Dated but enjoyable action movie - a guilty pleasure.

Rating: Null/10 (26 August 2003)

My father did not like it. He says it was dull. I would rather say it is dated.
In our times, when non-characteristic, sensitive and fallible movie heroes are on the top of the box-office charts (e.g. Spiderman, Harry Potter, Frodo, the X-Men or Neo) this 100% macho point of view seems awfully dated. I know, we have seen Arnold playing this kind of "sensitive hero" (End of Days, The 6th Day, Collateral Damage) and the result was horrible. At least, this time he is back in the form and does what he can. And he is quite good and believable.
This film has been late for at least 6 or 7 years. I heard about the fights over the rights but this does not change my opinion. I do not think that James Cameron could have made a much better movie out of this material - probably it would seem to be dated, as well.
Otherwise, I have to say it is a hugely enjoyable action movie. I am not a die hard fan of the first two Terminator movies so I was able to sit back and enjoy the ride and forget criticism. The best thing about this movie is that it knows its boundaries: it is nothing else but an entertaining summer action movie with a straightforward, not so subtle opinion about the connection between humanity and technology. I think that everything has already been said about this connection in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: a space odyssey".
The special effects are first rate but not revolutionary. But why should they be? This race between the recent action movies in order to create never-before-seen special effects is useless and senseless. After a time the result is laughable. Often the reliable formula can be much more entertaining. And the third Terminator movie belongs to this group.

It is also a good thing that the end of the movie is different from the majority of Hollywood action movies - at least it is not a flag-waving finale.
But there are disadvantages, as well: I think with the help of much more irony this could be a funnier (and better) movie. Arnold's first scene at the chippendale bar is the kind of thing I think of. Too bad that they did not follow that line. I also expected some character development in the case of human characters. All in all, it can be an entertaining movie if you do not have great expectations.