To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, let’s take a look at the special effects that blew our minds and ask, ‘How’d they do that?’
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) was a benchmark action film that still holds up incredibly well today. Whilst the first film set up the design of Arnold’s T800 character, Terminator 2 took all that came before it and set a new benchmark in special effects.
The new terminator, Robert Patrick‘s T-1000, was an idea James Cameron had for the original film. Knowing it wouldn’t be practical, he waited until the technology reached a level where it would be possible to create the shape-shifting liquid metal machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epnEIBbF4bY
CGI wasn’t the only thing that was used. Limited by the technology, James Cameron called upon to Stan Winston and his creature shop to create some of the most amazing puppets ever seen on film. While today these creations would have just been handled in a computer, you have to marvel at the work that goes into creating the magic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYQMfT6nsQs
Terminator 2 won the Oscar for best Visual Effects in 1992 and deservingly so! Terminator 2 is a tour-de-force of special effects, and amazing CG (being one of the first real tests of the technology). Here is a look at some rare behind the scenes photos.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day transformed the medium, it took what film makers thought was possible and threw it out the window. It was the true beginning of this new era of Special Effects. If it’s been a while since you have seen this amazing film, there is not better time then the 25th anniversary to watch it again.
Bonus Footage:
Check out Terminator 2 winning the oscar! Check out that early 90’s crowd!