20 Years Later Terminator 2 Still an Action Favorite

When Terminator 2 hit theaters in 1991, little did audiences know they would still be raving on about it in 2011. James Cameron took sci-fi action to a whole new level when he directed the sequel to 1984 classic 'The Terminator' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. T2 promised bigger action, higher stakes, and the impending doom of the end of the world. Fans of the Terminator franchise will look back at Terminator 2 as one of the greatest sequels in motion picture history. It delivered far above what people expected, not just in storyline, but also in technological advances. Terminator 2 also incorporated a molten-metal Terminator, called the T-1000, Arnie's arch nemesis played by the formidable Robert Patrick. The previously untouchable Terminator now had a rival who could outsmart him. Who could top the strength and indestructibility of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character? The T-1000 was now the perfect antagonist to outsmart the Terminator, because it could adapt to physical shapes, in form of camouflage, create weapons and re-generate. James Cameron managed to subvert our expectation of the Terminator's dominance, as the T-1000 was able to outsmart it with superior technology.

To further add to the superb twist of the 2nd Terminator, the future, or should we say the plot-line was is in the hands of a young teenager. That teenager, John Connor, the leader of the human resistance, needed to survive and prevent Judgement Day. Both Terminators had two distinctly opposite goals, but Connor had the power to give orders to his own 'protector'. The role reversal here was that the story could only advance in the direction of John Connor, not on the actions of the Terminator alone. But the T-1000 was a relentless opponent that kept audiences on the edge, because it could not be stopped unless destroyed.

With the success of 'Terminator 2' came two future sequels that were not directed by James Cameron. 'Terminator 3' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was released in 2003, but received mixed reviews from fans and critics. 'Terminator 4' followed without Arnie, which starred Christian Bale. What Cameron did in the first Terminators can never be replaced, and the sequel was the defining action movie of the 90s.

Have you seen Terminator 2? What do you think about the movie 20 years on?