a worthy sequel rejuvenates the series

Rating: Null/10 (1 July 2003)

Jonathan Mostow did a decent action film U-571, and he basically weaved together a pretty darn good action film here in T3 and an homage to the previous James Cameron classics. In fact it would be hard pressed for anyone to have made a better sequel!
Film starts about ten years after events of T2 with an adult John Connor (well played by Nick Stahl) who by fate intersects with former schoolmate Kate Brewster (Claire Danes also quite good). Enter the Terminatrix who is a bad ass female top-of-the-line cyborg who can do the liquid metal thing and ALSO control other machines. In fact, the whole premise of the movie's title is faithfully developed as the dreaded Skynet (alluded to in the first films) begins to take shape as a new defense net with some bugs to work out. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as the original Terminator sent back in time to rescue Connor AND Brewster! The plot thickens a bit to a surprising conclusion that is open for, dare I say-T4?
Special effects are outstanding. The $170 million budget is all up there. And there are some cute references to the previous films with Arnold getting the best lines and retorts. He looks great and does what amounts to a comeback film. The pace of the film is steady and interesting. In fact,unless you were a hardcore fan, the average moviegoer might not detect that almost none of the principals of the first two films signed for this one.
OK, James Cameron set the bar very high especially with T2, but you have to give credit to a fine effort here. Kudos to the filmmakers for making a satisfying film on its own merits and succeeding where others this summer have not.