My websites were always targeted primarily for the hardcore fans who almost know it all. The purpose of my sites was too shine light on some very obscure interviews and facts that aren't accessible in well known books or extras that are still available for purchase. However, times change, and new generations and fans come along - and I realized that a lot of my audience consist of fans who aren't diehards who know every book and interview by memory for decades (like all the fans at the Terminator Files Forum years ago), or just never went outside the films. So this is part of a different type of FAQ section, for those less initiated in Cameronverse.
Let's continue with "Why The First Terminator Rots But The Second Doesn't?"
The first Terminator in the original film is rotting halfway through due to his injuries. But in the second film, the second Terminator is also shot at but doesn't rot, how come?
Well the answer is simple. The second one didn't even come close to sustaining the amount of damage the first one had until the movie's climax. By the time we see the Terminator rotting, it's hours after the Police massacre. But that point not only did he sustained damage from multiple SHOTGUN blasts from Reese, but also from violent car crash and multiple hand and machinegun fire at the Police Station. He was shot up to pieces, and by that point his blood wasn't circulating anymore because Reese obliterated Terminators blood pump back at TechNoir. Below, excerpt from the novelization
For those who don't know what Gangrene is, see below
The motel scene in which we see the decaying Terminator with flies feasting on its flesh was shot using both Arnold Schwarzenegger in pale makeup for the side shot (see below)
And Stan Winston pale puppet (See below, courtesy of 'Moon City Garbage" website)
And here's the final puppet, also showing the paleness and decay of the flesh
The T-800 in the second film, until the climax of course, only receives several wounds from handgun at the Mall, small wounds on the back and few in the chest muscles, which Sarah cleaned up and dressed.
Below, excerpt from novelization
He does remove flesh from the arm, but it's like amputating an arm. Amputating/Cutting off an arm doesn't make entire body dead, but the stop of blood flow an multiple shotgun and machinegun wounds would
Storywise, the decision for the original Terminator to become so damaged that he becomes to rot is to make him look more terrifying and creepy, while large damage was avoided for T2 because he was a hero in this one. Van Ling, Creative Consultant and FX Superviser on T2 (from JamesCameronOnline interview)
