Not the intended effect...

Rating: 4/10 (13 July 2003)

Perhaps the best reason for true Terminator fans to see Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is unintended. It compels you to pop the original Terminator, or Terminator 2: Judgment Day, into the DVD player/VCR when you come home from the theater, and realize all over again how unbelievably strong the first two films are, especially in comparison to this weak third installment. Because, other than a noteworthy performance from Arnold Schwarzenegger, some good set design, and a few small touches that recall T1 & T2, the film cannot compensate for poor pacing, lack of a cohesive point-of-view, and a complete turnabout of the fundamental philosophy behind the whole series. "The future is not set" captures the essence of the character's struggle against the machines--the belief that even the least among us could make a difference. Whereas if T3 is to be believed, perhaps we should all simply accept our fate and go along with the plan--after all, it makes for better SFX. The machines have apparently already won this war.