I Was Robbed - Terminator 2: Judgment Day
By Anthony Daquano
May 26, 2010
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Over the past 13 years, James Cameron has had a habit of making record-breaking, cutting-edge and award-winning movies. Because of that, it is easy to forget that before his quest to raise the Titanic, prove the white race is the key to inspiring savages, push a green agenda with his heavy hand, and be the most arrogant man in the world, that Cameron made loud action flicks. The Terminator and Aliens remain two of the best action movies of the 1980s, not to mention his inspiring Piranha Two: The Spawning, which is only now getting a follow-up this summer. By the time 1989 came around, it was clear that Cameron had Oscar and tales of humanity in mind with his release of The Abyss; however, it would be with 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day that Cameron was able to successfully mold both story and action spectacle into one complete experience. Of course, aside from four Academy Award wins for its still breathtaking effects, sound and editing, Oscar did not recognize Cameron or the film.
Judgment Day's omission from the awards scene comes as no surprise, being that it is a loud, science-fiction/action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong. However, with the newly expanded field of ten, it's not difficult to imagine T2 being a Best Picture nominee. Also, given the front-loading nature of blockbuster movies of the last decade and the success of The Dark Knight, Iron Man, the Twilight Series and even Cameron's own Avatar, it is also easy to forget how successful Judgment Day was as a two and ahalf hour violent action movie. Grossing just over $200 million, T2 easily won the box office crown of 1991. That an effects laden violent movie can beat a Disney classic (Beauty and the Beast) by about $60 million speaks the immense popularity of the film. Even at seven-years-old, I tried to get my parents to bring me to this "cool" movie, which was rejected swiftly. Judgment Day, like the later Titanic and Avatar, was the box office behemoth of the year and given its terrific pacing, cutting edge graphics and even a compelling story, it should have had more awards attention.
The use of ILM is still breathtaking, with effects that even trump most of today's fantasy and action movies. Stan Winston also contributed prosthetic effects to help create the T-1000, one of most visually memorable villains of the last 20 years. Of course, the movie's two most memorable sequences don't even require computer enhancement. Two extended chase sequences help bookend the movie and establish that protecting and destroying John Connor are the ultimate missions of the hero and villain. Given the inevitable event that is Judgment Day, collateral damage is acceptable, and a little mass destruction is always welcome in a movie starring Schwarzenegger. Of course the movie doesn't stop with the storm drain chase and a liquid nitrogen truck, Cameron throws in a tense escape from a mental hospital and a siege at Cyberdyne (the company "responsible" for Judgment Day).
Still, a movie needs more than cutting edge effects and non-stop action to qualify as an awards contender. It certainly helps that Cameron's movie is expertly edited, with tight pacing that never leads to any real lulls in action, and when the film does take breathers, it is only to to properly move the plot and expand on character relationships. Like many of Cameron's other movies, he certainly looked to make more than just a basic action flick. Cameron takes time for some commentary on humanity, and clearly makes a distinction between Connor and the Terminator, as well as the Terminator and the T-1000. The Terminator becomes more than just a machine. He's also a surrogate father figure, friend and protector of Connor. The importance of family is stressed by the angst-ridden Connor, but also by Miles Dyson's willingness to cast family aside for scientific glory.
Cameron is also concerned with mankind's obsession to create and destroy, and humanity's arrogance that is born of that creation. One gets the sense Cameron believes the industrial and technical age has been a bad thing, that even though it has made him millions of dollars and the King of the World, it seems to be wearing a little on him. Regardless, this running commentary and the small character moments help to provide a stake in the proceedings, something missing in The Matrix sequels and other high octane action movies.
Judgment Day isn't without its share of flaws, most notably is the cheesy Cameron dialogue, including Schwarzenegger's thumbs up as he is lowered into molten steel. Schwarzenegger's coldness worked so well in the first Terminator, but his acting is still passable given the nature of his warmer role. Linda Hamilton plays a protective mother well, but her acting in certain scenes seems forced. Edward Furlong, on the other hand, suffers from the problems of many child actors by not being totally convincing. On the other hand, Robert Patrick coldly played the T-1000 with a quiet but fierce ruthlessness. The scenes in the mental hospital don't seem all too realistic and Joe Morton's wife is relatively annoying. Yet, these flaws aren't fatal and even add to some of the movie's charm.
Given the slate of 1991's nominees it seems a little silly not have to this action classic considered on the year's five best movies, and at the very least to have included Cameron in the directing field. T2 could have easily replaced Bugsy, The Prince of Tides or Beauty and the Beast in the Picture field. Cameron could have replaced Barry Levinson or Ridley Scott in the directing field. I'm not going to argue that it should have beaten out The Silence of the Lambs, which has become one of the most iconic films of the last two decades, but T2 has become just as iconic in pop culture and should be recognized for what is, a great, character-centered action movie.