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Have you ever thought that perhaps the ad campaign for Terminator 2 was really poorly done? When T2 hit theatres, everyone knew that Arnold was the hero this time. Besides the fact that "Arnie" was too big a star by 1991 to be playing a villain anymore, all the commercials raved on and on about it. Arnold shooting the evil liquid Terminator. Arnold rescuing John and Sarah. Arnold being, generally, heroic.
But I don't think you're supposed to know that as you watch the movie. This Terminator, who looks just like the Terminator from the first Terminator, shows up, cripples a barfull of bikers, then rides off on a motorcycle while suitably "lookit me, I'm a badass" music plays. The movie's been put together to make you think this is the badguy, all major advertising to the contrary. Meanwhile, we've got a second guy who shows no evidence of being any kind of a robot, let alone an evil killing robot. He dresses as policeman, smiles at adults, and is polite. Had the advertising juggernaut not told you the secret of this movie, you'd think he was a good guy, another human sent from the future.
And you're supposed to keep thinking this, right up until the two face off in the service hallway at the mall. That's more than 30 minutes into the film. And yet for months, you'd been seeing trailers, videos, "making of" specials, and even Pepsi commercials that not only told you who was who, but showed this very hallway face-off! Man, did 1991 suck.
Oh, by the way, I hope you knew that Robert Patrick was the badguy in T2. If not, then watch out - I think there may have been a spoiler up there. :)
This Terminator figure is part of McFarlane Toys' Movie Maniacs Series IV. McToys really has quite the reputation in the action figure world - they create stunningly detailed figures that have incredible likenesses but don't move. Not really big on articulation are the McFarlane folk. The T-1000, however, bucks this tradition, at least slightly.
To best simulate the powers of the liquid-metal Terminator, McToys gave this figure multiple body parts. Not only does he come with four interchangeable arms (a human arm that can hold his gun, a blade, and those prongy things he used to pry his way into the elevator), but also interchangeable torsos; one with several bullet wounds and that wicked-cool "look through my big gaping eye-hole" face, and another of the "I've just been shot in the stomach with a grenade and now I've blown up into this big staggering splatter" moment.
The two torsos mean that there's a point of articulation of the waist, and the extra arms give us movement just above the elbows. The human arm also moves at the wrist, as do both wrists on the Splatter torso. Both necks and all four shoulders move, as do the figure's hips and legs at the boot tops. All told, this figure has 16 points of articulation, which is not only outstanding for a McFarlane toy, but would be great for any figure to have. Way to go, McToys!
As is expected in the Movie Maniacs lines, the sculpt of this figure is beyond reproach - both faces really look like Robert Patrick
(on a side note, is it just me, or does RP look like he melted some time between T2 and X-Files? I guess that's what happens when the only work you can get in a ten-year period is From Dusk Til Dawn 2: Straight to Video. Dude used to look like Ray Liota; now he looks like Droopy Dog), and the fabric of his police uniform looks like real cloth. The ten bullet holes (that's five front and back) on the figure's chest look just like the ones he received in the film as he was charging up the parking garage ramp. The exploded torso is a sea of wavy, rippled metal, and the surprised head has individually sculpted teeth. Detail!
Thanks to the well-applied paint, the silvers of the Terminator's simple blade weapons blend seamlessly into the deep blues of his uniform, and his black boots look weathered. The figure's gun can either be placed in his hand or holstered on his hip.
The belt which the holster is on is one of the few problems with the figure. Molded on its own, the belt is removable. However, while the belt is glued together at the buckle, it's not very secure - it pulled apart in no time, and I had to reglue it. Also, the antenna on the radio attached to the back of the belt is easily bent out of shape by the Splatter torso. But really, those are some minor complaints.
While there may be a few problems with this figure, they're nothing that should dissuade you from commandeering a Terminator of your own.
Everybody loves discussing what they think should be in the Movie Maniacs line. Believe it or not, we care about what you think; feel free to post your lists on our message board, the Loafing Lounge.
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