Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Reviewed by:
Paul Ulane

The killing machines keep returning—naked and in pursuit of leather—and, if T3 is any indication, we should definitely keep watching. Since these Terminators are from the same future as the last, you already know the story, and T3 doesn’t waste time catching up. Before you can plant your feet in a sticky puddle of theater goo, you’re rushing through downtown L.A. in a high-speed motorcycle/pickup truck/hydraulic crane chase pitting the old Terminator versus the new Terminatrix—and so commences the battle between conflicted cybernetic organisms. In between trying to protect John Connor and trying to kill John Connor—the replacement of Eddie Furlong with Nick Stahl as the anointed leader makes it easier to choose sides this time—shit blows up. We mean shit really blows the fuck up: Winnebagos, fire engines, hearses, and helicopters are just a few of the vehicular sacrifices made in getting Connor from one safe haven to the next. Not only is the action senses-blowing, the plot builds notably on the previous two films and even manages to further the franchise. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kindergarten Cop) continues to prove he’s the best fit for an on-screen robot, and Kristanna Loken is just as emotionless as a rival killing machine (and model-turned-actress) should be. Sure, it’s formulaic, but it’s a formula that works. A worthy installment in the Terminator saga returns from the future to one-up its predecessor, again.

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