Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Rating: Null/10 (8 July 2003)

Now THIS is what summer movies are all about! Instead of having PG-13 action, it goes all out with its $170 million budget and having some realistic blood, while keeping it reasonable and believable. It's basically 105 minutes of wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am with a small story thrown in, but it's basically a recycled plot with a new character, a newer robot, and great special effects! Although they went all outand I mean all outit looked really good! It's not some cheesy Universal blockbuster that just throws bad FX wherever, the ones in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines looked real, and I only hope that Arnold's stuntperson was paid well.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in kick-butt form as the T-800 Terminator. Not only does he rehash his catch phrases, he is able to bring back the fun in action movies that has been missing the last twelve years. It's a really fun time. As I've said before, Arnold's not a great actor, but when he's an action star instead of trying to act, he's really fun to watch. He seemed really game to do this movie.
The plot is nothing special. Arnold comes back from the future to protect not only John Connor (Nick Stahl) this time, but also feisty Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), because she'll be a general against the machines in the upcoming war. However, a T-X (Kristanna Loken), the most advanced Terminator cyborg from the future, comes to destroy all of the former classmates of John, because they'll join the resistance. As you can see, the plot's not as good as the first two.
If you put your mind on hold, which I was willing to do for this, T3 is a very entertaining sequel. Although it won't win awards, it's better than most out there now.
My rating: 7/10
Rated R for strong sci-fi violence and action, and for language and brief nudity.