Graded with excellence

Rating: 6/10 (7 July 2003)

The main problem I had with Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines is that it's a film that feels a bit too familiar. While I would say that T3 does have many action sequences, that in itself is the problem. T3 feels like one long chase scene, but offers no real reward at the end. Character development seems to be drowned in the relentless action, and the film suffers from it as a result. Also the plot line seems to be borrowed from its predecessor T2, making it very predictable, and somewhat outdated; especially when swartzenegger spills his famous line "I'll be back," that was popular over a decade ago. There is a fine light in the film, and that light comes in the form of Claire Danes, who plays an everywoman veterinarian. Danes adds a bright spot with her fine acting skills, but she seems as though she could have contributed more to the film, had the film actually focused on characters, rather than being forced to giveway to exploding cars, and other mindless action that would make a demolition derby seem sophisticated.