Entertaining summer sequel

Rating: 9/10 (8 July 2003)

It's been many years since Arnold Schwarzenegger last donned the trademark leather jacket in T2 and with James Cameron not involved there was reason for trepidation but the franchise is back in fine form under director Jonathan Mostow ("U-571"). Another Arnie robot is sent back in time once more to protect John Connor (Nick Stahl, wisely replacing Eddie Furlong in the part) and his potential love interest (Claire Danes in her first action part). Coming back to try to kill them is the T-X (model babe Kristianna Loken). This film features some great action sequences that blow away anything done in the overhyped "Matrix" sequel and it's good to see Arnold back in fine form in the role he was meant to play. The "message" of the film seems to be "you can't escape your destiny" and it attempts to answer the questions posed in the previous films about wether or not you can truely change the future by traveling back in time. The performances are good from the cast, the direction is solid and the stunt work outstanding. I do have a couple of quibbles with the ending, but I can't really get into that without giving away key plot points.. so I'll leave it at this.. this film is a heckof a good time and certainly better than a few of the other over hyped films that we have seen lately. GRADE: A-