Back to back home runs with T2 and T3

Rating: 10/10 (5 July 2003)

Terminator was a great movie in it's own right. It was an 80s horror film that introduced many of us to Arnold (those of us who hadn't seen Conan). However, Terminator lacked intricacy in it's writing and plot. That problem was quickly resolved in Terminator 2, which showed us that there was so much more to the future, Skynet, and Cyberdyne systems than we thought. Terminator 2 not only brought more story to the table, but more action. It also introduced us to a couple of great actors (Robert Patrick, Edward Furlong). The long anticipated Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines picked up right where T2 left off. Where can you go from T2, some may ask? The story was already brought to a conclusion, right? Wrong. Just when you thought you knew everything, you finally realize that you hardly anything. T3 does exactly what T2 did for Terminator. It takes us even DEEPER into the world of the Terminators and answers a lot of questions that many of us had after T2. The creators of this movie took a series that seemingly had it's strings tied up and created a whole new chapter that is brilliant in it's depth. Not only does T3 bring a great story to the table just as T2 did, but it too brings blockbuster action. After watching T3, it's arguably the best action movie of this summer. Mostow does a great job of filling in for Cameron (we miss you James!). It's truly enjoyable to watch action movies as they used to be made...without much aid of computers. Matrix Reloaded was great...but it relied heavily on computer imagery. Most of T3's action is genuine, jaw dropping stunts. And just as T2 introduced us to new Hollywood faces, so too does T3. Nick Stahl, who plays John Connor, has a great deal of acting talent. He brings his own touch to the character of Connor, now 20 something. We see a whole new side of Connor, very different from the one we saw in T2. In T2, Connor was a rebellious teen who just wanted to have a good time with his friends at the arcade. T3 shows us a worn down, depressed, junkie. Stahl did an excellent job of pulling off the role. He reminded me very much of Tobey Macguire in this movie, perhaps due to his narration and soft-spoken demeanor. We're also introduced to Kristanna Loken, who plays the T-X. It's hard to gauge whether anyone who's recruited to play a terminator truly has any acting talent. The role just doesn't do actors any justice. They must literally constrain their acting talents to the confines of a robot. We obviously know, now, that Schwartzenegger and Patrick were better actors than their terminator roles made them out to be. So too will be the case, I believe, with Loken. Not just anyone can play the role of a terminator. It takes a certain breed and I believe the creators of T3 did a great job of casting. All in all, I give this movie a 9.5, but seeing as that's not a choice, I just rounded up to 10. Bash me if you wish, but I suggest you see the movie. It really is worth the time and money. It delivers in every possible way.