Very Noisy Sequel Starring Lots of Crashes

Rating: 4/10 (19 December 2005)

I went to see "Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines" at the recommendation of my older son, who I had introduced to the "T" series on video.
But I bet I was the only one there for the continuing story, as I was the only who seemed to get the comments and jokes in reference to the past movies so I guess they hadn't seen the other "T" movies. Arnold's lines were pretty much just replay references to the older movies.
I'm not sure I got all the plot points in the quiet dialogs, such as they were, in the lulls between car crashes -- sent back to do what, when, by whom?
And while the vehicle chases were now construction cranes and fire trucks, it was just metal upon noisy metal upon more noisy metal. It's becoming common in sci fi these days to have the best way for an alien enemy to infiltrate humans is in disguise as a gorgeous blonde, let alone an indestructible one.
But what made the movie for me was the wonderful in context line in the midst of one counter-attack: Nick Stahl as the grown-up "John Connor" looking in wonder at Claire Danes: "You remind me of my mother."
(originally written 8/31/2003)