WOW! By far the best sequel to a sequel ever!

Rating: 9/10 (6 July 2003)

I almost feel guilty for liking this movie so much. Who'd have thought that T3 without James Cameron's involvement could be anything slightly better than average? But T3 is not only a 10 on the "summer escapist movie" scale it is also a 9 on any other scale unless your idea of a great movie is Moulin Rouge or The Hours. Johnathan Mostow has taken the reins from Cameron for a Mach2 gallop. This movie is funny, lighter and as muscular as ever despite its much shorter length. An early chase scene is better than anything ever seen on the big screen (sorry French Connection and Reloaded) and although it is the high point of the movie T3 maintains the steam built up by it-- which I found astonishing. Nick Stahl and Claire Danes are very welcome additions to the T-mythos. Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor is almost not missed here (her fate is nicely handled) and Edward Furlong's John Connor is not missed at all. Arnold is in fine and, sometimes finer, form. Kristanna Loken doesn't have the acting chops of Robert Patrick, but her TX is an advancement over his T1000. Give everybody credit. The tech credits are as good, if not better, than the last 2 Ts. The real surprise is the story and the writing. On close analysis T3 may seem like a rehash or mismash of the T1&2 and it may not make any logical sense. So what? Count the calories in your next pizza and beer combo. Be a buzzkill. All I know is that I cared about the characters and what was happening to them. I was caught up in the story. T3 is as much fun as you'll ever have at movie.