Terminator 2 is the perfect sequel - expands on the original and shakes things up while maintaining the general feel. I don't think it would be as highly praised if it wasn't a followup on the first movie. It would still be a great movie in a vacuum, though, don't get me wrong.
As such, it's pretty hard to compare the movies, it will always come down to personal taste.
This is kinda the opposite to what you are asking: awesome and awful used to mean the same thing IIRC, both being something filling you with awe. Later the meanings split between positive and negative.
Some people are more animals than others.