Terminator 2 is now online!

Here are the technical specs:

Lossless 1080p

Running time: 2 hours and 25 minutes
File type: MKV
Resolution: 1920 x 816
Frame rate: 24p
Audio tracks: 5.1 and 2.0 FLAC 16-bit audio lossless
File size: 17.7gb

Lossy 720p

Running time: 2 hours and 25 minutes
File type: MKV
Resolution: 1280 x 720
Frame rate: 24p
Audio tracks: 5.1 and 2.0 AAC
File size: 6.38gb

As I’ve toiled my way through a long and tiresome move, I’ve been entertaining a lot of ideas to play around with during my spare time when I’m not moving boxes around (and while I still have an internet connection). One of those ideas happened to be James Cameron’s legendary sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Like a lot of folks, I enjoy this film. I don’t think that will come as a shock to anyone. However, I’m also a very indecisive viewer when it comes to which version of the film to watch. For most of us, there are two versions: The 137-minute theatrical version and the 152-minute special edition. Both versions have their strengths, but they also contain several weaknesses that I find hard to glance over. There are scenes in the Special Edition that I wish had seen the light of the film projector back in 1991, but there are also some things that I’m glad were left on the cutting room floor for the theatrical version. So, my motivation for making my own version of T2 was to create a compromise. Of course, my version is still its own thing, and I’ve even removed a couple of things that were around in both versions. However, my main concern was to create a balance between both versions of the film.

For this edit, I brought out my trusty ol’ Skynet Edition Blu-Ray. This edition contains both the theatrical version and the special edition, plus a secret third version that adds 2 more minutes to the special edition, labeled as “the future is not set” if you answer the 5-digit code on the blu-ray menu correctly (If you’re stumped about the code, here’s a hint: it’s the date for Judgment Day). I ripped the theatrical version and this “future is not set” version. These two versions alone should contain every last bit of footage that’s available for the home consumer. That said, though, the Skynet Edition isn’t perfect, as these two reviews below perfectly illustrate:

https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/37191
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Terminator-2-Judgment-Day-Blu-ray/4024/#Review

The video quality is perhaps the biggest elephant in the room for the Skynet Edition. For this reason alone, I’m planning on doing some color grading to the edit in an attempt to fix some of the issues with the video. While the picture quality isn’t “terrible” per se, it could use some improvement. Plus, I really want to experiment with a lot of the ‘film look’ LUT’s I have on DaVinci Resolve, and this is a perfect opportunity to exploit that desire (In fact, that picture of Arnold up there is using a Rec. 709 Fujifilm LUT with a D65 color temperature. The more you know). Hopefully, if I’m playing my cards right, this edit is gonna look really cinematic.

Otherwise, that’s about all I want to say for an introduction. I will conclude this with a list of the changes I’ve decided on so far, plus a couple that I’m still feeling indecisive about. Feel free to state your thoughts on the indecisive ones.

Special Edition changes I’m keeping

Sarah Connor’s Kyle Reese dream sequence
John and Sarah’s CPU reset scene
T-800 smiling scene
Sarah’s extended conversation with Enrique
John and T-800’s extended conversation during the weapon stock-up
John and T-800’s extended conversation on why killing Miles Dyson is a bad idea
Dyson chopping the Cyberdyne CPU

Special Edition changes I’ve removed (updated 12-7-21)

T-1000 stealing the police car
T-1000 killing the dog and scanning of John Connor’s room
Miles Dyson talking about going to Raging Waters theme park
All moments of the T-1000’s glitching up during the final battle to keep the tension going
Alternate ending (updated 12-7-21)

Things that are different from both versions (updated 11-22-21)

Re-edited Sarah Connor’s assassination attempt on Miles Dyson as follows:
https://youtu.be/AKjmOWYBN0E (updated 11-21-21)

Changes I’ve removed from both versions (updated 11-21-21)

The opening 2029 action sequence, so that Sarah Connor’s narration takes center stage
T-1000’s line, “Thanks for your cooperation.”
Miles Dyson’s introduction at Cyberdyne
T-1000 talking to the girls about John Connor being at the Galleria
That subplot involving Sarah Connor and the “pervert”
Removed a couple of shots where Sarah Connor beats her oppressor senseless, since that subplot no longer exists
Shot of the T-800 and John Connor riding the motorcycle to the asylum (updated 11-21-21)
The lines, “John, you’ve got to go now.”, and “John!”