As thrilling as the first two Terminator films were, they made up a rather complete duology. I still always dreamed that a third movie should be made, to take the franchise into thrilling new directions. About ten or eleven years after T2, this film finally came out, with surprisingly little enthusiasm.
Outside of James Cameron's hands, it's not quite the same. I can't deny that it's missing a certain charm, or perhaps a certain pathos, that makes the first two films work so well. Regardless, T3 has its share of excitement. The car chase in the opening act, featuring a crane that wrecks a huge number of cars and one whole building, is an excellent and awesome thing to watch. The film maintains really fast pacing with a frequent number of chases and fights. It's also loaded up with quite a bit of silly comedy. I could see audiences loathing the lighter tone of the film, but I think it's a real hoot. Even though these scenes make the film lightweight, it still has serious moments, especially during its final scenes.
The film starts off looking quite similar to the other two movies, with two terminators coming into the past, one to kill and the other to protect. It quickly covers thrilling new ground, showcasing a lost and troubled John Connor who winds up literally trapped in some rather amusing situations. When the actual Judgment Day hits, it becomes a mad rush. There's not much room for character or theme development, and when there is, some of the scenes might come off as wimpy (especially in the way John Connor whines and threatens to kill himself in one scene). Regardless, it's a servicable story with a few surprising twists, even if it doesn't have the same depth or feeling as its predecessors.
The film looks slick, with solid photography and editing. Acting is not bad: Arnold Schwarzenegger returns with a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of his iconic character. Nick Stahl does his best to match up with Edward Furlong's portrayal of John Connor; despite being a little unlikable as a character, I think his performance is admirable. Claire Danes and Kristanna Lokken are both fun to watch. Writing is okay; there are a few lines that I wish were expanded upon. This production has plenty of good-looking sets, props, and costumes. Special effects look great most of the time, and a little weak in other spots. Music is pretty good.
I'd recommend this as a rental.
4/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Good)
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