Russian game filmmaker recreates Terminator 2 in Grand Theft Auto V

A Russian maker of so-called Machinima has worked two hours a day for a year and a half on a reconstruction of the film classic Terminator 2 in GTA V. Although he does not take over all the scenes and shots, the film is easily recognizable for those who have seen the original.

The sense of recognition is due to the much work that has gone into mimicking the characters’ movements and, in particular, copying the camera angles and movements and lighting effects from the original. The sound from the film is also present. The English voices are also there, but there is a Russian dubbing over them. A real English version may follow in the future, let the creator know in a YouTube comment.

Filmmaker Kramer’s Media has put the hour-long film on YouTube. The original lasts 2 hours and 17 minutes including credits. So the Russian cut roughly an hour of footage because it was not easy to imitate with regard to animations, models, effects or a combination of these. Nevertheless, the storyline of James Cameron’s classic 1991 action film is easy to pick up.

The Windows version of Grand Theft Auto V includes a tool called the Rockstar Editor, which is an extension of the existing replay feature in the games. It allows users to create video clips in-game and using things like filters, sound tracks, and camera placement. The Russian filmmaker used these to create his Terminator 2 imitation, although it’s also clear that some of the effects were added afterwards with real video editing software.

Terminator 2 is about a future post-apocalyptic scenario set in motion by the human invention of artificial intelligence. Called SkyNet, this AI decides to rebel against its creators and creates its own robot race that declares war on humanity. In Terminator 2, both SkyNet and the Human Resistance send a Terminator robot from the future back in time to 1997 to nip the Resistance in the bud and save it from destruction, respectively. The lead role is for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In the past, Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, among others, have warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence.