A Synopsis Of Terminator Two

By Alyson Sweeney

James Cameron is back in the headlines thanks to Avatar, the new flick which supposedly revolutionizes cinema in much the same way as Terminator 2 did years before. That actually remains to be seen. If Avatar is still remembered in twenty years as a turning point in American film, that's when it'll get to be mentioned alongside Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Watch or rewatch it the next time you want to download movies.

T2 is remembered as a major stepping stone for the technology of special effects, alongside Jurassic Park, but people forget that the special effects were not the point of the film, that the effects were there to help the story, not the other way around. Cameron makes great steps in terms of special effects, but the effects are always, always there to serve the story, and not for their own sake.

If you haven't seen it yet, you've probably been living under a rock, but we'll recap the premise for you right quick... In the near future, the world is destroyed by evil robots. There's a human resistance in the future to their rule, and so, the robots send one of their own back to kill John Connor, the guy who winds up leading the resistance as an adult. There, now you're up to speed with the rest of the world visa vis the premise of the Terminator films.

The movie does take some big steps in terms of special effects. Around twenty years later, the T1000 still stands as one of the greatest CGI characters ever. Every bit as believable as newer creation like Gollum and Doctor Manhattan from The Watchmen.

There's a purity to this movie. The first Terminator was maybe a little too in love with its heady, high sci-fi concept. This one stays focused on the action and on the characters, not on the twisty turny plot line. James Cameron always focuses on what's important, not effects, not plot, but on character, and sometimes on hardcore action scenes.

Hopefully, you've seen this movie by now. In fact, it'd be sort of strange if you hadn't. But, if you haven't, don't you think it's high time you do? If you have internet under that rock where you're living, you've got no excuse not to watch this movie already.

Watch it again. The movie really does have a lot of depth and is one of the great American classic films of the last few decades. It's exciting, it's dramatic, it's meaningful and touching, it's even funny at several points, and seriously redefined the American cinematic landscape, and the world cinema.

It's a classic, not just of the action or sci fi genres, it's just plain a classic, period, and it's always a good time to watch T2 again.

About the Author: