Film: Terminator 2
Director: James Cameron
Country: Canada / USA
Released: July 1991
Runtime: 137 minutes
Genre: Science Fiction
Studio: Carolco Pictures / TriStar
Influenced: Christopher Nolan, The Wachowskis, Michael Bay, Robert Rodriguez, Zack Snyder
One of my favourite movies as a teenager, I was pleased on a recent rewatch to see how well Terminator 2: Judgment Day stands up to scrutiny. It's fair to say that I laughed more than when I was young at some of the silliness, but that didn't detract at all from my appreciation of the film. Terminator 2 is one of the greatest sequels ever made; I understand why people love the original Terminator film, but I think it takes a certain degree of perversity to say it's superior to the sequel. James Cameron, who also directed the first Terminator film, had always envisioned a sequel with a larger budget and more advanced special effects. The success of the first film and Cameron's growing reputation in Hollywood made Terminator 2 possible. The idea for the sequel involved reversing the roles of the original film, with the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) now being the protector rather than the antagonist.
The film is set in a dystopian future where advanced machines known as Terminators have taken control of the world and are hunting down the remnants of humanity. To prevent this future from happening, a reprogrammed Terminator (model T-800) is sent back in time to protect John Connor (Edward Furlong), the future leader of the human resistance. Another, more advanced Terminator (model T-1000) made of liquid metal is also sent back in time to kill John. The plot follows the T-800 and John as they evade the relentless T-1000 (Robert Patrick) while attempting to change the future. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), John's mother, is also a key character, having spent years preparing for the apocalypse and training John to become a leader.
The film features some of the most memorable and innovative action sequences in cinema history, including the motorcycle chase through the urban landscape of Los Angeles and the liquid metal effects during the T-1000's transformations. The T-1000's shape-shifting abilities and its relentless pursuit of John and the T-800 help to generate a continued feeling of suspense throughout the movie. Cameron and his team set new standards for computer-generated imagery (CGI) with the liquid metal effects used for the T-1000 and their work was recognised by an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Notable scenes include the escape from the Cyberdyne Systems building, where Sarah tries to prevent the creation of Skynet, the AI that leads to the future apocalypse, and the epic final confrontation in the steel mill, culminating in the T-800 sacrificing itself for the sake of humanity.
Terminator 2 explored themes of fate, artificial intelligence and the consequences of human actions. The film was ahead of its time in terms of exploring how humans and AI might interact, especially in terms of the character development of the T-800 Terminator character, showing its ability to learn and understand human emotions and ethics. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over US$519mn at the box office and winning four Oscars, including Best Makeup and Best Sound. The film's sound effects were designed to be as immersive and realistic as possible, and they help to create a sense of tension and dread throughout the film. Terminator 2 also solidified Arnold Schwarzenegger's status as an action movie icon and the film's success led to several sequels and spin-offs, while also reviving the science fiction genre in the 90s, inspiring later releases such as Independence Day and Jurassic Park.
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