Governor, oops I mean actor -- got a little ahead of myself there -- Arnold
Schwarzenegger is back in his signature role as The Terminator in TERMINATOR
3: RISE OF THE MACHINES, one of the few blockbusters this summer that is
more than worth the money spent on its production. And, unlike the
disappointing HULK, T3 is a serious action film that's also both funny and
fun. When you leave the theater, you'll be pumped full of adrenaline
without a hint of the buyer's remorse that you've felt so often this summer.
Arnold may be in his mid-fifties, but he's got a body that any
twenty-year-old would kill for.
In something of a d‚j… vu plot, a T-850 Terminator (Schwarzenegger) is sent
to retrieve John Connor (Nick Stahl) and Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), who
are destined to lead the Resistance in the future, as mankind fights one
last cataclysmic battle against the machines who rule the earth. Sexy,
confident and long-legged Kristanna Loken plays a T-X or Terminatrix, a more
advanced terminator sent to thwart the Terminator's mission and kill
humanity's salvation in Connor and Brewster. She is easily one of the best
villains in any action picture in some time. Expect to see a lot more of
Loken in the future. All of the supporting casting is perfect and even
better than in T2. Arnold doesn't miss a beat. He can still kick major
butt.
As always, the demolition derby action pieces are the most fun. The dialog
is a hoot. "Drop your weapon -- and the coffin," the cops order the
Terminator as he exits a tomb with more than a chip on his shoulder. In
another scene, the Terminator, in his usual humorous deadpan, tells Connor,
"Anger is more useful than despair." There are funny visuals too with the
best being a convertible hearse, which, of course, doesn't start off that
way.
Even if he has to film it between legislative sessions, I hope
Schwarzenegger returns for a T4. But, if he doesn't, well, Stahl and Danes
could carry on without him. I want to know more about the Connor saga.
And, based on the strong box office results, so do the rest of you.
TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES runs a fast 1:49. It is rated R for
"strong sci-fi violence and action, and for language and brief nudity" and
would be acceptable for teenagers.
My son Jeffrey, age 14, had a blast and gave the picture a full ****. His
long list of superlatives went to all the cast, especially Arnold, the
realistic machines, the graphics, and the story. He said the TERMINATOR
series was one of the few in which all are great films.
Copyright © 2003 Steve Rhodes
