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Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (43 - 45 of 105 Reviews)

Arnie drives a hearse
Since I haven't seen the previous two "Terminator" films, watching TERMINATOR 3 was like coming into a movie already half over. I'm sure I've missed something. However, ignorance hasn't stopped me before from being rashly opinionated.

The gist of the ongoing series is that machines and humans will be at war with each other in the near future, at which time beleaguered Mankind is to be led by John Connor and his wife, the former Kate Brewster. In the "now" of this film, machines are about to launch a nuclear first strike against humanity using America's computerized and newly automated national defense system. The good news is that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the Terminator robot sent back in time to ensure that Connor (Nick Stahl) and Brewster (Claire Danes) survive the coming Armageddon to fight on. The bad news is that a more advanced Terminator robot, the T-X (Kristanna Loken), is sent back by the other side to eliminate the same Connor and Brewster. All the action revolves around the collision between the two hard-nosed androids.

At the risk of throwing a wet blanket of logic on the storyline, wouldn't a Nuclear Winter visited upon the planet by vengeful machines also destroy the very technology and industrial infrastructure capable of creating the advanced robots supposed to carry the battle into the future? Never mind; this is a Tinseltown fairy tale.

The two best reasons to see TERMINATOR 3 are Arnie, of course, who delivers some straight-faced gag lines that'll leave you chortling, and one of the best vehicle chases I've seen recently. The latter ostensibly takes place in Los Angeles, and, if not accomplished with models and computer generated FX, left me surprised that the city is still standing. Otherwise, the special FX technology used to depict the warring robots is pretty much old hat to those of us getting jaded.

The Connor and Brewster characters left me completely cold. As a matter of fact, they were both so annoying that I hoped in the depths of my perverse heart that the T-X would manage to slaughter them both. I mean, do we really need them for a TERMINATOR 4?

Loken's T-X might just as well have been a high-tech wind-up doll, though she was impressively poker-faced and relentless in pursuit of her programmed objective. The scene where "she" gets stuck to a giant magnet was inspired. And the one-on-one fight scenes with Arnie were so violent that I thought they'd make the perfect 21st century version of the Bickersons.

Arnold kicks bum at fiftysomething.
The first TERMINATOR was all about story. Watching a film like that is a rare treat due to a tight, complex, action packed storyline that relied on plot twists and stylish thrills to entertain. I heard CAMERON originally wanted the movie to have the T-1000 as the antagonist but the budget would't allow it and the fx had, of course, not been developed yet. Still the best and most somber of the series, the first film is the coolest independant sci-fi movie I've seen.
T2 was the groundbreaker. Never before had I left the theater as blown away by the sheer size of a film. With a compelling story still intact, the fx were nothing short of jaw-droppingly super-cool. Set the bar really, really high on what summer movie watching was all about. Probably the best summertime extavaganza since the original STAR WARS. The action in this flick is top-notch and better that most released today, over ten years later. A motion picture that truly defines and redefines the term blockbuster.
TERMINATOR 3-RISE OF THE MACHINES is the popcorn movie. With some of the melancholy of the first film and some excellent set pieces of unadulterated mayhem, this entry in the series is just plain fun. Upon first hearing about this release I had to groan because I belived everything had been covered in the other installments. The script is just right with quick, snappy expainations and narrative. The true treat of the film is watching ARNOLD ham it up (which I thought would've gotten old by now but still works somehow) and the exhillarating chases and action. Avoiding the occasional cheesy line is impossible, but all and all a fine entry in a great franchise. A matinee sci-fi/action flick with all the thrills and chills needed for a good time.
Due to the erie conclusion of the third picture maybe the creators will actually make, what I've thought all along would be cool, an HBO mini-series about the future war events leading up to the victory of the humans and the destuction of the time-travelling device. Could just be wishful thinking but I'd hate to see the end of an exciting series like THE TERMINATOR.

The future is not set...
I'll admit the speculation in my mind was more than present when I had learned of a new Terminator film minus the talents of creator James Cameron and stars Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong; but when the credits for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines began to roll I walked out of the theater with quite a smile on my face. Director Jonathan Mostow is a more than worthy successor to Cameron; he has crafted a very well put together and visually stunning action film that will quiet all the naysayers and return star Arnold Schwarzenegger to superstar form. Nick Stahl is a worthy sucessor to Eddie Furlong as well in the role of John Conner: the man who is destined to lead humanity to victory against the machines. The storyline picks up with John living "off the grid". Even though the Judgement Day of 1997 was prevented, he lives with no phone, no address, no real identity, nothing to get himself traced by the machines in the future. His worst fears are confirmed when the Terminatrix (the stunning Kristanna Loken) arrives from the future to take him and some of his acquaintances out (including Claire Danes in a lively role), and he is soon joined by a familiar looking Termiantor re-programed to make sure that he survives the upcoming nuclear nightmare. Everything about Terminator 3 is big: incredible special effects, eye-popping action scenes, and insane stunt work make this film the best action film of the summer next to X-Men 2. Schwarzenegger himself is at his usual best in the role of the emotionless cyborg, and as usual gives a terrific performance. Of course the film doesn't have the epic emotional scope of the first two films, but that is instantly forgiveable once the action kicks in. Also, many long time Terminator fans will notice the numerous in jokes present throughout the film (including Earl Boen returning as Dr. Silberman in a hilarious throwaway scene). Clearly the writers, and Mostow himself, weren't afraid to play with Cameron's source material. Yes, this is a blatant cash in by Warner Bros., but I don't think I've ever seen one this good.

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