Terminator 2 – Judgement Day – 4K Blu-ray Review
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Lionsgate Films 1991
R | 2hrs 17 min | Sci-Fi | Fantasy | Action | Adventure
HD | 1080P | DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Native 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Aspect Ratio 2.40:1
Staring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick, Earl Boen, Joe Morton
Directed by: James Cameron
Ratings & Reviews
Please see here for my comments on reviewing movies.
My ratings are simple being marked out of a maximum of 5+. My reviews are biased towards the technical production aspects of the film with brief comments about the story line. Extras, sorry, that’s just not my ‘bag’.
So what did the 5.1 soundtrack sound like? Acceptable in most respects, and the native 4K HDR10 video? Very good considering what was originally released in both SD and HD.
Entertainment: 4+
Video: 4+/5-
Audio: 4+
I know, this too is a blast from the past. However, I was never going to pay full price for a 4K movie version that didn’t get a good review. After all I own both the Ultimate and Extreme DVD SD versions….did I need more? At $7.99 now, how could I refuse? In a nutshell this often dark image looked excellent played back on my Oppo 205 and ISF calibrated JVC DLA-RS640.
Technical Review – Native 4K UHD HDR10
Terminatoror 2: Judgment Day was originally shot on 35 mm photochemical film using Arriflex 35 BL4 cameras and Zeiss Super Speed and Cooke Varotal Lenses. This Ultra HD release, is a 2160P transfer in 2.40:1 of the original camera negative. It was created by Lionsgate Films and finished as a native 4K Digital Intermediate with color grading in HDR10.
I have read several reviews about this 4K release that were less than kind regarding its video qualities. Sorry, but I found few video issues that were a distraction or that would significantly impact my technical score. The original HD movie (that I borrowed) was a little dark and was lacking is luster, pop and detail; not so here. I was impressed with the detail, sharpness and color saturation right out of the gate as the flaming opening scenes burst forth onto the screen with well saturated reds, yellows and oranges, excellent detail and absolutely no compression artifacts. The only issue I noticed was that the opening titles and text were not razor sharp, having slightly soft edges…maybe that was how it was produced.
I am not a big fan of any film grain, and despite this movie being imaged on film, there was virtually none here, looking almost like a video shoot. Many scenes are in dark rooms with low level lighting or night sequences with only a few outside daytime shots like those around Reseda, LA and in the desert where you will see the higher white levels that also occur during many explosions, fire fights, hot flowing iron and various lighting effects. Blacks are deep and virtually noise free, supported by excellent low level shadows and detail. Peak whites provided clean details with no obvious clipping, creating a solid dynamic range.
Image clarity and fine detail is very good throughout especially in the many close-ups. There might be a case for saying that there is a little excessive use of edge enhancement but it was very minimal. The facial close-ups showed excellent skin, pore, pock marks and follicle hair detail even down to the makeup but with excellent skin tone. Closeups of T2’s damaged face and some skin shots revealed some less than stellar CGI/makeup effects but I could ignore that. Costume and fabric detail like jacket threads and general clothing were excellent, while building and vehicle, rust, dents, general abuse and wear and tear looked excellent. Daytime and nighttime colors were all well saturated like the reds, oranges and yellows of explosive fire, T2’s scans and the yellow road divider line.
I found this video a very satisfying and engaging watch. There is very little to criticize about it on my playback and projection system.
Audio – DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
My two SD DVD’s do not have lossless audio nor the 2016 HD version that I borrowed. This energetic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is the same as that on the later 2015 Blu-ray and included HD Blu-ray, providing good immersion and some solid LFE, especially in the film’s final act during a rather intensive battle and ensuing explosive sequences. Channel levels were generally good though I did raise my overall level by +2dB just to get enough bottom end. I also noted that there was occasionally what sounded to be distortion on some of the center channels speech sibilance. This was rarely an issue and dialogue was always clear and detailed with a fixed, solid, up front, and mostly center imaging. Surround action was not extensive but sufficient to keep you in the action, provide environmental ambience and help you track the movement of various objects.
Overall I found the mix sufficient and engaging.
Story Overview
Over 10 years have passed since the first machine called The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) tried to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and her unborn son, John (Edward Furlong). John is destined to become the future leader of the human resistance against the Machines. Now another Terminator, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick), is sent back through time by the supercomputer Skynet. The T-1000 is more advanced and more powerful than the original terminator and its mission is to kill John Connor while he is still a teenager. Fortunately another old style Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is also sent back in time by John from his future life to protect both himself as a boy and Sarah. So begins the battle for the threesome to defeat the T-1000, an almost indestructible liquid metal Terminator, and save humanity from annihilation.
My 2 cents
I am not too sure why there were notable complaints about this movies video, if anything its the audio that needed a re-mix. The movie provided a very enjoyable 2 plus hours of entertainment and I am so glad that I purchased it being a massive upgrade over my two SD versions and the borrowed HD version. Even by todays standards this 1991 movies CGI and special effects still look good. The 5.1 soundtrack is not exactly top notch, but it is sufficient to keep you engaged.
