Enjoy the ride...again.

Rating: 7/10 (27 July 2003)

**Warning! Mild Spoilers Ahead!**
"T-3" is a straightforward picture, setting the stage in the opening twenty minutes, then propelling its characters into what is basically a chase movie for the final hour and a half. Sound familiar? Well, why mess with success? Although it may sound boring and routine, the movie is neither. The script and pacing are both tight and constantly in motion, leaving no time for boredom.
The plot of "T-3" is pretty much the same as that of its predecessors. The machines have sent a new and improved terminator, in this case a stunning T-X played by the smokin' Kristanna Loken, back in time from the future to kill someone who will eventually lead the humans in their fight against the machines. Naturally the humans also managed to sneak back their own terminator, albeit an older model, the T-800. This is of course Arnold Schwarzenegger (although not the same robot as in T-2), and he must prevent the T-X from accomplishing her mission.
What separates "T-3" from lighter summer fare such as "Pirates" or "The Italian Job" is the effective philosophy. While not quite up to the high standard of "T-2" or "The Matrix", it still churns the mind with its issues of fate and time travel. Go ahead, try to completely figure out how a machine from the future can go back in time to affect events that ultimately create the machine itself. Despite the density, every event that takes place makes perfect sense both within the movie and within the trilogy.

Schwarzenegger is once again at his best, as the simple-minded and stoic T-800. He slides easily back into the character, and even at age 56 is still a perfect physical and vocal fit. Some say that the role doesn't demand much of Arnold, but perhaps he does it so effortlessly that we don't notice. Either way, seeing him back at the top of his acting game is a pleasure, after such mediocre fare as "Collateral Damage" and "The 6th Day".

Nick Stahl, no longer "In the Bedroom", fits into the part of a twenty-something John Connor with ease. He provides Connor with the proper world-weariness and gives him grounded logic and street smarts that befit someone who has grown up under his unusual circumstances.

Loken, much like Robert Patrick in the second movie, doesn't get to display much versatility, but her icily gorgeous eyes and facial features combine with appropriate body movements to supply the T-X with a chilly and imposing aura. She's not quite as fearsome as Patrick, perhaps because she's female; but her character's unstoppable nature is enough to compensate for that.

Claire Danes, in a role that one might not expect to find her, is Kate Brewster. She happens upon Connor at her veterinary clinic, and is properly naive, much like Neo in "The Matrix", as she gets sucked into the tidal wave of action and adventure. The rest of the actors, in mostly little-developed parts, are sufficient to round out the cast.
The comedy in "T-3" was an unexpected enjoyment. Much of it was derived from Schwarzenegger's machine mind failing to comprehend various aspects of humanity, verbal and otherwise. Arnold's classic monotone delivery is perfect, both in tone and timing. Other comedic sources included a number of references to the prior films. Some are obvious ("She'll be back"); some are less so (the reappearing shrink). But they are all amusing, providing necessary comic relief for a movie that could easily have been overbearing and overly serious. One other amusing theme is the one-upmanship involved in various stunts and chase scenes. Things just keep getting bigger, and I couldn't help but laugh. "T-3" wasn't bust-a-gut funny, but it consistently induced chuckling from the audience in a number of ways.

One of the joys of "T-3" is the physicality of the stunt and fight sequences. Because of the virtual immortality of the two terminators, brutal acts of violence are necessary when fighting them, acts that can't be done to normal humans. There's something painfully (sadistically?) enjoyable about watching someone bashing a foe with a just-ripped-off-the-wall urinal, or seeing a truck slam straight into a building. I found myself constantly wincing, but also grinning at the same time. Seeing someone get the crap beat out of them while knowing the characters won't actually be injured is surprisingly, perhaps frighteningly, engrossing. Additionally, those scenes appear to be mostly stuntwork, not CGI. Contrasting the highway chase scene in "Matrix Reloaded", which is gloriously sleek and jaw-dropping, the car chase in "T-3" is brutal and punishing. In a cinematic time that favors heavy reliance on computer imagery, that honest physicality in stuntwork is extremely refreshing.
This is a movie that should be seen on the big screen, preferably one with a high quality surround sound system. The theater I patronized was unfortunately lacking in the aural department, as the audio was front-heavy. But I still appreciated the sound. Without being overly loud, the sound effects did their job quite well, providing the proper noises at the proper times. The score was not very noticeable, which means that composer Marco Beltrami did his job suitably. Somewhat surprisingly, the recognizable Terminator theme of Brad Fiedel did not surface until the end of the movie (unless I missed it).
The other reason I recommend the theater experience is the bigness of the flick. Like its prequels, "T-3" is simply a large movie. Arnold is big; various vehicles are big; themes are big; everything is done on a grand scale. Plus the picture looks good. With machines as a primary subject, the film is conducive to a slick appearance, and cinematographer Don Burgess ("Cast Away", "Bourne Identity") delivers a gleaming final cut.

If you haven't seen the first two renditions, you'll definitely miss out on some of the jokes, and won't have a full understanding of everything discussed, but you can still enjoy the film. I recommend seeing the other two first, but it's not entirely necessary. The presence of Kate, also a newbie to the world of terminators, allows John Connor and the T-800 to explain much of the backstory without seeming dry. Taking a cue from the original, most of the exposition wisely occurs on the run, so it doesn't slow the movie down, but rather fills in the blanks of the plot while still moving forward.
Not comparing "T-3" to its predecessors is impossible. This one isn't quite as cultish as the first, nor as dark or ground-breaking as the second. However "T-3" is still a thoroughly worthy and engaging finale (?) to the series.
Bottom Line: The issue of fate combined with the spectacular action sequences make this an above average flick. Terminator fans should be pleased too. Worth a big screen viewing and surprisingly enjoyable. Three of four stars for now. Maybe more as it grows on me.