2) Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Ah yes, the endlessly quotable, high-octane, action classic, Terminator 2: Judgement Day. You were most likely wondering when we’d include the Terminator franchise and in the end, it was a toss-up between the first and second. Let’s face it, they’re the only ones worth counting anyway.
And when it came down to it, we judged the second helping of cyborg mayhem as the superior of the two – mainly, because we love Arnold Schwarzenegger as the hero rather than the baddie. Yes, he was chillingly cold in the originally and indeed, it was the role that put him on the map as far as Hollywood is concerned. But as the hero – and especially with the interplay with young Edward Furlong as John Connor – he takes on new layers. Well, as many layers as a robot can have.
Regardless, Terminator 2 also has the more iconic scenes (who doesn’t love the scene where Arnie peels his arm back to reveal the metallic skeleton underneath) and not to mention one of the best antagonists in sci-fi history. Robert Patrick is at a career-high as the T-100 with the ability to mold himself into any shape or form – as relentless as the T-800 but just as original and ruthless – and so iconic he was even parodied in Mike Myers’ comedy classic, Wayne’s World, not long after this film’s release.
With a kick-ass soundtrack and the balls to back it up, Terminator 2: Judgement Day is perhaps the most brutal film of the time travel sub-genre and a staple of, not only sci-fi, the modern film industry as well.
Hasta la vista, baby!