Terminator 3 : Rise of the Machines

Review by Clint Morris

In the early 90's, when film studio Carolco went bust, hopes of another Terminator movie were buried along with it.

But a decade down the track - T3 is on the screens. But just one thing: It's without the prophet operate behind the first two films, James Cameron, and short a couple of original co-stars.

Here comes the "Oh, Oh".

But before you summon Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines to the litter swell, consider this: It is Arnold Schwarzenegger back in the most celebrated role of his career, millions have been spent on making sure this film's action and effects live up to expectations, and director Jonathan Mostow (U-571, Breakdown) has proved in the past that he can craft an entertaining, well ordered actioner.

Like a brochure of discount coupons, don't throw it out 'til you've at least looked at it. You might just see something that appeals to you...

"Imagine a world of permanent darkness, where machines control man's destiny. Imagine you are the only one who can stop it. But before you do, something terrible has to happen."

Though he and his late mother seemingly prevented Judgment Day some ten years before, there's something inside John Connor (Nick Stahl) that still scares him - is it really all over?

Now 22, Connor lives "off the grid" - no address, no credit cards, no phone and no job. No record of his existence. No way can he be found. Just the way mummy would have liked it in fact.

But as mom knows darn well, there is someone who can always find you. Villainous androids sent back from the future. As the T-X (Kristanna Loken) has been.

Sent back through time to complete the job left incomplete by her precursor, the T-1000, this machine is as unremitting as her human semblance is striking. And she is exponentially more powerful, dangerous and destructive than every Terminator that has come before her.

But this time, Connor isn't the only target on [her employer] Skynet's hit list - unwary veterinarian Kate Brewster (Claire Danes) is also on the hit-list, seems she's also to become somewhat of an influential figure in the rage against the machines in the years ahead.

When Connor and Kate realise that Judgment Day is rocketing toward them - with only three hours between them and the end of the world - their only hope for survival is old comrade, the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Or to be more exact, 'another' model of the same figure that graced John's life ten years before.

Guided by the Terminator, they must come to grips with some harsh realities, as well as battling an inexorable foe and ultimately, making sure the looming Judgement Day doesn't happen.

With leather-clad, weapons hauling, Terminator on board - how could they go wrong?

First of all, the good news, Terminator 3 is a good movie. Not T2 good. Maybe not even T1 good, but good enough to warrant access into the well-loved legacy.

Those worried director Jonathan Mostow would ruin Cameron's accomplished film series with a half-cooked effort can breathe a sigh of relief. In quintessence, he's delivered. The best he could anyway, considering the histrionic expectations many would be having.

The action is great. Plenty of Explosions, fights, ridiculously over-the-top stunts, and a car chase. A great one of that.

Though Linda Hamilton's presence is missed at times, Edward Furlong isn't. In fact, Nick Stahl is a great alternative. Not only is he a darn good actor, but he also looks like he could be Michael Biehn's [his father, a character that appeared in the first film] son, with his scruffy appear and tatty about peripheral.

Where imagining whiny Furlong as a gallant leader of the impending war was a stretch, it isn't so much with Stahl.

Also adding integrity to a film, whose genre doesn't usually call for it, is talented Claire Danes. Danes takes what could have otherwise been a token-girlfriend role, and brings emotion, gusto and credibility. With Stahl, they give the best performances of the movie.

But what everyone wants to know is, how's Arnold?

In one word: Great. He's a little older now [and you do notice that at times], but as soon as the man appears on screen in the guise of his iconic character, you just smile.

All of a sudden, all that rubbish he's done over the last few years is forgotten about.

It's sad that the guy's best role is one which has him of a small-talking robot, but his frighteningly gigantic presence makes these films what they are.

But while Arnold is the best thing about the film, he's also responsible for some of its worst elements.

For the bulk, he's this menacing, inescapable machine, but for a small part of the film it's as if he's playing a caricature of his original character, or spoofing himself.

The bad puns don't help either - and they're constant. From "talk to the hand" and "She'll be Back", it gets a little exasperating.

But maybe that's a minor flaw on behalf of the scriptwriters - adding too much syrup, rather than the big man himself. After all, he's just saying what the screenwriters think the audiences want to hear. But as cringe-worthy as the one-liners, the cameos for cameos sake [one special appearance by a recurring character from the previous films is a bit of a misfire] and Xeroxing scenes from the first films are, that's only a quarter of the film.

The rest is good. The storyline - surprisingly - is very effective. Rather than simply having the Terminator sent back in time to kill again, just for the heck of it, a lot of thought's actually been put into the how and why's.

Justifiably explaining why the Terminator is back, as well as how he got back and how the new phase fits into the scheme of things is one element the scribes have nailed spot on.

In comparison to the previous films, this one still smells of a little desperation [after all, I'm sure Arnie only do it because nothing else is going right in his career at present], and doesn't have the action 'epic' feel of the last instalment [it could be that that film was well over half an hour longer in duration].

The villainess too (Kristanna Loken), though good, doesn't have the same appeal as Robert Patrick's menacing T-1000 from T2, and I doubt won't be as memorable as the latter's performance as the years tick on.

But having said that, there's more that works here than doesn't. Arnie, the script, the cast, the pulsating music score, the direction....there's a lot to be proud of.

And in comparison to the movie's Arnie's been doing the last ten years - this is great. If he had to do another Terminator to regain his crown as the king of action cinema, he might have considered it earlier?

While Cameron's original films are still hard to beat, Terminator 3 still successfully 'rises' to the occasion.

3.5 out of 5

Terminator 3 : Rise of the Machines
Australian release: Thursday July 17th
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes, David Andrews, Kristanna Loken, Alana Curry.
Director: Jonathon Mostow.
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