Rise of the acceptable (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (DVD))

Member Name: SimonFinnigan

Product:	Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (DVD)
Date:	23/03/04 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Standard Terminator stuff, Good effects

Disadvantages: A bit confused

This is the third (and hopefully final) film in the Terminator series. I liked the first terminator film, the second one was quite good, but this one just didn`t grab me in the same way as the first two. The basic plot is that John Connor is now in his 20`s, and trying to hide from the system. I`m not entirely sure why this is - Terminator 2 ended with the suggestion that judgement day had been averted, and that there would therefore be no need to worry about terminator units being sent back through time to get him. If this is the case (and this idea is re-enforced through Terminator 3), then why does he need to stay hidden?

Anyway, a new Terminator is sent back to kill John (with the added bonus that if it can`t get him, it will get the other leaders of the resistance force), and this terminator is even nastier than the others sent back so far. Of course the human resistance sends back another terminator to protect him - the expected Arnie model! Things aren`t all that they seem though, and the ending wasn`t quite what I expected - a bit of a surprise really. John meets a few friends from his past (who we learn are to be his lieutenants in the human resistance). We learn what happened to Sarah Connor - Johns mum, and a major feature in the first two films.

The film itself was OK - not too bad, but it just didn`t have the instant attraction of the first two films in my opinion. The special effects are, as you`d expect, excellent. The acting is standard fare for this kind of film - acceptable, but nothing brilliant. I`m not entirely sure how highly to recommend this film. If you liked the first two films in the series then you should certainly watch it, but if you`ve not seen either of the first two films then I`d say watch those first, and then make your mind up about Terminator 3.

In closing I`d say that Terminator 3 is worth watching, but it`s not great. it seemed to be a bit confused to me - getting the history of the Ter
minator universe confused, which was a bit of an annoyance to me.

Cast listing (from http://imdb.com)

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arnold Schwarzenegger .... Terminator
Nick Stahl .... John Connor
Claire Danes .... Kate Brewster
Kristanna Loken .... T-X
David Andrews .... Robert Brewster
Mark Famiglietti .... Scott Petersen
Earl Boen .... Dr. Peter Silberman
Moira Harris .... Betsy
Chopper Bernet .... Chief Engineer
Christopher Lawford .... Brewster's Aide (as Chris Lawford)
Carolyn Hennesy .... Rich Woman
Jay Acovone .... Cop - Westside Street
M.C. Gainey .... Roadhouse Bouncer
Susan Merson .... Roadhouse Clubgoer #1
Elizabeth Morehead .... Roadhouse Clubgoer #1

Summary: