Twelve years ago I watched Terminator 2, T1 had scared me, but I wanted to watch it nonetheless. Ever since that evening, I've loved the Terminator saga, everything involved in it. And for the past few years, people - myself included - have tried to imagine what happens after the events of T2. Well here people, is the answer. This is one of my very rare reviews in which I'm actually bothered about, so I hope this goes down as well as I want it to.

The film begins with John Connor narrating, namely about fate. A decade has passed since the events of terminator 2, John Connor and his mother Sarah Connor with the help of the terminator helped prevent Judgement Day. Cut to present, John Connor is paranoid man, living out of loop with the system. There are no records of his existance, he has no cell phone, no credit cards. No one, no where knows who John Connor is, or where he is, not even Skynet. However, a prototype Terminator is sent back through time - the TX. Her mission is to kill all the high ranking members of the resistance - due to the fact that Skynet cannot find John Connor.
John Connor and Kate Brewster cross paths at the most peculiar of times, John had broken in to the vetinary where Kate works in an attempt to score some drugs. But Kate is called out late because one of her clients pets is sick. Cue the TX turning up at the vetinary at 5:30am in the morning ( which may I add is a little bit peculiar, but I'll let it go :P ). Carnage ensures, enter Arnie. After some more plot developments we find ourselves in a military base at an unknown location. A computer virus that is affecting masses of computers worldwide is seeminhly unstoppable, but the military plan to use Skynet to track down the virus. Gen. Brewster has his reservations about the idea.
Throughout this part of the movie, we learn more about the birth of Skynet, and the early prototype cyborgs.

Now, I don't really want to say much more, because I can't without giving away vital infomation about the film.
Don't know what else to say, apart from enjoy the film

7/10

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I will cast my review upon this movie. The Terminator series has intrigued me every since I watched The Terminator in theaters back in 1984. I was just a teen and this movie was ground breaking at the time. And with a meager budget of 4.8 million dollars. James Cameron developed one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. It was Arnolds breakout performance that bonified him as an action star. A young Linda Halmiltion and Michael Biehn gave remarkable performances as Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese. I enjoyed it very much. I gave it a 10 out of 10.

Then in 1990 I saw a trailer that totally surprised me. It was the movie trailer to Terminator 2. It was short and sweet with an uprising T-800 saying "I told you I'll be back". Back then there was no internet to tell us about movies coming out. I was surprised. So in the July summer of 1991. I watched Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Another ground breaking state of the art movie with again James Cameron at the helm. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Halmilton, Edward Furlongand Robert Patrick all on board. Robert Patrick was great as the T-1000. All performances were great. The movie had a lot of heart to go along with the awesome action of the movie. Another 10 out of 10.

Now it's 2003. James Cameron is out of the picture and now enters Jonathen Mostow. He gives the franchise a different twist. This film really doesn't have the same look or feel of the earlier 2 movies. But in my opinion it's not a made for tv look like some people have suggested from viewing the trailers. With new cast memebers. Only 2 returning cast memebers from the first 2 original Terminator movie in Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dr. Silberman(what is this guys real name?). But strong performances by Nick Stahl and Clair Danes as John Connor and Kate Brewster. John Connor is now living off the grid. No credit cards, no phone number, no knowledge of his existance(so why does he hang around his old stomping grounds?). He's a reluctant hero for the upcoming future war but ultimately accepts his destiny. Once again two Terminators are sent back in time. The T-X as the assasin and the T-850 as the protector. The T-850 is more in the mold of the original Terminator. This time around Arnold seems to have less heart and emotion with the role as the T-850 but still kicks but in the action department. The T-X brings a feminine side to the assasin role but she is still very ruthless. She has an endoskeloton covered by liquid metal and posses all kinds of gadgetrys at her diposal. I had read in earlier rumors that she would be able to turn invisible and turn into pure energy. Evidently they decided to not put this in the movie. While her showoff abilities were pretty good. Nothing was awe inspiring like the T-X in Terminator 2. I guess I and probably many others have become spoiled by the special effects of today. But nevertheless, she does a descen performances as the T-X but not as good as Robert Patricks role as the T-1000. We learn more about the beginnings of Skynet and what happened to Sarah Connor. They also get a little more in depth about the future of John Connor and Kate Brewster. I will leave it at that and not hand out any other spoilers. Watch it and check for yourself.

Pros:
Lots of action and new gadgetry.\

Great crane chase scene. Arnold footed 1.8 million out of his own pocket to finish this scene. The movie was way over budget and was going to get cut from the movie if it havn't been for him.

