Terminator 2

ID: PILH-1001

Price: 25,000 yen

Discs: 1

Sound: A-Mode / EFM

Running Time: 2:17

Released: Pioneer

From IMDb

Nearly 10 years have passed since Sarah Connor was targeted for termination by a cyborg from the future. Now

her son, John, the future leader of the resistance, is the target for a newer, more deadly terminator. Once again,

the resistance has managed to send a protector back to attempt to save John and his mother Sarah.

What starts out as a great looking disc in terms of detail and color resolution is quickly marred by all the MUSE compression artifacts. These artifacts present themselves as the typical mosquito noise and at times can be very distracting. Had the compression been more refined by this release (going by ID #s, Pioneers first release), we would have had a much more presentable picture.

Unfortunately it’s hard to give the saturated colors and added picture detail any credit when the compression artifacts just get in the way of the presentation. Very unfortunate indeed. In comparing the latest re-mastered DVD release of T2, it’s a tough call which version is preferred. The Hi-Vision version has a more film-like look to it, much better color rendition and saturation, and more visible detail. Where it suffers is compression artifacts, and a darker picture than the DVD version. The DVD version excels in the 5.1 (or 6.1 if you have an EX set up) sound separation, and a brighter picture transfer. The DVD suffers though from muted colors (in comparison to Hi-Vision) and none of the extra detail found in the Hi-Vision format.

The sound (EFM reviewed) is nearly identical to the NTSC laserdisc, although it seems the low frequency has a bit more punch to it than the NTSC disc. Surround channels are active as is the front sound stage. I’m sure the A-mode sound is even more first rate in terms of channel separation (the front channels sound a bit ‘smeared’).

Unfortunately hard to recommend this disc while at the same time hard to not recommend it. If you can live with the artifacts, you’ll have a generally pleasing presentation but not one that would be considered jaw dropping, especially for an HDTV format.