In 2017 T2 Terminator 2: Judgment Day returned to theaters nationwide and with a fresh coat of paint. Not only did the film received a phenomenal 3D makeover, but it was also remastered and regraded with new color timing. This 2017 version is now available as standard Bluray, 3D Bluray and 4K disc. Will take a look at this modernized version, but also will shed a spotlight on how T2 had looked in its various formats, because some may not know that the current Bluray/4K version is not the first time the film had color changes.
Also, the 2017 version has digitally altered scenes, and though I don't think there are fans that don't know that visually this 2017 version has been reworked fairly significantly, perhaps there are some new fans who maybe just recently discovered the films and aren't familiar with all the changes and alterations done to the film. It's a topic that's been covered around, but I thought I may collect it all here for me and everyone else to see and reference, so we'll cover it here too. It's fun anyway, and interesting.
I won't be comparing video quality/transfers, but will focus on color timing. Before we go into DVDs and Blurays, stuff we can watch, I just want to mention the so called "lost" version of T2 that is out of print for close to 3 decades and has never even been released on dvd. I'm talking about a full screen/open matte version, which is the format used for older TVs. You could ask, what's to miss about an image that's cut on the sides? Well, while this is how vast majority of movies were formatted for VHS and TV, it was different with T2. Cameron wanted to have a better control of the image and shot the movie in a wide canvas, so called Super 35 which allowed him to frame the film in two different ways, one for full screen one for wide screen, and as oppose to what has usually been done, with VHS/TV/FULL Screen version, we actually had MORE image vertically. There's an entire chapter devoted to how T2 was framed differently for widescreen (all versions ever released on dvd and bluray) and VHS/Laserdiscs (version now lost and never released on dvd or blurays) on T2 Ultimate DVD extras. Here's a screenshot that best shows how two versions were done
I've seen many debates about which one is better, and I'm split in the middle. I like the wider scope, but we the horizontal scope gives us more of a background, while the wider vertical image gives us more of the subject matter. Example
Ideally, I'd love to have option to watch both. I mean, things like the device at John Connors feet is now completely gone and unseen in the current widescreen version, and details like that are lost forever
Here below, just for the curious ones, couple of comparison shots made by youtuber called Swat Littlerock between the modern bluray/4K and laserdiscs/vhs
Terminator 2: Judgment Day first appeared on DVD in 1997, as the first film, released by Live Entertainment, the same company that did the laserdiscs, so as with the first film, the first DVD is basically the latest widescreen Laserdisc. That is one of the reasons why I find this first '97 DVD so interesting - it is the only way for a modern equipment to view how the film looked on laserdisc, and how it looked in the 90's. Another interesting aspect of it is that as oppose to latter releases, this version was a very quiet release and never really talked about because its overshadowed by its successors
So the first frame of the comparison shots will be that of the 1997 DVD. It was followed by 2001's Ultimate DVD, which I'll omit because we're dealing with palette here, and the Ultimate release had a similar one and differed in much higher contrast mostly.
In 2003, another DVD release followed which was called Extreme DVD and that one had new transfer and color timing, which remained constant in all subsequent versions and Blu rays untill 2017. So the second frame in the comparison shots will be that of 2009's Skynet Edition Blu Ray, which represents the film's look in releases between 2003-2015. I sort of noticed the bigger shift towards purple couple times while taking screenshots throughout the years, but didn't think it was as significantly different, in my opinion, as the 90's look. The 2003-15 version, most often referred to as the Skynet Edition after it's most famous BluRay release, had some mild criticism for using grain reduction therefore losing some detailing, and that was corrected for the 2015 release which is still on the market as of this day. I had always loved the Skynet Edition and didn't really had any feel that it's been missing anything, but today the purple stands out clearer for me, perhaps because it's gone in both the modern version and the original 90's look. It isn't the higher contrast that makes look the night scenes purple in most places, it really is a different coloring and doesn't have that steel cold blue, graphic novel signature look of T2. The 2001-2006 version of The Terminator also had a purple look with strong reds.
Also, the colors on this Skynet Edition are more washed up, or perhaps a better term should be, more subtle, and it isn't just the saturation being down, it's the brightness and contrast change as well. It isn't really noticeable when you watch it and certainly isn't detrimental to the film. I'm just pointing out that in comparison to the 90's look, it had softer colors and purplish look that doesn't really look purple until you compare it.
The last frame will represent the current modernized, recolored version that the Blu Ray's and 4K releases have now since its remastering in 2017 for the 3D version
Surfing around bluray and video forums, I have to say I haven't really encountered any videophile who wouldn't despise the new look. While watching it in 3D (it's hard to go back to 2D once you experience it in 3D and have an option to do it as many times as you please), I was so immersed in it I failed to pay any attention to color differences, it just all seemed natural to me, like looking through a glassless window. However, one time when I grabbed a new version and wanted to watch it in 2D, I immediately switched to a bluray with an original version. Why?
