When it comes to the question of movie sequels being better than the original, there’s only a select few that really make the cut. Sure, you might argue that whatever number we are currently on in the “Fast & Furious” franchise might trump those that have gone before, but it’s not easy to recreate the magic of a truly great original. “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,” “The Godfather: Part II,” “The Dark Knight,” and “Aliens” are among those that enter the argument as being sequels superior to the originals, although these are always going to be subjective views.
But in August 1991, Irish cinema-goers got to see one of the most significant sequels in movie history – “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Now, it might seem almost sacrilegious to say that it is the best sequel of all time, given it’s up against classics like “The Godfather: Part II.” Fair enough. But, for a variety of different reasons, “T2” can make a good argument for that claim. It was a triumph of cinema, and it arguably has a longer-lasting legacy than “The Godfather.”
The first thing that stands out about “T2” is how tonally different it is from “The Terminator” (1984). The latter – as James Cameron points out – is a horror film; the former is an action flick. That’s important, as it allowed Cameron and the scriptwriters to go in new directions. Many, many sequels fall into the trap of being beholden to the original film. That’s one of the main critiques of the new Star Wars films – the same themes, motifs, sub-plots, tone.
T2 is a different film
While it gives a couple of nods back to the original and clearly follows the same story – “T2” is very different from “The Terminator.” Cameron is able to explore different types of relationships through the characters, particularly themes of paternity and fraternity through John Connor (Edward Furlong) and the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Arnie is, of course, perfect in his role as the monosyllabic cyborg, but Furlong dazzled in his role as the troubled ’90s kid with attitude.
Of course, there were huge performances from Linda Hamilton (Sarah Connor) and Robert Patrick (T-1000). In line with the films, Hamilton revamped the character of Sarah Connor, becoming a believable action hero who could match Arnie’s presence on screen. Hamilton arguably doesn’t get enough credit for what she brought to “T2” – her muscle gain for the role alone is the kind of thing that we would gush about for a male actor.
Robert Patrick gives an iconic performance
And then there is Patrick’s T-1000. Apparently, there was talk of having Schwarzenegger play both hero and villain cyborg in the film. The problem facing the casting director was how to get someone for the T-1000 more imposing and scary than Schwarzenegger? As it turned out, they went for Robert Patrick, and boy does that work out. Watch the little things Patrick does – running with a closed mouth, for instance – to bring the sinister cyborg to life on screen.
It is widely reported that “T2” was the film that made CGI an option for future movies. It is sometimes erroneously reported that this was the first movie to have a CGI character – that honor actually goes to “Young Sherlock Holmes” (1985). Moreover, CGI goes back a lot further than the mid-80s. But it had several firsts in terms of computer-generated imagery, and it is arguably the first time it really worked on screen. Peter Jackson (“Lord of the Rings”) was said to be one of the many filmmakers who saw “T2” and realized they would need to use CGI astutely to succeed in the industry.
A question worth asking in light of that CGI revelation: Does the film hold up 30 years later? As with anything else in cinema, this is subjective. The pacing of life is different today. “T2” was a world of payphones and being able to disappear off-grid. Today, smartphones are everywhere, allowing us to do activities as diverse as banking, video-calling friends, or playing a slot like Streak of Luck in an instant. That affects the pace of life, and one wonders how teenagers would view “T2” today compared to those of us who watched in the ’90s. But a lot of the CGI still looks good, although its use was only for some short sequences throughout the movie. Crucially, none of it detracts from the overall story and sense of action. Incidentally, a lot of the special effects in “The Terminator” also hold up – a testament to the ingenuity of James Cameron and his team.
T2 gives us a warning about Big Tech
For some, there is a fascination with ’90s films if you lived through the decade. Being able to see a snapshot of the decade that began with cassette players and ended with iPods is interesting. But watching “T2” is also interesting because it also depicts future events that have already passed in terms of dates. The original “Judgment Day,” for instance, was August 1997. Skynet also became self-aware at that time.
It is, of course, the Skynet plot that keeps the movie most relevant. Today, we are still learning about what it means to have ultra-connected lives, and we are only beginning to see how AI and machine learning might impact us. “T2” was off with its predictions in terms of dates, but it got something right in terms of the pervasiveness of technology. Skynet is today’s Big Tech, although let’s hope the likes of Amazon and Facebook do not turn out to be as nefarious and apocalyptic.
So, is it the best sequel ever? There isn’t a right or wrong answer. Yes, “The Godfather: Part II” is a masterpiece. But the difference is that this was not “The Terminator: Part II” – you might even argue that it’s not a sequel, given that the two films are different genres. But it took the strands of the story in the original and told them in a different manner seven years later. It’s a moot point whether it’s the best sequel, or even if it’s better than “The Terminator.” It might be the perfect action movie – and it’s worth watching 30 years later.
