James Cameron's Terminator 2 was hugely successful and well received by critics - producers and actors aware that the success of the first film would have audiences practically demanding a sequel. It has been among my favourite films since I first saw it many years ago and there are plenty of reasons why. But the reason why even today it is still reflected upon is the breakthrough special effects used in the film, and the filming processes used. Many processes in the film that required scaled-down models or make up would in recent times be produced through CGI, and it is insightful to see how other effects can be used to create the same result. However, models cannot be used for everything and some of the scenes in Terminator 2 are no exception to this, as demonstrated in several scenes where visually realistic animation is used to create and animate the characters, especially in the case of the T-1000.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNVjAuMg-G4&feature=related
This video goes through some of these processes; scaled down models to produce the apocalyptic Judgement Day battle between the Machines and mankind and the nuclear explosion in Sarah Connor's nightmare, but more importantly, technology used and developed to animate several scenes of the T-1000 portrayed by Robert Patrick, such as laser facial scanning to create virtual 3D models, and the scene in which he breaks into a helicopter as liquid metal and shape shifts into a metallic human. It also highlights the extent at which make up works in unison and cooperates with animation processes (at least at the time, as it may have changed now).
