I'm back? (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (DVD))

Member Name: mo79

Product:	Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (DVD)
Date:	02/03/04 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Arnie's back - as The Terminator, big guns and big stunts, Nick Stahl as John Connor

Disadvantages: No James Cameron or Linda Hamilton, no Brad Fiedel soundtrack, laughable villain. A generally just satisfactory and unessential attempt at reviving a finished duology(?)

I saw Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (how Star Warsy is that?) when it first hit the cinema, and it felt great to take my seat as I was too young for the first two. Popcorn in hand, the DVD less than a year later.

Before the middle of the cinematic showing though, the fears for the film I tried to ignore, fully realised themselves. This must?ve been how people felt at The Matrix? sequels, or indeed the modern Star Wars trilogy. Even Robocop 2 & 3.

They may have tried their best, but they really needn?t have bothered. The Terminator isn?t just about big ol? Arnie, it?s about big ol? Arnie and James Cameron - the man who conceived and realised the first two films, which are probably amongst the greatest sci-fi action films of all time.
And James Cameron isn?t here (by choice), neither is the quintessential T heroine Linda ?Sarah Connor? Hamilton, or the venomous Brad Fiedel scores (the theme is there, but it exists in some kind of cliché Hollywood orchestral form). So what is there??

Jonathan Mostow?s directorial driving of this third instalment isn?t too bad. The very first time I saw it, I couldn?t help shaking my head at pivotal moments (like those early Tomy toy looking T robots - No!), but the next time I saw it, I thought, well it is different, and it?s not as if James? films weren?t without holes (though not as gapingly pointed out), and kudos for the story to be rescued in an acceptable way at all - I.e. that the threat exists through software via the net.

Claire Danes however shouldn?t be in a Terminator film, and never again. Like Harry Enfield would say, there?s nothing inherently wrong with her, she just shouldn?t be there. And then, there?s the T-X, a female terminator?No way is she a more efficient terminator than T2?s T-1000. How villainistically convincing is a blonde haired, brown leather suit wearing secretary? Atleast fit the bill with a brunette! And as for Arnie, he?s in panto mode for this film. Catchph
rase king!

On a good note, Nick Stahl is a better John Connor than T2?s, and it?s perhaps his consistent furrowed browedness that hooks you into the film and his plight. He is definetly the star of the film.
And the film?s unhappy ending is great. Nothing like triggering an audience?s adrenalin before making them gasp. This will probably pave the way for more Terminator films, but it wouldn?t be bad to hang the story here.

The DVD includes your standard trailers, photos and commentaries, with a good many interesting featurette films (nee FX), including a pretty funny blooper reel. The accompanying merchandising booklet smacks of desperation though; even the DVD?s casing seems un-arsed.

Over time though I have come to accept the T3, but not really love it. I don?t know whether it?s because it?s bad and I feel I should respect it atleast for being the third in the series, or whether it is good and I refuse to accept it because it doesn?t really fit with the first two. Even if they intended that.

Not an appalling film, but unless you?re quite a Terminator fanatic you?re probably not going to bother with this in your film collection.

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