Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines [R]

[DevilDave]

I saw the movie this evening, and here are a few of my thoughts.

**Minor spoilers follow**








































I was wondering going into this film, how are they going to explain how they got to this point after John & Sarah Connor thrashed Cyberdyne in T2? I thought the explanation given in T3 was a bit muddled, but certainly plausible.

The plot device to bring John Connor and Kate Brewster (Nick Stahl and Claire Danes) together was a bit transparent, but I still thought their characters were strong. I especially liked how John's agonizing over what "destiny" holds for him.

Arnold was a bit hammy as the Terminator, to the point of lampooning the previous films. Still, it was good for a few laughs.

I was a bit disappointed in the T-X, the terminator which combines liquid metal with an exoskeleton and controls machines. Yes, Kristanna Loken is hot and looks deadly. But IMO the way the film was written didn't allow her to really convey the sense of physical menace Robert Patrick's T-1000 did in T2.

The action sequences were sometimes contrived but still quite good - probably the best stuff in the film. I daresay the one big chase scene in T3 blows away the action scenes from Matrix: Reloaded.

And then there's the twist ending. All I should say about it is, they've left the door open for a sequel. Not sure it would be necessary to make, though.

So did it live up to the hype? I'm not sure it did plotwise, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. At least for the action sequences, worth seeing.

[scd84]

I liked this movie a lot. After the first few minutes the action doesn't stop until the credits roll which is good and bad. The plot is a little weak compared to the first two, but the action is good, and the movie is the funniest I've seen since Old School (and I've seen a lot of movies since then). All in all it was a worthy sequel, though clearly below the astonishing breakthroughs of T1 and T2.

[DoctorJones24]

I wasn't really expecting too much, and wasn't really in a hurry to see this (not sure how I ended up at a matinee on the day of the premiere), but I was pleasantly surprised. Pretty solid two hours of fun summer fluff.

[n00bie deluxe]

This movie was good, because it "knew its role." This is something the creators of Matrix and Hulk couldn't grasp.

Mindless blather and philosophizing was kept to a minumum and exciting visuals were used in abundance. A great summer film. No more, no less.

[Khansingh]

Damn, what a downer. Really discouraging at the end.

[DevilDave]

Originally posted by Khansingh
Damn, what a downer. Really discouraging at the end.

Well that's why I said they left the door open for a sequel.

If you think about it though, that sort of goes against the message of the first two films, which is that destiny was not necessarily written in stone.

I hope I haven't said too much. :(

[Alberto]

I found it very enjoyable. Yes, it does not have the impact of the first two films. But like everyone else noted it stays to the point regarding the action. Devildave, I agree about Kristanna Loke. She is not menacing like Robert Patrick. The problem is that she is so beautiful, you can't take your eyes off of her so she does not create tension or fear. She has the look. I also missed the scene when she appeared at the beginning of the film, waiting to get popcorn at the concession stand, but my girlfriend told me they showed her butt. My question is how nice is her butt?
;) :D

Also I agree that it was very funny. Arnold had a lot of funny lines throughout the film.

Evil, evil Skynet.

[Khansingh]

Not bad, bearing in mind that she's a model and thus, pretty slender. Unfortunately, it's very shadowy and from directly behind, which doesn't give us a profile.

That's a good point though. Oh my God! you're killing me but shit fire are you gorgeous!

[Lucid]

In an interview with Arnold that I saw, he said there is going to be a T4, just not sure when. I didn't have much of an idea as to what was going to happen in this movie plot-wise, so I was definately duprised and happy to see Judgment Day finally happen, we'd all been waiting 20 years to see it. I really wasn't expecting much at all, mostly just another T2 where John and company run from the evil robot, so I was happy about the depth of the story and how it tied together the past and the future. The twist was great!

As far as T4 goes, I can't see how they make it with Arnold so that makes me happy, I can't take much more of him. Nick Stahl and Claire Danes will be back as well as there was a sequel clause in their contract. Typically, if the movie makes any sort of money at all (which this movie will), film companies always take advantage of that. So get rid of Arnold, the storyline isn't about assasinations anymore, but rather the war between man and machine. The only reason he has to come back is to kill John Conner, and I don't see that being the next movie, maybe T5 or T6. They definately need to start cranking these out a lot quicker. I don't want to have to wait till 2015 for T4. The first movie takes place in 2029, and if we have to wait that long before the story is wrapped up, I'm gonna be pissed off.

Also, there's Freddy vs. Jason, they've always wanted to do Alien vs. Predator, how about The Terminator vs. Agent Smith? :p

[sonicdream]

Had the producers of the movie splashed some dirt, blood, cuts and goo on Kristanna after some of her battles with Arnold, it may have increased her "meanness" look. But I doubt that.
Her sex appeal would have been that of the highest level irregardless.
Not that I'm into any of that kinky dirt stuff at all;
just that I can't take my eyes off of her.

What's that you say/ this thread is about the movie..?
She IS the movie; so happens the movie in itself is quite good and entertaining.
So it's a double-plus.

She's my new idol... :-0

[Motterman]

I saw alot of people complaining that this flew in the face of the "message" of the first two movies. I found it a refreshing and brave move, other than to just re-hash the theme of the first two movies.