Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Final stage of refreshing my memory of the Terminator series before catching the new film, which turned out to be extremely helpful since I didn't at all remember this one. I spent most of the time trying to figure out why everyone hates it so much. I thought it was pretty ok. In Rise of the Machines, once again two terminators are sent back in time to change the future. The TX (Kristianna Loken) is an outwardly female robot with extremely advanced, nigh-indestructible assets, sent to kill the teenagers who would grow up to be John Connor's deputies (John has been living off the grid for years and has become untraceable). Arnold is back as the T-800, hoping to locate John Connor (Nick Stahl) and protect his future compatriots, including his future wife Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), a veterinarian.

Arnold and John kind of kidnap Kate, and after loading up on some guns the three set out to try to stop Skynet again, but for reals this time. It turns out that the events of T2 (destroying Dyson's research and equipment, etc) just postponed the inevitable Judgment Day. Skynet is now in the hands of Kate's father, who works for some secret technology branch of the military. Most of the movie has the group being chased by the TX, as Arnold tries completely ineffectively to even briefly detain her. There's a big virus spreading around America and no one knows who started it, but it's actually Skynet slowly setting up for the big nuclear attack. I sure hope John and Kate can stop it, somehow, with their puny non-machine human brains.

I completely understand that this is not at all as cool as the first two films, and I imagine a big part of its unpopularity might ride on the fact that it didn't really need to be made. However, looking past that I really don't think it's a bad movie, just the weakest in the series. It didn't just stick to a "here are some robots, look at them go" formula like it could have, but added to the series' story as a whole with the addition of Kate's character as well as the reality of Judgment Day. We also find out what happened to Sarah Connor after she worked so hard in the previous film. I was ok with Nick Stahl as John- not as likable as Edward Furlong but he had the right look to him and certainly took the role seriously. Arnold is getting on in years (this was his last big movie before becoming governor), but is so iconic as T-800 that I wasn't complaining. He still rocks a leather jacket and huge gun. Claire Danes seemed out of place, but did a good job with the all the screaming and anger she had to constantly emote (ladies are like that, you know).

I think the TX is a bit much, really, in a few ways. I understand that they needed to sex things up a bit so casting a former model as an ice-cold android in a tight leather suit is just good business, but the bigger boob thing at the beginning was too stupid. She was also too advanced. The whole time I just felt bad for Arnold, who could barely dent her. She had all these bendy tricks and secret arm guns plus she could talk to machines. Then after all these examples of how unstoppable she is, (and I don't think this is a spoiler is it? she's the villain, after all) we get a pretty anti-climactic final showdown. Over way too quickly, I barely registered it happening. Oh well.

But it has good things too! Like the first two, it is a rousing and well-paced chase movie with lots of explosions. And shooting! And car crashes! It is never boring. I also think the ending is pretty cool. It is not a cop-out "we need to make a hundred more of these so let's end it like the first two" ending. It comes at you with a scary realness, suggesting that despite Sarah Connor's favorite adage, no one really can make their own fate. It's not a great film by any means, but I still think it's a legitimately exciting action thriller that takes the original story and adds to it in interesting ways, and I didn't expect more. I wouldn't watch it over and over again but I'm not going to join the "this movie totally sucks" club. And I'm definitely glad I watched it before the new one.

3.5/5

Here is a good take on T3 at Flounders on Film. It is pretty much how I feel.