When it was announced that a sequel to the classic Terminator 2 was going to be made, my hopes were relatively high. But as the details were revealed, my enthusiasm began to wane. First, James Cameron, director of the first two Terminator films was not going to direct the third film. Second, Linda Hamilton would not be reprising her role as Sarah Connor. Third, Edward Furlong would not be reprising his role as John Connor. I was half expecting Arnold Schwarzenegger to announce he wasn’t going to be involved. He, of course, remained onboard. However, I decided not to see the film when it hit theaters in July, 2003. Five days ago, the film hit DVD. I figured I’d waited long enough to see it.
For the uninitiated, the Terminator series revolves around the premise that, in the future, machines will take over the world and force humanity into submission. A lone hero named John Connor will lead a human army to defeat the machines. Knowing that Connor would rise up against them, the machines send a Terminator into the past to kill Sarah Connor, his birth mother, before he is even conceived thereby eliminating the possibility that he can defeat them. That was the premise for the first film. The second film took place when John was 13. John and Sarah Connor, along with a “good” Terminator robot sent back into the past to protect them, attempt to defeat the machines by preventing their creation. This third film picks up ten years later, with John Connor in hiding and Sarah Connor dead from leukemia.
The machines were apparently not stopped by the events of the second film. They were only postponed a bit. This time around, the machines send a super-powerful Terminator called T-X (Kristanna Loken) into the past to destroy John Connor (Nick Stahl). Connor, not feeling safe even though he’s theoretically stopped Judgment Day, has gone into a sort of exile from humanity — making him almost impossible to find. The T-X attempts to lure him out of hiding by hunting down those that will aid him in the future. Of course, Connor’s forces in the future know that the T-X has been sent back so they send back another T-101 (Schwarzenegger) to protect Connor as well as his future second-in-command, Kate Brewster (Claire Danes). Lots of explosions and techno-babble ensue.
While not exactly in the same league as the first two Terminator films, Terminator 3 is not too bad. The main difference is the that the “wow factor” of the first two films is gone. The first film had a strong thought-provoking story and strong characters along with some decent special effects. The second film not only had a strong story and stronger characters but also contained the first truly jaw-dropping CGI sequences ever put on-screen. T2, quite simply, was an event movie.
Terminator 3 is simply another science fiction / action film with some familiar characters, lots of action sequences, and a premise that rings hollow when compared to the first two movies in the series. The budget, which was supposedly around $175 million, doesn’t seem to have improved the look of the effects over 1991’s Terminator 2. Actually, some of the CGI sequences look quite fake compared to the older film’s. It is nice to see Arnold back as the T-101, even though his robotic exterior seems to have inexplicably aged. Hmmm…
Personality-wise, Kristanna Loken’s T-X is no match for Terminator 2‘s T-1000 as played by Robert Patrick. Patrick’s Terminator was menacing and humorous at the same time. Loken’s T-X simply looks frazzled and pissed-off and she apes some of Patrick’s mannerisms. She’s definitely a lot easier on the eyes, though, and her fight scenes with Schwarzenegger are a lot of fun. The fights seem like two robot warriors, each possessing incredible power, are battling it out. The fight scenes in T2 lacked that “powerful” feeling.
Nick Stahl is not as good as Edward Furlong in the role of John Connor. The difference in their personalities and appearances is too jarring to believe it’s the same character. Stahl’s not a bad actor and his performance is fine for what it is, but he shouldn’t be John Connor. Claire Danes handles herself quite well in her first balls-out action flick.
Schwarzenegger needed a hit film to revive his sagging career and Terminator 3 is definitely the best action film he’s been associated with in a long time. It’s the first of his films I’ve watched since 1996’s Eraser that really had me interested in what happened. While I can’t say it’s a “must see” film, it’s good for a rental. But, if you haven’t seen the other Terminator films, start at the beginning and enjoy the really good films in the series first. Then, see this one if you’re still interested.
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
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