Employee bathroom fight between the T-X and T-850. Makes the T-1000 and T-800 fight look like a picnic in the park. Good stuff here.

Fast paced from the get go.

The final 30 minutes of the movie. The climax/anti-climax I must say. If the movie would have been as good as the final 30 minutes. I would give this movie at least a 9 out of 10.


Cons:

Storyline a little thin.

Music score was lacking badly. I would have been fine with the score of T2 added in here and there. And we don't even get the original Terminator theme untill the end.

Movie Length: This movie had shorther run time than T2. T2 was around 2 hours 30 min. Wile this movie was only 1 hour 49 min. Longer run time could have fleshed out the storyline a little bit better. We are treated a lot of slam bam action with not a lot of dialouge in between.


While I'm sure I'm a little bias. I'm not going to lie to you guys and say this movie is as good as T1 or T2. Becuses it is not. It is lacking without the touch of James Cameron. This franchise is his baby and I don't think anyone can duplicate the performance of James Cameron. But nontheless this movie is a descent pleaser and should satisfy most people. We are treated with a fast action pace movie with a few one liners by Arnie himself. I give this movie a 7 out of 10. Earilier I gave it an 8 out of1 0. But after sitting down and thinking about it. I give this movie only a 7 out of 10 for it's lack of storyline and crappy musical score. This movie could have been a masterpiece with Cameron at the helm. He would have tweeked the story a little and brought more heart to this movie. Just like he did to the two previous installments of this franchise. If a Terminator 4 is made. We can only hope he will come back on board as writer/director/producer of the film. This movie could have been a classic with him on board.

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Thanks, both, for your thorough reviews. I still feel like I'm going to be disappointed, but I just might catch this one in the theaters now ...

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Im going tomorrow. I've heard nothing but good news from friends. I know it won't surpass T2 so my mind isnt set up for disapointment.

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Possible Tiny Spoilers

I might write a full review later on, I dunno, but here's my brief 2 cents on T3.

As a typical action movie, it's great. Comedy-wise, Arnold can still throw out some good one liners. The acting was excellent, Nick Stahl is a fantastic actor (see Bully), but I kind of wish Furlong was still there in that role. Claire Danes is hot and does a great job. I miss Linda Hamilton.

The T-X was a huge disappointment, it's just a t1000 with the ability to make more than just knives. And the fact that it's a hot chick and that she never looks damaged makes her pretty UN-menacing, and why is it that when she gets REALLY close to the trio of good guys, she never uses any good weapons? For someone who can rip the door off a car like it's nothing, she sure wasted a lot of time with that saw, cutting the roof off the hearse.

There were also a few other nitpicks I had with the film too, namely the above mentioned fact that the TX scores the jackpot, finding Kate AND John at a vet clinic at 5am. RIGHT. Would have made more sense for them to show her confronting the fiance first, and THEN have her at the clinic. Another thing that bugged me was that Arnold is a different model, and thus, doesn't remember anything from T2. So why is it then that when he unloaded on the cops at the cemetary, he makes sure there's zero casualties ala T2? Good job in the continuity department boys.

That aside, I really liked the movie, and I'm glad it ended how it ended, even if it didn't leave as big of a mark as T2 did.

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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (R)
July 1, 2003

Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger
John Connor: Nick Stahl
Kate Brewster: Claire Danes
T-X: Kristanna Loken
Robert Brewster: David Andrews

Warner Bros. presents a film directed by Jonathan Mostow. Written by John Brancato, Michael Ferris and Tedi Sarafian. Running time: 109 minutes. Rated R (for strong sci-fi violence and action, language and brief nudity).



Overview – No Spoilers

Alright, we all know the catch-phrases, “hasta la vista, baby”… “I’ll be back”… yeah, yeah… Arnold, that guy from Austria won the admiration of the entire world as he delivered a keen performance where people like a murdering robot. Well… he’s back.

Shame on anyone who doesn’t know the plot of the Terminator story, it is easily one of the best ever made. It plays into the very grasp of science-fiction. Let me put this simply… in the future, machines rise against man and attempt to kill everyone and take over. Now… of course, everyone has their casualties, their loses. John Connor (Nick Stahl, Taboo) is a ‘victim of fate’. In the future he will lead the resistance against the machines. It quickly becomes apparent… he’s a very wanted target.

Even before Connor had an idea about a war between machines… or even that much knowledge of them, he was hunted. T3: RotM takes off as John is living as a transient in California and by fate one day, ten years after their first meeting, finds veterinarian Kate Brewster (Claire Danes, Brokedown Palace ) … who by fate, on the same day finds the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger, End of Days) … who by fate, on the same day finds the T-X (Kristanna Loken, Gangland) … a newer machine… capable of controlling other machines… capable of defeating the, once prestigious, Terminator.