Was I just used to the original version? Well, I'm somewhere in the middle with this. Again, as far as 3D experience, it's perfection to me. When it comes to 2D, I definitely prefer the original look, although one may argue the definition of the original look, but here I mean "not 2017". But that's a simple preference. For example, I had never been a fan of the greenish look in the newer films, and the new version does adopt the modern look with the teal. I love the steely cold blue that the original had, and if you want to go for truly original 90's look, the 1997 DVD or laserdiscs are the answer, but the Skynet Edition is certainly close.
So let's look at all of those versions side by side. You can clearly see the difference on all versions even in the brightly lit scenes, like the meeting of the Terminators at the Galleria. While there is significant difference between the 90's and 03-15 look, the 2017 modernizes the film by giving it the teal look even in bright light
Whenever there are very brightly lit scenes, such as Salceda ranch or when the T-800 stands under the light, the skin takes a more yellowish tone
Most of the cold blue night scenes have been recolored for a teal look in the 2017 version. You can see how it transitions from blue to washed purple and then becomes green
In some cases, the blue disappears completely
Some night scenes like the terminators' arrival or T-1000's shattering had retained their chilly blue look even in the modern version, with contrasting whites, which actually do match the Cameron's style more, that white/cold blue contrast.
I always loved the warm colors of the day scenes. I just like that look. Jurassic Park (1993) also had these very warm colors and retained them for the rerelease as well. The daytime lost some of this warmth along the way, and today it's also completely removed. The new coloring does make it look like the film is happening during colder months, which it actually did, but loses that great dawn/twilight feel.
Here are some more comparisons with a VHS from Swat Littlerock youtuber, showing how all the afternoon and even more how the “magic hour” scenes were recolored
I also always had been a great fan of the fire and ice motif of the climax, and that visual contrast perhaps isn't as clear or strong in the new version according to some, but it certainly still gets it's visual point across
Also note the evolution of the colder colors, clearly seen here
The hot orange colors had been replaced with a gold look, and also went through visual changes before the 2017 version. The 03-15 look had paler colors
Other than the new color timing, which Adam Greenberg, the director of photography of the T2 supervised himself, there is also a little bit of Star Wars Special Edition fixing going on. As a proud nerd it's an idea I like a lot. Hey, why Star Wars fans have to have all the fun and have altered versions?
Anyway, it's all just goof and continuity error fixing as oppose to replacing characters or adding scenes, and most of these come out naturally from the 3D converting process. I mean, will you reconfigure to 3D a visible camera crew? Still, it's digital alterations anyway, so let's take a look. I'll be taking comparison between the Skynet Edition look (03-15) and the new 2017 remaster
1. In the Corrall bar, when the T-800 gets stabbed by one of the bikers, the prop knife bends for a split second. This has been fixed in the 3D/2017 version but to be honest, I was never able to catch that it was so fast
2. The T-1000's genitals are visible in the original cut, so they're 'erased' from view in the 3D/2017 version
3. You probably wouldn't see it if it hasn't been pointed out, but there it is. Camera equipment is removed from the right wheel of the truck (left side on the screencap)
4. One of the perhaps more noticeable continuity errors in comparison to the other minutia goofs. When the T-1000 lands in the tow truck in the canal, both windshields fall off. In the 3D/2017 version they 'survive' the fall
5. Originally I was fooled that it's the Arnold making the jump on the bike from the concrete embarkment, and Stan Winston's face appliances on the stunt double Peter Kent sure did the trick on us. While I believe it works, it did receive an upgrade and Arnold's face digitally replaced the stunt man's.
6. Now this one definitely was more noticeable. Another digital head replacement in a shot when the T-800 catches up to John and grabs him.
7. Blink and you'll miss it. Camera equipment could be somewhat spotted if freeze framed in the shot in which the crashed tow truck falls to its side. Fixed for the 3D/2017 version
8. Peter Kent's face with Stan Winston's makeup had been replaced again with Arnold's in the shot in which the T-800 and John escape while the tow truck explodes
9. This is one of those things that once pointed out it can't be unseen - stunt driver's head had been removed from the backseat of the police car
10. Blink and you'll miss it. Camera crew and equipment were removed from one of the shots of the escaping police car
11. One of the more noticeable things was Arnold's real hand dressed in a black material. Removed in the 3D/2017 version
12. A piano wire could briefly be seen by the eagle eyed, moving T-800's severed arm
As far as I know, that's all. So while it's just fixing minor visual goofs, coupled with the fact the movie had been recolored makes this our Star Wars Special Edition for Terminator fans. My first choice for T2 viewing is 3D, but all are good for me, just about any version. if I want to see the Extended Cut or listen to the Commentaries again, the 03-15 is the way to go, if I want to have a vintage 90's feel and see how the movie was viewed in its decade, the 1997 is my pick.
To see all the alterations done to the first film, go HERE
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