Excellent Balance ...

Rating: Null/10 (5 August 2003)

On the one hand we see the unbelievably harsh and brutal unfolding of events, that remind me of the classical greek tragedies - this is what evokes the emotional attachment to whats going on. Lots of scenes contain a violent conflict that is fought with utmost determination on both sides, and reduce their options and planing horizon to the next few seconds, their immediate vicinity and the people and objects that happen to bet there: the toilet battle, where the ingredients are a few square meters, concrete and ceramics; the crane chase where every appearing object (buildings, cars, front lawns, truck underbellies, manholes) is reduced to its usefulness for any side in the next few seconds; ultimately even the T101 itself, when its fuel cell turns out to be it's most useful property for the next two seconds. And on the other hand ravaging humor delivered not only by Arnold, but every cast member. ("you remind me of my mother"). Haven't seen anything like it, in that respect it was better than T2 (which of course was more original overall since in 1992 the overall plot was new), and every other movie i've ever seen. This is the really outstanding aspect of T3, to have an extremely grave, violent, serious tragic plot that is slammed into the viewers face in just about all scenes, and yet have hilarious humor without taking the bite of the seriousness of it all. Best movie of the year as far as i can see.
PS: Yes, T2 had more "new" plot, but imagine there was no T2, then T3's plot would be applauded as much as T2's was.