Action Movies are an interesting genre, the older films tend to look their age quite often. Now, generally it’s not the films fault, technology moves so quickly that jaw dropping special effects in the 80’s tend to look ludicrous in today’s day and age.
One of my all time favorite action films not only holds up in today’s CGI infused cinema, but could teach today’s film-makers a thing or two.
When James Cameron returned to direct Terminator 2, he not only revolutionized HOW movies were made, he accomplished the rare feat of making a sequel that is (far) superior to the original.
The film begins with our pal Arnold Schwarzenegger showing up yet again as the t-800 killing machine we loved to hate in the original Terminator, only this time he isn’t here to kill a teenaged John Connor (Edward Furlong), but to protect him.
Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), meanwhile has turned into a bat-s*%t crazy badass….unfortunately she’s locked up at a jail with creepy orderlies.
John tells his new Terminator buddy that they’re getting his mom out of solitary and since he has to listen to John (he did reprogram him in the future after all), off they go to break out mommy.
‘Come with me if you want to live.’
Well the Machines also sent a little visitor through time and he’s slightly souped up compared to Arnie.
Say hello to Mr. T-1000 (Robert Patrick). Made of Liquid Metal, instead of that pesky endoskeleton, it has the power to transform and meld into it’s surroundings, not to mention making it nearly indestructible.
So, a guy walks into a bar…
The sheer destruction created by these 2 cyborgs battling each other through mental hospitals, office buildings, factories and even in the air is awe inspiring.
This isn’t the rooftop parking lot!
The stakes are high as the very future of the human race will be in serious jeopardy if John Connor doesn’t live to lead the human resistance against Skynet. The project made possible by Miles Dyson (Joe Morton), a forward thinker at Cyberdyne Systems that leads to the machines becoming self-aware. Sarah Connor of course figures, let’s just kill good ol’ Miles and everything will be peachy, but of course nothing is ever that easy.
The final climactic face-off between the 2 Terminators is as epic as you would hope and coined a catchphrase that is one of the more iconic movie lines in cinematic history.
‘Hasta la Vista, Baby!’
The Terminator movies have some of the greatest action moments in cinema history, even with dodgy time travel issues, but if you haven’t had the pleasure to watch this shining example of what an action film should be, do yourself a favor and go get it right now, you will not be disappointed.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Overall
Summary
James Cameron directs arguably the best action film out there. The special effects are years ahead of their time and are the benchmark of all action films to follow.