Seems a bit cheapjack now, and with a crass sense of humor

Rating: 5/10 (29 June 2003)

Director James Cameron stages a shoot-out and a freeway chase with aplomb, but his quieter moments aren't as smooth, and his attempts at visual humor are a little heavy(heavier still are some of the jokes in the script, which wobble at best). But Arnold Schwarzenegger found his niche here, playing a villain without a heart, an expressionless and bloodthirsty machine, and it's easy to see why this transformed his career: he's a natural at playing the bad guy(which is why "Terminator 2" was such a disappointment, it tried to reconfigure the odds back in Arnold's favor). Linda Hamilton is also terrific as a waitress whom Arnold wants dead. The sci-fi angle that frames the story feels pulpy(and looks pretty tacky to boot), but the action propels you along almost against your better judgment. **1/2 from ****