In a movie filled with squandered opportunities, Terminator Salvation makes perfect use of one particular cameo, by bringing back Arnold—all the way from 1984. Instead of having the present-day California governor reprise his role as a T-800 cyborg, McG asked his effects team to resurrect the Cold War-era Arnold. Legacy Effects dug out a lifemask taken of Schwarzenegger 25 years ago, and created a cleaned-up version for Industrial Light & Magic to use as reference. ILM's digital reconstruction was then mapped onto a body double. The result is a spooky, almost existential reveal, as a nude, scowling, freakishly young Arnold confronts resistance leader John Connor (Christian Bale). McG, true to form, missed the point, telling the Los Angeles Times that the new face was based on “scans from the first picture," back when 3D scans didn't exist, and computer-generated effects were limited to light cycles. Still, it's a well-handled scene because it knows its limitations—the resurrected Arnold doesn't speak, and quickly has his skin, including his distinctive face, seared off. What's left is that equally iconic chrome skeleton, reanimated by ILM with more heft and menace than any pure CG robot could ask for.
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