Time to revisit T2... on Blu Ray.

[Touchdown]

Since Salvation debuts just a few days away, and it's already been panned by a couple of critics, let's go back to the best film of the series...

I can't think of any other movie that has had so many re-issues as this one. I know Hollywood likes to milk a popular film for all it's worth, but T2 is getting ridiculous.

At least 2 versions on VHS, 3 on Laserdisc, 4 on DVD, and I wouldn't doubt one on Beta.

And now, a mere 3 years after the format debuted, we get the second (and third) version on Blu Ray.

This new version I bought is : The Skynet Edition. There's a $100+ edition with a Terminator bust to go with it. Pretty cheesy... and expensive.




It's basically an HD version of the extended edition Laserdisc, or Ultimate and Extreme edition on DVD. It has both versions of the film, and too may extra features to name. All on one disc, with the dubious "extra" feature of BD-Live, where the content is nothing any Laserdisc or SE DVD collector hasn't seen before or known about for 20 years (basically special features accessed through the BD player only with the disc required to access content).

$19 gave me my third version of this film (Yeah, I like it). I never had an LD player, but I have had 2 versions on DVD already. Anymore, I just want the movie. I've seen all those making of "extra" features years ago, I don't need the same crap on a disc. I just want the choice of the two version of the film.

I'm not going into the story or characters here. Anybody who's not lived on a rock knows T2. The picture quality is hit and miss. For most people who are less detail oriented, and just want to be told a story, this edition is better than the basic BD that came out 2 years ago. For anal jerks like me, there's a term called DNR. Digital Noise Reduction. Use a little of it, It takes a bit of the original film grain away, use too much and faces start to look plasticky. The sound quality is very good, with a DTS-HD track, however keep in mind that to get the volume to a level where you can hear the dialogue, you will frighten the dead when the action heats up. Apparently equalization isn't part of DTS's agenda. Colors are right on, whites are not washed out, no moire, and blacks are jet black. Even though some of the action is relentless, this edition has not digital artifacting that I can tell. My only complaint is the over-use of DNR.

If you have a BD player already, and don't have the first edition, the Skynet edition is a decent purchase. If you are a picture snob like me, you should wait until they come out with yet the inevitable next version... possibly the Dr. Silberman edition. This one isn't worth replacing the first edition though. It's better, but not perfect enough to shell out more.

I don't know about how many SF-DUers are into home theater like I am, but I thought I'd share my interest in a movie most people love, and the home video executives love more.