Review – No spoilers

Let me begin by saying… ‘WOW! The T-X is hot!’ Kristanna Loken is smoking hot. Women and other things aside, I have say that despite his robotic knowledge, even the Terminator himself has trouble following the actions of those crazy females… you’d figure that T3 would be just like any typical American household story, yanno… man beats woman, however this is not he case. It’s not that Arnold was a sissy; it’s just… well… T-X is the strongest woman I’ve seen in a movie in a while… but seriously, turn me into a robot… I could do better.

Stupid crap aside, I’ve gotta say that Terminator 3 offers the best action I’ve seen in a movie this year. The story lacks the originality of the first two Terminators; however, it is still an exciting and amusing tale of man versus machine.

The John Connor character is now played by Nicholas Stahl… and not to say that his performance was not good, however, it did not hold the same feel. I won’t say that his character didn’t come out feeling ‘fresh’ however; it was far from the original tortured soul.

The plot is delivered with a conviction and a desire to be good and it comes off just as that. Arnold returns with the role of the Terminator to a ‘T’ and the other performances were great.




The Final Word – No spoilers.

If you’re looking for an action movie, see Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines… if you want a 99.98% CGI-A-Thon, see The Matrix: Reloaded (I leave the .02 because I believe Caree-Ann Moss’s breast were made of silicone… but I could be wrong).

DethStarDriveBy gives Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines out of a possible 5 planets.

EDIT: I didn't know you couldn't do IMG tags... well... it's 4/5




I’ll be back…

Fin.

DethStar

Last edited by DethStar on 07-05-2003 at 07:17 PM

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Nice freakin review man

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One time, my cousin Walter got this cat stuck in his ass. True story. He bought it at our local mall so the whole fiasco wound up on the news, it was embarrassing for my relatives and all, but the next week he did it again, different cat, same results, complete with another trip to the emergency room! So I run into him a week later in the mall and he’s buying another cat and I says to ‘em "Jesus Walt, what are you doing? You know your just gonna get this cat stuck up your ass too, why don’t you knock it off?" And he says to me "Brodie, how the hell else am I supposed to get the gerbil out?" My cousin was a weird guy....

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I loved the movie.

9/10 kept me entertained tons of action. =)

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The thing is. T3 integrated a lot of cgi but did a damn good job of not making it look fake. Like when the T-850 kicks over the ambulance. And many things wern't cgi at all. Just good old animatronics and stuntmen. I have no beef at all with any of that. If this movies musical score would have been as good as T2. It would have been way better. I truly think it's the movies major flaw. That and being too short. The composer of this movie should have been shot. And I'm sure it was Mostows decision too but anyways. Atleast we did get another Terminator movie. Could have been better but then again. Could have been worse.

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Could of been way worse. I wasn't expecting much to tell you the truth but I liked it. I'll be shellin out $25 to add this to the collection.

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Yeah I didnt care for T3's score either, and some of the cgi looked obviously fake in a few spots, especially during the crane chase. But thats just the small price to pay in today's cgi-or-nothing action features

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I liked the score! Anyways, I thought the ending could have been better, it got a bit disastrous in my opinion. Also, the relationship between John and the Terminator could have been a tad better like in the second film, but that's not saying much. Mostow won't ever be Cameron, who, with the exception of Titanic, never really wrecked a movie. Mostow doesn't have the talent to work his way around the action and make it exciting, terrifying, emotional, and just, BETTER, and instead just throws it at you. It was, however, a nice effort and a good summer flick. I'd give it a 7/10

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Spoiler free

Okay, I watched it at home and have decided not to go see it in the theater. I actually think T2 was a much more visually slick film -- 12 years of progress in CGI since then, and yet T2 still looks better IMO.

At the risk of repeating what others have said above ... it just didn't capture me as well as the other Terminator films. Very little character development. Far too short a movie. Score was unhelpful. All the things I feared about this movie came true -- it just wasn't the same without the old creative genius behind it.

All the same, it was worth watching to see the story play out, and I don't think the writers did anything too bad to eliminate the possibility of future Terminator movies.

Here's hoping the big boys get back on the bandwagon in future attempts.

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just finished watching it and was left disappointed as was expected. i suppose i was hoping for sooo much more

far too short and little character development. the action was good but the ending was really fucking weak

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Are you going to review this movie MovieGod? Have you seen it yet?

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