Reese totally comes off like a paranoid schizophrenic to any impartial observer...smelly wino clothes, stalking a pretty girl, babbling about robots and time travel. I love how when Reese calls out for Sarah while the terminator is laying waste to the police station, Sarah still has a moment of doubt as she hides under the desk before she finally calls out to Reese and decides to trust him.

 

[revolverjgw]

The first one is far superior, so lean and mean. A great simple concept executed brilliantly. The second has goofy narrative layers (the thumbs up is so embarrassing) and a cartoony villain. And of course, there's no way a film with THAT fucking kid could ever touch something as no-nonsense as T1. It's a crippling element.

 

[heidern]

OP is right in that the original is better. In fact I don't even count T2 as a sequel, I just see it as a random spinoff. There is only true Terminator film to me.

T1 is perfectly crafted and paced, it has the ultimate bad guy, moment of intense brilliance, great writing and a relentless atmosphere.

T2 has lots of cool stuff, but it's not really cohesive. The dodgy and cheesy acting by Edward Furlong and a cheesy Arnie completely detract from the seriousness and intensity of the film. Linda Hamilton was ok but psycho Sarah was too try hard and a little off from the original where she gained maturity through the film, T1000 had his moments but he looks like a dweeb and no amount of liquid gimmicks can compare to Arnie in the original. It's a good popcorn flick with great action sequences and having a good Terminator is fun, but it's not a classic.

 

[Dicer]

Op is correct, both are great films but the first is just so dark and gritty, and closer to the namesake...T2 is almost campy.

 

[I love Kitties]

One of the cool aspects of the T1 story is how Reese totally comes off like a paranoid schizophrenic to any impartial observer...smelly wino clothes, stalking a pretty girl, babbling about robots and time travel. I love how when Reese calls out for Sarah while the terminator is laying waste to the police station, Sarah still has a moment of doubt as she hides under the desk before she finally calls out to Reese and decides to trust him.

I agree. The story is unbelievable to the average person. I like how In T2, Sarah becomes the "crazy" person no one believes. I also like how they use the same psychiatrist in both movies. His reactions are priceless!

 

[giancarlo123x]

T1>T2

 

[Warrior_Keoni]

The first terminator I feel has its roots as in killer cyborg, with only one directive which was terminating Sarah Connor.That Terminator was relentless and unforgiving.


Then we have T2 which showed a more "emotional" side as being the protector and ultimately a father figure to John.

Both are good movies, though I enjoyed T2 a lot more.

 

[SpoonyBard]

I agree. The story is unbelievable to the average person. I like how In T2, Sarah becomes the "crazy" person no one believes. I also like how they use the same psychiatrist in both movies. His reactions are priceless!

And he's also in the third one, if I remember correctly.

 

[phazedplasma]

Perfectly normal reaction because: Kyle Reese

 

[Clov]

I love them both equally myself, but I can definitely agree that the atmosphere in the original was much better.

 

[Hurley]

The first is much more of a tech noir horror. I love both films but they do have a very different feel from each other.

To this day i still think when the t-800 endoskeleton is fully revealed in T1 and it's chasing them it's fucking terrifying and the stop motion really gave it that robotic feel imo

 

[TRios Zen]

T1 > T2 for me, but by the narrowest of margins. I mean I enjoyed both immensely, but your first is always your first you know...

I see the similarities with Alien and Aliens, but those had the benefit of being different genres so you don't have to really rank which is better.

 

[BertramCooper]

The Terminator is definitely a better film than T2.

Ed Furlong was borderline unwatchable.

 

[Phat Michael]

I like T1 a lot more. T2 was great but I prefer the first. it had a much better story line and seemed a lot darker.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

The first film was a lot more oppressive to me.
A hulking, killing-machine Arnold was terrifying.


Terminator 2 was more entertaining overall and has aged a hell of a lot better, but I appreciate the bleakness of the original. It seemed more like a horror film, where T2 was an action film.

 

[Sub_Level]

Terminator has a better story, characters, and atmosphere.

Judgement Day has better action. Not just because of the effects and the bigger set pieces allotted by the budget, but the choreography too. When there's a Terminator on your side and there is STILL a sense of tension, that is damn good shit.

Both movies have an equally good soundtrack. T1 with it's synth. T2 with it's percussion.

I'm not sure which one is my favorite. I would recommend watching both back-to-back.

And yes, John Connor in T2 is terrible. And the whole "he's a super smart kid who can hack vaults and ATMs!" thing was dumb and never even really explored.

T2 is the best action movie ever, T1 is a great movie, but it didn't age that well imo.

I disagree. T1 is supposed to be set in the 80s, so everything about that movie aesthetically works perfectly.

 

[Sub_Level]

You now realize that the guy on the motorcycle in the ditch during stunt scenes was clearly not Arnold Schwarzenegger and from this moment onwards you will notice it everytime you watch T2 thus temporarily breaking immersion.

You're welcome.

 

[Ghost_Protocol]

Terminator 1 has Michael Biehn. Terminator 2 does not. It was always a simple choice for me.

 

[Moon Boots]

The Terminator is definitely a better film than T2.

Ed Furlong was borderline unwatchable.

It's good acting of an annoying, but complex and realistic, character.

 

[Winterfang]

Robocop is superior to both movies. Yeah, you read that right.

 

[Sub_Level]

Terminator 1 has Michael Biehn. Terminator 2 does not. It was always a simple choice for me.

 

[Ghazi]

Welp, I just found out Terminator 2 is on Netflix. So brb while I watch it for the first time.

 

[y2dvd]

This is like trying to pick out who your favorite child is that the OP hopefully wouldn't eat.

 

[GungHo]

You now realize that the guy on the motorcycle in the ditch during stunt scenes was clearly not Arnold Schwarzenegger and from this moment onwards you will notice it everytime you watch T2 thus temporarily breaking immersion.

You're welcome.

The stung guy in the top right quadrant looks like Ray Liotta. Meanwhile the stunt guy in the bottom left quadrant looks like Tom Cruise. Which begs the question: how weird would the movies had been if either Ray Liotta or Tom Cruise were the Terminator?

 

[daviyoung]

Tom Cruise would have made a good Edward Furlong, nestled in Arnold's lap for the duration of the movie.

 

[jmls1121]

2 of my favorite movies of all time. I can't choose.

 

[inm8num2]

What always struck me about Arnold's double for that scene was how strong his neck seemed as the bike landed.

 

[Raptomex]

These are my favorite movies. I can't choose just one. So I usually just put them together. Terminator/Terminator 2. Both are incredible and both are part of Cameron's vision. Greatest action movies ever.

 

[angular graphics]

Different kind of movies. T2 is bigger, better, shinier, etc. so of course it loses a bit of what made T1 the unique movie it was.

Then again sequels are meant to do that; take the premise of the previous movie to the next level, and T2 excels at that.

tl;dr I prefer T2. Both are really great.

 

[SiteSeer]

when i was a child i liked t2 best, now that i am an adult i have thrown such childish things away. t1 forever.