Awkward But Fun Twist To The Terminator Movies

Rating: 8/10 (12 February 2006)

By the time a movie series reaches its third installment the series is considered a disgrace because of the most recent addition. While some fans of the Terminator movies would like to ignore what Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines has to say it's still an exciting watch.
Unlike the previous Terminator films, T3 puts the focus on big-bang action scenes rather than storytelling. In the regard of its action, T3 is a real thrill ride. From the opening sequence revealing a short but impressive look at the nuclear war to the inevitability set for Judgment Day, T3 serves up a good pace of tension-filled and occasionally humorous action. Not only do these scenes make T3 worth watching multiple times but it also gives the movie the extra points it needs to be above-average, and even a great movie.
However, T3 makes compromises a strong story for these impressive action scenes. This will immediately turn Terminator fans off as the previous Terminator films were smart and took the time to develop a strong storyline. While the plot in T3 isn't necessarily bad, it makes a big mistake right from the beginning: Being made in the first place. Since T3 was made it was inevitable that the producers intended for Judgment Day to still happen, it makes the costly choice of taking T2's excellent ending, laughing in its face and tossing it away.
With that, T3 is, on paper-a typical action flick with a mixed up plot tossed in. While the idea of making the ending of T2 pointless by its own rules is a big mistake, T3 still comes out strongly for what it is. This is one of the sci-fi movies that comes out as an exception to the standard that action-focused movies suck. Part of this is because that it still holds on to the formula of Judgment Day set by the first Terminator. But this rattles the viewers as T3 teases us with the idea of another Terminator movie that, if made, would be the real Judgment Day movie.
So all things considered, T3 isn't a bad movie. In fact, it's actually a great movie as it has some cool and awesome action and does stay true to the original Terminator formula. Just that T3 makes the risk of even being released by toying with T2's ending about stopping Judgment Day that it loses points. Otherwise, T3 is a movie that regular Terminator fans will more than likely enjoy for what it's worth and under the flow movie sequels usually follow.