Blown away by the blockbuster.

Rating: 9/10 (22 August 2003)

What can one say about a movie that about which everything has been said? How can one find something critical to say about a movie which is as close to perfection as one can make? These are two questions which you have to ask yourself when submitting a user comment for a movie like this, and it is no easy task. The answer to the first question is probably to just go ahead and say your say and tell yourself that although it is only a drop in the ocean, it is a drop nonetheless. The second question poses a far greater challenge. Answers to this will be very short indeed and may be included if only to satisfy a desire for a sense of completeness. As far as finding points to cheer, it is difficult to find a place to start. Terminator 2 has its rightful place in cinematic history and when seeing its high rating on the IMDB site, I still feel that it is underrated.
The first item which I wish to discuss is what can be attributed to its longstanding appeal. I believe the answer lies not solely, but to a large part due to the fact that James Cameron can combine a flowing story with high action and spellbinding special effects. The story acts as a precipitant for the action and not vice verse as is the case with most movies within the genre. We have character development, moral dilemmas, and character arcs. All these story elements combine seamlessly to leave audiences spellbound.
Character development will be examined from the point of view that the characters from the original have changed over the years. The experience would have left its indelible mark and would have changed their outlook on life. This is particularly evidently in Sarah and John.
Sarah's physical adaptation is not the mirror of her emotional adaptation, which it far exceeds. The imminent day of horror weighs heavily on her shoulders. Her way of telling the world has been one of desperate outbursts culminating into an attempt to destroy Cyberdyne. Her knowledge of the future and her militant attempts at trying to divert it has meant that society has seen her as mentally unstable and she is rightfully detained for treatment. Her physical adaptation is surprising for audiences since she is identified with her meekness in the original and the TV series Beauty and the Beast'. She is now a soldier, ready for the onslaught against mankind and her son. It was a logical progression for the character and inspired interest since there was emotional conflict between being a mother and preparing for the battle ahead. This change was a monumental factor in the sequel being the superior.
John was not born in the original, but the character that is introduced to us is feasible to the story. He has a mother who lacks emotional stability and he is now in the care of apathetic foster parents following her detention. John is now a rebellious youngster operating outside the rules of society. Self  destruction is his escape - a far cry from being the saviour of mankind.
The Terminator was a positive change for Arnold. It put him in the place of the hero. It must have been tantalising for Arnold who probably wanted to soften his image as an out and out action hero. The role was perfect for that. The Terminator although retaining the same basic programming of the original, that is, to remove all obstacles permanently, had to protect a child. He was now on the side of the good. This entailed the concomitant respect for human life, something the young John wanted to teach him. Given the fact that this was a virtual complete turnaround from the original, the plot created the opportunity  and it worked. This change was the platform for the moral message. No matter how grim the future may seem, we must still respect human life.
The T1000 is the Terminator sent to prevent the victory of man. He is the replacement for Arnold, but we do not notice this since Arnold and Patrick are so strong in their roles, they stamp their authority and lay claim to them. Patrick is phenomenal as the T1000. His mechanical walk illustrates robotic efficiency and malevolent intent whilst emphasising his confident power and purpose. His piercing stare indicates his resolute drive to accomplish his sole objective.
The character arc is the journey of self  discovery that the character has taken during this particular film. Sarah was still battling with her demons as she once again became a vigilante and goes to terminate the computer programmer. She had little faith in mankind, faith that was ironically rekindled by the Terminator. The machine had learnt to identify with humans and if the machine was capable, then mankind was capable of acceptance of others. She had progressed to retain her humanity and to recognise the humanity in others.
John had momentarily gained a family, albeit a machine for a father. It had given him a sense of purpose and realisation of what was to come. John had come back onto the rails and when they had changed the future, he was given a sound foundation to live a normal life.
The Terminator by way of his learning processor had commanded a sense of human emotion. It was this that gave hope, the kind of hope that Sarah was looking for. This was a quantum leap from the original Terminator.
The moral dilemma, already touched on, is that no matter what the future holds, human life must be respected. It is not a case of tough situations require tough solutions. Respect for human life is the foundation of moral rights. The right to live is fundamental to mankind.
Another interesting issue was the one concerning the changing of the future. There is no fate, but what we make' was the impetus behind the story. The machines had developed the capability to do this, but it was used against them. It presents a dilemma to us, knowing what the future is and how we should deal with it. These actions define us as human beings.
It is these story elements that meant that the movie ensured it's longevity for audience memory. Mission Impossible 2' is an example of how a lack of story substance can make a movie forgettable, no matter how good the action sequences are.
The only possible fault I could find is during the introduction the Terminator approaches you as the credits are completed. This could be construed as cheesy, but it could also mean Prepare for an action rollercoaster ride'. Cameron had well omitted the imperfections of the original.
The Terminator is an icon within pop culture. The ability to solve our problems with impunity and overwhelming destructive power is a fantasy for many. Our fascination with creating something that could turn on is has long been immortalised in storytelling. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein' is a good example. We have grown up on similar stories and the good ones endear themselves to history. This story surpassed its original, a feat achieved by the cinematic few  Godfather 2' and Star Wars 2'  are the esteemed company it keeps. It is deserved.