I can't really go into too much detail in this tiny box, but I'm leaving for the time being. Feel fr...
I can't really go into too much detail in this tiny box, but I'm leaving for the time being. Feel free to remove me from your CoT, alerts, etc. I'm having this account deleted in a few days but I'll still be over on 'the other side'! x
Member since:15.06.2003
Reviews:121
Members who trust:133
I didn't expect to like Terminator 3. It sounded like a dull way of milking every penny out of the Terminator series as they can, and I was dragged practically kicking and screaming into the cinema, but I actually liked it!
In the first installment, machines want to take over the world, but the humans are resisting, with John Connor as their leader.The Terminator (Arnie) is sent back in time to to kill John's mum, Sarah, which obviously fails, otherwise there would be no T3! The second installment confuses me... another Terminator is sent to back in time again to kill John, but the future John sends another Terminator to save him. Everything turns out fine though, and that brings us back to Terminator 3...
John Connor, now older, is homeless, not allowing himself to get close to anybody, and has cut himself off from the outside world for fear of being traced. He is convinced that these human-built machines will rise (hence the title: Rise Of The Machines!) and Judgement Day, which was avoided in 1997, will finally come. The thing he has dreaded all these years comes true, and a Terminatrix (female Terminator, and played by Kristanna Loken) is sent to kill him. You will have all seen her on the ads for
the film - she's the naked one with long blonde hair!
Arnold Schwarznegger, the old Terminator who is nowhere near as powerful as the new Terminatrix, returns to ensure John's survival, having had his DNA or whatever robots have, tweaked so he doesn't have murderous tendencies anymore! Catherine Brewster, played by Claire Danes, becomes unwillingly entangled in this mess because of her father's job, and at first the pair hate each other, but surprise surprise, guess what happens?
The plot was flimsy to say the least, and there were parts where I was thinking, 'you stupid twat, go THAT way, you'll die if you go the other way', but there isn't too much time to ponder the plotholes, because you get caught up in the action very quickly! Just go into it with your brain switched off and you'll have a great time!
I didn't expect it to be funny but I actually laughed out loud at some bits. They mainly revolved around Arnie's way of speaking and his very literal understanding of the American language, though. Some fell completely flat and were embarrassingly bad, but the majority of them were amusing enough!
Also, as an action film where the two main characters are trying to escape death, you would, not unreasonably, expect it to be a gloomy, miserable affair, but it isn't, surprisingly enough. The storyline just seems a flimsy way of joining the numerous dramatic action scenes, but I'm not complaining!
The love story doesn't hurt either; inevitably and predictably, John and Catherine fall in love. The little fact that her fiance has just been murdered doesn't get in the way at all! If it was all action, I would have gotten bored, but this gave it a side storyline which diffused the action and kept my interest.
There was no slow build up - right from the start of the film, you are bombarded with non-stop action, and trust me, the one hour and 45 minutes just flies by! The car chase scene was more realistic and less computer-aided than the one in The Matrix Reloaded, and I actually enjoyed it, rooting for the Terminatrix (yes, I know she's the evil one!). I was on the edge of my scene, mouth hanging open, my popcorn completely forgotten!
The acting was fairly good - not amazing, but satisfactory. I was surprised at Kristanna Loken, because well, she is a supermodel! Think how Devon Aoki (the face of Lancome) was in 2 Fast 2 Furious! I suppose she only had to walk about looking determined in a red leather suit, and the computer added all the effects afterwards, but still, I expected a wooden, stilted performance. I have to say, Claire Danes seemed a bit bored throughout. She delivered all the necessary lines and cried the necessary tears, but her performance was never really convincing, and pulled the film down slightly, but don't let that put you off!
I have to say, John, was absolutely gorgeous! My jaw nearly hit the floor when he came on screen, because I expected an ugly geekish looking guy! He was played by Edward Furlong in Terminator 2, but Nick Stahl replaces him in this film.
One complaint though: how can a Terminatrix be thrown into a pile of bricks, survive a huge lorry crash and kill dozens of people without even smudging her lip-gloss or messing up her immaculately highlighted hair? If it had been anyone else, they would be bedraggled with lip-gloss halfway across her face! You have to hand it to her though; stealing posh cars, enlarging her breasts and trying to finish off that annoying Claire Danes - wouldn't we all if we had her power?!
It's a glossy, slick action film with romance and comedy interspersed throughout, and it's not a bad combination! As a girl who's favourite films are East Is East, Grease (can't believe I've just admitted that!) and Bridget Jones' Diary, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed it. If you're a nitpicker, though, and find fault with everything, then don't bother - T3 will annoy you no end!
It's rated 12A, but I wouldn't be bothered about letting my six year-old cousin watch it. There's not a lot a younger person would find disturbing, although there is some swearing, and of course, lots of violence, though it isn't gory. Definitely recommended.
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Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 2007 - Action/Adventure - Director: Paul Greengrass - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, Edgar Ramirez, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Albert Finney
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machinesstarts in high gear and never slows down. The ... more
apocalyptic "Judgment Day" ofT2was never prevented, only postponed: John Connor (Nick Stahl, replacingT2's Edward Furlong), now 22 and disconnected from society, is being p...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machinesstarts in high gear and never slows down. The ... more
apocalyptic "Judgment Day" ofT2was never prevented, only postponed: JohnConnor (Nick Stahl, replacingT2's Edward Furlong), now 22 and disconnected from society, is being pu...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machinesstarts in high gear and never slows down. The ... more
apocalyptic "Judgment Day" ofT2was never prevented, only postponed: JohnConnor (Nick Stahl, replacingT2's Edward Furlong), now 22 and disconnected from society, is being pu...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
A decade has passed since John Connor (Nick Stahl) helped prevent Judgment Day and save ... more
mankind from mass destruction. Now 22 Connor lives "off the grid" - no home no credit cards no cell phone and no job. No record of his existence. No way he can b...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Good acting and direction; action sequences; special effects; the unexpected ending. Disadvantages: The film suffers from some minor flaws and a lack of what made the first two classics.
![Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Single Disc Edition) [DVD] [2003]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78514688.jpg "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Single Disc Edition) [DVD] [2003]")
![Terminator 3 - Rise Of The Machines [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/80196201.jpg "Terminator 3 - Rise Of The Machines [DVD] [2003]")
![Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Two Disc Set) [DVD] [2003]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78546904.jpg "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Two Disc Set) [DVD] [2003]")
Aug 12th, 2003
(Aug 15th, 2003)
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