"T2:Judgment Day:Special Edition" blows away the first "T2" dvd release, and let's not forget, that one looked and sounded terrific!!!  The original "Terminator" film was the first film to star Schwarzenegger as a bad guy (robot).  In "T2" he gets to star as a (re-programmed) good robot (cyborg,whatever!)  While the first film worked well, mostly due to its low budget limitations, "T2" is a "big" film in every way. The scope of the film is bigger(Super 35mm) and the sound is now enhanced with Dolby Digital 5.1(EX) as well as the superior DTS 5.1(EX).  Again, we liked the previous "T2" dvd release in terms of picture and sound, but this one's far better!

The story of Sarah Connor, her son, and his alliance with the new cyborg, cries out for a really bad villain.  "T-2" gives us one,the T-1000, which can withstand all firepower, and reattach itself after being blown apart through some incredible morphing!  "T-2" introduced the masses to the concept of morphing, and it's almost dated nowadays, since every music video has utilized it already.  Still, it works ingeniously well here!

The dvd transfer is flawless!  Finally, James Cameron's work is being presented in a 16:9 enhanced image. The contrast is sensational, with blacks and grays perfectly defined.  While the fleshtones aren't consistently natural, the lighting design is intentionally exaggerated! There are no artifacts or grain anywhere in the transfer!

The surround sound offered here included 5.1 EX in both Dolby Digital and DTS!  Even with regular(that's something, huh?  Now having to call 5.1 regular!)  5.1 sound, there's a major improvement over the previous version.

The Brad Fiedel score sounds better than ever, and while it comes close to overpowering some of the dialogue, the clarity is so clear and balanced, nothing is lost!  The rear speakers get a workout throughout most of the film as vehicles, bullets and almost everything that's not nailed down, get thrown around, seeming to move diagonally, and with great skill. This is a terrific sound mix!  The LFE provides some thundering bass moments as well.  There are quite a number of explosions here, and it's recommended to keep the volume in check, as the bass will surprise most listeners at times.  Although we're grateful that a DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 mix are included, the DTS track is in matrix only, confusing us greatly!  While the standard DTS track has more clarity than the Dolby Digital version, we couldn't fairly compare the 6.1 tracks!  In comparing DTS to Dolby Digital, as typical, there aren't substantial differences in terms of being able to recognize more effects, but the clarity of any specific effect, is extremely different, in terms of sharpness.

As expected, there's a bevy of supplements here!

The live-action menus are easy to navigate, and they look incredible!

There are techically three(3) versions of the film available here!  There's the original version of the film, the extended version(with film reinserted), and the extended version with an alternate(less pleasing)ending.  Each of these three versions is accessible via the main menu.

There's an audio commentary featuring a large variety of people.  Not only is Cameron, Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton on board, but so are the DP, and others!  Unfortunately, their comments are not synchronized with what's taking place, but they do offer great info behind the film's production, and it's never boring! 

On the 2nd side of the DVD-18 disc are three featurettes.  "THE MAKING OF TERMINATOR 2:JUDGMENT DAY" is standard studio "self-promoting" fanfare. The 2nd featurette, "TERMINATOR 2:MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE" makes for great entertainment, providing vast information regarding the various changes between the theatrical and extended version of the film. The third featurette,"THE MAKING OF TERMINATOR 2:3-D:BREAKING THE SCREEN BARRIER", is another standard promo meant to increase interest in the Universal Studios Ride/exhibit.  While it's somewhat interesting, it really doesn't add much value to the film here, and none of the special effects built for a large soundstage, are comprehensible here.

The "ULTIMATE T2 SUPPLEMENT" is the best supplement offered here, and makes this one of the most important offerings for aspiring filmmakers out of all available dvds with audio commentaries.   There are a bunch of  text/screens coinciding with various video segments that further explore the text!

There is an extensive(and we mean "EXTENSIVE") storyboard gallery!  Add to this, music videos, a collectible booklet, and more!  This is one of the best-priced dvd extravaganzas so far!  A MUST FOR ANY COLLECTION & a perfect stocking stuffer!

Jim Jarmusch's "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai", further adds to his reputation as a bizarre, half-brilliant/half-insane filmmaker.  Forest Whitaker stars as a hitman for the mob, trying to maintain the code of the samurai. What makes these revelations work lies in the image of these philosphies superimposed along the screen during key passages.  Like most of Jarmusch's films, "GHOST DOG" is to slow for its own good.  While it's nice for an audience to have a chance to reflect, they can't reflect if they're sleeping.  "GHOST DOG" provides many parts wherein audiences can sleep, and without missing much at all!

 Jarmusch seeks to disturb the audience, and in this respect, he's very successful.  While he writes unusual dialogue, allowing his characters to discuss violence in cartoons, the violence here is more gritty, and unrelenting!  Thankfully, ARTISAN has provided an anamorphic(16:9) enhanced 1.85:1 transfer. While the picture has some grain, no Jarmusch film is without it!  The fleshtones are natural, and colors are solid.

While the dolby digital 5.1 sound mix employs some directional effects, the majority of its usage is limited to music.  There are supplements, including a featurette with behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, and a music video. While the featurette is better than most, we'd have greatly preferred Jarmusch discussing the film on an audio commentary.

Christopher Walken gives one of his best "post-Deer Hunter" performances here.  Interestingly enough, his "best" post-Deer Hunter performance is in another Artisan film, "The Suicide Kings"!  Walken plays Frank White, a nutty mobster/drug kingpin, just released from prison.  Instead of going straight, he decides to exact revenge on everyone responsible for him having been in prison, and anyone having benefited from it.  While the director Abel Ferara doesn't actually glorify this creep, he does try to draw parallels to the cops bent on bringing him down, at any cost!  He tries to show they may be as bad as him.  They're not, not by a long shot!  There are great cameos here, and the film moves along at a great pace. 

While the picture is sharp, there's a fair amount of pixelation here, and contrast isn't always perfect.  Fleshtones are consistent.

The dolby surround offers minimal rear speaker effects, but there's a great deal of separation and the frequent gunshots and music have a real presence throughout the film.