Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Jonathan Mostow

Writers (WGA):

James Cameron (characters) &
Gale Anne Hurd (characters) ...

Release Date:

2 July 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The Machines Will Rise

Plot:

John Connor is now in his 20's, and a female terminator, called T-X or Terminatrix, is after him. Another T-101 is sent back through time to protect John once again on the verge of the rise of the machines.

Plot Keywords:

Computer Tries To Take Over The World | Police Detective | Sexual Orgasm | Underground Bunker | End Of The World

Awards:

1 win & 17 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

T3 (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
T3: Rise of the Machines (USA) (trailer title)
Terminator 3 (USA) (working title)
Terminator 3 - Rebellion der Maschinen (Germany)
York Square (USA) (fake working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sci-fi violence and action, and for language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA | Germany | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Malaysia:U | Italy:T | South Korea:15 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12A (original rating) | UK:12 (video rating) (2003) | USA:R (certificate #39974) | Ireland:12PG (original rating) | Ireland:12 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

C-2 Pictures

Trivia:

A cut scene explains why all Terminators looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger. A character named Sgt. Candy (played by Schwarzenegger) explains in an army promotion video that he was chosen to be the model of the Terminator project.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the end credits, the character of Kate's fiancé is listed as 'Scott Petersen'. Actually the character's name is Scott Mason (mentioned by the two L.A.P.D. detectives in the movie).

Quotes:

[first lines]
John Connor: [voiceover] The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. I wish I could believe that. My name is John Connor, they tried to murder me before I was born, when I was 13 they tried again. Machines from the future. Terminators. All my life my mother told me the storm was coming...

Movie Connections:

References Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Soundtrack:

Can't Hide This

A reasonably fitting end to the series, or a vision of things to come?

Terminator 3 was nothing short of a thrill-ride of explosions, over-the-top action and fun - although after three movies I am finding the Terminator series getting very repetitive. Is it just me, or does it seem like a member of the resistance comes back to protect John Connor/Sarah Connor, the machines send back a Terminator to take them out - we see some fights and bingo-bango, a couple hours later it is all resolved?

I felt Terminator 3 lacked the look and feel of the classic Terminator 2, and often bordered on unintentionally comical scenes. I had to laugh at some of the fight scenes between The Terminator and the T-X, which seemed like some sort of CGI bad dream. On the opposite side of the coin, the scenes throughout the movie which were supposed to be comical, felt very cheesy and tacked-on, i.e. the Elton John glasses.

That aside, Terminator 3 was packed full of what Arnie movies do best - fights, chases and s*** getting blown up. The car chase scene involving the crane was great, and as far as I am concerned was better than The Matrix Reloaded's attempt at a car chase any day. The T-X, played by very cute Kristanna Loken, brought a freshness to her role as the 'Anti-Terminator' Terminator. The T-X seems to take the best of the Terminator and the T-1000, and chucks in some extra firepower for added effectiveness.

Terminator 3 might not add as much to the overall story as possibly Terminator 2, but it will fill a lot of holes, expand on some of the concepts hinted at in previous movies and tie up some loose ends in the series. You will learn more about John Connor's future, Skynet, Judgement Day, and the future of mankind's battle against the machines.

As for the ending? Well I thought it was a very interesting and thought-provoking way to end the movie, and possibly the series. Although given Hollywood, I would imagine there will probably be at least one or two more movies. With or without Arnold, the series surely must move away from the "send back a Terminator to kill John, and they send one to protect him" style, and take us to the future where John Connor takes control of the resistance.

I give T3 an 8/10.