Better than it has any right to be

Rating: 7/10 (8 June 2009)

Okay, so it has neither the trashy vitality of the original Terminator movie, nor the gravitas of Judgement Day - but this belated third installment in the sci-fi action franchise is a great deal better than it has any right to be.
Featuring the now adult John Connor living as a drifter, he is pursued by this film's main adversary – the Terminatrix, played with ice-cool efficiency by Kristanna Loken. While the action and chase scenes are certainly gripping – with a chase through downtown L.A. being one of the highlights – the film is initially deterred by a few questionable special effects, and its lack of what made the first two installments so memorable: the diverse plot that touched on the emotions of the characters and audience alike. In addition, the film scarcely takes itself seriously, with a collection of gags and puns that sometimes diffuse the sense of pace.
Nonetheless, the tragic final act of the film is bound to pull the heartstrings of even the most die-hard action fan, and gives a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.