Coming from a sick fan who's been waiting a minimum of five years to see this film, let me tell you...it doesn't disappoint!

Rating: 7/10 (21 July 2003)

A little low-budget film named "The Terminator" hit the streets in 1984. This extremely low-budget actioner was about a machine "terminator" sent back in time to assassinate, or "terminate" the soon-to-be mother of the future world resistance leader, who would fight back against Skynet's machines who would fight for their dominance of the earth.
19 years later, and one sequel later, comes "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," the massive differences between the original film being the budget, special effects, and action pieces. Being a long-time "Terminator" fan, of both "T1" and "T2," I can tell you this baby don't disappoint. I have been one of those nerds on the Internet who had an old desktop wallpaper that said "T3: Summer 2002" on it. I have been waiting for this flick for years and years and years, a minimum of five years at least. When production finally started, and was delayed to 2003, and started again, I held my breath and expected the best. After the trailer I expected the worst. Now I got the best. This film blows you away, it's the best sequel of the year and James Cameron's absence from the film, though visible, doesn't hinder it.
Judgment Day never happened. The world never got hit by nuclear bombs, the machines took over, and now a twenty-something John Connor lives "off the grids," with no home, no telephone, no nothing. Just in case the machines happen to take over one day in the future and try to assassinate him again.
Of course, the machines DO come back again, as without them there would be no sequel. One is a sexy terminator called the Terminatrix (Kristanna Loken), whose mission is to assassinate John Connor's future lieutenants and his future wife, a current veterinarian, Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), since the machines can't find where John Connor is (that's where the off-the-grid stuff comes in handy for him). However, John Connor happens to meet up with Kate Brewster the same night the TX tries to kill her (and now him since he is a primary target for termination), but the T-800 model cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is also back to protect them, who has been sent back in time by Kate Brewster in the future after the protection cyborg murdered John Connor...in the future, that is...err...confused yet?
Wow, what a thrill ride. Give me a moment to catch my breath. Action non-stop throughout, great special effects, everything. It's nowhere near as great as the first two films, but as far as summer sequels go, this ranks in as one of the best.
Arnold is back in fine form after "End of Days" (I liked "The 6th Sense" and "Collateral Damage"), and for a brief moment in the film (when he throws Kate into the back of a truck), the way he is outlined against the night sky makes him look just like he did in the first film. His haircut is very much the same in that shot. Anywho, he's back.
Nick Stahl takes over for druggie Edward Furlong in this installment, and by George he is great! Claire Danes doesn't do much but scream and run around and look pretty, but there's more purpose for her being there than in most movies like this.
Like I said before, James Cameron's absence from the film IS visible, but new director Jonathan Mostow does a great job of taking over from him. The film is lacking some of the human elements that made the first so great, and it feels more like a regular action blockbuster than the predecessors. "T2" set a new level for action films; "T3" is more of a follower than a revolutionary film such as the first two. The special effects are impressive, but just like all the other films out there nowadays. "T3" in no way is as vicious, dark, or amazing as the first two films, which are both some of my favorite films, but Jonathan Mostow has done a great job handling Cameron's baby, and it shows, making "T3" neither disappointing nor bad; it's the best film of the summer, and one of the best action films in a long line of dull flicks.
And in conclusion, I can honestly say that he'll be back. Trust me. So stick around. When he's back, I'll be back. But for now, hasta la vista, baby.
4/5