No match for its predecessors, but good nonetheless.

Rating: 7/10 (16 May 2007)

In musical terms T-3 would be the 'difficult' third album, the one that perhaps didn't need to made, or was over-produced and over-hyped. Think 'Be Here Now' by British band Oasis, following in the footsteps of two hugely critically and commercially successful albums.
The first two films in this franchise really set the bar high, the first a low budget cult classic, and the second an overblown but ultimately superb blockbuster action movie. But T-3 is a flawed project. First and foremost there was no James Cameron, meaning Mostow got the job instead. Coming from U-571, in which history is changed so that the Americans found the enigma machine instead. Not a good omen. With Cameron's films there is a focus and seriousness that is hugely appealing. 'The Terminator' is completely straight-edged and 'T-2' for all the one liners is serious when it needs to be. I don't get that with this film. From the moment the TX's chest expands it feels silly, at times a little gratuitous. What I liked about the original and it's sequel was how cold and efficient the Terminators were when it came to the killing. In 'T-3' the deaths are over the top and pointlessly visceral. Why would the TX choose to saw a victim to death rather than just shoot or stab them? Surely that would save valuable time and attract less attention? For me the TX is a real shame in this picture. A female Terminator could have chilling, more terrifying than Arnie or Robert Patrick. But for some reason it just doesn't work, she's just not cunning, or relentless enough. The T-1000 remains far more intimidating in my book. My other concern is with John Connor. Okay so Ed Furlong was a little annoying in 'T-2' but at least he had had some heart, a spark and an initiative. I could perceive him as a leader because he had some BALLS. Nick Stahl just doesn't have that. John Connor is too pathetic, too resigned to things to be the hero he'll turn into. I understand maybe Mostow felt he needed to explore Connor a little, but it doesn't work.
It's not all bad though, in fact far from it. 'T-3' has much to commend it. As you'd expect the special effects are good, and the action is fast paced and good to watch. The chase scenes are not as good as in 'T-2' but hey, it's hard to climb Everest twice. In particular Claire Danes is great as Caroline Brewster. Her resourcefulness and spirit despite not having a clue what's going on are hugely refreshing when placed next Nick Stahl's Connor. And of course who can forget Arnie? The big man delivers enough solid display as a character it's hard not to like. Arnie also delivers maybe the best line in the series so far 'what I what is irrelevant, I am a machine!' which I think is a fantastic line.
My favourite part of the movie though, is the end. No i'm not being sarcastic. The ending scene at Crystal Peak is inspired, a wonderful ending to the film. Wheras 'The Terminator' and 'T-2' needed happyish endings, 'T-3' needed the opposite. The notion that John Connor and Caroline Brewster were only meant to survive, not change the course of history is a far better concept than having them stop Skynet again. Obviously it's leading into a sequel, and it's a fine way to do it. The ending to me is the only time the whole film really captures the spirit of the original, in which survival was everything.
'T-3' is a good film, but it's not a great film and as such will always suffer unfavourable comparisons. Viewed objectively at times it's very good, but it doesn't do the serious stuff as well as 'The Terminator' or the action as well as 'T-2'. As a film it's quite good, but as a sequel it ultimately doesn't stack up.