Sharing many of the conventions of the science fiction film, sci-fi action emphasizes gunplay, space battles, and invented weaponry. Through the Terminator films, Arnold Schwartznegger became the most visible hero of the genre, and James Cameron it's progenitor. In both The Terminator and Terminator 2, as well as Aliens, Cameron's focus was not on the possibilities for satirical comment or prophecy inherent in science fiction, but rather on the often brutal violence that could be inflicted with futuristic weaponry. Paul Verhoeven managed a more cynical and satiric blend with action in his films RoboCop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers, but they remained in the world of the actioner. The subgenre was most popular in the late '80s and early '90s, perhaps in response to the more violent but cooler future that seemed imminent during the reign of Ronald Reagan and the Star Wars missile defense system.